Two simple kits. Everything you actually need to start solids the evidence-based way, and nothing you don’t. Pick the one that suits how you want to feed.
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The Essentials Kit
The genuine minimum to get started
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IKEA Antilop highchair Cult pick
Cheap, wipes clean in seconds, lasts for years. The one almost every Aussie mum starts with.
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ezpz Mini Mat (bowl + placemat in one)
Suctions to the tray so it can’t be flung. One piece, no separate bowl to launch across the kitchen.
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Bumkins silicone bib with catch pocket
Catches most of what doesn’t make it in. Rinses clean. A false economy to skip for cloth.
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ezpz Tiny Spoons (soft-tipped, 2-pack)
Soft silicone tips, gentle on new gums. Two is plenty to start.
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OXO Tot baby food freezer tray
For batch-pureeing your bitter greens and freezing in portions. Lidded so nothing dries out.
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The Full Kit
Everything in Essentials, plus the bits that make it easier
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Stokke Tripp Trapp highchair Investment
Grows from baby to adult and never needs replacing. The long-game pick if budget allows.
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Beaba Babycook (steam + blend in one)
Steams and purees in the same jug. Worth it if you’ll make a lot of homemade food. A steamer + blender does the same job for less.
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Doidy Cup (open-top training cup)
Speech pathologists prefer it over spouted sippy cups for oral development. Introduce water from 6 months.
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Splat mat for under the highchair
Saves your floors and a good chunk of your sanity. Shake it out, wipe it down, done.
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Baby-Led Weaning by Gill Rapley
The original, and still the most sensible book on the approach if you want to read one thing.
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| What you get | Essentials Kit | Full Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Highchair | IKEA Antilop | Stokke Tripp Trapp |
| Bowl & mat | ezpz Mini Mat | ezpz Mini Mat |
| Bib | Bumkins silicone | Bumkins silicone |
| Spoons | ezpz Tiny Spoons | ezpz Tiny Spoons |
| Freezer storage | OXO Tot tray | OXO Tot tray |
| Steam & blend maker | — | Beaba Babycook |
| Training cup | — | Doidy Cup |
| Splat mat | — | Included |
| The book | — | Baby-Led Weaning |
| Best for | Getting started simply, on a budget | Batch-cookers in it for the long haul |
What I deliberately left out
Bottle and food warmers (a pan of warm water does the job), single-use puree pouches (homemade is cheaper and gives you control over flavour), twelve-piece cutlery sets (two spoons is plenty), and teething biscuits and rusks (often surprisingly high in sugar). A kit should save you money, not invent new things to buy.
Lead with green, and offer it again. You’ve got this. — Amanda