Best Baby Spoon
Spoon feeding your little one? We think the BEABA First Stage Baby Spoon Set (4-pack) is a winner for dishing up your baby's first foods. The silicone handle is comfortable for parents, and the spoon tip is soft for baby's gums and teeth. We appreciate that the spoon is seamless, and everything that touches the baby's mouth is silicone (free of BPA, Phthalate, and lead). The set is dishwasher safe, too.
The silicone feels tacky and can collect particles and lint, which is typical for this material. Thankfully, we believe the spoon is easy to clean, especially as a one-piece product. The spoon may also stain after dishing up some purees, and we suggest rinsing the spoon soon after use. Despite some flaws, we think the BEABA is an all-around winner for parent and baby.
If you are shopping on a budget, the Munchkin Lift Infant Spoons (6-pack) offers practicality at an affordable cost. The spoon is slim, long, which works for reaching inside baby food jars. The spoon tip is squared off and flexible. We appreciate the base feature, which keeps the spoon tip off the table and away from germs. This product is all plastic (BPA free), and top-rack dishwasher safe.
In our opinion, these spoons are not as durable as others in our review, plus not as comfortable in parents' hands, but they get the job done. Also, since the spoon tip is plastic, not silicone, we suggest keeping an eye out for any wear and tear that may cause injuries. We did not experience this during testing, but it is logical to think plastic's durability does not compare with silicone. Also, with any plastic product, we highly encourage handwashing to decrease the chance of potential chemicals leaching as a result of the heat in most dishwashers. Nevertheless, if you are on a budget and don't mind the material, this set may meet your needs.
Want to introduce utensils and encourage self-feeding skills? The innovative NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils may fit your needs. This spoon set includes two spoons (stage 1 and stage 2). So, what's the difference between the spoon stages? For babies with no utensil experience, introduce the stage 1 spoon. It works as a teether with a textured surface, plus dip it into a puree and let baby practice holding it. If it reaches the mouth, it offers a tasty reward. Once your baby is a spoon-to-mouth champ, advance to stage 2 spoon (the one with a cutout), as this spoon captures various thicker foods. Both spoons have a flat head, and there is no wrong way to hold it. They are short, but perfect for little hands to grasp, and are dishwasher safe.
Although this spoon set has its perks, we sometimes find ourselves spoon-feeding our younger baby to ensure they receive enough food at mealtime. Keep in mind, this is somewhat situational as it depends on your baby's age and stage, but it is a factor to consider as you may need additional spoons in your dishware arsenal. Also, the spoons have some nooks and crannies that may hide food, and we suggest inspecting the spoons after washing. Nonetheless, we recommend this product to families who want pre-spoons to help their baby practice self-feeding skills.
The sprout-like Olababy Training Spoon is minimal, modern, and adds an exciting pop of green to mealtime. We believe this spoon is the perfect size for little hands to hold, plus ultra-soft and bendable. The leaf design is sufficient at scooping, and the base allows it to stand upright and slightly suction to a surface, but don't depend on the suction strength. This 100% food-grade (BPA-free) silicone spoon is dishwasher and sterilizer safe. Also, it can double as a teether for gum relief.
Olababy's price point may be a factor to consider, as it one of the more expensive options in the review. Also, the silicone material attracts fibers, and we suggest washing it before each use to avoid lint in the food. We think this spoon is a fun addition to your spoon collection and worth the expense for a training spoon.
If you appreciate this spoon but prefer a longer spoon for spoon-feeding, check out the Olababy Feeding Spoon.
The Avanchy First Stage Bamboo Feeding Spoons may appeal to an eco-minded family. The bamboo material is biodegradable, and the silicone top adds a pop of color, plus it is soft and flexible for a baby's mouth. The overall product is free of BPA, melamine, phthalate, and lead.
We think the spoon top is all-around larger (width and length), making it not ideal for spoon feeding a younger baby. Also, this spoon is not dishwasher safe and requires handwashing. The silicone spoon detaches from the handle for easier washing, but make sure the bamboo handle fully drys; otherwise, it will be prone to mold. Nonetheless, if you plan to follow the baby-led weaning route and want to provide an eco-friendly utensil at mealtime you don't mind handwashing, you may find the Avanchy fitting for your needs.
Why You Should Trust Us
BabyGearLab has hands-on testd many products over the past decade, developing comprehensive testing methods to rate and rank baby gear. Leading our review is Molly Bradac, Research Analyst, and professional nanny with over 14 years of experience. Leaning on her vast expertise and skills, Molly can provide expert recommendations to help families find the perfect product for their needs. Each product in our review was purchased, and hands-on tested to evaluate performance.
Analysis and Test Results
Each product experienced side-by-side comparisons, and lots of scooping and washing with the help of some hungry little testers to analyze the pros and cons, and the comfortability for baby and parent.
Material
Baby spoons can be silicone, plastic, bamboo, or perhaps a combination of these materials. Our take is silicone is best for baby. Not only is it soft and flexible for your baby's mouth, which may have tender gums, but it is also durable. One drawback is this material can collect lint, but we think this matter is trivial considering its benefits. A couple of entirely silicone products include Olababy Training Spoon and BEABA First Stage Baby Spoon Set. As for plastic, we are not big fans, one, due to the potential of leaching chemicals, and second, it is not the softest for the baby's mouth. Also, it may lack durability, showing wear and tear quicker than silicone. However, we recognize that plastic tends to be cheaper, which may appeal to those on a budget, and the Munchkin Lift Infant Spoons is a great example. Last, bamboo makes an appearance in the baby spoon world, and this biodegradable material is eco-friendly. The Avanchy First Stage Bamboo Feeding Spoons fits this profile as it has a bamboo handle with a silicone spoon top. If taken care of properly, it might last for years.
Size
If you plan to spoon-feed your little one, we prefer a long, slim spoon with a comfortable handle, plus a soft tip for baby's gums and teeth. The BEABA First Stage Baby Spoon Set meets that criteria. If your goal is to let your little one explore self-feeding skills, find a product that fits their little hands, and the NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils and the Olababy Training Spoon may be the perfect size for this goal.
Ease of Cleaning
Handwashing can extend a product's longevity; however, if you prefer using a dishwasher due to convenience, that's understandable, but pay attention to which products are dishwasher safe. We highly suggest handwashing plastic due to the potential of intense heat creating a higher potential for leaching chemicals; the Munchkin Lift Infant Spoons falls into this category. The Avanchy First Stage Bamboo Feeding Spoons requires special cleaning requirements as it requires handwashing and letting the bamboo fully dry to prevent mold growth. The NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils has some nooks and crannies that need a check as leftover food may stick and fail to escape. As for the easiest to wash, we appreciate the BEABA First Stage Baby Spoon Set and the Olababy Training Spoon for being one-piece products. Nevertheless, we encourage rinsing the utensil after use for any of the products, as this will significantly minimize the task of cleaning.
Conclusion
Introducing solids into your baby's diet is an exciting milestone, and a baby spoon will be a necessity. Whether you plan on spoon-feeding or finding a training spoon to help your little one practice self-feeding skills, we are confident there is a product in our lineup that will work for your goals.
— Molly Bradac