What You Need When Starting Solids: Expert-Recommended Tools to Make Feeding Easier

Article Written by Lauren Remondino, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC

It’s finally time! Your baby is about to start solids. It’s an exciting milestone — and also one that comes with a lot of questions. Parents often ask: “What do I really need?” While there is no single product that will do everything, there are some that make life easier and safer, and that are optimal for a baby learning to eat. Let’s go through some of my favorites!

Simple features that make feeding tools more helpful

Before jumping into specifics, here are some principles to keep in mind:

• Ease of cleaning (always a priority for me!): Mealtimes are messy. Products that are dishwasher-safe (or easy to hand wash/wipe down) will save you a lot of grief.
  

• Durability/longevity: If something can grow with your baby (adjustable chairs, versatile bowls), that’s a bonus – I always try to get the most bang for my buck!
  

• Materials: Consider using products that are BPA-free, food-grade plastics, silicone, or stainless steel if this is feasible for your family.
  
  

Whether you lean more towards starting with purees, baby-led weaning (BLW), or a mix, let's look at some items you might want to have on hand. And before you rush out to buy anything, just a note that you don’t need to buy the most expensive items or the most trendy items to support your baby. There’s no perfect product, but having the right tools that fit your lifestyle and feeding goals can make the journey easier. 

Supportive high chairs that help your baby sit well for starting solids

A good seat can make early meals feel so much easier, giving your baby the stability they need to focus on exploring new tastes and skills.

What helps a high chair feel safe and steady

What to look for:

• 5-point or 3-point harness
  

• Stable legs or base (no tipping)
  

• Tray with minimal crevices for food to get stuck in
  

• Tray with easy removal for cleaning, or so that it can be removed and the chair can be placed right up to the table
  

• Adjustable features (height, footrest) – this will help you use it long-term!
  
  

Expert-recommended high chairs that are easy to clean and adjust

• Mockingbird high chair - Easy to adjust and clean, and it transitions from infancy through toddlerhood.
  

• IKEA Antilop High Chair - It’s minimal, easy to clean, and effective. Many people like its simplicity. You can add a footrest from Amazon/Etsy (footrests are ideal for supporting your baby’s posture)!
  

• Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair - A popular chair that “grows” with your child (used as a toddler chair or even adult seat later). It is an expensive option so you can consider buying secondhand!
  

• Abiie Beyond - Another option that transitions from infancy through toddlerhood and is easy to clean.
  
  

Bibs, mats, and mealtime tools that keep starting solids a little less messy

There’s no way to avoid the splatters entirely, but the right bib or mat can take the stress out of the mess so you can focus on the fun parts.

Helpful features to look for in bibs and splash mats

What to look for:

• Silicone or waterproof materials (easy to wipe clean or dishwasher safe)
  

• Adjustable fastenings (can change as their necks grow)
  

• Deep “crumb catcher” pocket and/or wide coverage (sleeved bibs are great for messy eaters)
  

• Mats or placemats that suction to trays or tables
  
  

Bibs and mats we reach for again and again

Examples:

• Silicone bibs / deep pocket bibs – so many brands to choose from, just pick your favorite style!
  

• Sleeved bibs - Especially helpful for purees or messy first foods (again, endless options – I like Lalo and Cloud Island)
  

• Silicone placemats/suction mats - These help keep dishes in place and reduce sliding around.
  

• High chair food catcher / drop mat - The Catchy is quite popular as it doesn’t let food touch the floor!
  
  

Bowls and plates that make early feeding feel smoother

You don’t need a full set of special dishes; just one or two that stay put and are easy for tiny hands to explore can make early feeding feel more relaxed.

What helps bowls and plates stay in place

What to look for:

• Non-slip or suction bases so dishes don’t slide
  

• Shallow, wide shapes (easy scooping)
  

• Durable materials (silicone, hard plastic, stainless steel)
  

• Removable lids for portability (if you travel with food)
  
  

Expert-recommended suction bowls and baby plates

Examples:

• Suction bowls – children are VERY good at finding a way to pull off suctioned products, but some brands like OXO Tot Stick & Stay get good reviews!
  

