Once your baby sits in a high chair, she is ready to use baby utensils. This can happen as early as 7 months. Exposure to baby utensils will help your child learn how to manage them early on, which helps with the growth and development process. In addition to spoons, baby utensils include feeding plates, bowls, spill-proof cups, trays and appropriate containers for storing food and leftover liquids.
What to Look for
When shopping for baby utensils, start with a small spoon that sports a thick handle. The handle will allow the baby to grip the spoon easily. The spoon should be coated with plastic to make it easy on your baby's teeth and gums as he bites down. The best baby spoons are temperature-safe, changing color when food is too hot. Disposable baby spoons are also available and are good for travel. When looking for baby plates, choose ones with dividers for various kinds of food to help to keep flavors separate. Make sure plastic plates and bowls are microwave-safe. Some come with suction cups on the bottom to prevent them from slipping off the baby's tray. Buy your baby utensils in bright colors and fun shapes to keep your little one entertained.
Sippy cups are excellent for babies learning to drink without a bottle. These cups come with a lid that has a soft spout, making it easy for a baby to sip liquids without spilling them. Parents may also want to buy a food mill or grinder to chop and liquefy foods that are too hard for a baby to chew and swallow.
Common Pitfalls
A baby should eat with a spoon at least until the age of 1. After this time, you can introduce him to eating with a fork, but only if it has short, dull tines. Forks can be dangerous, especially with a rambunctious infant. Sippy-cup valves can sometimes be difficult to manage since they require some practice before a baby gets the hang of sipping liquid. A little experimenting with various styles should help the process. An alternative to a conventional sippy cup can be a spout with a nipple that attaches to a cup or bottle.
Look for bottles and cups that are not made with bisphenol, an industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic. Research has not been confirmed, but some pediatricians feel that the compound mimics estrogen, which can induce unwanted hormonal changes.
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