Website for Baby Eating Utensils Made Easy
Best Baby Spoons, According to Doctors
Medically Reviewed by Michelle Kelman, D.D.S.
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on March 30, 2022
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Transitioning to solid foods is one of the most exciting milestones during baby's first year. But getting your little one accustomed to eating with a size-appropriate spoon is an equally important milestone.
Properly using a spoon is more than simply a matter of learning table manners for baby, says Michelle Kelman, D.D.S., a Los Angeles-based pediatric dentist, lecturer at UCLA School of Dentistry and member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board.Learning to use utensils is a part of your little one's hand, wrist and eye development, she explains, adding that a spoon can also help baby with portion control and appetite regulation.
Dr. Kelman explains that using a spoon can help baby get the right amount of food into her mouth, allowing her to more effectively use her tongue and cheek muscles. A spoon also helps your little one gain mastery over finger gripping and raising her arm to feed herself.
Using utensils also helps your little one enhance her gross motor skills and cognitive skills, adds Steven Abelowitz, M.D., F.A.A.P., an Orange County-based pediatrician and medical director of Coastal Kids Pediatric Medical Group. "Children learn to use utensils through coordinating their hands with their eyes."
When do babies start using spoons?
If you're not sure when exactly to introduce utensils to your baby, the answer is a qualified "it depends."
"Every child is different developmentally and milestones are different," says Dr. Kelman. Generally, though, most babies can start to use a spoon by themselves at around 10 to 12 months of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How you introduce solids to your little one is another factor at play. "For those doing a baby-led weaning approach to introduce some solids, you could start to offer a silicone spoon with some foods as early as 6 to 9 months," Dr. Abelowitz says.
While these ages are general benchmarks, ultimately, follow your baby's cues for when to introduce spoons. Dr. Kelman says that once your little one shows interest in using utensils (like if she picks up and throws utensils, uses them as "banging" instruments or starts reaching for them), you can start introducing them.
What to look for in a baby spoon
When it comes to selecting the right spoon for your baby, experts suggest parents look for the following features:
- Non-toxic, chemical-free materials: Baby spoons are constructed with a variety of materials, ranging from silicone and plastic to metal and wood. For synthetic materials, make sure the spoon is free of harmful materials like BPA. Silicone spoons should be made with food-grade material. For metals and wood, make sure the spoon is lead-free and preservative-free. (While many products follow these guidelines, it never hurts to double check the label.)
- Durability: For spoons made from a combination of two or more materials, like a silicone spoon bowl with a metal handle, make sure the pieces are well-constructed and won't separate. Dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, freezer-safe and boil-safe also are good features to look for (and hopefully should make your life a little bit easier!)
- Choke protection guard: Especially for younger babies who are first learning to use utensils, protective guards that limit baby's ability to shove the spoon too far into her mouth can help prevent choking or gagging. (Picture a wide shield in the middle of the spoon handle that would prevent your little one from putting the utensil too far back into her mouth.)Not every spoon needs a choke guard — the important thing to know is that spoons with long handles are not meant for babies to self-feed with, but rather, for parents to use when feeding their kiddos, says Dr. Kelman.
- Appropriate length and width: Longer-handled spoons are useful when baby is being fed by a parent or caregiver, but for self-feeding babies, shorter handles, wider handles or handles with guards are better.
- No sharp or firm edges: Any utensil going into baby's mouth should not have any sharp edges that can cut or puncture your little one.
- Proportionate spoon bowl size: Finding the right spoon bowl size for baby (which varies based on your baby's age and mouth size) will help with portion control and help prevent overfeeding and gagging.
One more thing: It's a good idea to avoid all-metal utensils, especially with teething babies. These aren't recommended for little ones, as chomping down too hard on a metal spoon can hurt sensitive gums and emerging teeth, according to Dr. Kelman. However, she says occasionally using a metal spoon is fine, since it's the utensil material babies and toddlers will eventually grow into and it's good practice.
Types of baby spoons
With so many baby spoons to choose from, picking the right one for your cutie can feel overwhelming. Baby spoons primarily fall into three categories:
- Traditionally shaped spoons: Most baby spoons on the market resemble miniaturized versions of ordinary adult spoons (like a rounded spoon bowl with a handle). Unlike adult utensils, which are typically made from stainless steel, baby spoons are most often made from soft materials such as silicone or plastic. Some have special features like temperature-sensitive spoon bowls or grooves on spoon tips to help gauge depth.
