The best weaning gifts at Christmas

Do you know any parents who are about to start weaning around Christmas time? Here are some of the best and most helpful gifts you can buy them this Christmas

By Sally J. Hall

Weaning your baby is a wonderful time as you start to introduce them to new tastes and textures. So, if you have already been through this baby milestone, you will know that it creates all kinds of mess in the kitchen – but also that there are lots of great products that can help make weaning your baby easy.

If you know somebody who is about to start on this epic moment in their baby’s life, why not give them a wonderful Christmas gift that will make their weaning journey much simpler?

Here are our top suggestions for the best baby weaning gifts.

Baby food processor

The BabyBrezza One Step 3 in 1 food processor helps you prepare all the meals you need for your baby when you are weaning – and you can even use it to make food for all the family, such as sauces and purees. You simply pop some chopped fruit or veg into the reservoir and the machine steams it for you, then blends it and you can use the pot to store food in too. It holds 800g of baby food, so you can make several portions at a time for small babies and pop them into the fridge or freezer. It offers three settings: steam and blend, steam only and blend only. It comes with three pouches that you can store food in for outings with your baby and funnels to help you fill them, too. It’s easy to clean and the parts are all dishwasher safe. It also comes with a free weaning guide. 

Available from: Amazon

Bibs

A good, large bib that covers clothes is a great addition to your weaning arsenal, as it means you can get through a messy mealtime without needing yet another change of clothes – for your baby, at least! The Bibetta UltraBibs have long sleeves with a gently elasticated cuff that are soft on your baby’s arms, plus a soft neck opening too and adjustable Velcro fastenings at the back. The front is made from neoprene, which is both soft and stretchy for comfort and there is a pelican-style pocket at the front that catches dropped pieces of food, meaning less waste. It can be washed by hand or in the machine and can even be popped in the tumble dryer. There are several vibrant designs to choose from which your child will love, including tropical fish, dinosaurs and elephants. 

Available from: Amazon

Suction Bowl 

Once your baby starts to think it’s hilarious to throw the bowl around the room at mealtimes, a suction bowl is a great buy. Sitting on your table top or the highchair tray, your child can’t lift it from the table thanks to its suction base. The Vital Baby Nourish power suction bowl is brightly coloured to appeal to your little one and has a strong suction action on the base to keep it firmly stuck down. You simply place the base on the table, then lock it and twist the bowl onto it. This two-step process means you can fill the bowl before giving it to your child, too. It has sloping sides that make it easy for your child to scoop up food and a lid that means you can take it out with you. In the lid there’s even a little spoon, so you can feed your little one wherever you are. It’s microwave and dishwasher safe. 

Available from: Amazon

Child-sized cutlery set

Little people have little hands, so a set of baby-sized cutlery is a must. This clever little set from Dodl is not just the right size but has been cleverly designed to be easy to grip. The spoon and fork and the little cutter are also angled, so that it’s easier for your child to bring to their mouth. They can be used from 12 months and are recommended by baby feeding experts. They can go in the dishwasher and are BPA-free. 

Available from: Amazon

Highchair

Eating together as a family is one of the best ways to ensure your child has a happy and healthy relationship with food, so a good and long-lasting highchair is a must. The Maxi-Cosi Minla has lots of great benefits – it has five recline positions, meaning you can use it for very young babies (even newborn), four tray positions and it folds compactly. It grows with your child, as it is used firstly as a baby seat with a cosy inlay, then as a highchair and then as a booster seat and stool. It has nine height positions, so you can bring it up to any table, four leg rest choices and two footrest positions. It’s easy to clean, with zip-off washable covers and a removable tray and it’s also safe, with its five-point harness. 

Available from: Amazon

Sippy cup

Once your child has stopped using a bottle, it’s time to progress to a cup and many baby development experts agree that a sippy cup without a lid is much better for your little one’s development than one they suck on. The Doidy cup has been around for decades and is a great size for little hands to hold, plus it’s angled to make it easier for your child to drink from. Two handles make it easy to control. 

Available from: Amazon

Homemade food

Home-made baby food is the ultimate goal for many of us – after all, you want to know what goes into every bite! The Infantino Fresh Squeezed Squeeze Station is a great way to make and store your own baby food, which makes it super easy to get out and about with your baby and still offer fresh, nutritious baby food. It’s made from food-grade materials and is free from BPA and you are able to fill three pouches at a time, then pop then in the fridge or freezer (you can make many more to store, of course). 

Available from: Amazon