If you're just starting the wild journey of solid foods, the boon silicone feeder is likely one of the first things you'll want to toss into your shopping cart. It's one of those baby products that looks simple—and it is—but it solves a surprisingly large number of problems that come up when a six-month-old decides they're ready to eat everything in sight.
I remember the first time I saw one of these. I'd seen the old-school mesh versions that looked like little fishing nets, and honestly, they kind of grossed me out. The idea of scrubbing mashed banana out of fabric mesh sounded like a special kind of household chore I didn't need. That's where the silicone version really wins. It's sleek, it's squishy, and most importantly, it doesn't hold onto smells or stains like the fabric ones do.
Why silicone beats mesh every single time
Let's be real for a second: mesh feeders are a nightmare to clean. If you've ever tried to get dried sweet potato out of tiny nylon threads, you know exactly what I mean. The boon silicone feeder, specifically the one often called the PULP, is just a solid piece of food-grade silicone with some holes poked in it.
When your baby is done gnawing on a piece of frozen mango, you don't have to soak the feeder for three days. You just pop the silicone part out, rinse it under the tap, or better yet, throw it in the top rack of the dishwasher. It comes out looking brand new. Plus, silicone is way more durable. It doesn't fray, it doesn't tear easily, and it feels much nicer on a baby's sore, teething gums.
The teething relief you didn't know you needed
Speaking of teething, this is where the boon silicone feeder really earns its keep. When those first bottom teeth start pushing through, babies are miserable. They want to chew on everything, but they also want something cold to numb the pain.
I've found that putting a frozen strawberry or even a couple of frozen breastmilk chips inside the feeder is a total lifesaver. Because it's silicone, the cold transfers through the material without being too freezing on their lips, but it's just enough to soothe the inflammation. It keeps them occupied for a good ten or fifteen minutes, which, in "teething baby time," is basically an eternity. It gives you enough time to actually finish a cup of coffee while it's still hot.
Introducing solids without the "choking scare"
One of the scariest parts of moving away from bottles and onto real food is the fear of choking. You want your baby to experience flavors and textures, but the idea of giving them a whole grape or a slice of apple can feel like an Olympic-level stress test.
The boon silicone feeder acts like a safety net. You can put those higher-risk foods inside the silicone nipple, and the baby gets all the juice and tiny bits of pulp through the small holes, but the large chunks stay safely inside the device. It's a great way to introduce things like cucumbers, melons, or even slightly steamed broccoli. It builds their confidence with self-feeding without you having to hover over them quite so intensely.
It's actually built for tiny hands
Some baby feeders are surprisingly clunky. They have these giant, awkward handles that a five-month-old can't quite figure out how to grip. Boon usually gets the design right, and this feeder is no exception. The handle is shaped like a small ring or a textured stem (depending on the specific model you get), making it easy for those uncoordinated little hands to grab and direct toward their mouth.
It's also surprisingly lightweight. I've tried some "luxury" feeders that were so heavy the baby would get frustrated and just drop them. The boon silicone feeder is balanced. It stays in their hand, and even if they drop it, it's not going to make a massive dent in your floor or hurt their toes.
Mess management (sort of)
I'm not going to lie to you and say your baby will stay clean while using this. They won't. If you put a blackberry in there, your kid is going to look like they just finished a scene in a horror movie within five minutes. However, the mess is contained.
Instead of a baby smearing a slippery piece of avocado all over their high chair tray (and their hair, and the dog), the majority of the "mush" stays inside the silicone tip. The juice comes out, the flavor comes out, but the structural integrity of the food stays put. It turns a "hose down the kitchen" kind of meal into a "just a few baby wipes" kind of meal.
What foods work best?
If you're wondering what to actually put in your boon silicone feeder, the options are pretty much endless. Here are a few things that have worked really well for us:
- Frozen Bananas: These turn into a sort of "ice cream" texture as the baby chews.
- Fresh Watermelon: Super hydrating and very easy for them to get the juice out.
- Steamed Carrots: Great for when they are first starting and need something soft.
- Frozen Peas: Sounds weird, but babies love the popping sensation.
- Roasted Sweet Potato: Sweet, mushy, and full of vitamins.
The only thing I'd suggest avoiding is anything too stringy, like raw pineapple, because the fibers can sometimes clog up the holes and make it frustrating for the baby to get anything out.
Is it worth the money?
In the grand scheme of baby gear, the boon silicone feeder is actually one of the more affordable items you'll buy. You can usually find them for under ten dollars, and since they last forever, it's a tiny investment for a lot of utility.
You don't need a dozen of them—honestly, two is plenty so you have a spare while one is in the dishwasher. They're also great for travel. If you're at a restaurant and want to keep the baby busy while the adults eat, just ask the server for a slice of orange or some soft fruit, pop it in the feeder, and you've got a happy baby for the next twenty minutes.
A few tips for longevity
To keep your boon silicone feeder in tip-top shape, try to rinse it immediately after use. If you let something like blueberry skins dry inside those little holes, you'll be picking them out with a toothpick later (ask me how I know).
Also, don't worry if the silicone starts to look a little stained. Carrots and berries are notorious for tinting clear silicone an orange or purple hue. It doesn't mean it's dirty; it's just the nature of the material. If it really bothers you, leaving the silicone parts in direct sunlight for an hour can actually help bleach out some of those organic stains naturally.
Final thoughts on the Boon PULP
At the end of the day, weaning is a messy, fun, and slightly terrifying stage of parenthood. Anything that makes it a little safer and a lot easier to clean up is a win in my book. The boon silicone feeder isn't just another plastic gadget cluttering up your kitchen drawer—it's a genuinely useful tool that helps your baby transition to real food while giving their sore gums some much-needed relief.
It's simple, it's effective, and it's one of those rare baby items that actually does exactly what it says on the box. Whether you're using it for frozen breastmilk pops or fresh summer peaches, it's definitely a staple for the high chair years.