- Textured dippers: Some spoons look less like regular spoons and more like tiny sticks or stalks. These spoons tend to have very shallow spoon bowls or no spoon bowl at all, with either a flat spatula-like edge or rounded end. Your baby can use them to dip into pureed food (which grabs onto the grooves or nubs) and then suck on the dipper.
- Spoon and teether combos: These two-in-one spoons combine the form of a utensil with the function of a teether. The best ones are freezer-safe, which gives your baby a soothing experience on sensitive gums during mealtime.
Not sure which kind of spoon is right for your baby? No matter what approach you take to start your little one on solids, Dr. Kelman's advice for selecting the best utensil is simple: "In general, the best spoon is the one that your child will actually use." Look for options that seem like they'd work for your baby, ask your pediatrician for a recommendation or test a few different spoons to see which picks are the winners with your little one.
It's also useful to keep plenty of extras on hand (especially when baby is first getting started with utensils), as baby spoons have an ingenious way of finding themselves on the floor and in other unusual places during mealtime!
How we choose the best baby spoons
There's definitely no shortage of tableware and mealtime products aimed at babies and parents, meaning there's a wide assortment for parents to consider — which is why we're here to help make the spoon shopping easier. We narrowed our picks for the best baby spoons based on a variety of factors, including:
- Ergonomics and baby-friendly construction designed to support independence and self-feeding, based on criteria from Dr. Kelman and Dr. Abelowitz
- Quality of materials and build (every spoon on our list is BPA-free)
- Price range and availability
- Durability, convenience and ease of cleaning
- Overall design and cuteness factor
- Recommendations and tips from parents in the What to Expect community who've used the spoons at home with their little ones
Ready to dig in? Check out our favorite baby spoons below.
Best Teether Spoon
PrimaStella Silicone Rainbow Chew Spoon
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Pros: Dishwasher-safe, freezer-safe, nice colors
Cons: Thick construction can be awkward for small hands, spoon bowl may be too deep for some
Why We Love It
PrimaStella's versatile silicone rainbow chew spoon serves double duty as both a spoon and a teether. The spoon's unique design features a deep-bowled scooper end and a rounded textured teether end that's useful for dipping in yogurt or purees (or simply for baby to chew on). The chunky ribbed handle is easy for little hands to hold and the soft silicone design is gentle on sensitive gums and new teeth. Try freezing the chew spoon before giving it to baby as a nice, soothing treat.
Material: 100 percent food-grade silicone
Spoon length: 4.5 inches
Best Affordable Spoon
Munchkin 12-Piece Soft-Tip Infant Spoons
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Pros: Less than $1 per spoon, dishwasher-safe, long handle reaches bottom of food jars
Cons: Better for caregivers than babies
Why We Love It
Founded more than 30 years ago in Los Angeles, Munchkin designs a wide range of colorful and innovative products for babies, toddlers and parents caring for little ones. With a decidedly modern aesthetic, Munchkin products are stylish, durable and well-priced. Their 12-piece soft-tip infant spoon set frequently gets high praise from parents for its value and ease of use. Plus, the soft plastic is gentle on baby's gums and teeth. The spoon's ergonomically designed handle (similar to a toothbrush handle) fits better in the hands of caregivers than infants, though.
Material: Plastic
Spoon length: 9 inches
Best Minimalist Spoon
Béaba's Baby's First Foods Spoon Set
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Pros: Beautiful design, gentle on baby's gums, easy to clean
Cons: Translucent silicone can stain, expensive compared to other spoons
Why We Love It
Béaba has been creating innovative and stylish baby products for more than 25 years, and its soft silicone baby training spoon is one of the company's most popular products. Featuring an ergonomic design that's equally comfortable in both parent- and baby-sized hands, the handle is long enough to reach deep into virtually every baby food jar, while the shallow depth of the spoon scoops a perfectly portioned bite for small mouths. A great pick for babies just being introduced to solids, this spoon's silicone construction is gentle on baby's gums and teeth.
