This post is all about must-have baby led weaning supplies that will make things SO much easier for you.
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8 Must Have Supplies For Starting Baby Led Weaning - Everything You Need To Start Simply
what do i need to buy for baby led weaning?
If you’re wondering – “how do I prepare for baby-led weaning?” then this article is for you!
I will go over all the supplies you will need to buy, to start baby led weaning. By the end, you will know everything you will need to get started including, attire, seat, bowls/plates, utensils, mess-minimizing tools, cups, on-the-go supplies – all of it!
I like to keep it simple when preparing for baby led weaning because, like most anything with our babies, we don’t really know what they will respond to best. (5, 10, 100 different bottle types anyone?!) lol.
I say, start simple and with solid basics, then expand from there as you see what your baby needs or responds to most.
Likewise, as the owner of a Montessori-inspired daycare & preschool plus a mom of twin toddlers, I have experienced tons of different products for baby led weaning, and baby stuff in general, and I’m here to bring you the simplified basics you need for a low stress, easy baby led weaning experience with your baby.
Here is a breakdown of what I recommend buying:
- a super easy to wipe down every time chair
- a bib that really catches all the food and liquid drippings
- placemats, plates and bowls that don’t hold a soapy flavor
- cups that let them practice drinking in different ways
- a splash mat if you have carpet or a rug to protect
- utensils they can actually hold and use properly from the first time they grab it
- a positive mindset about the benefits of baby led weaning 😉
- books that talk about and show food variety
1. best high chairs for baby led weaning
2. best bibs for baby led weaning
The best bib for all of the babies I have worked with, has been the bibs with a sturdy, open reservoir at the bottom and an adjustable, clasping or velcro neck.
You can simply push your baby’s sleeves up to avoid messes on sleeves and you also want to avoid restricting movements with full body-type bibs. We want baby to be comfortable, happy and enjoying the process when sitting and eating.
Here are my favorites that fit the bill:
-My absolute favorite! Lasts forever and catches everything. One thing to know is that many babies often pull at their bib and because of the pearl neck, they can pull this one off. I’m fine to model and let them get used to keeping it on. But, if you don’t want to have to deal with them pulling it off, you can get one with a stronger neck closure. Still, they may pull at it and you’ll have to help calm the, show them how to use it…
-This is a great solution for parents who want a soft cloth near the neck but still want a big silicone reservoir to catch mess. The velcro is strong too, so not until baby is a toddler will they be able to pull it off. One thing to know though, is the cloth part takes a while to dry in between washes, so you may need 3-4 to get you through a day of meals/snacks.
-These button-type closures are a great option if you want to prevent your baby from easily ripping their bib off. As I mentioned, they might still fuss and need your patience, help calming and practicing using it before they get used to it and are ok with it. This variety pack has a softer silicone that the bjorn option but the reservoir still catches all you need it to!
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3. do babies need bowls? do i need baby plates?
Here’s the thing, you don’t have to start out with them. That is up to you. You can just place foods on your baby’s tray to start. You can then introduce more eating tools at any point.
And know, that when you introduce the eating tools, there will be an adjustment and learning period – whether you do it now or later. So, if you want your baby to familiarize and get into a routine of using things now, you can introduce them. If you want to wait, just remember there will probably be an adjustment period, so it may take them a bit to adjust, even if they are older.
Most silicone-based bowls, cups and plates hold the flavor of soap no matter what you try. This is why I like wooden or baby-safe plastic instead.
Here are the plates and bowls I recommend:
-Yes, it’s silicone but I can’t find one that isn’t. I love this mat for baby’s juuuust starting to grab at solids. It holds foods in place and helps prevent some feeding frustrations in the early weeks. So, instead of them smearing food all over their tray, unable to grab it, they can grab it easier with this. Maybe wash immediately with very hot water or use a plant-based, no scent soap to avoid any soapy flavor.
-Not only is this super adorable for our super adorable babies BUT it has suction on the bottom and a easy to clean bamboo body. Love! With a little food-grade wood oil, these can last years and years.
-No silicone to hold the soapy flavor! Suction on the bottom! Lids for packing to go or saving for later! These are great for snacks and meals. I love how functional they are.
4. best cups for baby led weaning
As for cups, I encourage parents to get a few to suit different situations and baby’s preferences. You might get a top-rated cup or one your best friend suggested because it worked well for her baby, only to discover your baby is not about it.
I like to be prepared, while also keeping it simple, and taking into consideration that baby will grow into a toddler. So, having at least one cup that grows with them, is great. Usually, that is a straw cup.
Here are the cups I recommend having:
Straw cups are a great transition from the bottle for many babies. When looking for ones that will grow with your baby, ensure that they have stoppers on the straws so your toddler can’t pull out and play with the straw. Also, check that the top can stay on securely and not be popped out and played with by a capable toddler. This will help avoid water messes and extra stress for you. Lastly, opting for straw cups without the handles is my preference. Handle-less is more in line with how they held their bottle and babies typically fling those types of cups around more.
