Ideas of what to put in 'feeder net' for 5 1/2 month old please!

[childmindermk]

I brought one of the 'feeder nets' for my daughter as she loves putting things in her mouth but i am weaning her on purees. I have so far only put banana in it which she loved, and have thought i might try peeled cucumber as this might soothe her gums and give her the flavour from it.

My problem now is i cant think of what else to try putting in it for her...anyone have any ideas for me, please!

What have you tried both successfully and unsuccessfully?

Not sure how to insert a link to one but this is the one from babies r us:

www.toysrus.co.uk/Babies-R-Us/Feeding/Weaning/Plates-and-Bowls/Babies-R-Us-Pink-Safety-First-Feeder(0077984)

I've not used a 'feeder net' just give my DS the food to hold, but how about mango, melon, cheese, avocado. Anything would work I suppose, but not sure why you need the net, although I suppose it'd help with foods that are more slippery?

Personally I would just give her some cucumber to chew on, I don't really get the feeder net thing. I just gave DS big chunks of whatever, and he would then have a good suck/chew and if he got any bits off the main chunk they would be quite small and he would then swallow them or spit them out depending on how he felt!

Other veg like sticks of roasted parsnip/sweet potato/butternut squash, steamed carrot that you can then put in the fridge or slices of melon/banana/steamed apple/ ripe pear are also really good, and could go in the net I suppose?

I think they're ridiculous, what's the point? Just give her finger foods.

OP has obviously already bought one so why post just to tell her not to use it?!

I have one (gift from MIL); I put chopped grapes in it, very ripe melon, peeled cucumber. I also put it in the freezer with grapes in it and DS loved it, especially when teething.

That should say very ripe mango, sorry!

I saw one of these recently...I wish I'd had one when i was weaning my babies. I have a phobia of choking which makes weaning babies very stressful!

Avacado

Thanks so much AbiAbi, you are right i have already got one and wasnt appreciating the negative comments about them....fine if others don't like them but i my daughter and i think they are great!

abbierhodes: I dont have a phobia about choking but it does worry me slightly, so i feel much more relaxed giving her all these new tastes in the feeder net knowing she wont choke on a lump!

Also the ideas of what else to put in it are great, and im loving the idea of putting it in the freezer to soothe sore gums, i had only thought of cucumber for that! I will add mango, avacado and butternut squash to my shopping list this week also, not things i would have thought of as im not keen on them, but she might love them!

Please keep the ideas coming!