Top 5 Best Ice Cube Tray for Baby Food | 2018 Reviews

A lot of moms now prefer giving their little ones freshly made home cooked meals but as heaven as it may sound, it does not necessarily mean the same thing for the mommy.

Fortunately, it is possible to do the task in batches and create the food in one go so that all they have to do is thaw the frozen food and then serve it to hungry little mouths. The great thing about doing the entire process in batches and well in advance is that it saves moms a lot of time, effort and money. There is no need to take out the bulky food processing machine every single time and they do not have to waste time deciding what food to prepare.

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Quick Comparison Table

Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray

WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray

Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit

Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray

OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays

However, it is important for mommies to know that not all ice cube trays are made equally. In fact, if baby food is the topic, it is important to make sure that the freezer trays are actually made from safe and durable material to keep baby from harm. What should you look for in those baby food freezer trays? You need to make sure that they are at least BPA-free. Food trays with covers are also highly recommended to prevent freezer burn and keep the purees fresh and nutritious even if it has been stored for a few days.

For moms who are not sure where to start looking, we have come up with a list of the best ice cube trays for storing baby food in.

Quick Comparison Table

Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray	WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray	Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit	Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray	OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays
$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$
8 ounces	6.4 ounces	1.2 pounds	10.6 ounces	7 ounces
9.1 x 5.9 x 2.4 in	9 x 6.5 x 1.8 in	9.6 x 9.1 x 3 in	7.7 x 7.6 x 2.2 in	1.8 x 5.5 x 12.6 in

Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray

When it comes to feeding your little one with solids, one ounce of their favorite baby food is usually a good place to start. But, what happens when your baby’s appetite starts to grow bigger? Well, we have found just the right solution for mommies so you do not have to go buying yet another product when your little one grows.

Enter this food freezer tray from Kiddo Feedo. How does it differ from the other freezer trays available in the market? For starters, it comes with a much bigger capacity than the ones you normally see around. In fact, each pod can accommodate up to 2.6 pounds of baby food – you can fill it halfway up at the start and, as their appetite grows bigger, then you can add more food into each serving. This way, you do not have to purchase a larger tray to accommodate the growing needs of your child!

Another reason why we love the Kiddo Feedo Tray here at Parents Need HQ is that this tray comes with a clip-on lid design. And, unlike most other lids that you can find on the market, this one is made from silicone material instead of plastic. This definitely adds security to the parents who are afraid of letting harmful chemical leach into their baby's food. Not only is silicone less toxic, it is also very soft and bendable. In case your food is already frozen solid, you will still not go through a hard time removing the lid – it is easy to take off and clip back on yet still keeps its shape. The secure seal that the silicone lid ensure that the food inside does not get contaminated with other odors or flavors.

Of course, this food tray is not just meant to be used inside the freezer or for baby food alone. You can be totally creative and use it for other purposes such as for making mini muffins, poaching eggs, molding chocolates and much more. You can even use it to a stock gravy, juices, soup and other sauces. Cool, right?

We are obviously very much convinced with this product which is why we are placing it right at the top spot.

Details of the Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray
Weight	8 ounces
Dimensions	9.1 x 5.9 x 2.4 inches

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WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray

It is totally understandable for parents, especially moms, to be very particular about the materials that their baby items are made of. Fortunately for those who are already starting out with feeding their babies with solid food, there are several options for freezer trays available in the market.

This particular one from WeeSprout is yet another favorite from us here at Parents Need HQ. Why? We certainly love that it makes use of food-grade silicone that ensures that your baby's food touches nothing but the safest materials on the planet. The silicone used for this product is resistant from bacteria, stains, and odors so it is super safe to use with food, easy to clean and keeps food fresh and appetizing for baby. Additionally, this food tray is approved by the FDA and is also free from other harmful chemicals that could potentially leak into your baby's food: BPA, PVC, phthalate, lead and other toxins.

