Transitioning from milk feeds alone to solid food is an exciting time for you and your baby, but there are a few things you will need, in order to make it a smooth and easy process.
From around six months old, you’ll want to introduce your baby to drinking from a cup. However, since babies tend to wave their cups around while drinking, you are going to need a sippy cup. Look for a cup that doesn’t spill or dribble, and that has a soft spout that makes it easy for your child to drink. Newer cups that have straws are another good choice, as they have a snap closed lid and a valve that prevent spills.
Next, your baby will need a set or two of child safe dinnerware. Plastic bowls with suction cups at the bottom are perfect for keeping your baby’s food in one place during meals, and later on, a simple, cheap and cheerful melamine set with a plate, bowl and cup should be fine. Bowls with snap on lids are good for travel, as are some of the newer sets that come with fold up bowls that fit into even a small bag.
Once you’ve found the perfect bowls, it’s time to look for spoon and fork sets. For young babies, spoons that flex, and those that change colour when food is too hot are a good idea. Older children need utensils that have wide handles that are easy to grip or those that have loops.
There are plenty of other feeding accessories out there. Special bags that insulate foods, keeping them cold or warm, and portable mats that protect floors wherever you go. What you buy in terms of accessories is up to you, as long as you have the basics!
