mesh feeders - good or bad?

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DS isn't really getting into or excited about table foods, picking them up, feeding himself etc.  My SIL loves her mesh feeder but I think I remember reading stuff on here about them (negative stuff) awhile back.  

Opinions / thoughts?  

ashonkwiler09

Brady loved the mesh feeder. Depending on what you put in it it can be a PITA to clean. It is not easy to get bananas out of those things.

caityr

We got one and thought it would help her catch on to liking food but it was useless. And messy. She came around to liking solids on her own time and by that point almost bypassed baby food/purees completely. However I think it was $6 so if you want to try it its not like its an investment. We tossed ours after maybe 2 uses.

caityr

Agreed, very hard to clean.

nicoleversion2

I don't think it's a good or bad thing...more of a question of how annoying they are to clean.  Personally, they gross me out.  I got a set at my shower and used them only for ice or ice chips when Jake was teething- he LOVED them for that.  Try them out and see if your LO likes them

howleyshell

Bad.

Cost vs. benefit analysis = more of a hassle than they're worth.

We used it maybe 2 times then it sat in the cabinet because it was just too gross.

 

Ali212

caityr:

We got one and thought it would help her catch on to liking food but it was useless. And messy. She came around to liking solids on her own time and by that point almost bypassed baby food/purees completely. However I think it was $6 so if you want to try it its not like its an investment. We tossed ours after maybe 2 uses.

I would agree with this...this was my experience (we received one with our first daughter and I didn't even bother with them with #2).  I would also add that it was really messy to clean and kind of grossed me out.  I decided I preferred to just give her solid solids when she was ready rather than use that and threw it away after maybe 2 uses.  That said, it's totally a personal decision. 

RoxBride

Considering they are pretty cheap, I'd go for it. Yeah, they aren't too fun to clean but I just soaked it in the sink for an hour and then it could be rinsed right off.

JillRock96

I LOVED it, especially when they were teething.  I would turn them inside out, take out any big chunks, and throw them in the dishwasher.  I didn't really think they were that hard to clean (I would replace them after about a month).  We put frozen fruit (bananas, pineapple, etc.) and even just ice cubes in them for teething -- worked so well.

skoorbnibor

I never saw the point really... they catch on without them and they are a pain

dusk42

JillRock96:

I LOVED it, especially when they were teething.  I would turn them inside out, take out any big chunks, and throw them in the dishwasher.  I didn't really think they were that hard to clean (I would replace them after about a month).  We put frozen fruit (bananas, pineapple, etc.) and even just ice cubes in them for teething -- worked so well.

We mostly use ours for ice, but this is what we do - dishwasher all the way. 

schoolsoutbride

One of the reviews I read on amazon said it was really easy to clean them by soaking them in oxyclean. I haven't looked into oxyclean enough to know what's in it and know whether I'm ok using it on something they eat.

I've used it a handful of times so far, mostly to keep them occupied.  Grant screeches like a pterodactyl every second in his highchair that he doesn't have food in his mouth, so it gives me a few minutes to get their dinner ready in quiet.

I think I used it twice with O, though.  

I'll probably stick some frozen fruit in it when the babies are seriously teething and see how that goes.

BeccaLandes

we really liked ours- the boys ate things like melon, mango, and pear before they had the dexterity to pick up chunks on their own.

i agree that they can be a mess, but i would soak them in soapy water, then scrub with a sponge and that worked for me.