Weaning your baby can be filled with both victories and challenges. Picking the right gear can go a long way to shifting the balance in your favor.
A spoon is such a basic object that it’s easily overlooked, but choosing the right one creates a more comfortable feeding experience for both you and your baby.
We’ve taken an in-depth look at the best baby spoons on the market, along with the qualities that make them great, so take a peek at our deep dive to discover the picks that are safest for your child.
In this article:
When should babies start using spoons?
For the first four to six months, it’s necessary for babies to breastfeed or bottle feed. As they develop, and their motor skills and reflexes strengthen, here are some signs that show they’re ready for spoon feeding:
- Has no struggle with feeding time, whether breast or bottle, and shows consistent eating patterns
- Finds your, or others’, food to be irresistibly interesting
- Begins to put more objects in their mouths
- Sits up easily without assistance in a safe high chair
How can I teach my baby to eat with a spoon?
When transitioning from breast milk or formula to spoon-fed foods, the best bet is to start with baby cereals that can be thinned out or thickened, based on your baby’s needs.
Increasing the thickness of the cereal will prepare them for the texture and experience of purees, letting them get used to the action of eating and swallowing the more viscous food.
- Make sure to choose a spoon that’s comfortable for you and safe for your baby.
- Let them see and interact with their spoon before they eat.
- Don’t force the spoon into their mouth – instead, touch it to their lips, allowing them a small taste and offering them visual clues on when and how to open and close their mouth.
- Allow your baby to tell you when they’re done. Initial feedings might be short, but will increase with familiarity and persistence.
- Stay positive and upbeat, even if baby is fussy and uncooperative. If you freak out, they won’t understand your frustration, and it will compound theirs.
What makes a good baby spoon?
In a market packed with products, what makes one baby spoon stand out from another?
It’s true that the function is the same across the board, but those designed with safe materials like silicone and bamboo, as well as spoons that teething babies can chew on, make life easier for parents.
Ergonomic handles make feeding times more comfortable for you, which is important as you’ll be doing it frequently every day.
- Made of silicone, bamboo, wood or BPA-free plastic – no metal
- Comfortable for both parents and kids to grip
- Size-appropriate for babies
What’s the safest way to wash and store baby’s spoons?
When it comes to baby spoons, some are dishwasher-friendly while others should be hand washed.
We’ve noted dishwasher-safe status for all the products on our list, and most manufacturers make washing instructions pretty clear on a spoon’s packaging.
If you’re hand-washing, use mild dish detergent and hot water to wash the spoons, and dry them with a clean, unused towel.
Parents with dishwasher-safe spoons should use the top rack, as the heat at the bottom of a dishwasher can sometimes damage delicate baby goods.
Baby’s spoons can be safely stored with other cutlery, while some parents prefer to keep them separate.
A small, plastic countertop organizer with drawers will provide a separate space for baby gear that’s closed and prevents contamination.
Our top picks for the best baby spoons
Best functional design
Our opinion
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Materials: Soft, BPA-free plastic
Colors: Red, pink, orange, green, blue, purple
One of the biggest challenges when feeding a baby is figuring out a place to set down the spoon.
Tabletops are germy, and we won’t even get to the surfaces you’ll encounter in the wild.
These Munchkin Infant Spoons (check price on Amazon) have a base design that naturally elevates the spoon tip from surfaces, keeping the utensil safe from contact with nasty stuff.
They’re also brightly colored, making them easy to spot and keep track of.
What we love
- The base design, which keeps the spoon’s tip from touching germy surfaces
Watch for
- Some very hot sanitizers can cause warping or melting
Best wooden spoon
Our opinion
Materials: Bamboo
Dishwasher safe: No
Colors: Natural wood
Buying products you feel good about is reassuring when you’re a parent. Some baby gear brands are decidedly more environmentally friendly than others.
These eco-friendly Organic Bamboo Spoons (check price on Amazon) are totally natural, helping to minimize the massive global issue of plastic waste.
Skip the microwave and dishwasher when it comes to this pick, which washes best in warm, soapy water.
