How much stuff do I really need?

[bennysmama]

Hello ladies, I'd be really grateful for some advice please.  I know this sounds like a silly question, but here goes:   

We'll be starting to wean in mid-Jan.  How much kit do I need?  High-chair, bowls, plates, bibs, oilcloth (for underneath the high-chair!), spoons and sippy cups, ice cube trays and a blender...   

How many bowls etc is a good amount?  And have I missed anything out?  And can anyone please recommend a good (UK) high-chair?   

As you've probably guessed, I'm a first-time mum.  Already learned though that you don't need half the stuff that the shops try to convince first time mums they can't live without   (you know the stuff that, once you've bought, mil asks "mm, what does that do then?".  *Shudder!*)   

TIA
x
Em

[Missy Lou]

i don't think you HAVE to have a highchair, but i found it a lot easier when trying to feed DD.

i bought two vinyl bibs - the ones that i could just wipe down with soap and water and hang to dry.  plus the food doesn't soak through to their clothes.  i never bought an oilcloth for under the highchair.  i would just sweep or wipe up any spills. 

i had maybe 2 spoons - one for her and one for me.  it really doesn't take much to wipe them with soap and water after eating. 

i made her food until she was a little over a year.  i steamed foods in a pot of boiling water, blended it up and poured into one ice cube tray.  i guess it depends on how much time you have.  all together i had maybe 4 ice cube trays.  one for 4 different foods.  as he gets older, he'll eat more and you won't have as much to freeze.  for example, DD could eat a steamed apple in a day or two, so instead of freezing the apple, i would put it in small tupperware in the fridge. 

i used plastic bowls from walmart.  i never bought special baby bowls.  i think i bought one baby/toddler plate for DD to play with food.

i live in the US so no recs on a high chair.

[bennysmama]

Thanks.  That's really, really helpful.
x
Em

[Missy Lou]

np

i just remembered that until DD was maybe 8 months, i fed her in her bouncing seat on the floor.  i would sit on the floor in front of the seat with her buckled in. 

honestly, you don't need much initially.  i washed whatever we used at a meal right after the meal by hand and let it air dry (or during her nap).  if you have the time, i found making DD's food easiest and tons cheaper than buying jarred food. 

DS will probably freak when he tastes solids.  i remember i gave DD steamed, mashed pears first when she was almost 6 months.  she was shaking she was so excited.  hands flying everywhere. 

[bennysmama]

awwww, cute!!!   now I'm really excited at the prospect too...

[hattie]

i bought the IKEA antelop high chair when DS was six months and the inflatable cushion to go in it.  I used it from the get go and he is still using it now at 15 months it is really easy to wipe clean (it is one piece of moulded plastic) looks funky and cost under 20 quid. 
Ditto bowls cutlery etc.  I bought them all from IKEA. They cost nothing and do the job and don't break your heart if you lose them...I did once buy (when short of spoons) the moulded soft tommee tippee ones which were also excellent....but we lost them one by one around Europe....

[Mashi]

Just to add - if you go onto the Tommee Tippee website and register, they email you a coupon for 25% off of your first online order. I think I got mine the next day. They do a "weaning kit" that I **think** is about 12 pounds (before your 25% coupon) and has your bowls, spoons, freezer pots (I think) etc. 

[bennysmama]

Brilliant!  Thank you, laydeez!