Introducing the Tommee Tippee Baby Food Steamer Blender…
Those of you who follow my blog regularly will know that when I started weaning Neve, I had total weaning fear.
Having had a bit of a nightmare weaning Erin, and suffering with a picky eater ever since, I was determined that second time around I would make it a little bit easier. I wanted to try a combination of baby led and traditional weaning, in the hope that I would introduce Neve to a range of different foods and flavours.
That said… I am far from being a domestic goddess. The thought of spending hours in the kitchen creating wonderful home made meals is enough to make me break out into a cold sweat.
When I was given the chance to review the Tommee Tippee Baby Food Steamer Blender which came with the tagline “Making Weaning Easy” I was very keen to give it a go.
About the Tommee Tippee Baby Food Steamer Blender
The Tommee Tippee Baby Food Steamer Blender makes it really easy to prepare healthy meals with less mess and less stress!
This two in 1 steamer and blender allows busy parents to prepare quick and easy meals for their weaning baby with minimal effort, and minimal washing up.
First the product helps steam the food whilst preserving nutrients and flavour, before easily switching to blender mode in one device, enabling you to create a range of textures suitable for every stage of the weaning journey, from smooth purees to more textured dishes for toddlers.
An automatic timer means that you can simply set the food up, leave the product to work its magic and then simply serve or store.
With a small number of BPA free parts, the Tommee Tippee Steamer Blender is also very easy to clean and pack away ready for it’s next use.
Our Experience of the Tommee Tippee Steamer Blender
My first impressions of the Tommee Tippee Steamer Blender were very positive. The product looks great with an attractive modern design, meaning you can feel comfortable leaving it out on display in your kitchen. In the box it comes with two small pots (with lids) for storing the food you blend and a spatula, which is a really helpful start if you haven’t managed to purchase any in the early days of weaning.
Before the first use, you do need to run a preparation cycle – so you need to allow around 30-40 minutes to do this. I didn’t realise this when I first got it out to use, so this did delay my cooking slightly, so is worth bearing in mind before you get all the food out the fridge! The instructions for the test cycle however were super easy to follow, so I had no problems setting this up before starting a genuine steam and blend.
The Steamer Blender is very easy to put together and dismantle, although there is a bit of an art to getting the jug back into the frame, in that it has to be facing the right direction and I never seemed to get it right first time no matter how many times I used it – this is most likely me being ‘yampy’ as my Auntie Shirley would put it!
For my first official use, I decided to put it the test with some pureed carrot for our daughter.
The Tommee Tippee Baby Food Steamer Blender comes with a really useful leaflet inside the box that gives you recommended timings for the most common vegetables, which I found very useful. As I don’t cook in the kitchen very often (Mike doesn’t trust me!) this was a real help as I probably would have undercooked them left to my own devices. I was able to set the timer to cook follow by blend, and leave the kitchen whilst it worked it’s magic.
The blending element is a little bit noisy, so can make you jump if like me you set it up to steam and blend and then forget about it! It blends in short sharp waves with pauses in between and you can add more water if required. Occasionally some of the blended food would get stuck on the sides, however if this happened I could simply remove the jug, tap it and pop it back on to compete the cycle.
As with most of my weaning experiences to date, the most difficult part of the Steamer Blender is getting Neve to actually eat the produce!
Pros:
Very easy to set up and instructions are easy to follow.
Came with useful guide for steaming times for the most common vegetables.
Easy to dismantle to clean and store.
Looks attractive on kitchen counter.
Blend and Steam in one device reducing washing up and the amount of time spent in kitchen.
Can be used to blend food according to your babies weaning stagge – either very smooth puree or more chunky dishes for older babies and toddlers.
Cons:
Can be a little on the noisy side, but I am personally yet to find a blender that isn’t – just time your blending so it is not at nap time!! 🙂
Occasionally the food did get stuck on sides during blending and therefore did require the jug to be removed and tapped before continuing. This wasn’t a big issue but something to be aware of if you are hoping to leave it completely to its own devices!
At full RRP this is quite a big investment, however it is regularly on offer at Amazon for half price.
The Tommee Tippee Steamer Blender is available to purchase at Amazon and is currently almost half price!
*Disclosure – I was sent the Tommee Tiippee Steamer Blender free of charge for the purpose of this review, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Choosing Nursery Furniture is no mean feat. There is so much choice, and the products can be so expensive, that we found the whole experience a bit of a minefield. My biggest bug bear, was spending so much money on something that would last just 6 months, only to then have to invest in yet another piece of furniture to meet the next stage of their development. Now I am on maternity leave, these extra costs all add up, and its not really something we can accommodate!
