Weaning equipment - the basics - what do I need?

[sotheran]

I thought I'd ask the experts what I'll need when I start weaning. I've ordered a couple of books but would be grateful if you could help me with the basics - don't want to waste pennies on buying silly things (I'm good at that!). Any recommendations ladies?

ice cube tray if you making your own for storing in the freezer
spoons and lots of ( i lose them ) one for you and one for baby to hold so she doesnt grab yours
bibs hundreds !!!
baby wipes hundreds !
maybe a hand blender if you make your own
and thats all i have and its done me great hope that helps

Have you thought about how you want to wean? I did BLW, and so needed:

Splashmat for under high-chair
Melamine bowls/plates for throwing.
Pelican bibs.
Lots of cloths/muslins
Aitch's blog

Am sure others will be along to advise on other ways to wean/things you might need.

habbibu i do a a bit of both and blw is soooooo funny and messy i dint start till she was bout 9 months sotheran you should try it x very messy but you will enjoy it more than trying to force a sppon in babys mouth

You need a baby, some food and a pvc home.

Add food and baby together and stand well back (but be alert for any choking)

Eventually they become acceptable to society and you are able to take them to restaurants - the following month they leave home.

if you use a baby jar, keep it and refill it

We have done BLW, I have wipe-clean bibs with catcher-thingys, a dog for cleaning the floor , a couple of weaning spoons for DS to help himself to yoghurt and a couple of small tupperware things (not the special bright-coloured baby ones, normal ones) for taking snacks out and about. And a doidy cup, highly recommend.

You need any spoons and bibs and bowls, cheaper the better, and blw and that is it. Anything else a waste of money.
It all washes off.
They like being messy ! get used to it

"You need a baby, some food and a pvc home". ROFLROFLROFLROFL. i LOVE that.

a big bib that catches all the bits, cheapo highchair, no special spoons or plates, baby, lots of flannels

Those IKEA packs of plastic plates/bowls in the baby dept (£1 for 6 I think) are great. We use them for all sorts with both ours (2.5 and 1). We did BLW with DS, and DD has been a bit more of a mix. I have found cheap flexible ice cube trays useful with both of them for freezing bits (actually, DH and I use them too for freezing our own sauces!). Plastic tubs always handy. Spoons handy too.

What you actually need to spend money on is probably just a few bibs, a highchair of some description and some food!

Those have made me chuckle mrspnut - that's hilarious - I love the idea of a pvc home
I didn't know much about BLW - just looked it up - it sounds fun. At what age can you start that?
I've definitely found the experts. Thank you everyone.
Are there any books that you would recommend -there seem to be so many out there. I've ordered the annabel karmel baby puree book and another one (can't remember what it is now).

BLW is fab, start at 6 mo, no faffing with blenders or any of that palaver

there isn't a book yet but there are some websites. one of them is mine at www.babyledweaning.com

now step away from the AK book...

Don't stress about it at all, don't faff about making liver and apricot puree.

They will feed themselves when ready, and you know they're ready because they manage to steal the steak off your plate and begin gnawing on it.

Thank you for your website link AitchTwoOh - it's fab - really informative and friendly. I've made it a favourite. I love the photos - spaghetti by the fistful is soooooooooooo adorable. This sounds like my kind of weaning. I'm definitely going to give it a go. Maybe you could write the book - your website seems to contain the formula for a good book I'd say.

cheers, thanks.