Weaning Set Buyer's Guide 2026: Suction Silicone at £17 and £23, or a £30 BabyBjörn That Grips Without It

COMPARISON · FEEDING TIME

Weaning kit looks simple until you are standing in front of a wall of silicone. Most sets bundle a plate, a bowl and some chunky cutlery, then charge anything from £10 to £50 depending on the brand, the colours and how many extras are thrown in. The plate and bowl are the bits you will use three times a day for the next two years, so it pays to get them right.

The question that splits the market is not silicone versus bamboo. It is whether the plate grips the table by suction, and whether your table will let it. Suction bases work brilliantly on smooth, sealed surfaces like most plastic highchair trays and laminate tables. On oiled wood, textured trays or scratched surfaces they can give up mid-meal, and a baby who has just discovered throwing will find that out quickly.

So we lined up one set from each price band in our catalogue: the £16.99 Tum Tum Silicone Weaning Set, the £23.20 Mamas & Papas First Mealtime Silicone Set and the £29.90 BabyBjörn Feeding Set, which skips suction altogether. We compared what is actually in each box, how they clean and where they will and won't stay put, and weighed what parents tell us about weaning gear. Here is how they stack up.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: Mamas & Papas First Mealtime Silicone Set · 8.5/10 - plate, bowl, cutlery and a bib, all suction-ready silicone, for £23
• Best Value: Tum Tum Silicone Weaning Set · 8.0/10 - lidded bowl, sectioned plate and oven-safe silicone for under £17
• Best for Wooden Tables: BabyBjörn Feeding Set · 7.5/10 - a non-slip strip instead of suction, plus a cup, from a brand built on simple design

Quick comparison

Set	Price	Material	Grip	In the box	Dishwasher	Rating
Tum Tum Silicone Weaning Set	£16.99	Silicone	Suction (plate and bowl)	Sectioned plate, lidded bowl, fork, spoon	Yes (also microwave, freezer and oven to 190°C, except lid and fork)
Mamas & Papas First Mealtime Silicone Set	£23.20	LFGB silicone	Suction (plate and bowl)	Sectioned plate, bowl, fork, spoon, bib	Yes (also microwave)
BabyBjörn Feeding Set	£29.90	BPA-free plastic	Non-slip strip	Plate, spoon, fork, cup	Yes

How we picked the three

We started with every weaning set in our catalogue that is in stock with a UK retailer and comes from a brand with a real track record, then ranked them by price. Roughly the bottom third sits under £18, the middle third runs to about £25 and the top third goes from there to £50 and beyond. From each band we picked the set that best shows what that money buys.

Then we compared them on what matters at the highchair: what is in the box, whether the plate stays put on different surfaces, how easily everything cleans, and how long each piece stays useful. Ratings weigh value at the price as much as features, so a cheaper set can score close to a pricier one.

What to look for in a weaning set

Grip. Suction plates and bowls stick best to smooth, clean, non-porous surfaces. Check your highchair tray and table before you commit. If either is wooden, textured or well worn, a non-slip base may be the better bet.

Sections. A divided plate keeps new tastes apart, which helps through fussy phases and with baby-led weaning, where finger foods are laid out side by side. Purée-heavy weaning leans more on the bowl.

Cutlery that fits small hands. Short, chunky handles are easier for babies to grip and get to their mouths. Long, thin spoons are for you, not them.

Cleaning. Everything here is dishwasher safe, but silicone can hold on to strong smells and colours over time. A lid on the bowl is a small thing that saves a lot of cling film.

Age. General guidance is to start solid food at around six months, when your baby can sit up and hold their head steady. Some sets are labelled from four months, but the label is not a reason to start earlier.

1. Tum Tum Silicone Weaning Set / 10 · Best value

Tum Tum is a British brand from Hippychick, and this is the set we would hand a friend who wants to start weaning without overspending. For £16.99 you get a sectioned suction plate shaped like an animal face, with the ears acting as little dipping pots, a suction bowl with its own lid, and a chunky fork and spoon designed with input from a baby-led weaning specialist.

The lidded bowl is the clever bit. Leftovers go straight in the fridge, and breakfast or a snack can go in the changing bag without a separate pot. The silicone is dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe, and the plate and bowl are oven safe to 190°C (the lid and fork are not). The set comes in several animal designs, including this Boris-Kev koala.

What parents love

• A lid as standard. Most sets at this price skip it. It turns the bowl into a storage pot and a travel snack box.
• A plate that makes food fun. The face-shaped sections and ear dipping pots give you an easy way to lay out finger foods and sauces.
• Cutlery designed for baby-led weaning. The chunky handles are shaped for small fists, so babies can feed themselves sooner.
• Very forgiving to clean. We hear repeatedly from parents that what matters most is being able to throw everything in the dishwasher, and this set can also go in the microwave, freezer and oven.

