The market for children's goods pleases mothers with the appearance of an interesting and useful device for feeding small children. It is called the Nibbler. "What is it?" - you ask. The accessory for feeding consists of a mesh, an ergonomic handle specially designed for small hands, and also a ring, which provides reliable fixation of the bag on the handle.
This is a simple, hygienically safe device, with its help the baby learns to chew pieces of food. Mom can be completely calm. Chewing fruits and vegetables through a special strainer, the baby will never choke, and the reliable fastening of the nibbler will not allow the child to pull the contents of the net out. It is used in the transition from breastfeeding to complementary foods, when there is a need to teach the child to chew solid food properly.
Convenience and benefit in one accessory!
So, we learned the following about nibbler: how the device is arranged, and when it should be used. But in addition to the purely practical benefits for mothers, this accessory also teaches a lot to the baby. When chewing nibbler, the child has an excellent training of the gums, blood circulation improves in them, which contributes to the development of a healthy dental system. It is also indispensable for teething, replacing conventional rodents.
Nibler - what is it from the point of view of safety?
The mesh of the device is made of durable nylon, it is very easy to wash and wash (you need to do this after each use), but tearing and gnawing is not easy. As it wears out, you can find replaceable mesh containers for sale and replace them with old ones. The retaining ring fits snugly enough and holds the mesh in place.
Such devices are made of impact-resistant food grade plastic, so even if the baby drops the nibbler on the floor, it will not crack. You can wash the nets with your hands or in a washing machine or even a dishwasher.
Application features
Here I would like to tell parents who are interested in nibbler, at what age you can use it, and for what products it is intended. As a rule, pieces of fruits and vegetables are offered to the baby from 6 months. At an earlier age, you can put bread in a nibbler. What kind of product is this, a child often already knows, but the net will not miss the crumbs, so the baby will not choke.
First of all, give preference to those products that you have already given before, but in the form of mashed potatoes. It can be an apple, carrots, banana and other vegetables and fruits. During teething, you can offer your baby frozen or chilled berries, this will naturally relieve pain, swelling and remove unpleasant sensations.
Which nibbler to choose?
Even at the time of our great-grandmothers, the first analogues of these devices existed. Naturally, women made them independently from fabric, gauze, bandage, and this invention was called not by the term “nibbler”. How was it made? Pre-chewed food was put in a piece of dense matter, tied and given to the baby.
In the modern world, the essence of such an interesting approach to the introduction of solid foods has been preserved, but the form of the nibbler has undergone great changes. These devices differ not only in the shape of the handle, but also in the material from which the strainer is made. Models with a classic handle for a child will be easy and convenient to hold. They usually have a rubberized or corrugated non-slip surface.
The handle-ring, in addition to the development of a grasping reflex (which, incidentally, is facilitated by a nibbler with a direct handle), is convenient for mounting this accessory in a child’s bed, on a baby seat, stroller, and so on. Many models come with a protective cap, which allows you to protect the mesh from contamination during storage or in case of accidental falling on a dirty surface (floor, ground, grass).
Choose material
In addition to nylon, you can see on sale a silicone nibbler. The material from which it is made does not cause allergies, has no taste or smell, and is easily washed under a stream of warm water. Due to such properties, the product has become quite popular, and many mothers decided to purchase just such a model. Nylon nets darken over time, and it is difficult for them to return to their original appearance. In this case, it is recommended to simply replace them. Silicone parts do not have this feature, but finding a replacement will be more difficult.
If you want to get more practical information about the nibbler, reviews about its various models should be carefully studied. But, despite the convenience for parents, the decision about which nibbler is better to choose should be made based on the wishes of the baby. Do not forget that, first of all, he should like this device.
Subtleties when buying
Material and handle - this is not a complete list of features. You need to be able to choose a nibbler in accordance with the age of the child. How to do it right? Be sure to inspect the packaging and read the recommendations for use, ask the seller to show you the mesh size. If it is small and oblong, then the nibbler (silicone or nylon) is intended for children up to 8-12 months old.
For babies from year to year, the mesh container has a more round shape and a larger size, there are quite large openings in it. Of course, the recommended age is often indicated on the package, but in order to avoid troubles, we do not recommend blindly buying a device without examining it in more detail. Do not be lazy before you go to the cashier, find out where the nibbler is made, from what age it can be offered to a child.
For children - the best!
Pay attention to the brand and the country of manufacture. Do not purchase products from little-known firms and Chinese companies. Ask yourself a question when buying a cheap nibbler: "What kind of quality will it be?" Will the accessory be truly safe and durable? If in doubt, consider other options, albeit more expensive.
To date, 2-3 companies produce original products of this kind. The most expensive and highest quality nibblers are offered by the Nuby company. Similar products, but in a more affordable price category, are in the assortment of the Russian company World of Childhood, specializing in the production of various children's goods.
Many parents pay attention to the presence of interchangeable nets. They can either be bundled with a nibbler or sold separately. When purchasing a spare set of nets, also look at what age it is designed for. But if you are buying a device for the first time and still do not know how a child will react to it, do not rush to spend money on a set of components.
How to use and store the device?
How to use a nibbler? This accessory is as easy to use as possible.
- After you have bought a nibbler and brought it home, open the packaging and divide the device into separate parts.
- Each part should be washed thoroughly in warm water with baby soap or special cleaning products designed for children's dishes. It is not recommended to use any other solutions for these purposes!
- Rinse the nibbler in running water, make sure that no residues of detergent remain on it.
- In addition, rinse all parts with clean boiled water. Nibler is ready for operation.
- Cut pieces of fruit or vegetables, put them in a net and fix it on the handle with the help of a ring.
- After that, you can offer the child a nibbler. He will be able to hold it himself and gnaw fruit, like an adult!
- After the contents of the net are over and the child stops chewing, take the nibbler.
- Before washing the appliance, it is recommended to completely disassemble it. Process each component, as already described above. The mesh and parts are dried and stored in the same way as other children's dishes.
Never leave your baby with a nibbler unattended! Juice or saliva can cause choking. Nibler is not a toy! Do not give it to your child for entertainment purposes.
So, we told in detail what a feeding nibbler is, how to use it, and for children of what age it will be needed. This accessory is already firmly established in the everyday life of young mothers. Why? Using nibbler, you leave yourself a little free time, and give your child pleasure from the fact that he independently gets acquainted with the taste of natural products.