Best Baby Spoon
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 to hold, and the spoon tip is soft for a baby's gums and teeth. We appreciate that the one-piece 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, a typical issue for this material. We think this flaw is mild and can be manageable by checking over the spoon before use and quickly handwashing. Keep in mind the utensils may stain after dishing up some purees; however, we suggest rinsing soon after use to reduce potential discoloring. Despite some flaws, we think the BEABA is an all-around winner for parents and babies.
The Munchkin Lift Infant Spoons (6-pack) offers practicality at an affordable price. The spoons are slim and long, making the task of reaching inside baby food jars much easier. The spoons' tips are squared off, plus flexible and gentle when wiping a baby's face. We appreciate the "lift" feature, keeping the spoon's head 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 do get the job done. Also, since the spoon's tip is plastic, not silicone, we suggest keeping an eye out for any wear and tear. We did not experience this during testing, but it is logical to think plastic's durability does not compare with silicone. With any plastic product, we highly encourage handwashing to decrease the potential of chemicals leaching. Nevertheless, if you appreciate the "lift" feature and don't mind the material, you may find this product adequate and at a budget-friendly price.
If your budget is super tight, with no room to spare, the Munchkin Soft Tip Spoons may fit your needs. The spoons are available in a 6-pack or 12-pack, and either set should provide enough utensils for mealtimes at home, plus extras for the diaper bag and daycare. The spoons are all plastic (BPA-free), the tips are rounded and flexible for a baby's sensitive gums, and the ergonomic handles slightly curve.
The spoons do not feature the "lift" capability, like its relative, the Munchkin Lift Infant Spoons, designed to keep the tips elevated and away from germs. Although plastic is not a material we prefer, given the potential concerts surrounding plastic and chemical leaching, especially when it will be in your baby's mouth and food, we recognize that this material is inexpensive. And sometimes, a budget is firm. So, even though it is top-rack dishwasher safe, we suggest handwashing this product to limit the spoons' exposure to high temperatures, as well as potentially lengthen the product's use. Nonetheless, if you can overlook the product's material, we think this set may meet your needs and wallet.
Want to introduce utensils and encourage self-feeding skills? Consider the innovative NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils. This set includes two spoons (stage 1 and stage 2). So, what's the difference between the spoon stages? For babies with no utensil experience, begin with stage1. Dip this introductory spoon into a puree and let your little eater practice holding it. If it reaches their 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 holds thicker foods. Also, the utensils are short, making them perfect for little hands to grasp. For an added perk, they are dishwasher safe.
Although this spoon set has its perks, we sometimes find ourselves spoon-feeding younger babies 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 spring green to mealtime. We believe this spoon is the perfect size for little hands to hold, plus it is ultra-soft and bendable. The leaf design is sufficient at dipping and scooping food, and the base allows it to stand upright and slightly suction to a surface; however, the suction strength is not always trustworthy. This 100% food-grade (BPA-free) silicone spoon is dishwasher and sterilizer safe. Plus, it can double as a teether for gum relief. If you appreciate this spoon but prefer a longer spoon for spoon-feeding, check out the Olababy Feeding Spoon.
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 your baby's food. We think this spoon is a fun addition to your spoon collection and worth the cost as a training spoon.
If selecting a product with eco-friendly material is essential to you, then the Avanchy First Stage Bamboo Feeding Spoons may fit the bill. The spoons' handle is biodegradable bamboo, and the silicone top is soft and flexible, which is excellent when wiping your baby's delicate mouth. The overall product is free of BPA, melamine, phthalate, and lead. We appreciate that there are many fun colors to select, adding a pop of color to mealtime.
The downside of this product is that it is not dishwasher safe and will require handwashing. The silicone head can detach from the handle for easier cleaning, but the bamboo handle needs to fully dry; otherwise, it will be prone to mold. For some, this may not be an issue. However, if hand washing is not your jam, you may want to look elsewhere. The spoon's top is all-around more oversized (width and length) than other contenders, making it not ideal for younger babies but more suitable for older eaters. But, if your desire for an eco-friendly product overrides these downsides, we think you may be happy with Avanchy.
Why You Should Trust Us
BabyGearLab has hands-on tested many products over the past decade, developing comprehensive testing methods to rate and rank baby gear. Leading our review is Molly Bradac, Senior Review Editor, 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. Also contributing to our review are little testers who play an important role by providing feedback from a child's perspective. Each product in our review was purchased and experienced hands-on testing to evaluate performance.
Analysis and Test Results
With the help of some hungry little testers, each product experienced side-by-side comparisons, lots of scooping, plus washing 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 the baby's gums and teeth. The BEABA First Stage Baby Spoon Set meets that criteria. If your goal is to let your little eater 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 fall 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 a utensil after use for any of the products, which will significantly minimize the cleaning task.
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