8 of the best baby spoons for weaning 2024
DO YOU NEED A BABY WEANING SPOON?
It’s a good idea to get your baby familiar with cutlery and while you could just use a metal teaspoon, there are reasons why one specially designed for a baby is better. Babies won’t immediately have great control over a spoon and might find it painful to accidentally jab hard metal into their delicate gyms. Weaning spoons usually have tips of plastic or silicone which is more soft and gentle. Metal also retains heat a lot more and is less flexible, which may make feeding harder for a child.
What features should you consider when choosing a weaning spoon?
The tip. A soft tip will be gentle on your baby’s gums and erupting teeth. And a small, shallow tip will prevent too much food from going into their mouth, which could cause choking or overfeeding.
Toxin-free. As the spoon will be in the baby’s mouth and possibly chewed a lot, choose a spoon made without any toxins. For example, ensure it is BPA-free.
Heat sensors. Some spoons have tips that change colour when the food is too hot for your baby. Stir the spoon into the food and once the colour is right, you know it’s safe to eat.
The handle. Some spoons are designed to be used for self-feeding and some are designed to be used by the adult to feed the baby. Self-feeding ones should have handles that are easy to hold and grip. They will probably be shorter and chunkier and may be textured. Those that are used by adults often have a longer handle, which makes feeding a baby in a high chair easier. They are also good for getting to the food at the bottom of baby food jars or storage containers.
Washing. Do you want cutlery that can be put in the dishwasher? You may also want to sterilise spoons. If so, check if they can go in your steriliser. (The NHS recommends that bowls and spoons do not have to be sterilised once your baby is six months old. It’s just bottles and teats that should be sterilised until they are 12 months old.)
Travel case. If you want to take your spoons out with you, the ones that come with a travel case might make things easier.
WHICH ARE THE BEST WEANING SPOONS TO BUY?
This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:
Consumer reviews
Best-seller lists
Recommendations from industry experts
Award-winning products
Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.
The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 2 February 2024.
If you buy through a link, we may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.
1. VITAL BABY NOURISH START WEANING SPOONS
Why buy these spoons?
They are a great budget buy.
Key features
A pack of five spoons with a soft tip.
The spoons are shallow and narrow for little mouths.
The handle is easy to grip and long for baby food jars.
Safe in the top rack of the dishwasher.
Made from phthalate-free, latex-free and BPA-free materials.
What the reviews say
A great first spoon at a great price. They are very soft and flexible and easy to hold.
2. DODDL BABY CUTLERY
Why buy this cutlery?
They have been designed to be easy to hold and control.
Key features
A spoon and fork set.
The ends are smooth and comfortable in the baby’s mouth.
Comes with a travel case.
Dishwasher safe.
BPA free.
Designed in Britain.
What the reviews say
These are great for baby-led weaning and for a child to learn to feed themselves. The design means the child can’t push the cutlery too far into their mouth and gag. The travel case is very useful.
3. BAMBOO BAMBOO BABY WEANING SPOONS
Why buy these spoons?
If you’re avoiding plastic, the handles of these are made from bamboo and the tip is soft, food-grade silicone.
Key features
The removable tips are dishwasher safe but the bamboo handles must be hand washed.
Comes in a variety of colours.
What the reviews say
The tips are soft and they are easy to hold. Some say the silicone starts to stain after a while. They are quite big for baby weaning spoons, which may be a downside for some but it will mean they can be used for longer.
4. MUNCHKIN WHITE HOT SPOONS
Why buy these spoons?
These spoons have coloured tips that turn white if the baby’s food is too hot (approx 43.3˚C and above).
Key features
A set of four spoons.
Long handles for easier high chair feeding and for getting into baby food jars.
Top-rack dishwasher safe.
Shallow and soft tips.
BPA-free and phthalate-free.
What the reviews say
The colour change indicator is popular although some say it’s a little slow.
5. TOMMEE TIPPEE EASIGRIP™ SELF-FEEDING WEANING SPOONS
Why buy these spoons?
These are self-feeding spoons with chunky easy to grip handles. They are made with antibacterial technology, which reduces bacteria by up to 99.9%. Called BACSHIELD, it uses silver ions to prevent microbes from multiplying.
Key features
A pack of five.
Quite wide for a weaning spoon.
Dishwasher, microwave and steriliser safe.
BPA, BPS, PVC, phthalate & nitrosamine free.
Durable spoons which can withstand a lot of biting and chewing.
What the reviews say
Great for self-feeding and good value for money.
6. NOONI CARE BABY SPOONS
Why buy these spoons?
These have soft tips which double up as teethers.
Key features
A set of three self-feeding spoons with non-slip, textured handles.
Comes with a carry case.
Made from food-grade silicone that is BPA, BPS and phthalate-free.
Dishwasher and steriliser safe.
What the reviews say
Easy for a child so perfect for baby-led weaning. They have very soft tips, which is great when a baby is teething.
7. MUNCHKIN SOFT TIP INFANT SPOONS
Why buy these spoons?
The handles are long and ergonomically designed.
Key features
Six brightly-coloured weaning spoons with shallow tips.
Safe in the dishwasher top rack.
BPA free.
What the reviews say
Good size and good value for money. The tips are not as soft as many other weaning spoons.
8. TOMMEE TIPPEE SMUSHEE 1ST SELF-FEEDING SPOONS
Why buy these spoons?
They are designed as first weaning spoons which are dipped into food.
Key features
It is fully reversible so can be used on both sides.
The tips are soft and the handles are chunky and easy to grip.
Steriliser and dishwasher safe.
Made with BACSHIELD antibacterial technology which prevents the growth of bacteria by up to 99.9%.
BPA, BPS, PVC, phthalate and nitrosamine-free.
What the reviews say
Very easy for a baby to use so great as a first weaning spoon. Some complain that they can’t pick up enough food.
Some baby products are useful for longer than others. If you’re in two minds about whether to buy something, it can be worth considering its lifespan. The longer you use it, the better the cost per use and the more it will justify its place in your home. Here are thirteen baby products that are still in active service with my now five-year-old.