Buying guide for best baby spoons
Many new parents are concerned with every bite of food that goes in their baby’s mouth. But what about the tool that holds each bite?
Introducing solid food is a big step in a baby’s development. Food will feel foreign at first, and you want the spoon to ease the transition. A spoon designed for an older child may not fit an infant’s mouth well, and it may interfere with new tastes and textures. A spoon designed for a baby’s hands and mouth is ideal. What’s more, giving your baby that small bit of control — a spoon of his or her own — just might ease some mealtime struggles.
Let BestReviews help you find the right baby spoon for your little one. We’ve got the information and product recommendations you need to make the very best choice.
Infant spoons vs. toddler spoons
When you buy baby spoons, it’s important to think about whether you are shopping for an infant or a toddler. Infants need a different type of bowl (the part of the spoon that holds the food) than self-feeding toddlers. For toddlers, the handle design is more important.
Infant spoons
Most parents introduce solid foods to youngsters between the ages of four and six months. Whether breast or bottle fed, infants are accustomed to eating from soft, pliable surfaces. Therefore, spoons intended for infants should be structured but not too rigid, so they’re gentle on baby’s gums. The spoon bowl should be relatively shallow since babies aren’t used to emptying a spoon. It should be relatively small and narrow, so it fits easily into the mouth. The handle should be long enough to easily reach into a tall baby food jar.
Toddler spoons
Most toddlers begin self-feeding with their fingers before their first birthday. They may try to start using a spoon as early as 13 months. However, a toddler can’t succeed with the same kind of spoon as an infant or an adult.
A toddler needs a spoon with a wider bowl. It shouldn’t be too concave because the toddler is still learning, but it should be deeper than an infant spoon. The handle should be wider, so the child can get a good grip. It should also be shorter than a long-handled infant spoon, so inexperienced hands can control it. The bowl also should be relatively soft, since toddlers are teething and may bite down on it for relief.
Did you know?
Closing the lips and pushing the spoon away are two signs that your baby is done eating. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the baby doesn’t like the food.
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Baby spoon washing options
Some parents prefer to wash all their baby’s items by hand. Others feel that the dishwasher does a better job sanitizing. If you are in the dishwasher camp, make sure any spoons you buy are labeled dishwasher safe. It’s best to place baby items on the top rack, away from the heating element. High heat has been known to damage synthetic materials, and sometimes it can trigger the release of hazardous chemicals.
Baby spoon materials
Most baby spoons are made of either silicone or plastic, with a few other options thrown into the mix.
Silicone
Silicone is extremely soft and flexible, making it a good choice for infants. A silicone feeding tool doesn’t feel too different from a bottle, which may help a young baby transition more easily. Food-grade silicone is dishwasher safe and can be boiled for sterilization. Babies who feed themselves can use silicone spoons, too, but toddler teeth may tear some thinner spoon bowls. If you are using a silicone spoon for a toddler, supervise the child carefully, and throw out spoons that are torn to avoid a choking hazard.
Plastic
Plastic spoons, because they are more rigid, are a better choice for toddlers than silicone. Since they’re harder, they’re more difficult for teething toddlers to damage. Some plastic spoons are not dishwasher safe; others are. If you’re inclined to wash your plastic spoons in the dishwasher, it’s best to keep them on the top rack, in a dishwasher basket.
Metal
Some manufacturers make spoons with easy-grip plastic handles and metal bowls. These are great for transitioning older toddlers from children’s cutlery to full-size spoons. Avoid using them with infants and younger toddlers who might hurt their gums by biting down on the metal. Opt for this style only if your child has mostly stopped teething on utensils and objects and has most of his baby teeth.
Combination materials
To make baby spoons more dishwasher-friendly, some manufacturers make baby spoons with wooden handles and removable heads. This lets you detach the bowl of the spoon to clean in the dishwasher while protecting its wooden handle from damage. The design is environmentally sustainable, but it may also present a choking risk, since the spoon bowl is designed to fit in the mouth. If this green design appeals to you, keep in mind that you will need to carefully supervise your child during mealtimes.
Baby spoon prices
Baby spoons are usually sold in packs of two or more. For our purposes, we’ve broken it down in terms of price per spoon.
Inexpensive baby spoons often come in multipacks that break down to about $1 to $2 per spoon. At this price point, the spoons will be made of plastic or have silicone bowls attached to a handle made from a different material. Designs in this price range are quite basic.
Mid-range baby spoons cost $4 to $5 per spoon. These spoons may be made of plastic or silicone. They may have special features that increase the price, such as temperature indicators or specialized textures for an easier grip.
High-end baby spoons often cost between $6 and $8 per spoon. If you’re paying this much, it’s for a reason. Spoons that cost this much are usually silicone, so they’re dishwasher safe. They should have specialized handles or bowls that make them easy for toddlers to use independently.
Tips
- Buy more baby spoons than you think you need. Baby spoons are small enough to become lost easily, and you may go through a surprising number of spoons in a single day during growth spurts.
- Keep a baby spoon in your diaper bag. If you’re away from home and need to buy food for a hungry child, the store or restaurant may not have appropriate spoons.
- Consider a color-changing spoon. For safety reasons, some spoons are designed to change color when placed in food that’s too hot for baby to safely eat. This feature eliminates the need for parents to check the food and risk transmitting germs.
- Anticipate stains. Some light-colored spoons can be stained by dark food. Keep this in mind if stains are likely to bother you or your baby.
- Read the label to find out what your baby spoons are made of. Baby spoons should always be made from materials that are non-toxic, BPA-free, and phthalate-free.
Another product we considered
Want one more option? The Cuddle Baby Gum-Friendly Soft Tip Silicone Baby Spoons live up to their name. The soft silicone construction is gentle on sensitive mouths. The size of the spoons is perfect for infants trying solid food for the first time. Notably, the spoons may stain when used with vibrantly colored foods like carrots or beets.
FAQ
Q. Why does my baby need a special spoon?
A. Adult spoons are too large and hard for infants and toddlers. Because of their instinct to suck, infants first learn to eat from a utensil by closing their lips around the spoon. An adult spoon would be too large for a baby’s lips. What’s more, the metal is too hard for gums that are sensitive from erupting teeth.
Adult spoons are too hard for toddlers, too. Toddlers have some teeth, but they are actively teething and may chew the spoon for relief. Metal toddler spoons do exist, but these should only be used once a toddler is proficient at self-feeding and has most baby teeth.
Q. When should my baby start eating solid food?
A. Experts are slightly divided on this issue. Some say babies can start on solid foods as early as four months old; others say they should wait as late as six months old. Between four and six months is when babies lose their tongue thrust reflex, which causes younger babies to push food out of their mouths. Once this reflex is gone, babies can take in solids and learn to move the food back far enough to swallow.
If your baby automatically pushes solid food out with his or her tongue, you’ll need to wait a few weeks and try again. Babies should also be able to hold their heads upright steady and sit with support in a high chair before eating solid foods.
Q. How much solid food should I be feeding my baby?
A. In the early stages, babies should only be served small amounts of food and receive most of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula. Babies may only eat a spoonful or two at first. If you start offering solid food at four months, babies should only eat a tablespoon or two of solid food per day in addition to four to six feedings of breastmilk or formula. If you introduce solids at six months, you still need to start slow, but the eventual daily goal is to reach between two and four tablespoons of infant cereal, two to three tablespoons of fruit or vegetables, one to two tablespoons of meat or beans, a cracker or two, and three to five feedings of breastmilk or formula.