We first heard about the MULTY on Twitter and I was amazed that no one had thought of it before! A 4 in 1 product, that grows with your child, from crib to highchair, to toddler chair to storage system. One piece of furniture that can be used from birth until “big girl” years and beyond, and with a totally reasonable retail price of just £179.99. It not only looks great, but covers the main stages of development, that would normally require additional investment!
Those of you who follow my blog regularly will know that we have had a bit of a rough ride since my daughter’s arrival in early September, but we are returning home from my mother in laws next week (yay!). I cannot wait to see the MULTY in action – my other half is building it downstairs for now, as I need to have somewhere both upstairs and downstairs where I can pop Neve down for a nap, as getting up and down the stairs is no mean feat at the moment.
I love the fact that the MULTY can be slightly inclined to help with reflux – (Neve gets wind quite a lot!) and that I can rock it gently backwards and forwards if she needs a little help drifting off to sleep!
Our full review of the first stage (the crib) of the MULTY is coming soon, but in the meantime, this video highlights the main features of the product far better than I can explain it! 🙂
My daughter is becoming stronger every single day. In recent weeks she has started to hold her head up and when laid down on her tummy will arch her back to try and see my face. I was keen to try and assist getting her into a seated position, so that I could interact with her and play at floor level. I was given the opportunity to trial a Baby Bumbo seat and cover, and I jumped at the chance.
About the Product
The Baby Bumbo Seat is a floor based seat made from soft lightweight low density foam and has a wide flat base. It features a high backed support to aid the babies posture, and a low dipped base to support their bottom, as well as two large dipped holes for their legs to poke through.
When to use a Bumbo Baby Seat
The Bumbo chair was designed to seat young babies who can’t sit up by themselves yet. As soon as your baby can support their own head they can be seated in the Bumbo Floor Seat. As a rough guide, this will be from around 3 months of age – but this will vary from child to child.
What age is the Baby Bumbo seat suitable for?
Every child is different, so there isn’t an exact Bumbo age limit however the general Bumbo chair age ranges from 3 months (or when they can hold up their own head) to around 12 months of age. Any older than that and you may find that your baby’s legs are too chunky for the holes in the Bumbo baby seat. The weight limit is 22 pounds and I would therefore say the Bumbo age limit is between 12-15 months (my daughter was petite and stayed in it longer than 1 year of age).
How does the Bumbo Baby Seat work?
The Bumbo chair works by stabilising the child into a slight hip flexion, meaning that their bum is positioned slightly lower than their legs, tilting their pelvis and causing them to extend their back. This combined with the curved back of the seat, helps provide support around their trunk and provides them with the strength to sit upright. The Bumbo allows babies to have their hands free to play and can be a useful aid for babies who have reflux or colic, as it assists keeping them in an upright position after feeding.
What is the Bumbo Tray?
The product can be purchased on its own or with the Bumbo Play Tray accessory. This white plastic tray clips easily onto the base of the Bumbo seat and provides a convenient surface for your babies toys or snacks. Using the tray can help stimulate babies senses and allow them to fine tune those motor skills by picking up items placed in front of them. It is made of a safe shatter resistant food quality plastic to ensure it is completely hygienic and can be easily wiped down with anti bacterial wipes.
The Bumbo can be used with babies up to a weight of 22 pounds, and costs around £42 with the package including the play tray. There are various colours available including aqua, lime, pink and blue as well as removable covers. The removable covers are available in a range of designs, and are a great way of refreshing the look and feel of the Bumbo and adding a bit of extra flair. Made from machine washable fabric, the cover can be easily removed and washed to remove stains or mess.
Our Experience
We tested the Bumbo Seat with my daughter who is just over 3 months old, but strong and can confidently hold her head up. She fitted easily into the Bumbo and although a little confused at first, (hence the slightly bewildered face!) she soon seemed quite pleased with herself and sat in a relatively straight backed, upright stance. The Bumbo comes with straps securely attached under the base of the seat, that can be tightened in a similar way to car seat straps. I found it was easy to fasten and adjust to ensure that Izzy was secure – this would become particularly important once your child was more capable of wriggling within the seat!
Once Izzy was positioned in the Bumbo, I was able to lie on the floor and get down at her level and give her full view of my face, and she really enjoyed smiling back and making oohs and ahhs in response to my facial expressions!
