Best Weaning Spoons UK 2026: A Shallow Bowl Matters More Than a Soft Tip

COMPARISON · FEEDING TIME

Weaning spoons look like the easiest purchase on the whole feeding list. They cost less than a takeaway coffee, they all seem to be made of the same soft silicone, and most of them come in the same five shades of sage, blush and oatmeal. So why do so many parents end up buying three or four different sets before one finally sticks?

Because the soft tip is not where the difference lies. Almost every weaning spoon sold in the UK now has a silicone head that is kind to gums. What actually decides whether purée ends up in your baby or down their front is the depth of the bowl, the length and shape of the handle, and whether the spoon is designed for you to hold or for your baby to grab. A deep bowl on a six-month-old means a gag and a refusal. A long, skinny handle on a baby who wants to feed themselves means a spoon on the floor every ninety seconds.

We compared five spoons from five brands that cover the whole journey, from the first tastes of thin purée to a toddler spearing pasta with a fork. We looked at the spec sheets, the age guidance and the patterns in what parents tell us after weeks of daily use, and we have grouped them by the stage they genuinely suit. If you only buy one set, buy the one that matches where your baby is right now, not where the box says they should be.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: Nuby 3-Stage Baby's First Spoons Set · 8.5/10 - three spoons, three bowl depths, so you can step up from thin purée to lumps without buying again
• Best Value: Bibado Dippit Multi-Stage Weaning Spoon + Dipper · 8.4/10 - a dipper and a spoon in one for under £8, and the knuckle handle is genuinely hard to drop
• Best for 12 Months+: Ezpz Mini Utensils · 8.2/10 - a stubby fork and spoon with firm heads that actually pierce and scoop
• Best for Dip-and-Lick Starters: Done by Deer Learning Spoon Set · 8.0/10 - two differently shaped heads that let a baby lead from day one
• Best for First Toddler Scoops: Mushie Silicone Toddler Starter Spoons · 7.8/10 - a simple, sturdy pair for the age when they want to do it all themselves

Quick comparison

Spoon	Price	Age	Type	Best for	Rating
Nuby 3-Stage Baby's First Spoons Set	£10	6m+	3 silicone spoons, graded bowls	Parent-led purée to lumps
Bibado Dippit Multi-Stage Weaning Spoon + Dipper	£8	Weaning start	Dipper one end, spoon the other	Two-handed grabbers
Ezpz Mini Utensils	£21	12m+	Fork and spoon, nylon-reinforced heads	Independent toddlers
Done by Deer Learning Spoon Set	£10	Weaning start	2 silicone spoons, dip and scoop	Baby-led dippers
Mushie Silicone Toddler Starter Spoons	£13	12m+	2 silicone toddler spoons	First solo scooping

How we picked the 5

We started with every weaning spoon and toddler cutlery set in the BubsNest catalogue that is in stock with a UK retailer we work with, then cut anything sold as an anonymous multipack with no brand behind it. From what was left we wanted one pick per brand and a spread across the three stages most families pass through: parent-fed purée, baby-led dipping, and toddler self-feeding.

For each spoon we checked the manufacturer's age guidance, materials and cleaning instructions, and weighed them against the recurring themes in feedback from parents who have used them daily for weeks rather than days. Ratings reflect how well each spoon does the job for its intended stage, not a single universal scale, so a 12-month-plus fork is not marked down for being useless at six months.

What to look for in a weaning spoon

Bowl depth before softness. At the very start, a baby is learning to close their lips around a spoon and move food back with their tongue. A shallow bowl puts a small amount right at the lips and is far easier to clear. Deeper bowls come later, once purées are thicker and your baby is managing a proper mouthful.

Who is holding it. A spoon designed for a parent has a longer handle so you can reach across the high chair tray. A spoon designed for a baby has a short, fat or looped handle that a palmar grip can manage. Many families need both, which is why staged sets and two-piece sets are popular.

Dipper or scooper. Babies who are doing baby-led weaning often do better with a textured dipper they can load with purée and bring to their own mouth. It takes the aiming problem out of the equation. Scooping is a separate skill that usually arrives a few months later.

Firmness at the tip for toddlers. By around a year, an all-silicone spoon can feel floppy when a toddler tries to scoop thick porridge or pick up pasta. A stiffer head helps, as does a fork with short, wide tines that a small mouth can manage safely.

