Nibbler for feeding: rules of use and care. What is a nibbler: features of using a silicone nipple and mesh for feeding a child What is the name of a nipple for sucking fruit

30.04.2024 -

Despite its scary name, “Nibbler” is nothing more than a very ordinary net for feeding children.

A weaning nibbler consists of a container in which parents can place various products in a special mesh, allowing babies to get acquainted with the world of adult food not only practically, but most importantly, safely.
The name nibbler is the most common name for this feeding device. It is also called a feeder, fruit taker and even a “net for complementary feeding”. All these new English-language names were founded as almost a new discovery - a device for safe feeding. In fact, it is built on an old prototype. Grandmothers and great-grandmothers took a small piece of thick gauze and wrapped various foods in it - bread, fruits and vegetables. Then they tied it tightly so that small parts could not fall out of the gauze, and the result was exactly that Soviet “chewing”, which received such a fashionable name “children’s nibbler”.

At what age should a child be given Nibbler?

When to start using a nibbler, each mother decides for herself. Usually you can start with the start of complementary feeding, but sometimes the baby is not yet able to hold the nibbler by the handle, so usually mothers start later than giving the first complementary feeding.

You can offer your baby a nibbler for complementary feeding at any time, don’t hesitate - children love this convenient and “tasty” device so much that they won’t refuse it themselves.

When can you give your child Nibbler?

Here we mean at what feeding is it better to offer the baby a new product. Since mothers usually try to put pieces of fruit in the nibbler - apples or bananas, and sometimes cookies, it is worth giving the child a nibbler for dessert.

How does a nibbler work?

Let's take a closer look at the details of the device. The base is a container with a mesh that is tightly fixed to a comfortable handle. The mesh can be silicone or nylon; there are mainly silicone nibblers and nylon nibblers. Both are very durable and prevent small parts from getting into your baby's mouth, making them safe to use. The mesh and container are firmly and securely installed in a plastic base.

They are the most popular variety, which has increased strength and reliability, as well as flexibility and ease of use. But it is precisely because of the nylon mesh that nibblers quickly lose their attractive appearance and can also cause irritation to the baby’s oral mucosa.

Unlike nylon, they always remain attractive in appearance, they are much faster and easier to clean and wash, they also have no taste or smell, and do not cause irritation or allergies. An excellent advantage is that the silicone nibbler can be boiled and sterilized, so you can easily clean the device from dust and dirt, as well as from food debris in the small holes of the mesh.

From the point of view of children, a silicone nibbler outperforms a nylon one - it is more interesting for them to chew, gnaw and suck, it has an elastic structure and quickly returns to its original shape.

While assessing all the advantages of a silicone nibbler, it is worth considering the disadvantages - if the mesh is damaged, it cannot be replaced - a nibbler for a child will have to buy a new one. Silicone also has a higher wear rate if children chew on it frequently.

How to use the nibbler?

How to use such an interesting and convenient feeding device?
1. Before starting, it must be washed. To do this, you need to remove the detachable components and wash it with either baby soap or boiling water - this process will remove all harmful microbes and bacteria that could have formed or been present there.
2. Next you need to prepare the food. What can you put in a nibbler?? You need to put something tasty in the mesh or something that you need to teach your child to eat. You can put everything that the baby should eat according to his age. For example, it could be a banana, apple, carrot, cookies, bread and other products. The product needs to be cut into smaller pieces.
3. Now you need to insert the mesh into the device with the handle and secure it tightly using the rotating mechanism. After making sure that the fastening is secure, the nibbler can be given to the child under close supervision. The reason for this is the abundant presence of juice inside fruits and vegetables, which the baby may choke on if he is not used to it.
4. After finishing a meal, you can apply the reverse process. The mesh with food debris is separated from the handle using a rotating mechanism, and each of the component parts is thoroughly washed. The storage rules for the nibbler are the same as for all other children's dishes.

Pros and cons of nibbler

We list the advantages and disadvantages of nibbler so that you can choose the best one for yourself.

Main advantages:
the child can feed himself;
no risk of choking on food;
excellent massager for teeth and gums;
The child independently gets acquainted with the gastronomic world.
Main disadvantages:
problematic keeping the nets clean;
when juices are secreted, the child will easily get dirty, since there is no protective covering;
problematic introduction of complementary feeding to babies from six months of age due to the considerable weight of the device full of food;
nylon mesh quickly loses its pleasant aesthetic appearance.

That's all about this wonderful device. Now you can choose the best nibbler for your child. As a rule, mothers believe that the best nibbler is a silicone nibbler!

