What to Buy (and What to Skip) for Baby-Led Weaning
A Real-Life Gear Guide for Starting Solids Without the Overwhelm
Overflowing cabinets and drawers won’t make baby-led weaning better. You will.
Prefer to listen?
Feeling Like You Need a Whole Kitchen Makeover Just to Start Solids?
Starting baby-led weaning is a big transition.
You’re learning new routines, wiping banana off your ceiling, and figuring out how to help your baby take those adorable, wobbly first bites.
Then… you walk into Target.
Or open Amazon.
And suddenly you’re hit with a wall of plates, cups, bibs, utensils, and gear that seems absolutely essential — or so the internet says.
Let’s clear that up.
In this post, I’ll walk you through:
✔️ What you actually need to start solids
✔️ What’s helpful but not necessary
✔️ What you can totally skip (yes, even if it’s adorable)
All based on real experience, not just clever marketing.
The Essentials for Baby-Led Weaning
Here’s what you really need to begin:
✅ A Supportive High Chair
Look for a chair that keeps your baby sitting upright at 90-degree angles (hips, knees, ankles) with flat, supported feet.
Posture = safety.
A stable body helps baby focus, swallow safely, and feel secure at the table.
Pro tip: Don’t skip the fit check! A dangling foot or slouched spine can lead to gagging or fatigue.
✅ 2–3 Soft, Comfortable Bibs
My favorite? Baprons — they tie under the arms (not around the neck), stay in place, and survive the washing machine like champs.
✅ At Least 3 Baby-Sized Spoons
Yes, even for BLW! You’ll be preloading spoons with things like yogurt or applesauce and letting baby guide them to their mouth.
Look for spoons that are:
Short
Easy to grip
Shallow and soft
Favorites: EZPZ Tiny Spoons
✅ Bowls or Divided Plates with Walls
You want something that:
Sticks to the tray or table
Has walls to help baby scoop
Is sized for tiny hands and portions
Top pick: EZPZ plates and bowls (again, because they actually stay put).
Nice-to-Have (But Not Required) BLW Tools
You don’t need these right away—but they can make things smoother or more fun:
Crinkle cutter – Adds grip to slippery foods like mango or avocado
Open cup or straw cup – EZPZ’s mini cup or straw trainer are great; Honey Bear is a classic for straw training
Steamer basket or Instant Pot – Quick prep for baby and the rest of the fam
Crockpot – Perfect for slow-cooked meats that shred easily
Popsicle molds – Helpful for soothing teething gums with frozen milk, yogurt, or purées
Reminder: You don’t need to buy all of this at once. Add what you want, when you want.
Need gear? Get 15% off at EZPZ with code BLWACADEMY.
What You Can Totally Skip
❌ Baby Food Maker / Puree System
If you’re doing BLW, you’re not blending tons of food.
Skip the overpriced gadgets—you’re serving real food, not storing rows of frozen purée cubes.
❌ Plates Without Suction
Even the cute woodland ones.
No suction = on the floor. Every. Time.
❌ Fancy Utensils That Aren’t Baby-Friendly
Stick with tools designed for tiny hands. Your baby doesn’t need a miniature fork from your silverware drawer.
❌ A Dozen Cup Styles
Pick one or two and build from there. Your baby doesn’t need a full bar cart.
The Real Magic Isn’t in the Gear
You could fill your drawers with every tool on Instagram…
…but that’s not what builds a confident eater.
You do.
BLW is about:
Trust
Exploration
Connection
Skill-building
Shared experiences
Not perfectly plated food or matching snack trays.
Final Takeaways (Before You Hit “Add to Cart”)
✅ Do a gear audit first
You might already have more than you think.
✅ Prioritize fit
A supportive high chair does more for safety than any suction plate ever will.
✅ Buy slow
Add tools as you go. Let your baby—and your routine—show you what’s really helpful.
✅ Ignore the marketing
You’re not “behind” if your kitchen isn’t Insta-perfect. You’re doing great.
Ready to Start Solids With Less Gear and More Confidence?
Come join my free class:
🎓 Orientation Day: Baby-Led Weaning 101
Inside, I’ll walk you through:
✔️ What gear you actually need
✔️ How to start solids safely
✔️ How to focus on connection instead of consumerism
✨ Click here to watch Orientation Day — and take the pressure off your shopping list.
What’s the One BLW Item You Use Every Day?
Come share with me on Instagram @babyledweaningacademy.
Let’s trade real-life faves (and maybe laugh about the gear we never touched 😉).