Feeding Product Recommendations

​There are SO many feeding related products out there and it can be overwhelming for new moms who are just looking for something that will work for their child. You’ll likely find thousands of products if you do a simple search for a “baby spoon” or “open cup” - brands, colors, shapes, prices ranges… Whew. If your child has feeding concerns and you’re not sure what product to buy, it’s important to work with your child’s feeding therapist to find the best product for them. But, here are a few products that I absolutely love: 

My Favorite Spoon

Maroon Spoons: Yes - old school and boring!! But this spoon has a very flat and shallow bowl, which means that it's very easy for baby to get food off the spoon. It promotes lip closure, is smooth and light, and is small, which limits the amount of food you can put on the spoon to prevent huge bites. Plus, it's inexpensive!

​My Favorite Introductory Straw Cup

Honey Bear Cup: This cup is great for teaching your little one how to drink from a straw if it's challenging for them. You can squeeze the body of the bear to make the liquid travel up to the top of the straw, making it easier for them to suck liquid out (they don't have to work as hard if the liquid is already at the top of the straw). Plus, the valve lets liquid flow up into the straw, but doesn't let it flow back down. This tool isn't needed if your child can drink from a straw without any teaching; it's a handy tool to quickly help teach a toddler to suck from a straw (and can usually be faded out rapidly!).

​My Favorite Sippy Cup

Kids Basix Safe Sippy: Sippy cups typically promote an immature swallow pattern and improper tongue and lip positioning when drinking. This cup allows for some spill-proof drinking (like your typical sippy cup), which is great for parents, but still has a straw feature, which is best for kids when drinking! The straw is nice and short making this perfect for a tiny mouth while still supporting a mature swallow pattern and proper tongue and lip positioning.

My Favorite Open Cup

The Tiny Cup by EZPZ: Drinking from an open cup helps support oral and speech development, as your child must learn to sip rather than suck (like on a bottle!). This cup is made to support your little one’s transition from a bottle to an open cup. It is small, which means that it will fit in your baby’s mouth and hands, and it holds a small amount of liquid, which can help teach your child to take small sips and swallow rather than take large gulps they could choke on. Plus, the cup is designed with a weighted base and interior angle to support safe drinking.

​My Favorite Nutritional Supplement

ENOF (pronounced like “enough”): This nutritional supplement is a great additive for older kids (toddlers +) if you’re worried that your child isn’t eating enough vegetables daily. It’s made from organic vegetable nutrition and you can sprinkle it on top of your child’s foods and/or drinks. A small amount (1/12th of a tsp) equates to 2.5 servings of vegetables! Most parents have said their child doesn’t even taste it. While it’s not made to replace vegetables, I love recommending this to parents of picky eaters in the meantime. 

Kelly is a Speech Language Pathologist and a feeding specialist. If you have questions, please reach out to Kelly at Picky Eaters Online. She can answer your questions about feeding therapy, speech therapy, virtual therapy, and your child’s or teen’s specific needs. Contact Kelly and Picky Eaters Online at kelly@pickyeatersonline.com or check out her website at https://pickyeatersonline.com/ to book a free consultation.

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