Material: 100 percent food-grade silicone (the color portion in the middle is made of plastic, but baby doesn't come in contact with it)
Spoon length: 6.5 inches
Best Mess-Proof Spoon
Nuk Rest Easy Spoons
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Pros: Design helps prevent messes, inexpensive compared to other spoons
Cons: Colors can fade or stain
Why We Love It
While the square-ish, spatula-like shape of the spoon is untraditional, the flat-edge design of Nuk's Rest Easy Spoons is great for swiping errant bits of food that may have missed baby's mouth. A raised nub on the underside of the spoon acts as a mess-free support to keep the tip of the spoon from touching the table, as well as a stop from pushing the spoon too deep into baby's mouth. The design is colorful and playful, too.
Material: Plastic
Spoon length: 8.75 inches
Best Spoon for Warm Food
Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons
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Pros: Spoon tip turns white when food is too hot, more affordable than other spoons
Cons: Spoon can discolor, heat-sensing function can diminish
Why We Love It
Parents may feel pangs of nostalgia using these classically styled baby spoons. While the tapered-design of the soft silicone spoon and metal handle look like an ordinary, old-school baby spoon, these perfectly sized, lower-cost Munchkin baby spoons have an ingenious hidden feature: The spoon's brightly colored silicone tip turns white if the food is too hot. Simply dip the tip of the spoon in heated baby food to check if it's too warm to feed your little one. To top it off, it's top-rack-dishwasher-safe.
Material: Stainless steel handle, silicone spoon bowl
Spoon length: 8 inches long
Best Spoon for Travel
Oxo Tot-on-the-Go Feeding Spoon
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Pros: Comes with compact storage case, soft silicone coating
Cons: Higher price for one spoon
Why We Love It
Having a dedicated baby spoon to keep in your diaper bag for on-the-go meals means one less thing to worry about packing when you're trying to get out the door. Oxo's well-designed Tot-on-the-Go Feeding Spoon features a comfy ergonomic handle and a carrying case that'll prevent the baby spoon from getting dirty (or lost) somewhere in the bottom of your bag. Like all Oxo's thoughtfully designed products, this portable baby spoon nicely marries form and function.
Material: Plastic handle, stainless steel neck, food-grade silicone spoon bowl
Spoon length: 6.5 inches
Easiest Spoon for Baby to Hold
Grabease First Self-Feeding Baby Utensils
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Pros: Short and ergonomic handle, protective choking barrier, comes with carrying case
Cons: Plastic construction can shatter if dropped
Why We Love It
Whether you're trying a traditional feeding approach or baby-led weaning, at some point, your little one will start to want to use the spoon herself. Grabease's self-feeding baby utensils feature short, rounded handles that are easy for baby to grab and hold, promoting the development of baby's dexterity through natural movements. The spoon's shallow bowl and cloud-shaped protective guard will help baby from overfeeding or choking — essential for her initial foray with using utensils.
Material: Plastic
Spoon length: 3 inches
Best Starter Spoon
Num Num Gootensils Baby Pre-Spoon Set
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Pros: Unique ergonomic design, each spoon has a distinct purpose
Cons: Open "spoon" bowl can be messy, expensive compared to other spoons
Why We Love It
For babies 6 months and older, the leap from hand-feeding to using utensils can be huge. The Num Num's Gootensils Pre-Spoon Set is a good way to bridge the gap. The set comes with two utensils: one is a mealtime teether to help baby get used to holding a spoon, which grabs just enough food to bring up to her mouth; the other has a more open design and helps baby explore solids and thicker blends. These pre-spoons are designed to promote independent self-feeding by encouraging baby to scoop the ridged end into her food, which captures a bite before going to her mouth. Fair warning: because of the spoon's open design, baby's mealtime can get messy very quickly.
Material: Food-grade silicone and nylon
Spoon length: 3.8 inches
Best Training Spoon
Olababy Training Spoon
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Pros: Soft texture, ergonomic design, stands up on its own
Cons: Thin-edges can fray over time
Why We Love It
Looking less than a traditional spoon, and more like a short stalk of fresh bamboo or a piece of asparagus, Olababy's uniquely designed baby spoon features a tapered spoon bowl that scoops up the right amount of food for your little one's mouth. Better than using a hard spoon, the spoon's soft silicone construction is gentle on baby's gums and teeth. Pre-freezing the spoon gives it double life as a soothing teether. Bonus: the bottom of the spoon base can be stood upright to avoid germs and messes.