Hello my readers!

Mothers have different attitudes towards nibblers. Some people consider them useless, and such mothers already give their children whole carrots to chew at 6-7 months. Some are alarmist mothers and are afraid that the child will choke.

I am one of the alarmist mothers and I bought Nibbler for both my first child and my second.

In fact, this design is called a feeder (translated from English as “feeding device”), and Nibbler is the company that was the first to produce this product. Sometimes he is called a fruit taker.

I don’t consider nibblers to be evil; I don’t believe that using nibblers will cause a child’s bite to become disturbed or that he will never learn to chew. But everything needs moderation.

Nibrer is not a device for long-term use, in my opinion. 4-8 months is maximum age for its use.

In the reviews they write that they have been using the nibbler “for six months now,” which is not entirely clear to me. If it was given to a child at 6 months and used for six months, then at the age of one year the child eats pureed fruits/vegetables using a silicone pacifier with holes??

This is strange, I think. If you were given a nibbler at 4 months, then at 9 months the child is still chewing on it. 🤔

Therefore, it is not the nibbler as such that causes harm, but its incorrect use by mothers.

Nibbler is a device with a mesh (made of silicone or fabric) into which a piece of fruit or vegetable is placed.

When a child chews, juice and puree are released from the fruit, which the child receives through the mesh holes. This way he learns to chew solid complementary foods.

Coincidentally, I introduced complementary foods to both my first and second children at 5.5 months. The only difference was that the daughter started with porridge, and the son, as expected, started with vegetables.

I gave Nibbler to my first child at 6 months and his daughter ate until she was 7 months old.

That is, when teeth appeared, she stopped using it.

My son also started using the nibbler at 6 months. He has no teeth and is not yet expected to, so until what age he will use the nibbler, I don’t know yet. But my son doesn’t have the same enthusiasm as his daughter.

I will repeat: a nibbler is not the most necessary purchase for a baby and you won’t be able to use it for a long time. But I don’t think it’s right to give up the convenience of introducing complementary foods.

Many people nowadays introduce complementary foods as early as 4 months! Therefore, if you are one of these people, then the nibbler will last you even longer.

Nibbler for children facilitates the process of learning to chew and accustoming to solid adult food.

In addition, it ensures the safety of introducing complementary foods. If you give your child fruit in a nibbler, you don’t have to worry about him biting off too big a piece and choking.

This device also prevents the possibility of pits or seeds getting into the baby’s mouth.

In addition to the silicone nibbler, the Poma set includes a cap and an additional nozzle larger than the main one.

The nibbler is made of hard plastic, is non-slip, shock-resistant and will not break if dropped on the floor. The cover also reliably protects from dust and dirt.

Before and after use, the nibbler should be washed in warm water. The plastic part (without the attachment) can be washed in the dishwasher, but only on the top shelf or in the glass compartment.

If you use the nibbler every day, then you need to replace the nozzle after 45 days!

If the child already has teeth, then the nibbler needs to be checked constantly for damage.

If a child is teething, then a nibbler is suitable to alleviate this condition. When chewing, silicone massages the gums, which reduces inflammation and discomfort. You can put some cold product in the mesh and this will give a slight freezing effect and also ease the condition of the gums. Nibbler in this case acts like gel teethers, which are first left in the freezer to cool.

But to be honest, I only use Nibbler for food.

That is, I don’t let him play with it, chew it, hit it on a table or chair, move it around in his mouth without doing anything, and so on. The nibbler performs only its main function; if games with it begin, the nibbler is confiscated.

There are several sizes of nibbler and which size to choose depends on the age of the child.

WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN THE NIBLER?

Raw or boiled vegetables, fruits and berries are placed in a silicone nipple with holes. It is more convenient for the product to be soft.

Some people put meat, bread and cookies in the nibbler, but I don’t see any need for this at all and only use it for fruits and berries.

Apple and banana are the most convenient fruits for a nibbler because they give juice, but do not spread or smear.

Hypothetically, it is very convenient to put a soft avocado in the nibbler, but only if the child is familiar with it. At the time I introduced avocado to my daughter (2.5 years old), she was already scooping up borscht with spoons and by that time we, naturally, were no longer using a nibbler.

Avocados are allowed to be introduced into complementary foods only after one year.

You can put in the nibbler those products that are suitable for the child’s age and you have already introduced them into complementary foods. Well, in general, every mother probably decides for herself how and what to feed.

At the moment, two types of nibblers are produced: silicone and with a nylon mesh.

Unknowingly, for my first child I bought a nibbler with a mesh and threw it away after the first use.