Cleaning. Seams and hollow handles trap food. One-piece silicone that goes in the dishwasher is the low-effort option, and every spoon here is dishwasher-friendly. Check whether a spoon can be sterilised if you plan to use it from the very first tastes.

1. Nuby 3-Stage Baby's First Spoons Set / 10 · Best Overall

Nuby's set takes the guesswork out of the single most common weaning spoon mistake, which is starting with a bowl that is too deep. You get three soft silicone spoons in one pack, each matched to a stage: Stage 1 for thin first purées, Stage 2 for thicker purées, and Stage 3 for semi-solid, lumpier food. Each one has an easy-grip handle long enough for you to feed with, but chunky enough that a curious baby can grab it too.

At around £10 for all three, it is the closest thing in this roundup to a buy-once option for the parent-fed months. It is not the most beautiful spoon on the shelf, and it is not designed for full baby-led weaning, but if you are spoon-feeding purées at the start and want to step up gradually, it is the set we would hand to a friend.

What parents love

• Graded bowls. You move to the next spoon as textures change, rather than guessing. One parent told us: 'I didn't realise how much the first spoon mattered until the Stage 1 one stopped the gagging.'
• Gentle silicone heads. Soft on gums and early teeth, and quiet against a bowl at 6am.
• Handle works for both of you. Long enough for a parent to reach the high chair, thick enough for a baby to grab and explore.
• Three for the price of one. Around £10 for the full set, so there is always a clean one in the drawer.

What to know before you buy

• Not built for baby-led weaning. There is no dipper or looped handle, so babies who want to feed themselves from day one may prefer the Bibado or Done by Deer.
• Stage 3 runs out of road. Once your baby is chasing peas and pasta, you will need toddler cutlery with a firmer head.

Best for

• Parents spoon-feeding purées for the first few months
• Babies who gag on deeper spoons
• Anyone who wants one pack to cover six to around twelve months
• Grandparents and nursery bags, as a spare set

2. Bibado Dippit Multi-Stage Weaning Spoon + Dipper / 10 · Best Value

The Dippit is the cleverest design in this group. One end is a soft, textured dipper that your baby can plunge into yoghurt or purée and bring straight to their mouth. Flip it round and the other end is a narrow, fairly deep spoon for when they are ready to scoop. The handle in the middle is shaped like a knuckle duster, so it can be held one-handed or two-handed and is much harder to fling.

That combination makes it a natural first spoon for babies who want to be in charge. Parents often tell us that the narrow bowl goes in more easily than wider spoons, and the dipper end doubles as something to chew on when gums are sore. At under £8, it is also the cheapest pick here.

What parents love

• Dipper and spoon in one. Your baby can start by dipping and licking, then switch ends when scooping clicks.
• Hard to drop. The looped handle suits a whole-hand grip. A parent shared: 'It's the first spoon she didn't throw on the floor within a minute.'
• Narrow bowl. We hear repeatedly from parents that the slim spoon end fits into small mouths more easily than wide, flat spoons.
• Doubles as a teether. The soft, textured dipper is handy on grumpy teething days.

What to know before you buy

• Only one utensil. You get a single Dippit, so most families buy two to cover the dishwasher cycle.
• Spoon end is quite deep. For a parent feeding very thin first purées, the shallower Nuby Stage 1 is easier.

Best for

• Baby-led weaning from the first tastes
• Babies who grab with both hands
• Teething babies who want something to chew
• Budget-conscious first-time buyers

3. Ezpz Mini Utensils / 10 · Best for 12 Months+

Ezpz's Mini Utensils are a fork and spoon designed with a paediatric feeding specialist for children from around 12 months. The handles are short, thick and non-slip, with small bumps on the underside that help stop the cutlery rolling round in a toddler's fist. Both pieces are roughly 12cm long, so there is no long lever for a small arm to wave about.

The real difference is the head. Instead of being floppy all-silicone, the spoon bowl and the three short, wide fork tines are reinforced with nylon, so they actually scoop thick porridge and pierce soft pasta. That makes this the pick for toddlers who are past purées and frustrated by spoons that bend.

What parents love

• Heads that work. Firm enough to stab a piece of pasta or scoop yoghurt without folding over.
• Stubby, grippy handles. Short and thick with stabilising bumps, ideal for a toddler still using a fist grip.
• Mouth-sized. The narrow spoon and short tines suit a toddler mouth and feel safer than adult cutlery.
• A real fork. One parent put it best: 'The first fork that actually picked something up, so he stopped using his hands.'

