I remember Zoey’s first bites of real food. What followed were months of trying a variety of purees and soft foods, speech therapy appointments, and many hours of watching and teaching her how to eat. I learned a lot about what was helpful (a couple of tricks for fast eaters) and what are absolute must-haves when you start the journey into solid foods.
Believe me, introducing your baby (or toddler) to solid foods can be exciting, but it’s okay to be nervous about it too. The first thing I want you to do is ensure your baby is ready for solids. Speak to your pediatrician and make sure that it is right for your baby to start. Do not compare yourself to someone else – pinky promise me!
Here are some of the best products that were recommended to me by a speech therapist (SLP) plus items I’ve tried myself.
*SLP Recommended* | Ice Cube Tray
DOQAUS Ice Cube Trays 4 Pack
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$7.99
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01/08/2025 04:55 pm GMT
- Why Buy: It Babies and toddlers have no fear. So shoveling food into their mouth without any awareness of the dangers of choking is 100% what toddlers do. An ice cube tray slows your fast eater down by making them work to get the piece of food out. And it helps with that pincer grasp.
- Personal Note: Zoey has had two emergency room visits from choking, so I take food time seriously. We used to have to pace her by giving her one piece of food at a time, which made her furious at us. With this ice cube tray, it almost makes mealtime a game and keeps her occupied without the risk of shoveling food.
*SLP Recommended* | Honey Bear Straw Cup
The 730 Project Honey Bear Straw Cup for Babie
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$19.99
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01/08/2025 04:23 pm GMT
- Why Buy: Sippy cups aren’t loved, but these straw cups are! Our SLP recommended these because they help contain the mess but teach your kiddo the proper technique of drinking through a straw – a big part of oral motor skill development.
- Personal Note: I have not tried these cups with Zoey, but they come highly recommended by the SLP, so you can’t go wrong.
*SLP Recommended* | Reflo Smart Cup:
Reflo Smart Cup (Asst 4 colors)
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$29.99
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01/08/2025 04:54 pm GMT
- Why Buy: When teaching your kiddo to drink from an open cup, the biggest issue isn’t spilled water but the amount of liquid that your kiddo drinks at one time. The lid on this cup is designed to help slow the amount of liquid that comes out, preventing aspiration.
- Personal Note: Zoey uses these cups on occasion to ensure she’s really mastered the open cup concept. One con is that if your kiddo loves to drop items, especially off the highchair, the lid is going to fly off, and liquid will go everywhere.
Munchkin Cups
Munchkin® Miracle® 360 Trainer Sippy Cup with Handles
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$11.67
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01/08/2025 08:45 pm GMT
- Why Buy: These cups are great for teaching the proper cup drinking technique – an oral motor skill win – and the screw top keeps the liquid in even when dropped from high places, another win!
- Personal Note: These are by far the most-used cups by Zoey. We love them! When first starting out, we purchased the handles and have transitioned to the cup without handles to help her even more with her cup drinking skills.
Full Cover Bibs
Tiny Twinkle Mess Proof Baby Bib, 2 Pack Long Sleeve Bib Outfit, Waterproof Bibs for Toddlers
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$21.99
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01/08/2025 08:02 am GMT
- Why Buy: Hand your toddler a spoon for the first time, and you’re going to want this bib. The kiddo puts their arms through this bib, and it completely covers the front half of their body.
- Personal Note: Zoey is so messy when it comes to eating yogurt or spaghetti. These bibs have been an outfit lifesaver when she drops food on herself. I pull it off her, run it under water, and let it dry, ready to go for the next mealtime adventure.
Peg Perego High Chair:
Peg Perego Siesta - Grow with Baby High Chair
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$329.99
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01/08/2025 08:44 pm GMT
- Why Buy: It really doesn’t matter what brand of high chair you buy – this is what I have and love it – but one of the strongest points our SLP made with us is that always feed your kiddo in a high chair. It reduces the risk of choking.
- Personal Note: I love this high chair because it is incredibly easy to clean and it grows with Zoey. And I get to roll her around the kitchen for fun on wheels that do a complete 360.
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