Favourite Toddler Feeding Essentials (5 Months to Toddlerhood)
Finding Kai's perfect eating set-up took a little bit of trial and error.
Also I'm not really sure what the hype is with silicone plates and bowls. They stain, they don't actually stick to the Stokke tray that well, and I think the silicone bowls are a bit of a suction hazard.
These are the things I’ve used and loved to make feeding from the very beginning and right through toddlerhood a little bit easier.
NumNum Pre-Spoons (5mos)
Really great for starting solids. They're easy to hold, great for sucking on and really help encourage the hand-to-mouth motion.
Haakaa Fresh Food Feeder & Popsicle Mould (5mos)
Amazing during teething and such an easy way to serve frozen yogurt, fruit or breast milk popsicles
Glass Jars
PERFECT for leftovers. We still use these all the time for storing extra pasta sauce, chopped fruit, dips and little bits of meals.
https://www.mothercare.com.hk/products/beaba-glass-containers-250-ml-sunrise
Silicone Freezer Moulds (in this size!)
These are great when batch making sauces, or if you make a little extra of something. One cube was usually the perfect amount for a meal when Kai was little, and now I normally use two portions for a toddler serving.
Elk & Friends Plates & Bowls
My favourite plates we've tried. They're sturdy, easy to clean, have an additional silicone outer layer with decent suction and they come with lids, which is v useful for leftovers.
Beaba Insulated Food Thermos
Great for keeping meals warm when we're out and about. Perfect for pasta, rice dishes, soups or leftovers.
Stainless Steel Snack Containers
I always have at least one of these in my bag. Perfect for berries, crackers, cheese or little snacks on the go (nothing saucy tho).
OXO Tot Fork & Spoon Set
Definitely the most ergonomic set we've tried. They genuinely helped with self-feeding and are still our most-used cutlery set.
A Few Things We Personally Didn't Need
Fancy High Chair
We have the Stokke and it's lovely, but I think any sturdy wooden high chair would have done the job. Especially after going to restaurants and trying much cheaper ones, I don't think the expensive high chair is a necessity.
Designated Steamer & Blender
We had the Beaba one and it was nice having something specifically for Kai, but if you already have two blenders at home (one for raw meat (mincing etc) and one for vegetables/cooked foods), I don't think you need another appliance. Also, a regular steamer is MUCH faster.
Baby Chopping Utensils & Measuring Mats
I think we used ours once. Just use a knife lol.