Doddl Cutlery at a glance:
At doddl we make clever kids' products that are especially designed to make mealtimes easier and more enjoyable.Our ergonomic cutlery is perfectly shaped to build your child's skills and confidence turning mealtimes into adventures by helping hungry minds discover the world around them. Short, contoured handles are comfortable to hold and help to develop dexterity, coordination and control. The doddl knife has a unique design with a handle that sits in your child's palm allowing them to push down through food, making it much easier to use.Your child can easily transition to adult cutlery after using doddl.
Related: Baby weaning product
We spoke to these real parent testers to get their review...
How did this product make your life easier?
Sophie: The shape and design of this cutlery with its bulky handles makes it perfect for little hands and helps to encourage independent feeding. The short handles are easy to hold and control which in turn leads to less mess being created and more food successfully reaching their mouth. This cutlery is also dishwasher safe, which is always a winner in my house!
Beth: I have never seen cutlery like this on the market previously, normally the spoons are long and difficult for my toddler to use. However, my son used this cutlery correctly immediately and almost instinctively. I think the metal parts are easier to clean and the cutlery still looks brand new despite multiple uses and washes. I am sure it will last for subsequent children. Additionally, the metal parts replicate “normal” adult cutlery which will make the transition easier. My son struggles to use the knife but I think that this is because he is too young and not to do with the cutlery itself.
Gemma: My 20 month-old really struggled with feeding himself, which usually resulted in a lot of mess, me having to step in to help and sometimes him losing interest in eating. As soon as I introduced the Doddl Cutlery he took to them straight away and he can now feed himself almost as well as his big brother. And big brother, age 5, has also benefited from the set, using the knife to gain confidence cutting his own food as well as helping in the kitchen.
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Jessica: I would recommend the doddl cutlery to a fellow mum or friend for a few reasons. Firstly the cutlery is easy to hold for small children, it enables them to eat independently and the cutlery is easy to clean. I particularly like the design of the knife as it definitely makes it easier for small hands to manage their own meals.
Hayley: 100% I've seen these on Instagram for ages but never been able to invest in something that might be a gimmick. I've tried a cheap Chinese version from eBay which were good in the beginning but these blow them out of the water. Now she's older and more independent as they are metal not plastic meaning you can actually pick up food rather than squash it. I wouldn't say you need loads as they wash up well but will be getting another set as a backup.
Sarah: Definitely. In fact, I already have! I would recommend this product over any other weaning cutlery sets I have used. I love the design and like the fact that the spoon and fork look like proper cutlery, as opposed to plastic. The spoon and fork have rounded edges and are in no way sharp. The set is easy to wash and can be put in the dishwasher, which is a major plus.
Would you choose this product to win?
Roxanne: I would definitely choose this product above all others on the market, in fact I have already purchased another set for my daughter as I was so impressed! I definitely think this should win the best feeding product for the weaning category as my daughter has learnt to feed herself so easily and I know it will last her for many years to come too.
Jessica: I would choose the doddl cutlery set over all other cutlery sets on the markets as it has a unique design which is easy to hold and use. The knife is particularly different and I haven’t seen anything else like it on the market. The knife actually cuts food well and is safe for small children to use.
Beth: Yes, I would choose this product over others, the only thing is it is slightly more expensive than some others on the market however I recognise that it is more sustainable and likely to last beyond others. I think this product should win. It is so innovative and instinctive to use for my toddler. Since using them he easily transfers to “normal” cutlery.
What changes would you make to this product?
Sophie: This cutlery does take up more room in the cutlery draw than traditional style cutlery due to the bulky handles. It is also quite expensive for one set of cutlery compared with other children’s feeding sets. However if you have a child who is struggling with knife skills or spoon control I think having at least one set of this cutlery alongside others is well worth it to encourage good grip development and fully independent feeding.
Roxanne: The only one thing that I could think to improve would be if there was some way to stop the cutlery from falling into the food when resting the cutlery on the side of a bowl. Due to the short handles they tend to just fall into the food and make a bit of a mess. But it would not put me off from purchasing this cutlery as it is absolutely fantastic otherwise!
Sarah: I think that the ergonomics of the knife could potentially be developed. I think that this would help with the use of it. It is tricky to hold; whereas the spoon and the fork are much simpler. I feel like the plastic end of the knife needs to be slimmer in order for the product to function more effectively.