When it comes to ease of use and clean up, the WeeSprout tray also makes it to the top compared to similar products from different brands. In fact, we love that both tray and lid can be placed easily inside the freezer as well as on the top shelf of a dishwasher. It can even be used in the microwave or oven for baking and heating purposes. Then, once the food is ready to serve, you can just pop out the individual servings easily by gently twisting the tray. In case you need to make another huge batch, you can create individual servings up to 1 or 1.5 ounces and even stack multiple trays on top of each other.

Some parents did complain about the trays smelling really bad during the first few days although it eventually fades away through washing. It was because of this issue that the company was able to redeem themselves and prove that they have excellent customer service, which is a huge plus for us! Because of that (and despite the product being slightly more expensive than the other brands), we are placing this product at the second spot in our list.

Details of the WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray
Weight	6.4 ounces
Dimensions	9 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches

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Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit

There are many reasons why mommies and even daddies choose to make their very own baby food at home. Among the most common reasons would be that it saves them money, time (when done in big batches) as well as provides them with the security that the food their little ones eat are safe and healthy.

If you are making baby food in really huge batches – perhaps your little one eats a lot or you have several mouths to feed – then this solids starter kit food try from Mumi & Bubi is definitely your best bud. Why? Just one look and you will immediately see why.

Every food tray is able to accommodate up to 21 one-ounce cubes so you lessen food waste and also get to freeze food in large quantities at a single time. This definitely saves you a lot of time and money! The tray lids are also designed so that one is able to stack one tray on top of another – perfect if you need to make an even bigger batch than usual.

Another thing we love about this tray is that it is very simple to use. It is designed very simply so that you can just press the tray from one end and the cubes should be able to slide easily out on the other end. At 1-ounce portions, they are definitely just the ideal serving size for your small kiddos and you do not have to spend time breaking the cubes to avoid wasting food.

This solids starter kit from Mumi & Bubi also make a great choice for busy parents in that every purchase of this product gives you access to a step-by-step e-guide on 27 recipes of homemade baby food – enough to get you started on the journey. Don't worry about the cubes being harmful to the body as well as it is certified to be free from BPA and PVC. This New Zealand manufactured product is also safe to use in the dishwasher promoting easy cleanup.

The 21-cube capacity of this freezer food tray is definitely one of the biggest reasons why it is able to rank the third position in our list.

Details of the Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit
Weight	1.2 pounds
Dimensions	9.6 x 9.1 x 3 inches

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Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray

With more than 25 years of experience in creating products for making and storing baby food at home, it is not surprising why Beaba should be included in the list. In fact, for most parents, Beaba might just be the only brand that they trust when it comes to feeding utensils for babies. So, where do we start with our review for their freezer trays?

One of the main reasons why we love using this product is its ease of use and its high quality. These trays are made from silicone so you can be assured that it will keep your baby's food from toxins and other harmful chemicals. It is super easy to take out the cubes from the trays, even if it has frozen solid, plus the cleanup is also very easy. You can wipe it, run water over it or place it on the top shelf of the dishwasher and you will not be encountering any problems at all. And, don’t worry about putting in all sorts of baby food and puree (carrots, apples, squash, and sweet potatoes) because the stain won’t stick and your trays will look as awesome as they had always been.

From the freezer, you can pop out the tray and place it into the microwave and not have any problem with it getting damaged along the process.

Although this product is so much better than any of the plastic alternatives from other brands, you might experience some foul smell from the silicone during freezing. Although it does not seem to stick to food, it can definitely raise some concerns to parents.

Still, we think it is worth checking out. It can only accommodate seven 2-ounce servings which should cover a week’s worth of meals for your baby but you can also use it for other types of food such as chocolates, popsicles and more. The trays are made from materials that are free from BPA, lead, phthalate and latex so they are definitely safe for everyone, most especially for the little kiddos.

After weighing all the pros and cons, we have concluded placing this at the fourth spot.

Details of the Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray
Weight	10.6 ounces
Dimensions	7.7 x 7.6 x 2.2 inches

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OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays

If you were to freeze water only using this tray, it would definitely work well. We love these freezer trays from OXO because of the silicone cover that comes with it. Although it uses hard plastic as its main material, it does come with a rounded design making it very easy to take out the cubes when you have to. Simply twist the tray gently so the cubes slide up then slide the cover.

