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Whether your child is sampling her very first taste of baby rice or tucking into spaghetti bolognese as only a toddler can, you'll need dinnerware and utensils designed for her specific needs. She'll need somewhere safe and comfortable (not to mention washable!) to sit while she's eating, too. 

Plates and bowls

Choose small plastic containers with lids when you first start your baby on solids. Buy plenty and make sure they are suitable for the microwave, freezer and dishwasher. If she develops an interest in throwing her dinner on the floor, try bowls with suction cups on the bottom. Once she's past the food-throwing phase, you can buy a selection of larger bowls and plates made out of tough plastic. They're durable, bright and dishwasher-safe.

Fussy toddlers sometimes prefer plates and bowls which have separate compartments so foods don't mix.

Forks and spoons 

Weaning spoons for feeding a small baby should have a shallow bowl and a long handle to reach into jars. Some of these are heat sensitive and change colour to show you when food is too hot. Your baby will want to try holding her own spoon from around six months. This is an important step towards feeding herself, so have an extra one handy.

When she starts to feed herself, buy utensils with wide or looped handles that are easy for small hands to grasp. It'll be a few more months though, before her co-ordination has developed enough to get food from bowl to mouth with a utensil.

Tip: A child's spoon and fork set is a great reward for good table manners. You'll make an impression on your toddler if you present her with her very own set and say, "This is because you're eating like a big girl now". 

Cups 

There are two things to think about when buying a cup: ease of sipping and lack of leaking. Cups with sipper spouts are easy for a child to drink from, but they can dribble. Cups with vacuum valves in the top won't leak, but children have to work harder to get a drink. The latter tend to be better for older babies who can suck harder.

Have a trainer cup at the ready before your child gives up her bottle. This will be any time from six months onwards. The more expensive sort offer you a choice of drinking options, including a soft spout. This is a cross between the teat of a bottle and the rigid spout of a traditional training cup. This may be useful if your baby is unwilling to come off the bottle. 

Highchairs and booster seats 

You'll need a highchair when your baby begins to sit up on her own. Most parents opt for either an old-fashioned wooden chair or a modern metal/plastic highchair but a booster seat or one that fixes to a table, will do if space is tight. Here are a few pointers to help you decide which is best for you. 

Wooden highchairs

Pros

• Wear well and can be passed from child to child.
• May blend in with your décor better!
• Some companies produce 'ergonomic' chairs which grow with your child.

Cons

• May not come with a harness, in which case you will need to fit one.
• Keeping them clean can be a challenge, especially if they have cloth cushions.
• Can be bulky if you are short on space.

Modern highchairs

Pros

• Some come loaded with up-to-the minute features, such as different height settings, adjustable footrests and ingenious folding mechanisms.
• Comfortably padded and easily cleaned.
• Many have seats that recline, allowing you to use the highchair even before your baby can sit up.

Cons

• More lightweight, foldable chairs may not be as stable as other designs.
• May not be as durable as a wooden chair.

Booster seats

Booster seats strap to your own dining chairs and allow your child to eat at the table with you.

Pros

• If you live in a small space, a booster seat can be a good choice for older babies and toddlers.
• Unstraps easily so you can hide it away in a cupboard between meals.
• More portable than a regular highchair.
• Relatively cheap, especially the basic plastic versions.
• Inflatable versions are available.
• Can be used with or without a tray.

Cons

• May not be as stable as a highchair.
• Not as comfortable as a highchair.

Clip-on chairs

Pros

• Fold flat so they can easily be packed for holidays and weekends away, or hidden away in a cupboard.
• Relatively cheap.

Cons

• May not fit some styles of table.
• Table needs to be very stable.
• You need to be very careful that the seat is securely fastened in place before you put your baby into it.

Other options
You can also buy cloth chairs which hang over the back of a normal dining chair and keep your child secure while she is eating. However, they may not fit all chairs and are only suitable for older babies.