In addition to the fact that it is disgusting to chew on the mesh, it is constantly clogged with fruit fibers, darkens after the first use and looks so terrible that it is disgusting to pick it up, let alone give it to a child. In addition, it is very difficult to wash.

You will be too tired to buy additional nets, there is no saving - just waste.

Nylon often causes irritation to the child’s oral mucosa, so I generally do not recommend such nibblers to anyone.

Silicone nibblers are absolutely safe and have no taste or odor. It is easy to wash and does not cause allergies or irritation.

The Pomo silicone nibbler can be sterilized or boiled if you do not have a sterilizer. It does not lose shape or deform.

I sterilize the nibbler every evening.

The nibbler dries quickly, holds its shape for a long time and food particles do not collect in the holes.

A certain amount of food collects at the base of the nibbler and the child can no longer reach the food. Someone pushes it with their finger and gives it to the child again, I don’t accept this, so I either take the nibbler away or put the food in second nibbler and the child continues to eat.

Many mothers write that after giving their child a nibbler, you can calmly go about your business for at least 15 minutes. You will not see such an inscription on any nibbler. Everywhere it is written that you should leave a child alone with a nibbler. it is forbidden.

Situations are different, just like children. There are unique people who open nibblers and take out pieces of food. Therefore, it is not worth leaving a child alone with a nibbler.

Besides, I wouldn’t say that the Pomo nibbler is very difficult to open. If the child suffers a little, it is likely that he will accidentally open it.

According to psychologists and speech therapists, nibbler slows down speech development of the child. It is better for the child to learn to chew and swallow pieces of food on his own.

This skill helps the development and development of speech in children.

That’s why I think that nibbler lasting longer than 8 months is a perversion. Nibbler as a pacifier/toy/teether is also not entirely correct.

He must fulfill only his duties and not be anything else. The main function of the nibbler is to prepare the baby’s oral cavity for the basics of processing solid food and the beginning of the introduction of complementary foods.

If your baby is more than eight months old, it is better to avoid nibbler. And we need to teach him to eat “adult” food, no matter how difficult it may be.

You can find a huge number of interesting reviews on my profile.

“Nibbler. What is this? Another innovation, which you can completely do without, because the shelves are already full of different devices!” – think some mothers who are not familiar with this device. Dear ladies, ignorance or lack of knowledge about the subject does not relieve you of responsibility for the health and development of your child. You have no idea about the important role he will play in your life with your baby. You should meet him.

Useful properties of nibbler

The time has come for the first feeding for the baby, and mothers are excitedly beginning to think about a safe way to introduce solid, unfamiliar foods into the baby’s diet. A nibbler (fruittaker, feeder) will be a great help in this - a silicone or nylon mesh container with a restrictive rim and a plastic holder.

Mothers are well aware that by 5-6 months the child is teething: the gums swell, itch, a lot of saliva accumulates, and the first teeth require additional stress. A nibbler with pieces of fruit will become a kind of massager for the baby’s gums and a supplier of necessary calories and vitamins.

In the first year of his life, the baby experiences an urgent need to suck, so he sucks the contents of the nibbler with such pleasure. The mother will definitely notice that this process has a pronounced calming effect on the child.

Regular use of the nibbler promotes the proper development of the dental system, normal salivation, strengthens the chewing muscles, and forms a correct bite. In the figure below, you see what important problems in the early development of children this device solves:

How did you manage without this device?

Many mothers believe that nibblers were invented by our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, who wrapped millet or semolina porridge in a row (cotton, gauze) and fed their children with this sweet pacifier.

And yet, they were not the first. Mentions of linen bags with honey or poppy seeds are found in the history of antiquity. In 1506, the German artist Albrecht Durer depicted the Madonna and Child. The painting “Madonna and Siskin” is kept in the Berlin Art Gallery. See for yourself.

A siskin sits on the baby’s left arm, and with his right arm he hands the bird…a nibbler.

Of course, earlier this attribute of a children's meal was not called that, but from the beginning of the 16th to the mid-20th centuries. It was impossible to do without this device. Then the feeding net disappeared from use.

Current devices attract children with their convenient shape, bright design, and their use is based on the following principles:

help the child adapt to unfamiliar food;
help parents introduce solid foods as naturally and safely as possible;
to form taste preferences and correct bite in the baby.

Terms of use

From what age can it be used?