–The Tough To Tip Easy Grip Open Cup
An open cup is a traditional part of baby led weaning and it is really amazing to see your baby as early as 6,7,8 months and beyond using one! The thing to know what an open cup is there will be a lot of helping bring it to their mouth/keep it from spilling and monitoring that they don’t drop it or put food in it… So, maybe offer the open cup for some meals or part of some meals and then have a straw cup for when you want to take a full break from helping.
5. best (by far!) utensils for baby led weaning
Same as plates, bowls and cups, you certainly don’t need to offer these right away but, typically by 9 months, many babies can properly hold and begin bringing a spoon to their mouth and will try to scoop. Then, by 12 months and beyond, a fork! I still think it is so amazing to see!
There is only ONE type of utensil brand I recommend because it is the only one I see babies use correctly from such a young age. Most utensils aren’t made to fit the needs of a baby (most are more appropriate for a toddler) but this one is excellent for babies and it’s so cool to see them holding and using it properly!
The ONLY utensils I recommend starting with:
-These are the ONLY ones I have seen in almost of decade of feeding dozens and dozens of babies, that they can grip and use properly from the beginning. Super easy to clean and they come with a carrying case for on the go.
6. a floor splash mat for catching messes
This won’t apply to everyone, but for those who have rugs under their dinner table or have carpeting, a splash mat could be very helpful for protecting your carpet and looking cuter than a towel or the like…
Optional:
This large mat is easy to wipe down and has grip beads on the bottom to ensure non-slip safety.
7. books that introduce variety & curb picky eating as they grow into toddlers
This is a helpful, proactive step to avoiding stressful and common toddler picky eating habits. Soon, your baby is all of a sudden a toddler, so planning ahead is very helpful!
Getting books about food variety and incorporating them into your story times will help keep your baby exposed to new foods, normalizing different foods, which will make them comfortable with lots of different foods and happily eating them, even as they get more selective in toddlerhood.
Having a toddler who isn’t super picky, will save you a lot of stress at meal times and worry about nutrition.
Child books I recommend for healthy eating habits:
Here at my home and my preschool, I talk often with the children about complex things like diversity, potty training, kindness, using simple words and it works wonders. Books are always a great tool to help us have those conversations to plant seeds and shape future behaviors.
8. a realistic & positive mindset about baby led weaning
Sometimes it’s much messier than traditional adult spoon-feeding and that can take some adjusting to. If you model how to eat and gently remind and show your baby what to do/what not to do, they will become a lot less messy after a few months of practice.
Likewise, some babies don’t immediately respond to foods in the ways we parents expect them to (eating them). Some play! Some don’t do anything! Read this article to see 7 common things babies do besides eat them, and what you can do if your baby isn’t eating right away.
Always remember – your baby is still getting the nutrients they need from their milk from 6 months to 1 year, so they have time to learn foods and practice the skills of eating. No pressure, unless your pediatrician says they aren’t growing normally and suggests other measures. Babies are intuitive and will cue us for food when they are hungry. You can see what those cues look like here: 5 Cues Your Baby Is Hungry
And those are the supplies for starting baby led weaning! Keep it simple and expand the supplies you have, after you see how your baby interacts with foods and behaves when eating.
Next, you’ll want to start planning foods and how to serve them, so you know what to do on the first day of baby led weaning. You can see examples for that here: 30+ Starter Foods For Baby Led Weaning & 21 Picture Examples Of How To Serve Foods Safely For Baby Led Weaning
And if you are just learning about baby led weaning, I encourage you to read this article that goes over safety, introducing allergens, preparing for gagging/identifying and avoiding choking, and all the important details you’ll want to know before starting baby led weaning: EVERYTHING You Need To Know Before Starting Solids With Baby Led Weaning
Read this next:
16 Simple & Sensory Ways To Serve First Foods (Recipes!)
21 Picture Examples Of How To Serve Foods With Baby Led Weaning
Master List! 30+ Starter Baby Led Weaning Foods For 6 Month Old
Shop all our BLW must-haves that will keep things simple and safe:
Note: ALWAYS consult your pediatrician for professional guidance on starting solids. There is a lot of educational information, like mine here, on the internet that is never to replace medical advice from a medical professional.
For more content on baby led weaning, you can follow me on Instagram!
Read this next:
EVERYTHING You Need To Know Before Starting Solids With Baby Led Weaning
The Ultimate List! Top-Rated Baby Led Weaning Supplies Other Moms Are Loving
7 Foods To Avoid When Starting Baby Led Weaning
Want a FREE instant download of my Low Stress Baby Led Weaning Starter Guide Cheat Sheet? Drop your name & email below! We never spam.
Everything you need to start solids with more ease and confidence. Includes: what to expect, introducing allergens, how to serve foods, foods to avoid, sample feeding schedule and more!
About Low Stress Motherhood
Let's harness the chaos so we can find your happy place in motherhood. I'm here to help moms find some solace and helpful resources that ease the load of motherhood and allow them to show up as the person they want to be, for themselves and their children.
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