which bowls, spoons, bibs etc would you recommend? on a budget too.

[FTMum]

Hi,
on a budget and can't afford to buy unsuitable bowls spoons etc, so just interested in which you prefered when you started weaning your little ones.

(BLWers, i assume you would suggest finger foods and avoid microwave bowls and spoons etc ?)
TIA

IKEA have a nice range of kiddie equipment that lasts & is dishwasher-proof.

My best ever bowl is a baby bjorn dinner set (amazon and of course e-bay) Not cheap but brilliant and good quality and lasts forever. My 4 year old is still using hers. The three leat clover shape means that they can scoop the food up themselves rather than chasing it endlessly round and round and they don't slip like melamine ones do.

My favourite cups are the tommy tippee ones with the dogs on. They are a sippy cup that does not leak and then when they get older you can use it as an ordinary cup without a lid. Especially if you get the see through ones as they can see what is in there more easily.

I also like those IKEA bowls that everyone had. They are 5 for a pound I think and are a useful basic bowl

Ikea

Or whack it all on the high-chair tray thing

Supermarkets sell cheap plastic baby and toddler cutlery. Ditto 'normal' (ie not specifically for children) plastic plates and bowls etc

Ethel Austin do great freezeable/microwaveable pots, about 5 for a pound or two IIRC, and we're still using them 3 years on. You can use them to portion up leftovers, and they are great for taking little portions of snacks out when older (eg raisins).

They also do a range of spoons/bowls/cups etc, all of which look fine, and all of which are budget-friendly.

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/202-7805691-7731000?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=baby+bjo rn+dinner+set&x=0&y=0

Am trying to do a link for the very first time- wish me luck. This can't be right. It looks ridiculous.

God, I think it WORKED!

Ikea long sleeved bibs are great and about 2.99 for a pack of two.

Poundland do 4 bowls with lids for a pound which are nmicrowave safe and are great value. saw practically the same ones in jojo maman for £6.

I bought some packs of 4 bowls with lids for a pound in Woolworths (microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe), then make food in big batches and freeze, defrost, heat and serve all from the same bowl!
Also use ice-cube trays for early freezing in smaller quantities, don't bother with special 'weaning pots'.
I like the Tommee Tippee first stage beaker, was 85p in Tesco, it does leak when they wave it around, but is much easier to drink from than the 'no-spill' cups IMO.
I have been feeding with the Tommee Tippee weaning spoons that change colour when food is too hot, about £3 for 6 in Tesco.
By the way I don't work for Tommee Tippee although it does look like it!

FTmum, I have a pack of 6 weaning spoons, soft tips, quite bendy spoons, bright yellow, £1 from Asda, which I would be happy to send you if you'd like. ds didn't use them, I weaned him at 6m so he was all about the hands!

i got little square tupperwares out of woolies that i used for taking stuff out with me, and i believe ikea now do a brilliant cover all bib. also the antilop is a great highchair, even better cos it costs about £15.

I had two little bowls with lids for microwaving, one Tesco's own brand and one Tommee Tippee. A pack of five weaning spoons, also Tesco (and better than the Tommee Tippee one that came with the bowl). Beaker was TT's basic flip up lid, suitable from 4 months. DS still uses one of these at nearly 2 (when I run out of patience with a normal cup). Those non-spill things are a rip off.

Bibs - don't bother. Muslin squares are by far the best thing. If you are getting bibs though, don't get really cheap crappy ones and make sure they're fairly big. Velcro at the back is much better than ties - I think Tesco's bibs are pretty good IIRC.

Moving up, I bought a little cutlery set, again from Tesco, which is still going strong. And now we use plastic picnic bowls and plates.

And ditto to Aitch's square tupperwares. We ended up with about 12 of them (for freezing leftovers and the like) and they're great.

My dd is just two and has worn the same plastic coverall ( but not with sleeves) bib for 3 meals a day since she was 5 and a half months. and let's say it was 4.99, and that's how many meals...? I can't work it out, but good value anyway.

It was from mothercare. Can't find one similar on the website. It's plastic, not fabric, but flexible, not solid or rubbery, and you have to put your arms into it, but it only has shoulders, not sleeves.

What a crap description! Anyway, get one like that, they're great!

(useless emoticon.. I just wanted to rave about my great bib!)

It's blue and has flowers and butterflies on it...I might have to post a picture!