The 10 Best Spoons and Feeding Utensils for Babies
Helping your baby make the shift over to solid foods is an exciting (and messy!) milestone for most parents. Most babies are developmentally ready to start eating solid foods around six months of age. Whether you’re planning to make your own purees, use store-bought baby food, or move straight to baby-led weaning, you’ll need to invest in some proper mealtime essentials, like infant spoons and forks.
Learning to use spoons and other feeding utensils isn’t just about teaching good table manners. It actually helps babies improve their hand-eye coordination. Giving a baby a spoon to play with while strapped into their high chair allows them to practice finger gripping and lifting their hand to their mouth. Using spoons also helps with appetite regulation and portion control since it helps get the right amount of food into their mouth.
At What Age Should a Baby Use a Spoon?
Around 6 months old, most babies can swallow without choking and are ready to start eating pureed or mashed foods from a spoon, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). By 10 to 12 months, many babies are ready to try using a spoon on their own.
What to Look for in a Baby Spoon or Other Feeding Utensil: Shape, Size, Materials
Little hands require little utensils that are simple to grasp. You’ll want to look for spoons and forks designed specifically for infants and toddlers. Here are a few features you may want to consider as you shop:
- Smooth, soft edges: Spoons or any other feeding utensil should be free from sharp edges that could cut a baby’s tongue or mouth.
- Durability: Single material is ideal. Ensure that utensils made from more than one material won’t come apart. Utensils that can withstand the dishwasher, microwave, boiling, and freezing are a plus.
- Size appropriate: Wider, short-handled utensils are better for babies who are self-feeding. Long-handled spoons are meant for caregivers to use when feeding a baby.
- Non-toxic construction: Always check the labels. Look for spoons made of food-grade silicone. Plastic spoons should be BPA-free. Wood or metal spoons should be preservative-free and free of lead.
You may need to “test drive” a few different spoons to see which ones are the winners with your little one. It’s also worth investing in plenty of extras, especially when first starting solids with your little one. You’ll need a spoon for yourself, one for your baby to hold onto, and a few more as a backup for when the others inevitably fall on the floor.
What's the Best Spoon to Use to Feed a Baby?
Let’s take a look at some of the best spoons and baby feeding utensils for mealtime.
1. Best Overall: OXO Tot Feeding Spoon
When it's time for solids, try the OXO Tot Feeding Spoon. This stainless steel, dishwasher-safe feeding spoon has a protective food-grade silicone coating that is gentle on your baby's gums and mouth. The soft edges of the silicone can be used to scrape the last bit of sweet potato from the bowl or jar or to gently wipe applesauce from your baby's face. The shallow spoon bowl prevents feeding your baby too much food at once. The contoured handle is comfortable to hold and angled for easy feeding.
2. Best Budget: OXO Tot Plastic Infant Feeding Spoon Multipack
The OXO Tot Plastic Infant Feeding Spoon Multipack is the perfect starter set for little eaters. The rounded handles are designed with tots' hands in mind, making it easy for them to grip while taking their first solo bites. The spoon head is the perfect shape and size for little mouths. This set comes with four great spoons at one amazing value!
OXO Tot Plastic Infant Feeding Spoon Multipack
3. Best for Teething Babies: Mushie Silicone Fresh Food Feeders
Introduce little foodies to new flavors and textures with Mushie Silicone Fresh Food Feeders, designed for safe self-feeding. Made from food grade silicone and featuring an easy-to-clean, two-piece design, this feeder will quickly become a favorite for at-home meals or on-the-go snacks. Its handle is easily held by little fingers as the small holes release the right amount of fresh or frozen favorites from its soft but sturdy design.
Mushie Silicone Fresh Food Feeder
4. Best for First-Time Eaters: Boon Swap
Boon Swap is a dual-ended spoon with a soft end and a rigid end, perfect for first-time eaters. (Your baby will let you know which side of the spoon works best.) Both sides have a flat tip, perfect for wiping off the food that inevitably ends up all over your baby's face. Made from hygienic food-grade silicone and stainless steel, the Boon Swap is dishwasher-safe, as well as BPA-, phthalate-, and PVC-free.
5. Best Mess-Proof Spoon: Boon Squirt Silicone Baby Food Dispensing Spoon
The Boon Squirt Silicone Baby Food Dispensing Spoon isn’t just a spoon; it’s a revelation. It takes baby food, removes the jar and the mess, packs it into a single utensil, and with one squeeze– boom! You get easy, one-handed feeding. The large, easy-to-clean bulb holds up to 3 oz. of Stage 1 or 2 baby food. Just pop on the cap to seal food on the go.
Boon Squirt Silicone Baby Food Dispensing Spoon
6. Best for Learning to Self-Feed: Mushie First Feeding Baby Spoons
The Mushie First Feeding Baby Spoons are designed for babies aged 6 months and older, helping ease the transition to self-feeding. These spoons feature a flat design, allowing babies to hold them comfortably without the need for wrist rotation. The pack includes a Stage 1 spoon for purees and a Stage 2 spoon with open slots for thicker textures like oatmeal. Sensory dots on each spoon also soothe teething gums, making mealtime easier and more enjoyable for little ones. Made from 100% food-grade silicone, it is safe and non-toxic materials for baby feeding.
Mushie First Feeding Baby Spoons
7. Best for Older Toddlers: Avanchy Stainless Steel Baby Fork and Spoon
The Avanchy Stainless Steel Baby Fork and Spoon is a stepping stone for kids who are comfortable feeding themselves and ready to take on the next challenge. The tines are sharp enough to pierce food, yet round enough to prevent painful pokes, and the silicone handle creates an easy grip. As practical as it is colorful, these stainless steel forks and spoon are perfect for your growing child.
Avanchy Stainless Steel Baby Fork and Spoon
8. Best Bamboo Utensils: Avanchy Infant Feeding Spoons
Avanchy Infant Feeding Spoons are designed for younger babies and the parents who feed them. The ergonomically-designed bamboo handle is made for adults to easily hold, scoop, and feed their precious baby from any angle without straining their wrists. Soft silicone tip is gentle on baby's gums and the small head provides idea portion scoops for little mouths.
9. Best Spoon Set for Travel: OXO TOT On-the-Go Plastic Fork and Spoon Set with Travel Case
The OXO TOT On-the-Go Plastic Fork and Spoon Set with Travel Case is the perfect starter set for little eaters. The rounded handles are designed with tots' hands in mind, making it easy for them to grip while taking their first solo bites. The spoon head is the perfect shape and size for little mouths and the rounded fork tines are effective yet safe for little learners. Both utensils come in a convenient travel case you can easily drop into your diaper bag, purse, or backpack.
OXO TOT On-the-Go Plastic Fork and Spoon Set with Travel Case
10. Best Wide Grip Spoon: OXO TOT Training Fork And Spoon Set
The wide grip on the OXO Tot Fork and Spoon are perfect for when tots are ready to feed themselves. Generous handles have soft, non slip-grips and are easy to hold while scooping yogurt or piercing pasta. The fork tines capture food effectively and safely, while the deep spoon head easily scoops and contains food, easing the frustrations of learning to self-feed. A flat spot on the handles prevents the fork and spoon from rolling off the table or high chair tray, and the soft grips are shaped to keep them from sliding into bowls or plates. This durable stainless steel fork and spoon set eases the transition to "grown up" flatware. It's also dishwasher-safe!