Material: 100 percent FDA-grade silicone
Spoon length: 5 inches
Best Two-in-One Spoon and Fork
Ryan & Rose Spoon and Fork
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Pros: Easy-to-grip nubby handle, curved lip to prevent spills, beautiful color options
Cons: Fork end isn't the best
Why We Love It
Founded by mom of two Lindsey Ferrell, Ryan & Rose makes adorable products for babies, toddlers and moms. The company's two-in-one "cutie tensil" baby spoon and fork functions as a transitional utensil as baby learns to scoop, shovel and stab her food. Featuring a curved-lip spoon bowl on one end and a three-prong fork on the other end, this multifunctional utensil can help baby develop fine motor skills and work on self-feeding.
Material: 100 percent food-grade silicone
Spoon length: 7.5 inches
Best Wide-Grip Spoon
Ezpz Tiny Spoons
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Pros: Cute utensil designs, built to last, good for purees and baby-led weaning
Cons: Expensive compared to other spoons
Why We Love It
What started as a Kickstarter campaign in 2014 by founder Lindsey Laurain has grown into ezpz, an award-winning company that makes well-designed tableware and utensils for kids. Ezpz's wide-grip silicone baby spoon set is proportioned for little hands, and silicone heads for easy scooping. The utensils come in two sizes, for ages 4 months and older and for ages 12 months and older. The utensils' unique design includes sensory bumps and bumps on the bottom to stabilize the utensil when it's not in use. The narrow spoon bowl fits safely into baby's mouth, and the chubby, non-slip handles make grasping more successful.
Material: 100 percent food-grade silicone
Spoon length: 3.75 inches
Best Spoon with Bamboo Handle
Baby K Self-Feeding Bamboo Baby Spoons
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Pros: Splinter-free handle, lower cost than other spoons, soft and gentle material
Cons: Hand-wash only
Why We Love It
Baby K's baby spoon comes with a soft, ergonomic bamboo handle and food-grade silicone tip. This lightweight spoon's handle is easy to hold for little ones learning to self-feed, and the non-detachable soft silicone spoon bowl is the right size for baby's mouth. The spoon set comes in three colors: blue, red and green.
Material: Bamboo handle and food-grade silicone spoon bowls
Spoon length: 5.39 inches
Best Eco-Friendly Spoon
Re-Play Toddler Feeding Spoon and Fork Set
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Pros: Made from recycled materials, dishwasher-safe, tons of colors available
Cons: May not work well for younger babies, certain foods may stain material
Why We Love It
The special thing about Re-Play's Toddler Utensils sets is that they're made from recycled milk jugs, making them a more environmentally conscious choice than some other spoons and forks on the market. The utensils themselves can also be recycled once you don't need them any longer. Designed for toddlers, the wide spoon bowls and forks can pick up plenty of food for hungry mouths. The handles make self-feeding easy, and the utensils are dishwasher safe, making for easy clean up.
Material: Made from sustainable recycled milk jugs that are safe for food contact
Spoon length: 5.8 inches
Cutest Spoon
Bella Tunno Wonder Spoons
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Pros: Stylish and fun designs, mom-founded, brand gives back to families in need
Cons: Expensive compared to other spoons
Why We Love It
Founded nearly 20 years ago as a passion project for Michelle Tunno Buelow, Bella Tunno creates well-designed and functional products for babies and families. Bella Tunno's Wonder Spoons feature fun colors and clever printed slogans like "Brunch Babe" and "Baby Got Snacks." The spoon's ergonomic design fits neatly in baby's hands (or caregiver hands!) and the silicone materials are gentle on sensitive gums and teeth. Best of all, for every product sold, Bella Tunno gives one meal to a child through its partnership with Feeding America and Global FoodBanking Network.
Material: Food-grade silicone
Spoon length: 6.5 inches long
- Steven Abelowitz, M.D., F.A.A.P., Pediatrician and Medical Director of Coastal Kids Pediatrics, Newport Beach, California.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fingers, Spoons, Forks, and Cups, April 2021.
- Michelle Kelman, D.D.S., Pediatric Dentist, Lecturer at University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry and Member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board, Los Angeles, California.
Source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/baby-products/nursing-feeding/best-baby-spoons/
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