At 4-6 months, introduce your baby to the nibbler. By this time, the child has formed a chewing reflex, and any drying material in his hands is immediately sent to his mouth. So he not only scratches his gums, but also tries to chew. By 6 months, the child’s body is ready to accept other foods, and he himself begins to show interest in it. Previously, mothers or grandmothers would lightly tap the baby’s tooth with a silver spoon and, if the sound was loud, they would begin to give solid food. Now is the time to offer him a nibbler with chopped apple pieces, and then other fruits and vegetables.

How to use

This device is easy to use. After you have purchased the device and brought it home:

open the packaging blister and disassemble it into separate parts;
Wash each part with detergent for baby bottles and dishes. Below is a list of products that, according to reviews from mothers, have proven themselves;
Additionally, rinse all parts with clean boiled water. Scald the silicone mesh with boiling water;
cut vegetables or fruits into pieces, place in a net;
secure the container securely to the handle using the ring.

Now offer the Nibbler pacifier to your baby. The baby is attracted by its bright design, and he will happily chew a piece of fruit, gradually turning it into puree and absorbing it through the holes. After the contents of the mesh are finished, take the fruittaker.

Wash the device by disassembling it completely. Process each piece as mentioned above. Dry everything and store it with other children's dishes.

Name of detergent for nibbler	Properties	Price
	Does not smell, does not contain dyes or phosphates	50-70r per package (500 ml)
	Economical, has a pump dispenser, washes off well, lasts for 3 months, safe for babies from the first days of life.	130 RUR per bottle (500 ml)
	It has an antibacterial effect; there are no phosphates or chemical dyes among the ingredients. The product is economical: 2.5 ml of gel per liter of water. Japanese manufacturer.	450-500 rubles per package (700ml)

What can you put

The first dish you offer your baby in a nibbler should contain only one ingredient. This can be an apple (a universal option: contains vitamins, natural fructose, soluble pectins) or a steamed vegetable with delicate fiber (zucchini, broccoli, pumpkin). A little later, vegetables with coarser fiber (potatoes, carrots, white cabbage) or a stew of two or three types of vegetables are added to the feeding strainer. A good option is raw vegetables: pieces of carrots, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper.

Sweet fruits and berries placed in a fruit taker will become a healthy treat for your little one. Place bananas, apples, ripe pears, peaches, apricots, quinces there - whatever suits the baby’s preferences, but keep in mind that the child, having tasted sweet berries and fruits, may refuse unsweetened vegetables.

Attention!

Place a small amount of product, cut into small pieces, into the device. This will relieve the baby of excess juice and allow you to see if the child has a dangerous reaction to any of the proposed products.

Safety regulations

Any mother considers her main task to be creating a safe environment for her child. What is a nibbler and how safe is it?

The device is simple. It includes:

a handle holder that is comfortable for a child’s hand;
a replaceable mesh where pieces of fruit are placed;
tight-fitting fixation ring;
lid-cap (placed on the mesh, tightly adjacent to the handle).

Instead of a mesh, the fruit taker has a silicone tip with many holes. Nibbler has a valuable advantage - it makes life a lot easier for parents. The child eats the offered foods finely chopped, and the mother does not have to worry about the safety of consuming complementary foods.

But, despite the secure fixation of the device, there is always a risk that the child will unscrew the mesh on his own (if he is older) or chew the silicone model.

Attention!

No matter how busy your child is with the nibbler, never leave him alone with his toy. Splashed juice or saliva can enter the baby's respiratory tract, causing him to choke.

When choosing a feeder, pay attention to its brand and country of manufacture. Make sure there is a certificate, ask if the packaging has a mark on derma testing and whether it is indicated for use by children, be sure to study the composition of the material. Well-known companies use nylon, silicone and special food-grade plastic that is safe for children (polypropylene) to create nibblers. It is durable and will not crack if dropped or hit.

Types of feeding nets

Feeder containers are presented in stores in the form of two types of mesh containers: silicone (for berries and fruits) and nylon (for all applicable products). If you purchased a feeding nibbler with a removable mesh, you can easily replace it later.

If the stationary device fails, it will be difficult to replace the mesh and you will have to buy another one. It is convenient to use nibblers with the additional removable mesh included in the kit.

Each container type has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice will be made by your baby, who will immediately determine what suits him best.

Sometimes the child does not want to use the nibbler. Don’t immediately complain about the composition and quality of the fruit mesh. He may not like the color, shape, or what's inside. Find the reason for his dissatisfaction and give him time to get used to the new sensations.

Which nibbler is better: silicone or mesh?