The play tray was a great addition. The tray comes disassembled in two pieces that easily click together, and the play tray then clips on between the leg holes and slots underneath the base of the Bumbo seat. The tray provides a large surface for small toys, and we read a book together using the tray as a support. This allowed her to get a great view as I turned the pages. As she gets older, the play tray could be used for small rattles or musical instruments, as well as snacks and drinks once she has started weaning. A wipe down surface, the tray is easy to clean if it gets covered in milk or other general baby mess! (no more detail needed here!)
Before having the Bumbo, I would often leave Izzy sat in her car seat when visiting friends as I knew it was a safe environment for her, although this was far from ideal. I now take the Bumbo with me, as it is light and portable enough to pop in to the car, and allows her to sit with us, in a more social environment!
The Bumbo is suitable for weights of up to 22 pounds, and my friend is still using the Bumbo with her 10 month old, who will eat finger food snacks whilst seated in the seat. Now that her daughter is mobile however, she does need to be more cautious to ensure her daughter does not rock the seat – hence why the product should only ever be used on the floor.
Are Bumbo Seats safe?
There was a Bumbo seat recall many years ago, however this was before the Bumbo came with straps. All Bumbo chairs now come with integrated straps. If used correctly. Baby Bumbo Seats are safe, however it is crucial that they are not used at height and used as a floor chair only. If used on a table or work surface, they come with the risk of your baby toppling the seat or falling from height, the consequences of which could be disasterous! Read the instructions and make sure you learn how to fasten and secure your Bumbo. As with any baby product, adult supervision is required at all times.
Where can I buy the Baby Bumbo Seat?
The Bumbo seat is sold at a variety of retailers including Mamas and Papas, Amazon and Scandiborn – you can shop the best deals below.
Enables child to sit unaided when in that in between stage where they are frustrated lying down, but not yet strong enough to sit alone.
The play tray is great for popping on toys on to have at easy reach.
Wipe down surfaces makes it easy to clean if child possets milk
Bright attractive colours suitable for boys, girls and unisex designs.
Can use the removable covers (available separately) to reuse the gender specific coloured bumbos for a second child!
Babies look VERY cute sat in it!!
Lightweight foam style material, making it easy to move around, or pop in your car when visiting friends.
When used with my friends older daughter, she was able to sit and eat her lunch from the play tray.
The Bumbo cover was a great way of making the Bumbo look a little bit different, and Izzy appeared to love the bright colours of the design.
The cover also prevented Izzy’s legs from becoming a little sticky within the Bumbo seat, as they did occasionally when she got warm.
Cons
The Bumbo seat should not be used at height (despite the temptation to use as a high chair alternative!). As with any children’s product, it is a case of reading the safety instructions thoroughly before use and using with caution as the Bumbo is not a toy!
The play tray can be a little tricky to get on to the seat, as you need to raise the bottom of the bumbo slightly to clip it into place. However, once fitted it is secure and sturdy and Izzy would struggle to remove it herself. We did find it hard to dismantle the two parts of the tray again for flat storage, so ended up keeping the tray built and ready for its next use.
At the age Izzy is now, she couldn’t stay in the Bumbo for too long, but I imagine this will increase as she gets bigger and stronger.
Depending on the size of your baby, the leg holes aren’t particularly generous in size, and I can imagine chubbier babies could quite quickly become rather a snug fit!
The covers look great, but in our opinion aren’t as easy to clean as being able to simply wipe down like you can with the Bumbo on its own. That said, they are fully machine washable, but just might need a fairly regular wash!
Overall, we are really pleased with our Bumbo experience so far, and I am looking forward to Izzy becoming stronger and growing more and more confident sitting within the seat.
We have recently been putting the M&S Tiny Taste Buds Range to the test.
My daughter Erin was a bit of a fussy eater and always had been even from the early weaning days. Some days getting her to eat anything was a challenge, and since the teeth started to make an appearance this only got worse! As a first time mum, I found myself getting quite worked up and anxious about the quality of food that she eats, having often spent hours in the kitchen making a yummy dinner only for her to turn it away. As a result, I often purchased pouches and jars, as she appeared to enjoy these much more than my own home made food!!!
Before feeding Erin anything bought off the shelf I always tasted it first to make sure it tastes like ‘real’ food and as such have became quite fussy about which products I would buy.
As a big lover of M&S Food (and a massive fan of the dine in for 2!) I was really excited to learn that Marks and Spencer had launched their own new range of baby and toddler meals – M&S Tiny Taste Buds. A brand that I trust, we were really keen to check it out!
About Tiny Taste Buds
The Tiny Taste Buds range provides healthy, balanced meals for each stage of your baby’s weaning which have been specifically tailored to the nutrition needs of your baby to support their growth and development.