What to know before you buy

• Suction depends on your surface. The brand says the bases need a clean, dust-free, non-porous surface to grip. On wood or textured trays, expect less hold.
• No bib or cup. You get the essentials only, so budget for a bib and an open or free-flow cup separately.
• Novelty design. The animal face is great at the start, but some parents prefer plainer tableware that won't look babyish at three.

Best for

• First-time weaners on a budget
• Parents who batch cook or feed on the go
• Baby-led weaning with lots of finger foods
• Smooth plastic highchair trays and laminate tables

2. Mamas & Papas First Mealtime Silicone Set / 10 · Best overall

If you want one box that covers everything for the first few months of weaning, this is it. The First Mealtime Silicone Set includes a suction sectional plate, a suction bowl, a chunky short-ended fork and spoon, and a silicone bib with several neck positions so it grows with your baby. It usually sells for £29 and is currently £23.20 in our channels.

Everything is made from LFGB food-grade silicone, which is odour resistant, dishwasher safe and microwave safe. The fork has extra grippers to help food stay on, and the muted Kiwi, Truffle and Melba colours are designed to match the brand's highchairs, boosters and sippy cups, if you like a co-ordinated kitchen.

What parents love

• The most complete box. Plate, bowl, fork, spoon and bib means you won't be buying extras in week one.
• A bib that grows. Multiple neck attachments let you loosen it as your baby grows, and silicone wipes clean in seconds.
• Cutlery that works. The short, chunky handles suit early grip, and the grippers on the fork help pieces of food stay on the way up.
• Calm colours. No cartoon faces, so it still looks at home on the table when your baby becomes a toddler.

What to know before you buy

• Same suction caveat. Like any suction set, it grips best on smooth, sealed surfaces. Wooden tables and textured trays are hit and miss.
• No lid. Leftovers need a separate pot, unlike the Tum Tum.
• Price varies. The full price is £29, so it's worth checking for the lower price before you buy.

Best for

• Parents who want everything in one box
• Mamas & Papas highchair owners who want a matching set
• Messy eaters who need a proper bib from day one
• A practical, good-looking baby shower gift

3. BabyBjörn Feeding Set / 10 · Best for wooden tables

BabyBjörn takes a different approach. Instead of suction, the plate has a non-slip strip underneath to stop it sliding, and its trefoil shape gives your baby curved edges to push food against when scooping. The set has four pieces: a plate, a spoon, a fork and a cup, all in BPA-free plastic and all dishwasher safe.

The details are thoughtful. The spoon and fork are shaped so they don't slide down into the plate, the handles are short and easy to grip, and the cup is stable, with frosted plastic so you can see how much is left. The plate grips without needing a perfectly smooth surface, which makes it a good fit for wooden tables. The trade-off is that it resists sliding but won't stop a determined baby from lifting it.

What parents love

• Grips without suction. The non-slip strip works on surfaces where suction gives up, including wood.
• Easy scooping. The trefoil plate's curved sections help babies get food onto the spoon on their own.
• Light and simple. One parent shared that it is 'a lovely-looking set, and very lightweight', which makes it easy to pack for grandparents or holidays.
• Includes a cup. The only set here with something to drink from.

What to know before you buy

• It can be lifted. Non-slip stops sliding, not throwing. If your baby likes to tip plates, suction is the better defence.
• No bowl. The plate's raised sections cope with thicker purées, but runny food and yoghurt are easier in a bowl.
• Highest price, fewest pieces. You are paying for design and durability rather than a fuller box.

Best for

• Families with wooden or textured tables and trays
• Babies who have moved past the throwing phase
• Parents who prefer plastic to silicone
• Packing light for days out and grandparents' houses

What about bamboo weaning sets?

Bamboo sets look lovely, and you will find several in our catalogue. They tend to be heavier and more rigid than silicone, many can't go in the microwave, and they need more careful washing to stay looking good. If you love the look, they are worth considering, but for daily use most families find silicone or plastic easier to live with.

How to choose

Choose the Mamas & Papas First Mealtime Silicone Set if you want one box with everything, including a bib, and you have a smooth highchair tray or table.

Choose the Tum Tum Silicone Weaning Set if budget matters, you batch cook or feed on the go, and you like a playful plate that makes finger foods fun. The lid alone earns its place.

Choose the BabyBjörn Feeding Set if your table or tray is wooden or textured, your baby has stopped throwing plates, or you want a set with a cup that is light enough to pack.

Whichever you choose, start with one plate and one bowl. You can add extras once you know how your baby eats.

Add it to your Nest

Weaning sets are one of the most popular baby shower and first birthday gifts, and an easy one for relatives to pick. Add your favourite to your free BubsNest registry so friends and family can buy it from any retailer, without doubling up.