If you take the statistics from recent surveys of young mothers on the topic: “Which nibbler is preferable for you?”, it becomes clear that the votes were distributed approximately equally. Mothers give different reasons for their choice, but the child determines the championship in the ranking of the best mesh containers. Some people like lightweight nylon and the natural taste of a sweet product, while others prefer silicone with a lot of fruit juice and the hope of chewing it. Each of these types of containers has its own advantages and disadvantages. You choose:

Silicone container	Nylon mesh

Hypoallergenic.	Easily replaceable.
Odorless and tasteless.	Low price.
Easy to clean and remove food residues.	Easy to clean if washed immediately after use.
Low percentage of wear.	High strength (not easy to chew and tear).
Does not deform during sterilization.	Washable well with the addition of baby gel.
Elastic, quickly returns to its original shape.	Comfortable to bite, chewing skills are acquired quickly.

It's hard to find a replacement. Not all manufacturers provide replacement containers.	Over time, it darkens and looks unpresentable, but if you hold the mesh for 30 minutes in a solution with lemon juice (acid - 1 tsp per 1 liter of water), it will lighten.
A child can chew the nozzle.	May cause irritation of the oral mucosa (rare).
High price.

Manufacturers

There are a large number of nibblers of various modifications on the market for selling children's products. All of them are bright, beautiful, safe and, according to the manufacturers, of excellent quality. How to navigate this diversity and not make mistakes? Give your preference to products from famous brands.

Among them, Feeders from the American brand Nuby, the Polish brand Canpol babies, and the English brand MamaSense are popular. Gadgets from the Russian company Mir Detstva and the Chinese Kidsme are more affordable. Each of them offers its own variations on the “Nibbler” theme.

Happy baby will interest both mothers and babies with its unusual color scheme. It looks like a rattle of different colors. It has a spare cap and a secure lock so that a child cannot open it. The main feeder has a nylon mesh and is inexpensive (300 rubles).
Twist Happy baby– model with silicone mesh. New development with a piston for pushing fruit and a twisting mechanism inside.
Nuby Along with the feeder, it offers additional replaceable meshes. They sell nylon and silicone devices with original shapes and straight handles. They are expensive, from 500 rubles.
"The world of childhood" represents a budget version of products. Made in Russia. It has a shaped handle with a hole, which allows you to attach it to a high chair or stroller. Costs about 200 rubles. Offers replacement nets.
MamaSense– English nibbler with a silicone container and small holes. It holds its shape perfectly and has a comfortable ergo handle. The mesh is small, fits completely in the child’s mouth, the contents do not splash. The container volume is small, so the product portions are very small. Suitable for starting complementary feeding. There are no replacement attachments. Cost – 320 rubles.
Kidsme offers a device with a silicone container. Food Feeder Plus Kidsme has a large and movable silicone nozzle. It contains twice as much product as a regular feeder. It satisfies all the nutritional needs of a child's growing body. The protective cap also serves as a teaching cup. The price is high - 650-800 rubles.
Munchkin presents reliable nibblers for complementary feeding. The silicone bag is small, with fine holes, a comfortable handle, dishwasher safe, BPA-free.

If you are purchasing a nibbler for the first time, listen to the manufacturer’s recommendations and the advice of mothers who have experience purchasing the device. The opinion of your children's pediatrician will not be superfluous.

Always start choosing by studying the instructions and labeling. The labeling must indicate:

product name and country of origin;
name of the manufacturer's company, its legal address;
basic consumer properties;
warning labels.

Nibblers have different designs, handle shapes (straight, ring, double, embossed), materials (plastic, silicone, nylon), and types of fastenings.

The manufacturers themselves try to make it easier for the buyer to choose a product: they indicate at what age children can use the gadget (the designation “5+”, for example, indicates the possibility of using the nibbler for a 5-month-old child)

Container

Carefully inspect the mesh container. Its size and shape will tell you what age the baby will use it:

a small oblong bag with small holes, intended for a child up to one year old;
voluminous round container with larger cells - for one-year-old children and older.

Quality Standards

To determine the quality of a product, a visual inspection is sometimes sufficient. What you should see:

absolutely smooth plastic surface (without visible defects);
reliable fastening of the mesh (check);
good tightness of the clasp.

Smell the nibbler. If there is a specific smell, discard the selected option. Ask a consultant to disassemble the feeder and inspect every detail. Assemble it yourself and see how easy it is to use the device.

Material

Make sure the nibbler is made from safe materials! Request product specifications and refuse them if they don’t provide you with them.

Silicone mesh is safe, does not cause allergic reactions, and has no odor. The same applies to nylon. There is no reason to worry here.