The 6.5″ spoon handle offers comfort to parents during feeding, while the tip of the spoon is the ideal size for a baby.
What we love
- Organic, eco-friendly, and they won’t contribute to major plastic waste issues
Watch for
- Not safe in the microwave or dishwasher, so stick to hand-washing
Best silicone spoon
Our opinion
Materials: Silicone
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Colors: Light or dark green
When babies are teething, they chew on just about everything they come into contact with – including their spoon – with or without the go-ahead of their parents.
The Olababy’s Verdant Set (check price on Amazon), designed to make feeding easier for teething babies and their parents, is a lifesaver.
There are two in a pack, and the wide, round, base end allows the spoon to stand upright on flat, stable surfaces to prevent contamination.
What we love
- Safe and comfortable for teething babies, while the round base helps them stand upright and stay clean
Watch for
- They’re flexible for teething, so easier to use with more viscous purees
Best squeezer
Our opinion
Materials: Silicone
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Colors: Green and clear
Baby food pouches create heated debates among some parents, who feel they discourage babies from learning to eat normally.
This Baby Food Dispensing Spoon (check price on Amazon) keeps the benefits of both but holds the argument. A tube is filled with up to three ounces of baby food, and a cap with a spoon tip and dispensing hole snaps neatly into place.
Parents give the tube a gentle squeeze to dispense the desired amount of food, making mealtime convenient while preserving the developmental benefits of spoon-feeding.
Best bamboo spoon
Our opinion
Materials: Silicone and bamboo
Dishwasher safe: No
Colors: Red, orange, yellow, blue, green
Gear for babies can be pricey, and even tiny spoons add up quickly, so products that combine value and usefulness are always a hit in our book.
These Natural Bamboo Baby Spoons (check price on eBay) by Bambusi are a high-grade, silicone-spoon-tips combination with organic bamboo that resists germs, making it a five-piece set that’s affordable on a budget.
Parents should note that the head on these spoons separates from the bamboo handle, though the width of the spoon tip and sturdiness of the product keeps babies safe while eating.
What we love
- It’s great value for a five-piece set, and easy to clean
Watch for
- The spoon tip separates from the handle, so test for secureness after repeated uses
Best looking
Our opinion
Materials: Silicone
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Colors: Navy, white
Oxo is a trusted brand when it comes to lasting, everyday kitchenware, so it’s not surprising that they’d include this Tot Feeding Spoons (check price on Walmart) for the youngest member of the family.
The contour of the handle makes it comfortable for parents to hold and facilitates easy feeding, while the shape of the soft silicone spoon tip makes scooping food a breeze for parents or children.
What we love
- They’re made by a trusted brand and comfortable for both parents and babies
Watch for
- The depth of the spoon tip can make eating thicker foods difficult when babies are getting used to spoon feeding
Best first spoon
Our opinion
Materials: Silicone
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Colors: Red and green
Cute baby gear is sometimes ‘all form, but no function’, but the adorable Raz-Berry Baby Spoon (check price on Amazon) quickly puts that idea to rest.
The wide, comfortable handle is easy for parents to hold, while perfect for the baby’s transition into self-feeding.
The “berry pumps” on the spoon’s tip allow the baby’s food to grip, so more of it winds up in its mouth. It’s 100% silicone, so it’s soft and safe, and parents can freeze it to offer teething babies a bit of extra comfort.
What we love
- It’s great at gripping baby’s food, the ridged surface safely massages their gums, and the green leaves at the base of the spoon tip keep it elevated from germy surfaces
Watch for
- A bit large compared to some other picks, so it’s best for six months and upwards
And the winner is…
Munchkin 6 Piece Lift Infant Spoons (check price on Amazon) is our top pick for baby spoons. Sometimes, the classics just take the cake.
Baby spoons don’t have to be complicated but need to be durable, washable, and affordable, plus bright colors don’t hurt! These features all make Munchkin’s six-piece set a standout.
From the convenient base that elevates the spoon’s tip, to the super-soft spatula-style tip itself, which is comfortable both in the mouth and on the face, these updated basics should have a home in the kitchen of every parent.
