Review and Giveaway: Baby Dipper CLOSED

Nate has always been an independent feeder. Even as an infant, Mr. Do-It-Myself would rather self-feed than be spoon-fed. While he has gained more skill with his utensils, he is still not an expert. Because his regular bowls slide all over his tray and tip over with the slightest force, it is difficult for him to get a good scoop with a spoon or stab with his fork. Oftentimes, this means he gets more food on his clothes than in his belly. And lest we forget, big, big messes for Mommy to clean up.

But thanks to the Baby Dipper Bowl, mealtimes aren't as disastrous these days.

The Baby Dipper Bowl was invented by Barbara Schantz, a mom to, not one, but two sets of twins who was frustrated with the selection of baby and toddler bowls on store shelves. None of them could be used with just one hand, which is exactly what Barbara needed in her household. So, mompreneur that she is, she designed and marketed one herself!

The Baby Dipper Bowl has a unique triangular design, featuring a sloped interior surface and vertical sides, making it easy to push food onto a spoon. Since the spoon fits in the lower corner of the bowl, you can reach that last bit of food without having to maneuver and scrape. The non-skid bottom keeps the bowl from sliding and the transparent sides allow parents to monitor the amount of food. The Baby Dipper is microwave and dishwasher-safe (top rack) and is BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free so it is safe and convenient. This award-winning bowl truly is the perfect solution for one-handed feeding or for toddlers learning to self-feed.



Barbara was kind enough to send me one of her Baby Dipper bowls to review.

When I first received the bowl, I was very impressed with the quality. It was made of a thick, durable plastic and it was heavier than any of the other bowls we own. Along with the rubber base, I was confident it would stay in place. If Nate did somehow manage to pick it up, I knew it probably wouldn't go far. I also LOVED that it came with a spoon and "spork" so I wouldn't have to purchase some separately or deal with incompatibility issues from our other oddly-shaped toddler utensils.

I decided to put our Baby Dipper to the ultimate test with a toughie: corn. Those runaway niblets are a source of stress for Nate and I so I was hopeful that the Baby Dipper would come to our rescue.

And that it did! Nate normally struggles trying to scoop and balance the corn kernals out of traditional bowls. As he pushes the spoon, the bowl just travels right along with him. Most of the time, I just have to place them directly on the tray and let him eat with his fingers. But the Baby Dipper stayed put and let us get in some practice with utensils. I think Nate was in a state of disbelief at first, as he would scoop the corn and then pick it off with his other hand. But he soon caught on and got the hang of it. From the smile on his face, I knew he was a happy camper!




We've used our Baby Dipper with fruit chunks, cooked veggies, yogurt, and applesauce with great success. I love that I don't have a huge mess waiting for me after he is finished with dinner. And Nate loves that he can feel like a big boy. Win-win! I just might not need that splat mat after all!

Bottom line: The Baby Dipper falls into the "why didn't I think of that?" product category. Now that we own it, I don't know how we lived without it! Not only does it give Mom an extra hand during the infant puree phase, but it encourages dexterity and independence in toddlers. I think this should be the new go-to practical baby shower gift!

BUY IT: You can purchase the Baby Dipper (ARV $12.95) online at www.babydipper.com or through other select retailers worldwide.

And don't forget to become a fan of the Baby Dipper on Facebook so you can catch the latest updates!

WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to win a Baby Dipper of their own! (Note: if you've previously won a Baby Dipper in a sponsored giveaway, you are not eligible to win. Sorry!)

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Tell me what feature you like most about the Baby Dipper. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count! Remember to leave one comment per entry.

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. If you already follow and/or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me and Baby Dipper on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the tweet below or come up with one of your own:

RT @kris10chumley: Take the mess out of mealtime and give yourself an extra hand with a @BabyDipper bowl set! Ends 4/1 http://bit.ly/aqzdO6

Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry max per day)

3.) Follow Barbara's blog, My Double Life. (1 entry)

4.) Sign up for the Baby Dipper newsletter. (1 entry)

5.) Add my blog button and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on April 1, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: As mentioned above, I received a Baby Dipper set from Barbara at Baby Dipper to facilitate my candid review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are purely mine and your experience may differ.