The removable parts are durable, will not crack upon impact, they are simply washed and subjected to heat treatment (scalding with boiling water, sterilization), i.e. heating. And here, the chemical compounds that make up plastic behave differently.

Well-known manufacturers of children's accessories have long abandoned the use of plastic containing besfinol-A. Polypropylene nibblers are offered by Munchkin, Kidsme, and Nuby.

Reference. Besfinol-A is a synthesized estrogen, an inexpensive plastic hardener, which can be contained in plastic. It has an aggressive effect on the brain and can cause tumors, diabetes, and autism. If you see a “BPA-free” sign, buy it; this compound is not contained in the plastic. Do not buy cheap analogues, they are made of toxic materials that are dangerous for children

Below is a table of chemical compounds that are suitable or unacceptable in the production of children's nibblers:

Designation (marking)	Material	Suitability of the constituent elements (except for the mesh container) of children's Food Feeders.
	Polypropylene	Safe to use, can withstand temperatures from -42 to +132 degrees Celsius. Can be sterilized (if there is a silicone mesh).
	Polystyrene	Chemically unstable, styrene is a carcinogen that penetrates into the product when heated. Not suitable for use by children.
	Polyvinyl chloride	Poisonous type of plastic, contains bisphenol A, heavy metals (lead, chromium, formaldehyde). Inadmissible in the manufacture of children's devices.

Nibbler will enter the baby's safety zone and remain your assistant there for a long time. Feeding will become an exciting activity, and you will see positive results from using the fruittecker quickly.

The first months of your baby's life have passed and it's time to introduce him to solid food. And how I want to pamper him with new delicacies - fresh fruits and vegetables. If your baby has already tasted plant foods in the form of all kinds of purees, and you want to treat him, for example, to a fresh apple or carrot, then the nibbler will become an indispensable and safe assistant in this matter.

Without the risk of choking and swallowing a piece of unchopped food, the baby chews the mesh of a special invention filled with it - a nibbler. Simply put, this is a special mesh for safe chewing where the product is placed. Using this device helps teach your baby to chew. Sometimes he is called a fruit taker. It is more correct to call the device a feeder. The name comes from the English feeder (feeder, feeder, breadwinner). Initially, feeders were sold in Russia under the Nibbler brand from Nuby. This is how the name “nibbler” came about.

The device helps the child learn a new form of food and allows the mother to find time for other things or relaxation. After all, a daughter or son will happily chew a mesh with a treat, and at this time mom will have time to prepare dinner or enjoy the silence.

Attention: Do not leave a child with a nibbler unattended.

In children's stores you can find two types of nibblers:

Nibbler with a mesh made of special fabric
Nibbler with silicone mesh

Both types are made in different colors with a ring-shaped or stick-shaped handle. Which one to choose, each mother decides for herself.

A feeder with fabric mesh looks like this:

The nibbler consists of a replaceable mesh, a fixing ring, and an ergonomic handle. Some devices have an internal lid or a container with water built into the handle, which, when cooled, allows you to keep the product fresh longer. The lid-cap is put on the mesh itself and fits tightly to the handle.

Replaceable mesh is used for up to 3 months. Afterwards it is recommended to replace it. Replacement nets for the nibbler are sold separately or in a set of several pieces. They come in white and colored, universal or for a specific brand of nibbler. The mesh parts are made of durable and safe materials and do not contain harmful substances. The replaceable mesh is securely attached to the plastic handle. Pieces of food will not pass through the holes in the mesh.

A feeder with silicone mesh looks like this:

Silicone feeder (nibbler)

It is also made from environmentally friendly materials. This mesh is easy to clean. It is necessary to replace the mesh if it is damaged or purchase a new nibbler. When the first teeth appear, a child chewing with zeal can gnaw through the silicone part.

Many mothers find the silicone nibbler more practical and convenient.

What can you put in a nibbler?

At a time when our grandmothers were still young mothers, children would put some bread in a piece of gauze, wrap it and let it chew. This was the first kind of chewing mesh. With the help of a modern nibbler, your baby can enjoy many foods:

Fruits: apple, banana, pear, avocado
Berries
Fresh or boiled vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, etc.
A piece of boiled meat
Dry or bread

Attention: you should put in the nibbler products that are suitable for the baby’s age.

