Accessories for Feeding a Baby

Feeding accessories make a baby's mealtime easier.

Baby feeding accessories are designed to make mealtimes faster, easier, healthier and more palatable for parents and babies. From breastfeeding to bottle feeding to introducing solids, there are a variety of products available to support parents as they move along a baby's feeding continuum.

Breastfeeding Accessories

Parents committed to breastfeeding have a number of supportive products at their disposal. Nursing bras and clothing come modified with special openings to allow an infant to breastfeed while mom remains fully clothed. Washable or disposable breast pads prevent breast milk from leaking onto clothing or linens. Nipple shields and lanolin ointment protect nipples from cracking and bleeding. Manual or electric breast pumps and milk storage bags allow nursing moms to express and store their milk. Nursing covers offer privacy for mothers breastfeeding in public.

Bottle Feeding Accessories

For parents who can't or choose not to breastfeed, there are a variety of accessories for bottle feeding. Bottles and nipples come in many shapes and sizes to suit a baby's preference. Some bottles are equipped with specially designed pieces or collapsible bags to minimize the amount of air a baby swallows while drinking. Microwavable sterilizers ensure baby's bottle is free of germs. Electric warmers heat bottles in a few short minutes. Cleanup is a snap with a bottle brush and accessories designed to keep small bottle pieces in place in the dishwasher.

Support for Solids

With baby's first bite of solid food, parents enter a new, larger world of feeding accessories. Rubber-tipped or plastic spoons protect baby's mouth. "Take and Toss" flatware and bowls can be thrown away after use. Babies can self-feed fresh fruits and vegetables placed in the mesh bag of a teething feeder. Healthy meals can be created with homemade baby food makers and associated cookbooks. No-spill "sippy cups" that function by means of a special, replaceable valve keep a baby hydrated and happy.

A Throne of Her Own

One necessary feeding accessories for a baby is a highchair or booster seat. There are many different types to choose from. There are traditional, freestanding highchairs or highchairs that can be modified as a child grows. A baby can join the family table in a chair that secures directly to the table or in a booster that straps to the seat of a chair.

References

• Healthy Children: Nursing Supplies
• BabyCenter: Solid Feeding Supplies: What You'll Need to Feed Your Baby