Suction Bowls

[s7714]

Has anyone used those bowls with suction on the bottom? My mom keeps recommending them, saying that it'll help DD learn to eat from a bowl. I haven't seen very many available in the stores. Thought I'd see if anyone here had any thoughts or comments on these before actually buying some!

TIA,
Jennifer
Mommy to Annalia 03/03/03

[JElaineB]

I have some and I do like them. They did help DS learn to eat from a bowl, and I use them all the time for things like applesauce, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. Realy anything I want him to eat from a bowl rather than a plate (or previously directly off the high chair tray). I have tried a couple of brands and I found the ones by The First Years work best. Just don't put the suction bottoms in the dishwasher, even though they are supposedly dishwasher safe. The edges melted a little on a couple of mine and they didn't stick as well after that.

http://www.thefirstyears.com/products/product.asp?pValue=1810

Jennifer
mom to Jacob 9/27/02

[amp]

We have them, but haven't really used them yet (at least not as a suction, but just as carrying containers). Since my DS is younger than yours, I was more fearful of him sticking his hands in there and flinging pureed food all over! Now that he's on mostly finger foods, we don't even use a bowl or a spoon hardly! I do anticipate that as he grows, we will reintroduce some messier foods (applesauce, soup, cereal) and he will learn to use a spoon. At that point, I think the suction bowls will be more helpful than a regular bowl. I don't think it will necessarily mean he can't detach it, but maybe it will give us a few seconds lead time to stop him!

BTW: We bought ours at Target. I believe they were the Gerber brand. They were a set of 3 bowls of varying sizes, each with it's own lid. The suction fits all three by attaching to the bottom.

[C99]

The best one I've ever seen is actually a cat food bowl. I don't have a pet, so I don't normally shop in petstores but I had to throw out the one we were given so I plan to do some petstore shopping to find another one.

[s7714]

>Since my DS is younger than yours, I was more fearful of him sticking his
>hands in there and flinging pureed food all over!

:) LOL! I'm still fearful of this! My DD has a severe dislike of touching anything wet, sticky, mushy, etc. (Like a cat hating to get its paws wet...) Any time she accidentally gets her hand in a bowl of something like applesauce, it ends up decorating our walls. Needless to say she's extremely picky about what finger foods she'll eat. That's why I'm hoping she'll take interest in eating with a spoon soon!

Jennifer
Mommy to Annalia 03/03/03

[ohiomom]

Too funny! I was just on the phone asking my sister if she had success with the suction bowls and log on while I'm talking to her... and here is this post!! She thought they really helped her DS eat with a spoon -- he's been a great self-feeder from early on... So I'm off to find some for my DD as she keeps trying to pull the bowls out of my hand! She too won't touch anything wet, slippery or too gooey that I place on her tray, yet she's more than happy to stick her fingers in her bowl of oatmeal, purees... Mostly though, she seems to want to suck on the bottom of the bowl. So full of nutrition that is!!

Nicole's Mom 7/30/03

[Jen in Chicago]

We bought the Sassy ones. The first time we used them the bowl ended up on the floor and food was everywhere. Jude removed it quickly. Darn it! Better luck to all of you.

[momma_boo]

I picked up one of the First Years ones at Sears this past weekend. It was really cheap (less than 3.25) on sale, so I grabbed it.

Unfortunately, it doesn't stick to our highchair tray (Prima Pappa). Stuck to the counter, fine. But doesn't like the highchair.
I'll have to try to do it wet tonight (sometimes those suction things work better when the surface/suction cup is wet).

[JacksMommy]

My DS figured out how to rip the cups loose after a pretty short while, so they wound up being a waste of money for us. Give it a try but I'd suggest only buying one until you're sure they work for you!

Laurel
Working Mama to Jack, 6/4/02
EDD #2 12/25/02

[kaitlinsmommy]

We have a Sassy one too & it really doesn't stick well to anything.

[rrosen]

I am a Special Needs teacher (out on extended leave) I have used a product called DYCEM to make almost anything nonslip. It comes in a roll and you cut what you need. It can be used over and over and over.

http://www.theraproducts.com/index/page-catalog/main-7057/sub-7112/

It is also great to stick to a chair seat to keep little bottoms from slipping all over the place (it comes right off, there is no adhesive) and makes a great jar opener.

HTH,
Rebecca

[cara1]

I never found them to be helpful. If DS wanted to fling it off the high chair, he did, suction or no suction. Nevermind the fact that the suction never sucked. Or the fact that if it did, DS would just get more frustrated. What worked for us was DS being ready to WANT to eat from the bowl himself. Now that he's two, it's not even an issue. I think he just wasn't ready before that. Good luck.

[s7714]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I had heard from some people before I had DD that the suction bowls didn't stick very well, but I'm glad to hear they sometimes do. Maybe I'll just have Grandma find some to buy since she's so gung-ho on me using them! ;)

Thanks,
Jennifer
Mommy to Annalia 03/03/03

[stillplayswithbarbies]

I have the Gerber suction cup plate and it sticks to the high chair tray just fine. Logan can pull it off if she tries hard, or if she has spilled water on the tray, but when she starts tugging at it, I figure she is done eating so I take it away.

It has a lip on the edge so she can scoop up the food with the spoon.

...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03