What to know before you buy

• Too advanced for early weaning. At 12 months and up, these are not a first spoon.
• The priciest here. Around £21 for a fork and spoon is a lot more than the silicone sets.

Best for

• Toddlers from about 12 months
• Children frustrated by bendy silicone spoons
• Families moving from finger food to cutlery
• Fussy eaters who like being in control

4. Done by Deer Learning Spoon Set / 10 · Best for Dip-and-Lick Starters

Done by Deer's Learning Spoon Set is two spoons with two different jobs. One is a dipper with a textured head for picking up purée, and the other is a scooper with a small bowl. Both are made of soft, food-grade silicone in the brand's soft powder tones, with little Pigee and Sheepy details, and both go in the microwave and the dishwasher.

It is a lovely option for families who want baby-led weaning from the start but would like a scoop ready for when their baby is curious. The shapes are distinct enough that babies tend to work out which is which, and they are short and chunky enough for small hands.

What parents love

• Two tools, two skills. Dip first, then scoop, without having to buy a second set.
• Short, chunky shapes. Easy for a baby to bring to their own mouth without poking themselves.
• Easy to clean. Soft one-piece silicone that is microwave and dishwasher safe.
• Matches the rest of the range. Parents we hear from regularly like pairing it with Done by Deer plates and bowls for a tidy, gift-worthy set.

What to know before you buy

• Not ideal for parent feeding. The handles are short, so spoon-feeding thin purée is fiddly compared with the Nuby.
• Soft heads bend. Thick porridge or mashed food can fold the silicone, so toddlers will outgrow it.

Best for

• Baby-led weaning families
• Gift lists and baby showers
• Babies who like to explore textures
• Parents already using Done by Deer tableware

5. Mushie Silicone Toddler Starter Spoons / 10 · Best for First Toddler Scoops

Mushie's Toddler Starter Spoons are a straightforward two-pack of soft, food-grade silicone spoons recommended from 12 months. The handles are easy to grip and embossed with the brand name, and the bowls are a touch larger than the first-stage spoons in this roundup, which suits a toddler who is ready for proper mouthfuls.

There is nothing clever here, and that is part of the appeal. They are free from BPA, BPS, PVC and phthalates, dishwasher safe, and come in the muted colours that match Mushie's popular suction bowls and plates. If your toddler wants to scoop for themselves but the Ezpz price feels steep, this is the simple alternative.

What parents love

• Simple and sturdy. One-piece silicone with nothing to come apart or trap food.
• Grippy handles. Easy for a toddler to hold and steer to their mouth.
• Two in a pack. One in use and one in the dishwasher.
• Pairs with Mushie tableware. A parent shared: 'They match her bowl, which sounds silly, but she was more keen to use them.'

What to know before you buy

• All silicone. The head is softer than the Ezpz, so thick food can still bend it.
• No fork. You will need separate cutlery once your toddler wants to spear food.

Best for

• Toddlers from around 12 months
• Families who already own Mushie bowls or plates
• A mid-price, no-fuss toddler spoon
• Nursery or childminder bags

What about the NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils?

NumNum's flat, paddle-style pre-spoons are often recommended for baby-led weaning because the textured head holds purée without needing to scoop. We do not currently stock them through our retail partners, so we have left them out of the verdicts rather than send you somewhere we cannot check. If that dipping style appeals, the Bibado Dippit and the Done by Deer dipper above cover the same idea and are both in stock.

How to choose

Nuby 3-Stage Baby's First Spoons Set: Choose this if you will mostly be spoon-feeding purées for the first few months and want a shallow first bowl, with the next two sizes ready in the drawer.

Bibado Dippit Multi-Stage Weaning Spoon + Dipper: Choose this if your baby wants to grab everything from day one. The dipper end makes self-feeding possible before they can scoop, and the handle stops most throws.

Ezpz Mini Utensils: Choose this once your child is around a year old and frustrated by spoons that fold. The firmer heads make cutlery genuinely useful, not decorative.

Done by Deer Learning Spoon Set: Choose this if you are going baby-led and want a dipper and a scooper in one matching set, especially as a gift.

Mushie Silicone Toddler Starter Spoons: Choose this if you want a simple, sturdy toddler spoon at a middle price and already like the Mushie tableware look.

Add it to your Nest

Weaning spoons are one of those small, useful gifts that friends and family love to pick up. Add the stage that suits your baby now, plus the next one up, to your free BubsNest registry and let your Nest cover the rest. For more feeding comparisons, browse the BubsNest community.