How to use the nibbler

Before giving it to your baby, follow a few simple steps:

After dividing the nibbler into parts, wash with hot water and soap or a special detergent for washing children's dishes.
Rinse thoroughly with boiled water. This should be done after each use of the mesh.
Place the prepared products in the mesh, tightly screwing the lid with the handle.
If the device has a built-in cooling container with liquid, you can first place the nibbler briefly in the refrigerator (not in the freezer). This will keep the fruit or vegetable fresh longer.
We invite the baby to take the nibbler in his hand and the mesh in his mouth. We make sure that the baby does not choke on fruit juice or saliva
After use, it is necessary to rinse each part of the device, paying attention to the mesh itself.
The washed feeder should be dried

Attention: Over time, the mesh fabric may darken or be stained with berry juice. In this case, replace the mesh.

At what age can you give your baby Nibbler?

Nibbler can be given to your baby after starting complementary feeding. To avoid allergic reactions, you need to give foods that the child has already become familiar with in a puree state.

Traditionally, it is believed that complementary feeding should begin at 6 months. It is this age that is indicated on the packaging of the feeder. However, for some babies, due to their individual characteristics, the doctor recommends starting complementary feeding from 4 to 5 months. Such children can start using the nibbler earlier.

Advice: when choosing a nibbler for a baby under six months old, you should choose a smaller model. For a 6 month old baby, buy a larger chew mesh.

Safety rules when using a nibbler

The Nibbler is a safe device, but when using it, you must keep an eye on your baby and follow some safety precautions:

Don't leave your baby alone when he chews a nibbler.
The chew mesh should not be used as a pacifier or toy.
Each time before use, it is necessary to check the parts of the nibbler for signs of wear and damage. It is worth paying attention to the integrity of the mesh itself
If breaks, loose threads or similar problems are detected, the mesh must be replaced. You should not give your baby a nibbler with a damaged mesh.

Pros of using a nibbler

Every baby will sooner or later learn to chew food on his own, but a nibbler will speed up this process. Here are the absolute advantages of using it:

By chewing the nibbler mesh, the baby is safe and the parents are calm. He won't choke on a large particle. The baby gnaws the mesh, turning its contents into pulp and sucking out the juice
During the difficult time of teething, the feeder will be an excellent helper. The woven mesh massages your baby's itchy and swollen gums, facilitating the appearance of baby teeth. Place chilled fruit slices in the mesh to relieve pain in your child's sore gums
It is convenient to use the nibbler while walking. Sitting in the stroller, the baby enjoys his favorite fruit, and the mother does not worry that he will choke
The bright colors and details of the nibbler are pleasing to the eye and attract the child’s attention, bringing joy
The nibbler is very convenient to use. All parts are easy to clean

Should you accustom your child to a pacifier?

In addition to the nuances of starting complementary feeding, all mothers are interested in the issue of using a pacifier. Should the baby be forced to suck a pacifier or should it not be given under any circumstances? You can often hear from grandmothers and friends that this is extremely harmful. Is it so?

Even in ancient times, there were various prototypes of the modern latex or silicone pacifier: pebbles smoothed with water, leather nipples from the udder of cows, shreds in honey syrup. They, just like the modern pacifier, were designed to satisfy the baby’s main reflex - the desire to suck. A pacifier has nothing to do with feeding a child, but can only give the baby peace of mind and parents cherished moments of silence. Sucking on a pacifier helps babies fall asleep because it satisfies the primary sucking reflex.

Lactation consultants do not recommend giving a baby a pacifier if the mother's milk supply is low. Let the baby satisfy the reflex by applying to the mother's breast, thereby stimulating lactation. Most pediatricians around the world have nothing against pacifiers for babies in the first six months of life. But you should not force your baby to suck a pacifier against his will. If the baby refuses to take a pacifier, he simply does not need it.

Modern nipples are harmless and do not affect the formation of the bite in any way. Pacifiers are convenient because, first of all, they were invented to free up some time for mom and dad.

Nowadays, mothers are lucky, because there are many thoughtful and convenient devices and gizmos. The baby will never get bored, will be happy and full. Nibbler is a necessary device. Of course, you can do without it, but you shouldn’t deny yourself convenience and your baby pleasure.

A few centuries ago, young mothers came up with a way to accustom their children to solid food that needed chewing - they wrapped bread dipped in milk or pieces of fruit in a clean cotton cloth and gave it to the child. Modern manufacturers of children's products have developed a special device - a nibbler - that works on the same principle. Parents often have many questions related to the operation of the device. At what age can it be used? Is it reasonable to start introducing complementary foods with its help? What materials should a useful device be made of? How should the feeding process itself proceed? Everything is quite simple - if you learn how to use a nibbler, it will become an indispensable assistant in caring for your baby.

What is a nibbler and what are its feeding benefits?

