When the baby is ready for his first bites of real food do you dump it onto the tray and end the day? No way! There are five reasons that baby benefits when you use plates or bowls for babies.

1.) It’s All About what Portions People

As a nutritionist and dietitian specialist who has taught thousands of families and healthcare professionals on baby-led weaning, the number most common mistake that parents and caregivers commit when baby is beginning solids has to do with the size of their portions.

I’ve seen images on Instagram of children surrounded by piles protein. Also, servings of starches that even toddlers couldn’t consume! And then parents feeling dejected or disappointed when their child doesn’t consume “all that food” he was given.

Let’s be honest about portions for you Baby portion sizes are much smaller than you imagine!

A baby’s plate that is divided or mat can be a fantastic way to keep portions in check. Remember that your baby still receives the majority of the nutrition the body needs through breastmilk or infant formula up until the age of one. The solid foods we serve are a good source of nutrition however they also provide an opportunity for your baby to explore new flavors and textures , and to play and play with the latest food phenomenon.

The most popular baby plate me at home and in my practice is one that has two 2-oz and one 4-oz portion compartment, which is designed in the shape of smiling faces.

You may only complete each portion of the plate 1/4 or 1/2 full for babies who are starting to get started with solid foods, but I appreciate the visual warning that less is better here, and keeping portions small is better for babies and their tiny tummies.

2.) Variation is the Spice of Life

Another benefit of having a divided silicon baby plate or suction weaning set is that it serves as a visual reminder of when baby should be eating different types of food.

We know that babies who have been exposed to a wider number of tastes, foods and flavors during the 6-18 months of their lives have a better chances of developing into an enthusiastic eater with a lower risk of having a difficult time eating later in the course of.

What’s the best method to bump up these exposures?

Try to teach your child various foods over a period of 2-3 meals throughout the day. There’s no reason that they ALL require different food items – repurposing meals safely or incorporating leftovers are fantastic ideas.

However, a plate divided into three distinct sections helps remind you that your baby must be exposed to lots of different kinds of food and also helps you establish the habit of having a separate plate at every meal.

3.) Bowls and plates minimize mess

You may think that adding plates or a baby bowl to the mix is going to make more dishes. It’s true that it’s just one (or 2) more dishes to do. However, I’d argue that having a baby’s table or bowl for the table will help cut down on the mess!

Feeding a newborn, especially when you’re doing baby-led weaning, could be a bit of a messy endeavor. In my practice, I’ve observed that infants that sit at a bowl or a plate do better with minimizing mess.

When a baby is presented by a food tray will swipe it between their hands and much of it will end in the floor. With the boundary of the different sections of a plate or mat or bowl that baby can take food easier, which means less of it is thrown upon the flooring.

4.) Motor Skill Development

Bowls, baby food and dishes can help facilitate development of motor skills involved in eating.

By forming a soft border around the silicon bowl or plate edge baby has the ability to begin raking food and actually placing some in her mouth!

5.) Making Food Fun

Feeding your baby should be fun, and the Happy Mat with its smiley facial design can help you do it. The 4-ounce portion of the mat is designed as a smile, and it is located just below the two 2-oz “eye” parts.