Eat by age
Feeding and weaning, stage by stage.
Feeding equipment changes quickly in the first years. This guide shows the products that tend to become relevant at each stage without implying that every family needs every item.
Detailed guides
Read the current Eat guides.
Stage guidance
What changes as your child grows.
Open a stage to see the products MiniYears currently treats as relevant, setup-dependent or usually unnecessary at that point.
Birth–3 months Feeding in the first months The main focus is milk feeding, sterilisation and keeping feeding equipment clean and organised.
Early milk feeding
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Bottles and teats Depends on feeding setup
Useful for expressed milk, formula or combination feeding, but not every family will need them.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Sterilising method Choose early
Choose a practical method if bottles, teats or pump equipment will be used.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Breast pump Depends on feeding
Useful for collecting milk, occasional expressing, sharing feeds or establishing a regular pumping routine.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Bottle-cleaning tools Useful now
Small brushes help clean narrow parts that ordinary washing-up tools cannot reach.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Bottle drying rack Depends on setup
Keeps bottles, teats and small components together while they dry.
Detailed guide in preparation
4 months–5 months Getting ready for first foods Milk feeding may still dominate while parents begin researching and preparing for solids.
Preparing for weaning
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Bottles and teats Relevant for bottle feeding
Existing bottles may remain suitable. Review teat flow, bottle capacity and replacement parts only when needed.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Breast pump Depends on routine
Your expressing pattern may now be clearer, making it easier to judge whether a manual or electric pump suits your routine.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Weaning guides and apps Consider now
Guides and apps can help parents prepare for safe food introduction.
Detailed guide in preparation -
High chair Research now
Compare basic, foldable and adaptable high-chair options before solids begin.
Read the detailed guide -
Bibs Prepare soon
Different styles offer different levels of protection and convenience.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Bowls and plates Prepare soon
Suction bowls and plates can support the first stages of self-feeding.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Sterilising method Established routine
Most families using bottles or pump equipment will already have a method that works for them.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Steamer and blender Depends on kitchen
A dedicated appliance may help if suitable kitchen equipment is not already available.
Detailed guide in preparation
6 months–8 months The first weaning products The first feeding products arrive while bottles may still remain central to the child’s routine.
Starting solids
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Bottles and teats Still relevant
Bottles may remain important for milk feeds while drinking from an open or free-flow cup is introduced.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Breast pump May still be useful
A pump may support regular expressing, returning to work or maintaining milk availability when away from the baby.
Detailed guide in preparation -
High chair Useful now
Provides a stable place for meals and may remain in use for several years.
Read the detailed guide -
Bibs Useful now
Full-coverage, silicone and travel bibs each solve different problems.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Weaning spoons and cutlery Introduce now
Different spoon shapes, materials and colours may help a baby accept food.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Bowls and plates Useful now
Suction bowls and plates can reduce tipping during early self-feeding.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Open cup Introduce now
A small durable cup can be used for early drinking practice.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Straw cup Worth trying
Some babies begin experimenting with a straw cup at this stage.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Sippy and trainer cups Worth trying
A spill-resistant alternative to open and straw cups.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Food and snack containers Useful now
Small containers support batch preparation, freezing and transport.
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Weaning guides and apps Highly useful
Books and apps can provide preparation guidance and reassurance.
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Sterilising method Still in use
Continue using the established method while bottles, teats or pump equipment remain in use.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Steamer and blender Depends on kitchen
Can simplify food preparation where equivalent equipment is not already available.
Detailed guide in preparation
9 months–11 months More varied meals and self-feeding Food variety and independence increase while several early feeding products remain useful.
Expanding textures
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Bottles and teats Still relevant
Bottles may continue alongside regular cup practice as drinking skills develop.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Breast pump Depends on feeding routine
Expressing may remain useful for work, childcare, maintaining milk availability or time spent away from the baby.
Detailed guide in preparation -
High chair In regular use
A stable, easy-to-clean chair remains central to many family meals.
Read the detailed guide -
Bibs In regular use
Messy self-feeding can make full-coverage or easy-clean bibs especially useful.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Weaning spoons and cutlery Developing skill
The child may begin holding and experimenting with their own spoon or fork.
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Bowls and plates In regular use
Suction or divided tableware can help manage more varied meals.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Open cup Keep practising
Open-cup practice can continue alongside spill-resistant options.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Straw cup Useful now
Often practical for regular water drinking and growing independence.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Sippy and trainer cups Useful option
A practical choice for children who prefer a spill-resistant cup.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Food and snack containers Useful now
Containers support larger portions, snacks and meals away from home.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Lunch box and cooling packs Depends on routine
A lunch box and cooling pack may help on longer outings or nursery days.