• ezpz Happy Mat - this is a suction “plate + mat in one” concept that stays in place on the table
  

• Stainless steel suction plates - for parents concerned about plastic or odor retention, the Avanchy Suction Plates offer another great option
  
  

First spoons and utensils that support early self-feeding

These are the tools your baby will begin using (or that you’ll use to feed them). They evolve quickly, so start simple.

Gentle, baby-friendly features to look for in early utensils

What to look for:

• Soft, food-safe silicone or rounded edges (for gentle gums)
  

• Short, thick handles (easy for tiny fingers or for helpers to grip)
  
  

Spoons we often recommend for those first bites

Examples:

• Num Num Gootensil spoons – its flat design helps babies successfully self-feed, and the small grooves that you can push food into allows it to stay on the spoon more easily and not fall off and baby is learning
  

• ezpz Tiny Spoons – easy to grip, soft texture, narrow bowl
  

• Maroon Spoon – a lightweight spoon with no seams or ridges (easy to clean) that has a shallow, narrow bowl that makes it easy for the child to remove food
  
  

First cups that help your baby learn to sip during starting solids

A tiny cup becomes part of the ritual—something light, soft, and simple that invites your baby to try sipping at their own pace.

Why straw and open cups support new oral-motor skills

I typically recommend starting with straw and/or open cups when starting solids, as this is a great time for your little one to start learning new oral motor skills that are different from breast or bottle feeding.

Features that make early cups easier for little hands

What to look for:

• Small size and lightweight
  

• Easy to grip
  

• Soft, mouth-friendly materials like food-safe silicone
  

• Minimal extra parts/easy to clean
  
  

Cups many families find helpful when they’re just starting out

Examples:

• ezpz Tiny Cup – small open cup (can also include a straw option) made of soft silicone and has a weighted base, making it easier to maneuver
  

• Straw training cups – these cups allow the feeder to help push the liquid up within the straw so that babies can start to learn how to use a straw (examples include Olababy and the Honey Bear Cup)
  

• Grosmimi – parents like that they have a handle and stainless steel option
  
  

Extra tools that can make starting solids feel more manageable

These aren’t strictly essential, but they often become ones you’re glad you have:

Simple accessories that support daily feeding routines

• Food separators / sectioned trays - helpful when trying multiple tastes at once or you want to make a batch of puree and freeze individual cubes for less food waste
  

• Snack containers - for finger foods while out and about
  

• Re-usable silicone pouches - for storing home-blended purees
  

• Dish racks or utensil holders - for drying spoons, bowls
  

• Cleaning brushes/silicone scrubbers - for getting into tight corners
  

• Food introduction and tracking apps - Bebe Foodie app has you set for what you can introduce, how to offer it safely, nutrition information, tracking, and recipes for all different foods!
  
  

Tips to keep in mind as you start solids

Every baby learns at their own pace, and a few small insights can make the early days feel a little more predictable.

What many families notice in the early weeks

• Silicone products often pick up soap smell/taste - you can hand-wash with unscented dish soap and let them air dry thoroughly. Other options include boiling them or putting them in the oven to remove the taste!
  

• Keep things simple, especially early on — you don’t need every gadget. Live this new experience for a little while and then decide what else you want to buy.
  

• Expect a period of experimentation — your baby’s preferences, tolerance, and skills change quickly.
  
  

Final thoughts as you choose products for starting solids

Starting solids is a fun and often messy rite of passage. What I’ve learned over the years is that no one product is perfect, unfortunately, and what works for some may not always work for others. Find products that are going to fit your lifestyle, goals, and strongest preferences. You don’t need every fancy gadget on the market or to use the most expensive options, but having the right tools will make the process far more manageable and enjoyable.

 

Written by Lauren Remondino, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC

Feeding Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, Lactation Consultant & Advisor at Bébé Foodie

Lauren Remondino is a speech language pathologist that specializes in pediatric feeding therapy, lactation consultant, and mom of two. After years working at a top children’s hospital, she now brings her clinical expertise—and real-life parenting perspective—to Bébé Foodie. Lauren works closely on developing our How to Serve guides and feeding support content, helping parents feel confident at every stage of their baby’s food journey. She’s all about keeping things realistic, flexible, and supportive—because feeding isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially when you’re juggling nap schedules and snack requests.

 

This blog post is for information purposes only and shouldn’t be used as personal, health, nutritional, or medical advice. Always consult with your pediatrician before making any decisions about your child's health or readiness for various foods.

 

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