Mesh vs silicone feeder: which one is the best?

Feeding a baby comes with a lot of responsibilities since you want to make sure your baby is healthy and safe from food or choking hazards. Are you considering choosing between a Mesh vs silicone Feeder? Feeders are one of the best tools for feeding certain food to your little one. A baby feeder is a little pouch that comes with tiny holes at the top and has a handle to make it easy for your little one to hold without much effort.

The tiny holes in the baby feeder make it easy for the flavor of the food placed inside the feeder to come out since your little one cannot handle large chunks of food yet. Your baby would not enjoy the full texture of the food, however, you can be sure your baby is not exposed to choking hazards. It is important to note that feeders should be introduced to a baby when you want to introduce solid food. This should happen when your little one is around 6 months of age.

Below are a few reasons why you should use a feeder.

• A feeder helps your little one transition into solid food: A feeder gives your baby the oral motor coordination skills for solid food to feel safe and it develops the skill for safe feeding.
• A feeder encourages your baby to begin to practice self-feeding.  A feeder comes with an easy to grasp handle and makes your baby begin the process of self-feeding.
• A feeder keeps your baby busy while you do other personal activities
• A feeder builds up your baby’s chewing coordination. Chewing requires coordination of the jaw, cheeks, and mouth. This coordination begins to develop while your baby uses a feeder.

There are so many types of baby feeders in the market and you might not know their exact use or their difference. Below is the difference between a mesh feeder vs silicone feeder.

Mesh vs Silicone feeder

Mesh feeder

Mesh feeders allow your little one to enjoy foods without the worry of a choking hazard. It has tiny spaces between knots of nets that allow for only small pieces of food or fruits to come out. To use a mesh feeder, place a piece of fruit, frozen chunk of fruits, or other types of food in the mesh bag and snap shut to ensure it’s firmly closed. Mesh feeder tends to be bigger than silicone feeder and can fit large chunks of food or frozen fruits. If you opt for a mesh feeder, it is important that you wash immediately after use to allow for ease of cleaning since food can get stuck in between the mesh.

What to put in a baby mesh feeder

You can put any type of solid food that can result in a choking hazard for your little one in a baby mesh feeder. Below are a few solid foods you can put in your baby’s mesh feeder.

Apples: Parents worry about the choking hazard that apples can cause. Putting an apple in your baby mesh feeder is a great way for your baby to enjoy the taste and nutrients of the apple. You don’t need to peel the apple since your baby would only be able to get the soft flesh while the skin stays inside the mesh bag.

Frozen fruit puree: Blend your desired fruit into a puree and freeze it. This is also an excellent way to relieve your baby from having sore gum if your baby is teething.

Other types of food you can put in a mesh feeder include fresh strawberries, avocado, cooked potato, raw carrot, etc.

Silicone feeder

Silicone feeders are made with soft, food-grade silicone and have tiny holes that force the food to come out when pressed. It can hold both fresh and frozen food without any cause to worry about putting your baby at risk of a choking hazard. The small handle in a silicone feeder allows your baby to get a good grip on it. It also comes with a hole at the bottom of the handle so you can attach a tether if necessary. Silicone feeder is easy to clean and you can wash it at your convenience since food doesn’t get stuck in it.

What to put in a silicone baby feeder

Banana: One of the top food that can be given in a silicone feeder is bananas. Babies have not learned to chew in bits so, putting a banana in a silicone feeder is safer. Banana can be also slippery and your baby might get frustrated after several attempts to pick them up, hence the need for a baby silicone feeder.

Other fresh fruits: Fresh fruits like raspberries, cucumber, pineapple, carrot, etc. can be placed inside the silicone feeder for your baby to enjoy the taste and nutrients.

Frozen fruit puree: strawberries, mangoes, blackberries can be blended, made into a puree, frozen, and placed in the silicone feeder for your little one.

Red meat: You can also place cooked red meat in the silicone feeder to avoid the risk of your baby choking while eating it.

What to put in a mesh feeder for 6 months?

You can start feeding your baby a range of solid foods in a mesh feeder at 6 months. Soft fruits like ripe bananas, sliced strawberries, or little bits of cooked sweet potatoes are a few alternatives that are suitable. Try steaming some vegetables like broccoli florets or carrots. To avoid choking dangers, be sure to cut the meal into manageable, small pieces. For safe feeding sessions, keep an eye on your baby while they use the mesh feeder.

What to put in a mesh feeder for 5 month old?

The digestive system of a 5-month-old is still maturing, hence it’s normally advised to limit meal choices to pureed or mashed foods. At that stage, frozen fruit purees, such as mashed and frozen bananas or blended and frozen berries, are suitable possibilities for a mesh feeder. These can ease your baby’s teething discomfort. It’s important to speak with your pediatrician about when to introduce solid foods and when to use a mesh feeder.

Mesh vs silicone baby feeder pros and cons

Mesh feeder pros:

• Reduces choking danger while letting the baby enjoy the flavors and nutrients of solid food.
• can hold larger pieces of food.
• gives the impression of self-feeding.

Mesh feeder cons:

• Requires immediate cleaning as a result of food contamination
• may limit the baby’s exposure to various food textures.

Silicone feeder pros

• it is soft, food-grade construction and microscopic perforations that allow for controlled food release.
• can provide comfort for teething babies.

Silicone feeder cons:

• They are smaller than mesh feeders, which restricts the size of food that can be used.
• The development of oral motor coordination may not be as advanced with mesh feeders.

Mesh Vs Feeder

A baby feeder is a great way to keep your baby busy but it is important to note that mesh and silicone feeders are not to be used at all times. Your baby can get used to the texture of a feeder rather than that of the actual food and would not learn to chew and move food around the mouth. Mesh and silicone feeder should be used at limited times and only when necessary.

There are different types of baby feeders in the market and it is important to know the differences between them to make your preferred choice. Mesh feeders tend to be bigger than silicone feeders and would be able to take larger chunks of fruits or food, unlike silicone feeders. Also, mesh feeders would need to be cleaned immediately since tiny pieces of frits or food can get stuck between the mesh while silicone feeders clean off easily. The above guideline is written with the view to help you know the type of fruits and food that can be placed in a mesh feeder or a silicone feeder.