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Steamer and blender May still help
Can remain useful as textures become thicker and meals more substantial.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Sterilising method Continue to 12 months
Usually an established routine rather than a new purchase, but still relevant where feeding equipment remains in use.
Detailed guide in preparation
1 year–1y 5m Building independence at mealtimes The child begins taking a more active role in eating and drinking while some baby products gradually change.
Early toddler meals
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Bottles and teats Transitioning away
Bottle feeding should now be discouraged while open or free-flow cups become the main drinking method.
Detailed guide in preparation -
High chair In regular use
A supportive chair remains useful while greater independence develops.
Read the detailed guide -
Bibs Still useful
Bibs can continue reducing clothing changes during messy meals.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Weaning spoons and cutlery Developing skill
Toddler cutlery supports more independent eating.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Bowls and plates Still useful
Durable bowls and plates support independent meals without breaking easily.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Open cup Increasingly useful
Open cups become more practical as coordination improves.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Straw cup Useful now
A practical option for independent drinking at home and away.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Sippy and trainer cups Useful option
Can remain useful where spill prevention is particularly important.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Food and snack containers Useful now
Portable containers help with snacks, nursery food and meals outside the home.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Lunch box and cooling packs Depends on routine
Useful for nursery, travel or regular meals away from home.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Breast pump Depends on feeding routine
An existing pump may remain useful where expressing continues, but a new purchase is unlikely to be necessary for most families.
Detailed guide in preparation
1y 6m–1y 11m More independent eating and drinking Toddler-friendly versions of ordinary tableware become more important as the child wants to copy adults.
Growing independence
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High chair Still useful
Many children still benefit from a stable dedicated seat for meals.
Read the detailed guide -
Bibs May still help
Useful for messy foods, although some toddlers begin resisting them.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Weaning spoons and cutlery Useful now
Toddler cutlery supports independence while resembling adult utensils.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Bowls and plates Useful now
Durable plates and bowls support ordinary family meals.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Open cup Useful now
A durable open cup increasingly resembles ordinary family drinking.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Straw cup Useful now
Practical for independent drinking and carrying drinks outside the home.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Sippy and trainer cups Still useful
May remain helpful where spill prevention is especially important.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Food and snack containers Useful now
Snack and meal containers support outings, nursery and changing appetites.
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Lunch box and cooling packs Increasingly useful
A lunch box and cooling packs help keep food fresh away from home.
Detailed guide in preparation
2 years–2y 11m Everyday toddler eating The focus shifts towards durable family-style tableware and food carried outside the home.
Independent toddler
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High chair May still be used
Some children remain in an adaptable high chair while others move towards a booster or ordinary seat.
Read the detailed guide -
Bibs Occasional use
May still be worthwhile for messy meals or protecting clothing away from home.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Weaning spoons and cutlery Everyday use
Child-sized cutlery supports independence while resembling adult utensils.
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Bowls and plates Everyday use
Durable plates and bowls become the child’s ordinary tableware.
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Open cup Everyday use
A durable open cup increasingly becomes the normal option at the table.
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Straw cup Useful for travel
A sealed straw cup remains useful for journeys and outings.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Sippy and trainer cups Depends on preference
Some toddlers continue using one where spills are difficult to manage.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Food and snack containers Everyday use
Snack containers are useful for outings, nursery and smaller portions.
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Lunch box and cooling packs Useful now
Lunch boxes become increasingly important for nursery and longer outings.
Detailed guide in preparation
3 years–5 years Food at home and preschool Most products now resemble ordinary family tableware, with portable food storage becoming increasingly important.
Preschool eating
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Weaning spoons and cutlery Everyday use
Child-sized forks, spoons and knives support confident independent eating.
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Bowls and plates Everyday use
Durable tableware remains practical while moving towards ordinary family crockery.
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Open cup Everyday use
A simple durable open cup is usually sufficient for meals at home.
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Straw cup Useful for travel
A sealed cup can still help during journeys, activities and days out.
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Food and snack containers Everyday use
Reusable containers support snacks, packed food and changing appetites.
Detailed guide in preparation -
Lunch box and cooling packs Useful now
A practical lunch box supports preschool and full days away from home.
Detailed guide in preparation