Weaning Gear: Plates and Bowls and Spoons! Oh MY!

We still haven't decided how we are going to approach introducing solids into MiniMe's diet.  We've read the Baby Led Weaning Book and the current advice on the NHS Start4LIfe website, which suggests purees and mashed foods are the best way to start.  I suppose the most important thing we've gleaned from it all is that we will wait until MiniMe is ready to start, even if that means waiting another few weeks, or a month.  I'm not frightened by the study I talked about in my last post that warned  about how introducing solid foods too late would raise MiniMe's chance of getting diabetes, and so we will wait.  

In the meantime, though, we've been thinking about weaning gear.  All that stuff that clutters up the cupboards and comes flying out when doors are opened clattering to the floor...the plastic stuff.  I know strictly speaking for Baby Led Weaning we wouldn't need any gear, just pull MiniMe right up to the table and let her go for it.  I'm just not that relaxed.  We purposely bought a highchair with a tray so that MiniMe could eat off of that if she goes straight onto finger foods, but if we choose to introduce purees or mashed foods first then she will need something else. 

Although I love the idea of MiniMe using plates and bowls and spoons that aren't plastic we (I) really need to be realistic. She won't be able to lift up a GLASS sippy cup let alone DRINK from it for months, and I totally don't fancy the idea of my china dishes being knocked onto the floor...so, really, it has to be plastic.

I didn't fancy spending much money on weaning gear right now, since we don't know what we are going to be doing and when we are going to be starting, so we picked up some plates, bowls and cutlery from IKEA when we were there before Christmas buying MiniMe's highchair.

Ikea bowls 

The IKEA stuff is great and cheap! 6 bowls and plates and 6 sets of cutlery for £3...they make cups too but I'm not anticipating using a cup for a while.  The bowls and plates are a nice size, the colours are great, and they dishwasher safe (not that we have one of those) the cutlery looks a bit chunky to me for little hands, but I'm sure that the spoons will be just fine.  I don't imagine MiniMe will be skilfully cutting up her dinner with a knife and fork just yet.  

Vital Travel Weaning Set 

I was given an ORANGE version of this travel weaning set by a mum2be I know here in Edinburgh.  I think it will soon become part of our essential going out kit.  I know that I could pack up a puree or some finger foods for MiniMe for when we are on the go in any old tupperware container, but part of me likes the idea of her having her own "lunchbox".  I assume that she will quickly recognise it as her own, and (hopefully) get excited about the prospect of whatever is inside.  

We are definitely equipped with enough bowls, plates and spoons to see us through purees and mashed foods if we choose to go that route and if we don't I still imagine we will use them for Baby Led Weaning.

Born Free Training Cup 

Our Health Visitor gave us a FREE FLOW training cup when she came to see us at 6 weeks.  No, it wasn't that fab Born Free cup, it is a bog standard plastic cup with a sippy lid.  The catch is that there is no leak-proof/spill-proof valve in the lid so it shouldn't affect the way that MiniMe nurses.  I don't know if the cup I was given is BPA free so I have been looking into other options and these Born Free training cups seem like a great one.  I know MiniMe isn't going to be drinking loads of water in the first instance, but I do think it is important for her cup to be BPA-free.

The next thing to decide on is some massive bib to catch all the mess! 

Choosing a Highchair

What a difficult decision.  There are so many factors to consider...folding or static, all plastic or fabric, with or without tray...and then there is the cost....do I really want to shell out hundreds of pounds for this, admittedly very important, piece of furniture? Well...no I don't.  So there are all these factors and then there is the biggest factor of all...is MiniMe going to be comfortable/enjoy herself/be able to get the best out of whichever chair we end up buying. 

We've decided to buy MiniMe her highchair as a present for Christmas.  Although she won't be 6 months until the end of January we think that it would be amazing for her to be able to sit up with us while we eat our Christmas Lunch...and not be on anyone's lap. 

Her head control is really good and she is capable of sitting up straight with a little bit of support, so we figure she is ready.  Also, she has started to get very fussy when we are eating our meals and she is relegated to the Bumbo on the floor, or her bouncy chair.  She looks at us and barks "How dare you sit me on the floor while you two have all the fun up there!" Normally she can be placated with a toy, but for the most part we end up wolfing down our dinner with zero conversation.  Not ideal.  

Stokke Tripp Trapp

For ages I drooled over the Stokke Tripp Trapp and the infant insert.  How forward thinking, I thought, to have MiniMe up at the table from day ONE.  And then I saw the price...sure, it is an investment, but considering we are quiet keen on trying Baby Led Weaning we really need a highchair with a tray.  Siiiigh it still is a very nice highchair.  Oh well, MiniMe will have to do with sitting in one when we go out to a couple of the cafes that have them.  

Phil and Ted's Lobster 

We live in a tenement flat so space is at a premium and our living room is quickly becoming overrun with MiniMe's gear.  The highchair is going to be yet another thing that we have to find room for.  Sure it is going to be used daily, hourly, constantly, but some of these things can be pretty massive.  Something like this Phil and Ted's Lobster seat could be the space saving solution we've been looking for.  The seat is made of fabric and simply clamps onto the table.  MiniMe could sit right up with us, and it wouldn't take up any valuable floor space.  Downsides I can already imagine....cleaning the fabric could be a nightmare, it could leave dents in our table (although all the info I have read says it won't) and, well Dad doesn't think it looks safe at all.  And there is no tray.  I'm really not keen on MiniMe spreading and grinding her food into the tablecloth just yet.  

Cosatto's Pretzel

Cosatto's version of the Stokke Tripp Trap solves the tray problem.  This highchair comes with a tray attached that can flip over the back of the chair so MiniMe could sit right up at the table as well as eat off her tray.  The fabric pads are removable and washable, but I have visions of having to wash them 3 times a day once MiniMe is into her food...not ideal, although it looks awesome.  

Mothercare MiHi

These Mothercare highchairs tick a lot of boxes.  They are all plastic, so easy to clean...they are relatively inexpensive (something like £20) and they are super stylish...ok not actually one of the criteria, but it comes in a range of bright bold colours...how cool! The only downside I can see is that the seat itself is very wide.  MiniMe isn't a big girl, she's rather dinky.  I have visions of her slumping over during this in between time when she can't quite sit up unaided. 

Ikea Antilop

Most of my pals have this Ikea highchair, and from what I have spotted...most city cafes have them too.  The seat is narrower than the Mothercare MiHi and at 4.5 months MiniMe can sit up pretty well in it needing only a little extra padding to support her back...she isn't slumping over to either side.  It is easy to clean and is cheap as chips. The legs do splay out so would take up quite a deal of space, but that seems pretty standard.  Ok, it is boring white (although it comes in red and blue...those colours aren't stocked at our nearest Ikea) but that way it is more like a blank canvas for all that food that is going to get smeared on it.  

I'm no closer to choosing a highchair and as Christmas draws closer and closer I realise we really need to just make a decision.  Any wise words out there?