Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

what items do you need to start solids?

12 replies

cosmicdust · 03/12/2008 01:54

My ds is 4 months and I'll begin offering solids in a couple of months, but since Christmas is coming up, I'm starting to think what I'll need. I've seen all sorts of fancy things - underfood warmers, suction cups for under the bowl, color changing spoons.....what's useful & what's just a gimmick?
I already have a highchair. I was planning on pureed food, although all this talk of blw has got me thinking.....
Thanks for your comments!

OP posts:
goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh · 03/12/2008 01:55

errrr if you do BLW - then all you'll need in 2 months time is a bib (I recommend either one of those pelican type bibs, or a long sleeved one ) and a high chair

TinkerBellesMum · 03/12/2008 02:09

Nah, skip the bib and just turn the heating up! I got fed up of trying to wash food out of clothes, I sat with a bottle of baby oxyclean at each wash spraying everything that went in and decided it was easier to just feed her naked

(It wasn't that bad, honest, I'm sure she would have got in more mess if she was puree fed)

goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh · 03/12/2008 02:12

no the bib is great - especially as they get older (DS3 now 18 months) and the food is falling off their spoon down their front - if you've got a pelican bib they just scoop it back up out of there )

TinkerBellesMum · 03/12/2008 02:18

Ah yes, it took Tink awhile to get into spoons (not fast enough for her ) but now she's so fast with them she gets it everywhere! One of the biggest pluses for me is seeing her enjoy her food, no games needed food is fun. I can't wait to do it all again

Glad I'm not the only one up late! I'm at that stage of pregnancy where my days are turned around, I'm shattered all the time and can't sleep at night.

thumbElf · 03/12/2008 02:35

if you do go the puree route, I suggest one of these glass graters - they are fab for producing raw fruit and veg purees without damage to your knuckles! DS loved the fruit purees for a short while, now prefers eating a whole apple (even though he only gets through the equivalent of a couple of thin slices and then mummy has to eat the rest )

I love my glass grater and although I don't use it now for DS, it is still a useful tool in my kitchen for e.g. producing garlic puree.

The website it comes from are fantastic - I placed an order online with them at 2pm one day and got my order the next morning! I DS loves their organic baby food products too - especially their baby porridges and spelt biscuits.

thumbElf · 03/12/2008 02:40

sorry, to add re. your other points - I never let DS near the bowl when I was weaning him (so no under-bowl sucker), nor the spoon - but eventually bought a pack of plastic spoons to take out and about with us. I have never used a plastic table mat yet as DS just would use it as a weapon (MIL bought one for use in Oz when we were there - it lasted 2 mins). Bowls, I use Tesco ramekin bowls - lovely size and being china, they keep the heat in better than plastic. And they're cheaper.

I also recommend the sachet fruit and veg purees (e.g. Ella's Kitchen) for out and about - very easy to use.

Original poster
cosmicdust · 03/12/2008 03:16

wow, I didn't expect any responses until morning....I'm picturing my baby naked covered in food...but I'll probably look for a pelican bib too. And thanks, thumbElf. Is grating raw food better than cooking it and then using a blender? I guess it leaves more of the nutrients in it. I like the idea of china ramekin bowls, especially with everyone so worried about BPA. The food on the websites looks great too.

OP posts:
BlueCowNowIsLowing · 03/12/2008 03:26

maybe time to think slightly further on, and buy in multiples for the time when your ds starts flinging spoons around the kitchen! (Afraid I disagree totally with thumbelf,and get them to 'help' with another spoon asap)

I loved my mini blender but it's not a 'baby' product, just a normal one that does small quantities. And I ended up getting 3 pyrex jugs for cooking and 'stick' blending some foods (what's the real name for these?!). Both still in use years later!

arfishy · 03/12/2008 05:49

If you're going the puree route get some ice cube trays to freeze your purees in, then you can decant them in blocks into labelled freezer bags and take out however many you want/mix different ones etc.

I always liked the colour changing spoons (actually found one in an old handbag the other day - DD is 6 ) because I was always scared that the purees were too hot (PFB).

Don't fall into the Annabel Karmel trap and buy a Mouli for ££ from John Lewis. Her recipes are good though. Maybe get one of her books if you're looking for present/spending ideas.

IIRC I used disposable and full sleeved wipeable bibs ones a lot. I ditched the washables as soon as she was on food, orange (which everything ends up as) NEVER comes out.

A steamer is also good, it's lovely to be able to steam the veg and then puree it, much better than boiling.

BLW as an alternative route is much less of a faff. Take a look at the BLW threads and decide if you want to go the puree route or BLW.

cmotdibbler · 03/12/2008 09:02

The only fabric bibs to buy are the SillyBillyz as they are fleece and waterproof fabric with long sleeves - they don't stain, and can go in the tumble dryer. I think one of those, plus a pelican bib is the way to go.

Get an Antilop high chair from Ikea - for 15 quid it will save you a lot of cleaning crud out of the high chair cushion, and works for visiting people.

I've never pureed anything, so can't comment on that, but if you do BLW, then it would be a good time to get some nice family recipe books and start cooking good, healthy food without salt for you and DP/DH so that in a couple of months, all you will have to do is plonk some in front of your baby too

thumbElf · 03/12/2008 12:36

I find that washable bibs usually come clean if soaked in Vanish prior to washing.

I am sorry you disagree with me TOTALLY, bluecow, or perhaps you just meant about my choice of whether or not to give DS a spoon ? I started to give him a spoon to "help out" at about 9mo, but not at 6mo when I started weaning.

I also have a stick blender (the Ready Steady Go range from Woollies) which was a Best Buy - it does really well on small amounts but also does a whole pan of soup very fast and well!

DS does a bit of the blw - he eats steamed carrot sticks/ broccoli/ cauliflower/ green beans; likes mashed sweet potato and squash (but not ordinary potato). He also likes to chew on whole bananas and whole apples - a word of warning though, apple and banana stain dreadfully unless you pre-soak cold and get all the banana off the clothes!

MegBusset · 03/12/2008 12:49

Suction cups/magic mat/etc DO NOT WORK (speaks voice of bitter experience). Finger food I just put straight on the high chair. For mushy stuff (I did a mix of puree and BLW) I would hold the bowl and give LO a spoon while spoon-feeding him as well.

Now he is 21mo he can just about be trusted to have a bowl on his tray without tipping it over or flinging it across the room, except for cereal and milk which he just can't help tipping everywhere as soon as he gets bored eating it

New posts on this thread. Refresh page