A nibbler is a device consisting of a special container with a rim and a plastic holder. In fact, this design is called a feeder (translated from English as “feeding device”), and Nibbler is the company that was the first to produce this product.

The main function of the feeder is to prepare the baby’s oral cavity for the basics of processing solid food and the beginning of the introduction of complementary foods. A baby of several months old will not be able to swallow pieces of fruit, softened cookies, vegetables or bread, but he will learn to “chew” them, begin to use his tongue, and will be able to get acquainted with new tastes.

Today, this useful tool is used not only for teaching children to eat solid food. Bright, colorful and absolutely safe products can replace toys, pacifiers or teethers. Some parents are concerned about the environmental friendliness of the materials used. As practice and consumer reviews show, the components of the structures do not pose any risk to the health of babies who are only a few months old.

The main advantage of the device is the convenience and safety of the feeding process, starting from a fairly tender age. The feeder will not allow the baby to choke or choke. Moreover, by the time the baby finally has teeth, he will be fully prepared to process “adult” food.

Skeptics argue that the use of auxiliary instruments can negatively affect the shape of a child’s mouth. This is only partly true - an incorrectly selected container can indeed create problems for the normal development of the muscles of the mouth. On the other hand, a poorly chosen or simply low-quality nibbler will cause inconvenience to the baby, so the baby will simply refuse it.

From what months can Nibbler be used?

From birth to 5-6 months, the oral cavity of children has a unique ability - a thick tongue and dense cheeks allow only liquid food to pass through well. If a child aged 2-4 months is given even a small piece of solid food, he will spit it out. The baby still doesn’t know how to chew (and there’s nothing to chew with), the hard edges of the food irritate the delicate mucous membrane, and the tongue blocks the natural passage.

If foods intended for feeding are crushed, the baby may try to swallow the mixture, but there is a high risk of choking. That is why the child needs to be prepared for a new serious manipulation using a feeder.

Many new parents believe that the child can chew if he has teeth, and he does not need any nibbler. In fact, the front teeth are designed for biting food, and they will not help much in chewing.

The optimal time to start using the feeder is the moment of introducing complementary foods. This is often 6 months for breastfed newborns and 4 months for those who are used to formula milk.

The timing may change depending on the individual characteristics of the baby. Some children at first refuse the offered “toy” simply because they do not like the new taste. In this case, you need to take a break or choose another product. It is important to remember that you cannot force a child, otherwise, given the negative experience, he will not use the feeder at all.

How to choose the optimal feeder?

In the process of choosing a suitable feeding product, you need to follow some recommendations.

The product must be made of special plastic used only in the food industry. Moreover, this applies not only to the container, but also to the handle.
The mesh of the container for placing complementary foods must be strong enough, otherwise the baby will gradually chew it and choke. Nylon and silicone products are considered the best option. The former are characterized by increased strength, the latter do not irritate the child’s oral mucosa.
Experts recommend purchasing spare replacement containers at the same time as purchasing a feeder. Under the influence of fruit acids, the mesh quickly loses its whiteness, which is not restored after washing.
It is strictly not recommended to purchase cheap products. As a last resort, you can create something like a nibbler yourself, but you shouldn’t risk your child’s health by trying cheap, uncertified plastics.

When choosing a nibbler, you should ask how well it tolerates exposure to cold temperatures. If a child develops itching in the gums, their swelling and pain, you can fill the mesh with frozen berries or pieces of fruit and give it to the child. This simple device relieves discomfort well and works even better than special balms or lotions.

How to use a nibbler correctly?

To ensure that using Nibbler brings only positive emotions, you must adhere to the following rules.

It is believed that a small child is not able to open a nibbler, but it is better not to take risks and not leave the baby alone with the device.
Plastic used in the food industry does not have a specific odor. In any case, after purchasing the product, you must disassemble it and wash all parts using a weak soap solution and rinse thoroughly under running water.
Before each use, the device must be doused with boiling water and dried thoroughly.
It is recommended to use soft and sweet fruits (peach, nectarine, banana) as the first fillers. This will help gain the child’s trust in the unusual device. After getting used to it, you can introduce other products.
To carry out the feeding procedure, you simply need to place a pre-prepared piece of food in a container, secure it carefully on the handle and squeeze it into the child’s fist. He will do the rest himself.
After the baby has squeezed out all possible juices from the container, the product is cleaned and thoroughly washed.

At first, it is necessary to strictly monitor the child’s actions while using the nibbler. Out of habit, he may overdo it with juice and choke. Over time, the baby will completely get used to it and will begin to demand a tasty toy.