There is one thing that babies like to do in the very early weeks, and it’s feeding. It can certainly feel like a relentless never-ending cycle of feed, sleep, poop repeat. 

And then later on, when it’s time for weaning, things can get very messy very quickly. Baby feeding can certainly be a lot to wrap your head around regardless of their age, but we’ll help you break it down.

Whether you are bottle-feeding, breastfeeding, or doing a combination of the two, there are certain things that will always come in handy in the early stages all the way through to weaning – whatever your feeding journey. Join us in this edition of Nursery Essentials, as we’ll go over all feeding must-haves and tips. 

Feeding a Newborn Baby

Feeding a newborn baby is a full-time job in its own right. They’ll require a feed every three to fours hours, so a lot of your time will be spent either breastfeeding or preparing feeds through bottles. 

Make sure you have a nice comfy spot where you can feed. Whether this is a dedicated chair that you buy specifically for this purpose, or it’s your cosy sofa, a designated space can make a great difference. You can get the pillows exactly the way you require, and you can also make sure you set up a little feeding station for yourself and baby. You might be here a while!

Your feeding station can include an ample supply of snacks, a phone charger nearby, a water bottle, a good number of muslins for burping and inevitable spit-ups, nipple cream if required, a dummy nearby if needed. 

Perhaps even some entertainment or headphones to help you stay awake through those night feeds. You’ll spend a lot of time here initially, so make it easy on yourself and get prepared.

If you’re breastfeeding and you’re on the go, make sure to check out Cheeky Chompers’ Multimuslin. This is a multifunctional muslin that can also function as a breastfeeding cover. Ideal for feeding baby in a public space – it will provide mum with some privacy and lessen distractions for baby. 

Weaning: Embracing the Art of Eating

Once your baby reaches six months old, it is generally time to start weaning. 

While weaning can be a lot of fun, it can also be incredibly daunting. There is so much around that has been designed to make parents’ lives easier that it is a little overwhelming knowing what to buy and what’s absolutely essential.

The core weaning essentials include a highchair, an ample amount of bibs, baby spoons and bowls or plates. 

Whatever else you buy will depend on what you feel you need to make your life easier. 

The Best Highchair for Weaning

The best highchair for your baby is going to depend a little on your personal circumstances as well as the space available for the highchair. If you’re strapped for space, a folding highchair might be the best option for you. This would allow you to grab the highchair as and when needed, without it taking up valuable space.

If you’re working with a little bit more room and it doesn’t need to be able to fold away, we also stock a variety of highchairs that do not fold. Our Oyster Home 4-in-1 highchair is a customer favourite due to its versatility.

Some of our highchairs are suitable from birth. You might be wondering why, as weaning doesn’t start until six months. These highchairs can be a hugely convenient place to ‘park’ your baby while you’re making your own dinner or having a bite. Some of the highchairs come with activity toys, ideal to keep them occupied for a while.

Make Sure It Has a Tray!

We’d recommend making sure you have a highchair that either has a tray attached or has the option to attach a tray. Weaning is incredibly messy, and if you have an expensive dining table, it will be best to not risk that surface with pasta sauce or beetroot stains. Having a smaller surface area to clean will also help cut your clean-up time. 

If you’re thinking about going down a baby led weaning route, then you could also use the tray as a plate as you introduce your baby to various textures and tastes! (This is also true for when you have a baby who likes to fling their plates across the kitchen, highchair trays are much harder to chuck!)

Plates, Cups, Cutlery and More When Weaning

Selecting your kid’s tableware is going to be a very personal choice as it’s very dependent on what type of weaning you plan on doing. There is no right or wrong, but it could determine whether you buy a bowl and plate with a suction pad or not.

Whatever you do buy, keep the breakable things for when they’re much older. Assume that plates and cups will make it to the floor regularly, so make sure to get something that is able to withstand the abuse.

When you buy cutlery for them, make sure to buy something that can withstand a bit of chewing. There are very cute stainless steel cutlery sets, but those are usually best kept until your baby is a wee bit older.

Investing in a few bibs will be inevitable. And you might need more than you think if you have a baby who likes to involve their entire body when learning to eat.

We’re Here to Help

If you’re still stuck on what highchair to buy for your baby, feel free to get in touch or nip down to our showroom to get personal advice. We’re happy to help to talk you through your options as selecting your baby’s highchair is a big step. 

We hope our tips have helped you make your life and feeding journey a little easier. Make sure to stay tuned for the upcoming topics in our Nursery Essentials guides. Our previous editions can be found here on our blog page.

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