Using only the highest quality organic ingredients, Tiny Taste Buds products use foods from each of the key food groups to help introduce new tastes and textures, with the aim of helping your child develop positive eating habits for the future.
All of the Range is categorised as Eat Well – made from 100% organic ingredients with no added sugar or additives and are low in salt.
The range is suitable for babies from 6 months as follows:
Stage 1 – from around 6 months – with a smooth texture for babies just beginning their weaning journey. These first tastes include flavours such as organic vegetable root medley, organic banana porridge, organic fruity mango dessert and organic pea, broccoli, and parsnip with pear. Portions are 120/130g pouches.
Stage 2 – from 7 months and for babies who are more established with weaning, the stage 2 foods are gently mashed to introduce texture. These next stage flavours include organic creamy chicken and sweetcorn, organic super green veg and salmon with cheese sauce, and organic cottage pie with sweet potato. Portions are 130g pouches.
Stage 3 – from 10 months features tiny yummy chunks, to help develop tastes and encourage chewing. These meals include organic sweet potato and beef casserole with rice, organic mighty meat pasta, organic basil and tomato chicken with rice, organic Italian bean ragu. Portions are 190g pots.
Stage 4 – 12 months + is for babies/toddlers learning to feed themselves with bite size chunks to chew. These meals feature organic supergreen vegetable risotto, organic chunky vegetable and chicken casserole. Portions are 200g pots.
Tiny Taste Buds also support Great Ormond Street one of the world’s leading children’s research hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children’s healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. Marks and Spencer are generously donating £500,000 towards vital research to help children with nutrition and allergy related conditions.
Prices range from 99p to £1.99
Our Experience
We trialled the range of Stage 3 foods from Tiny Taste Buds with my daughter Erin who is 11 months at the time of testing.
The packaging is bright and appealing, with a cartoon image of a baby surrounded by vegetables on the front of the packet.
They stage 3 pots are small enough in size to be able to pop into a changing bag, so perfect for out on the go.
On reading the choice of recipes, the options sounded really appetising, with a good combination of foods combined in one dish. A lot of the baby foods on the market can be somewhat limited in their flavours, so it was good to see something a little bit different, or a slight twist on a more traditional dish.
The meals can be warmed using the microwave (40 seconds on full power) or heated in hot water for 5 minutes. We don’t have a microwave at home, but it was very quick and simple to heat up the pot in a bowl, and I simply left on the side to heat up whilst getting Erin in her chair.
The texture of the food is just right for her age group – with small lumps that encourage chewing without chunks too large for her to handle. Erin still has a habit of spitting out larger squares of foods so the smaller size pieces was preferable! You can visually see the range of ingredients within the dish, and it smelled lovely, without the slightly synthetic smell that is sometimes prevalent in pre packaged baby food!
As for the taste test, both Erin and us as her parents gave the dishes a try, and my other half quite happily polished off the small amount that Erin had left – waste not want not! Lol
Her personal favourite was the organic mighty meat pasta, which is a little like a spaghetti bolognaise only with more substantial pasta pieces. At 190g per portion, she would generally eat around 3/4 of the dish, with a few finger food pieces alongside it. Erin does however have a reasonably small appetite, and therefore other babies may quite happily polish off the lot!
Overall we were really impressed with the quality and flavours within the range of Tiny Taste Buds foods, and I would happily serve them to Erin again.
Pros:
Great combination of flavours with organic ingredients and no added salt or sugar.
Meals that we would happily enjoy ourselves
Attractive design and packaging.
Easy to prepare and serve, and can be eaten directly from the bowl, reducing the need for washing up!
Perfect size to pop into your changing bag for feeding out and about.
Supporting Great Ormond Street – a fantastic cause for children.
Cons:
Depending on the size of your child’s appetite, some of the food may get wasted. Although the food can be kept refrigerated for 24 hours, this is only if its not been heated up. So unless you decant into another bowl and heat up a small amount a time, it could prove an expensive way to feed your child. For those with a more “normal” appetite or who don’t like to supplement their meals with finger food this shouldn’t be a problem.
With prices starting at 99p (1.79 for stage 3 products), there are obviously some cheaper options on the market, however, for an occasional treat or meal for when out and about, I personally don’t mind paying a little extra for high quality organic ingredients.
You can learn more about the full range of M&S Tiny Taste Buds foods and their collaboration with Great Ormond Street on the M&S website here
This is Us!
About Me
Hi, I’m Lucy, a thirty something mum of two from Birmingham. A memory maker, tradition keeper, stationery addict and Mr Men fanatic. HR Advisor by day and sleep deprived Mama by night!
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