Written by Polly Bate
As I sit down with my 8‑month old to enjoy one of our first meals together, she looks me straight in the eye and, handful by handful, throws the scrambled egg I’d lovingly prepared onto the floor. She giggles in her gorgeous gurgling baby way while the dog enthusiastically laps up the yellow gathering around the highchair legs.
A little frustrating, yes — but also a delight. She was enjoying the experience, the dog was thrilled, and I was reminded that weaning is messy, chaotic, and oddly joyful.
This is my third time weaning, and each of my babies has been completely different. One adored finger foods, one preferred puree, and the newest addition seems determined to feed the dog more than herself. But despite their differences, the baby weaning essentials I rely on have always stayed the same.
Weaning Readiness: When to Start
For us, the weaning journey began around the six month mark, once the signs of readiness appear:
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baby shows interest in food
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they can sit upright and hold their head confidently
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they have good hand‑eye coordination (and are already guiding anything they can grab straight into their mouth)
Once those boxes were ticked, the fun — and the mess — began!
The Early Weaning Essentials
Like everything in parenting, the number of gadgets marketed for starting solids can feel overwhelming. With all three babies, I’ve stuck to a simple combination of finger foods and purees, which helped me figure out what we needed rather than drowning in unnecessary kit.
Highchair
Obviously, but essential. Don’t be swayed by the aesthetically pleasing ones (like I was initially. A good highchair is one that wipes down easily and is the right height for your kitchen table, so baby can feel part of the action at family mealtimes.
Long‑Sleeved Bibs
Purees rarely stay on the spoon — little fingers love to explore the journey from table to mouth. Instead of changing outfits after every meal, long-sleeved bibs save the day.
The Loulou Lollipop Long Sleeve Bibs are a favourite for us. The bright, colourful designs are fun for baby to interact with, and the bibs themselves are waterproof, stain resistant, and odour resistant. As a bonus, they can double up as the perfect painting apron, water play cover-up, and clothes defender against the glue when the crafts come out!
Suction Plates
A no brainer. Little hands move fast and if it’s not stuck down, it’ll be on the floor in seconds. The Loulou Lollipop Silicone Suction Plates (we love the cute animal designs) have brilliant suction and stick to both the highchair tray and the table. They’re dishwasher and microwave safe too — a win‑win.
Independent Feeding
With their determination and endless curiosity, babies master new skills quickly and independent feeding arrives fast. I made the mistake early on of offering utensils and cups that were far too big for tiny hands, so baby‑sized cutlery and cups are a must.
Baby Utensils
Little fingers feed little mouths. The Loulou Lollipop Learning Utensils are the perfect starter size — chunky grips, rust proof stainless-steel tips, and easy for babies to hold. Food may end up everywhere but the spoon, but if the utensil reaches their mouth, I count that as a win... eventually they will work it out!
Baby Cups
Small mouths need small cups. Yes, there will be spillages (thankfully minimal impact on clothing when wearing a long‑sleeved bib), but babies love the feeling of having control over a cup, especially after watching Mummy and Daddy.
Transitioning to Toddler Feeding
Then comes the day you realise the long-sleeved bib is no longer necessary and their little hands don’t look quite so tiny holding the baby utensils. This is when we upgraded to a silicone bib with a pouch and slightly larger cutlery.
Silicone Bibs with Pockets
We lose a lot of food to the floor, so a wipe-clean silicone bib with a deep pocket works wonders. Loulou Lollipop’s Silicone Bibs have adjustable straps, gorgeous patterns, and pockets deep enough to catch even the most enthusiastic pasta flinger (much to the dog’s annoyance!)
Toddler Cutlery
There are some great sets of ‘in-between’ sized cutlery — some with fun character designs and slightly straighter edges, sized for more confident eaters who are past the “tip everything upside down” stage.
A Lifetime of Flavour Awaits…
I’ve found the weaning journey both rewarding and challenging. The pressure of following weaning schedules, the stress that hits when a toddler refuses to eat, and the sheer amount of mess, can feel overwhelming. But having the right essentials for weaning at each stage has genuinely eased the anxiety. Because in the end, watching your baby develop a healthy, curious relationship with food will always outweigh the chaos of those messy first months.
About the Author
Polly Bate is a mum to three little ones, based in rural West Sussex. A former marketer, she now spends her days navigating the whirlwind of parenthood (with a dog and two cats in tow!), supporting her husband on the family farm, and embracing the beautiful chaos that shapes everyday family life.