Mesh Feeders - are they worth it?

[Terrilein]

I've been following a few discussions on BLW since we sort of did that with my dd all those years ago. But it's been so long that I don't really remember how we made the jump from purees (which she wouldn't eat) to regular table food. But then, she refused any and all solids until she was 10 months old. Anyhow, I've read mention of mesh feeders here and there and have discovered that they're available in Germany through amazon.de and well, I'm wondering if they're worth it?

[Knitting Mama]

I really like to use ours for a couple of things. One, before Cecilia was over 6 months and before we started BLW, I would put breastmilk ice cubes in the mesh feeder and let her go to town. She loved it! And then the first food we gave her when we started BLW was avocado. Well, it's a fabulous first food, but it's awfully hard to use, because the slices stick to the highchair really strongly! So I started putting avocado in the feeder too, and it went over really well. Everything else she has tried has been whole chunks of food, but avocado is really suited to the mesh feeder.

[lucy_v]

I've been meaning to post and ask about these too. My mom bought one for 8 mo DD (she said it was only a few dollars... Are they more expensive in Germany?). Anyway, I haven't used it yet. I do some BLW and some puréed/mashed food. The mesh feeder just seems weird to me... Eating through a piece of mesh doesn't seem very natural. Curious what others think and how they've worked out.

BTW, I haven't had any trouble with avocado. Maybe i haven't left them on the tray long enough?

ETA: I like the idea of using it with breast milk frozen cubes.. That would be great as she's teething & pretty uncomfortable right now!

[octobermom]

Hated it at least the ones I have to clean... I loved it when All I'd do was stick an ice cube in it to entertain her and get in a touch of extra water on super hot AZ days and to aid in teething but with food nope the thing is a huge pain to clean I gave up tossed it and she does a LOT beter with whole foods.

Deanna

[smeep]

I chose expensive short-term, but really, my issue is that THEY SUCK!!! Seriously. I used them maybe THREE times (I had two of them, so one got used twice) before I just stopped. The food just got stuck in there and it was hell to get out. I absolutely will NOT be getting them again. But, then again, I don't plan on starting solids until 9+ months this time either.

[Mom2M]

I really liked them. It is gross to rinse out banana and avocado but I would flip it inside out and rinse it and then hang it from the top rack in the dishwasher.
DD liked them also for teething, I would put an ice cube in it and she would just gnaw on it and it looked like it made her feel much better.

[chel]

my dd1 seemed like op oldest. no interest in puree, just sudden jump to table foods (around 11m).

i got the mesh feeder to try purees another way with dd2. no go. like a pp, dd2 liked it with an ice cube to play with. but it never made the transition to food.

dd2 is now 10m and is just going straight to fingerfood. not that she's really eating much. we'll go out for chinese and dd will eat 2-3 peas from the rice. she hates to be fed, and insists on feeding herself.

so while i think a mesh feeder is nice, especially with early eaters, i could have easily lived without it. i would only recommend one if your child has already show an interest in purees and this would help you out

[Knitting Mama]

I can't imagine putting purees in the mesh feeder; is that what people do with it?

[rhiOrion]

They're pretty cheap here, so I don't feel like I wasted my money (well, if I'd paid for it, which I didn't). It doesn't get used much, but it was useful for entertaining her while we ate before she ate solids. I'd put an ice cube in there and let her suck on that. She loved it! I've tried putting banana in there, but honestly, she made just as much of a mess with that as she would have if I just mashed some banana up on her tray and let her play with it.

So I'm going with nice to have but not necessary.

[freestylemama]

I didn't vote, but would have had an option been: PIA to clean, skip it!

[cristeen]

This fellinto the category of totally unnecessary things in my book. DS went from formula to solids just fine without it (i didnt do any purees).

[AnneCordelia]

Originally Posted by smeep

I chose expensive short-term, but really, my issue is that THEY SUCK!!! Seriously. I used them maybe THREE times (I had two of them, so one got used twice) before I just stopped. The food just got stuck in there and it was hell to get out. I absolutely will NOT be getting them again.

Ditto!!

[newmamalizzy]

Well, not expensive. I think they cost me $4, but I can't figure out what to do with them. Granted we've been delaying most solids, but DD really likes eating mushy stuff with a spoon, and I think she's really going to like eating big chunks of food when we're finally able to move past rice. Avocado is a good thought, though. Thanks, Cecilia's Mama!

[HappyMommy2]

Expensive and gross to clean. I had visions of doing frozen grapes and frozen bananas. But cleaning out banana once grossed me out.

[Terrilein]

Wow! Thanks for the input ladies! FWIW, they aren't that expensive here. I was thinking that spending even $ 0.02 on the feeders might be $ 0.02 too many and therefore "expensive".

As it is, I'm leaning towards just skipping them. We obviously somehow managed to introduce tablefood with dd, I just don't remember how.

[Carlin]

I think they are totally unnecessary as a feeding tool, but my DD really likes them for teething. We put ice cubes in ours and let her munch away.

[Nicole730]

I like them for keeping DD occuppied while I need to get something done. We've put ice, grapes, raspberries, and banana. I do not recommend putting banana in them, impossible to clean! I really like the new "sassy" brand one I got because the mesh part comes completely out - way easier to clean than the 'munchkin' ones I threw out once ds stopped using them. Not expensive IMO. Although I was wishing they could somehow come up with a disposable mesh part so I wouldn't have to clean it!

[alegna]

I personally think they're gross (sucking food through mesh... eewww) but that's just me.

Never had one, never missed it.

-Angela

[lotusdebi]

In my experience, they're best for teething. We also used them for carrots. I agree with whoever said that bananas were an impossible mess.

[Bebe's Mom]

I was just reading a great book called Child led Weaning and they said basically that the mesh feeders are totally unnecessary and to be avoided. Long before I read the book I considered getting one, but DH vetoed it saying they were a waste of money. DD is now 13 months and is eating solids just fine. I like the teething idea though...