After months of feeding your baby formula or breast milk (or both), it’s finally time to start solids. But while some babies might eagerly eat avocado, others need a little coaxing to try carrots. So when the allure of fun new flavors isn’t enough, you might need to find products to make mealtime fun for your baby.
Here’s the catch, though: if you’re trying to get your baby to finish their food, you may be tempted to take out a toy — but you shouldn’t. While stacking rings can be your child’s idea of a good time, using toys as a distraction is, well, just a distraction. Ideally, your child should be engaged enough that they look forward to mealtime. If they're engaged, they'll not only try new foods, but they'll start sharpening their fine motor skills at mealtime as well.
Get ready for your child to snag a seat at the table with you when you use these products that just might be love at first bite.
Mini Mat
©Ezpzfun – Original
Price: $22.49
With so many baby products on the market, it’s easy to buy more items than you need. That’s what makes the Mini Mat from Ezpzfun so ideal. The two-in-one placemat pulls double duty as both a placemat and a plate.
Thanks to its suction feature, it won’t slip or slide, providing a stable base for your child to enjoy a meal. Fitting most highchair trays, the mini mat has three separate compartments, which gives your child the autonomy to choose the foods they want to eat.
Happy Sippy Cup
©Spearmint Love – Original
Price: $15
Your baby can inspire some positive vibes when they drink from Spearmint Love’s Glass Half Full Club Happy Sippy Cup. It’s made entirely from food-safe silicone and is both leak- and mold-resistant. It’s also durable, which comes in handy when your child drops or throws their sippy cup.
The grow-with-me cup is great for younger children when they’re learning to drink. As they get older, the handles can be removed, transforming it into a cup. To ensure the best product possible, the company worked with an occupational therapist on the design to ensure the product was perfect for little hands.
Dinosaurs Toddler Plate
©Golden Rabbit – Original
Price: $27.30
Now your child can dine with the dinos when their string beans are served on the Dinosaurs Toddler Plate from Golden Rabbit Enamelware. The prehistoric-inspired plate features illustrations of beloved (and plant-eating) dinosaurs like the Stegosaurus and the Triceratops, which can be a fun fact to share with your child while they eat their broccoli.
With a hardened enamel surface, the non-toxic plate is both oven- and stovetop-safe. And who knows: the pictures on the plate might inspire your own tiny T-Rex to finish their meal, too.
Silicone Bib
©Jujube – Original
Price: $15
Let’s face it: babies aren’t exactly neat eaters. That’s why the Jujube Silicone Bib is a perfect catch-all for those crumbs. The bib is made from food-grade silicone that's free from phthalates, lead, BPA, and PVS.
Ideal for babies 4 months and older, mealtime messes are no match for the big front pocket of this dishwasher-safe bib. Plus, its painless fasteners won’t pinch baby’s skin and they ensure that the bib won’t slip off mid-meal. Your curious kid can peruse the pouch and pick out any foods that they might want to save as a snack for later.
Airplane Fork and Spoon Set
©My Pilot Store – Original
Price: $13.95
Give Grandma a break from saying, “Here comes the plane!” with a plain spoon and hand her a real airplane utensil instead. The Airplane Fork and Spoon Set from mypilotstore.com is made from stainless steel and food-grade silicone that doesn’t contain BPA or plastic. The set is also certified to meet US CPSC, FDA, and California Prop 65 safety requirements.
Dishwasher safe, the fork’s rounded tines mean that your baby won’t hurt themselves if they accidentally miss their mouth while they’re eating. The primary colors of the airplanes are sure to take your child’s meals to new heights.
Dress Up Plate
©DYL Bug – Original
Price: $28
For fashionistas in the making, the Dylbug Little Me Collection is cuteness personified — literally. The customizable plates can be created in your little one’s likeness, from their skin and eye color, down to their hairstyle (if they have any, that is).
Add your child’s name in the color of your choice, and you’ve set the stage for some serious style. But it doesn’t end there. If you opt for the Plate + Cutter Set, simply use the included cutter — available in shapes like dresses or shirts and pants — to create outfits that are almost too cute to eat.
Black Owned Baby Fork & Spoon Set
©Black Owned Baby – Original
Price: $6
From Black Owned Baby, this Bamboo Spoon and Fork Set will add some mealtime sophistication while your baby eats their sweet potatoes. The FDA-approved utensil set is a great way to support Black-owned businesses and is also free from all those icky things like BPA, PVC, latex, and phthalates.
Little hands will easily be able to grip the natural polished bamboo handles all while promoting their fine motor and gross motor skills. For teething tots, they can happily gnaw on the set, since it’s soft and gentle on sore gums. And when dinner is done, the dishwasher-safe set makes cleanup a breeze.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/Liudmila Chernetska.