What makes the cover special? For starters, sliding it out will allow you to release as few or as many cubes as you want. The design of the cover also makes it easy to stack multiple trays on top of the other so you can make several batches of baby food and put them all in the freezer. Additionally, the covers ensure that the baby food stored does not absorb the odors coming from the freezer so it stays fresh for baby to eat later on. Say goodbye to freezer burns and gross flavors because it has been contaminated with odor and flavor from other freezer items.

Perhaps our only main gripe about these freezer trays is that it comes in ¾-ounce portions so if your baby consumes more than that, then you will have to deal with some food wastage as it will be a waste of time to have to cut the cubes.

Parents who worry about the chemicals that come with these trays as they do not have those harmful ones that are feared most. It is free from BPA, PVC, and phthalate and also very easy to clean because the food does not get stuck to the bottom of the trays.

Some parents have complained about using baby food freezer trays from OXO that have warped with use but this seemed to be just an isolated case. They have otherwise done quite a good job at holding frozen food and stacking themselves on top of each other. Parents will also rejoice that this item is top-shelf dishwasher safe and will not melt or warp the tray or cover in the process.

Because of this, we are placing the OXO Freezer Tray at the last position in our list.

Details of the OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays
Weight	7 ounces
Dimensions	1.8 x 5.5 x 12.6 inches

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We hope that this list was able to help you find the right freezer tray to use for your homemade baby food. Feeding babies during their first year can be a challenge but these freezer trays make things a lot easier (and not to mention, cheaper) for moms and dads. Be sure to check what material is being used before making a purchase as it is essential that you know what kind of items are making contact with your baby’s food. It pays to be vigilant and to be on the safe side always! Good luck and have fun making your baby’s purees!

The post Top 5 Best Ice Cube Tray for Baby Food | 2018 Reviews appeared first on ParentsNeed.

Top 5 Best Air Hockey Tables for Kids | 2017 Reviews

Many families with kids don’t have room for a full-sized air hockey table – and that’s a shame.

Pool, ping pong, foosball and all of the other traditional activities that families can share at home are terrific fun. But there’s no “indoor sport” quite like air hockey to let children develop hand-eye coordination while providing a full release for their competitive juices and pent-up energy at the same time.

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Quick Comparison Table

Atomic Blazer 7’ Hockey Table

Viper Vancouver Air Hockey Game Table

Playcraft Derby 6’ Air Hockey Table

Harvil 4 Foot Air Hockey Table

Playcraft Sport 40-Inch Table Top Air Hockey

A brief check of any arcade, bowling alley or other entertainment center where there’s an air hockey table will show you how much of a favorite the game is among kids. Most would never think of asking their parents for their very own air hockey table at home, because the sport seems like one that’s only accessible if you’re pumping quarters or tokens into an enormous, professional table. Additionally, the space that a full-scale air hockey game requires is so large that the idea of playing air hockey in the house might seem impossible.

But it’s not. Lucky families with plenty of room in a garage or basement might be surprised at the quality of air hockey table they can afford, and there are lots of smaller-sized options which replicate all of the game’s fun without having an enormous footprint. Even a good table-top model can provide an afternoon or evening’s worth of family fun for a very small investment, as long as the kids can tone down their enthusiasm enough to control a puck on a much smaller table.

If you’re thinking about purchasing an air hockey table for your home, take our word for it: your kids will love you for it. And you’ll have just as much fun as they will, once you give it a try. Our list of the top 5 best air hockey tables for kids will first check out a couple of full-sized, seven-foot units, and then move on to smaller and less-expensive models.

Quick Comparison Table

Atomic Blazer 7’ Hockey Table	Viper Vancouver Air Hockey Game Table	Playcraft Derby 6’ Air Hockey Table	Harvil 4 Foot Air Hockey Table	Playcraft Sport 40-Inch Table Top Air Hockey
$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$
155 pounds	219 pounds	117 pounds	35 pounds	19 pounds
84 x 48 x 32 in	89 x 50 x 32 in	72 x 36 x 31 in	48 x 34 x 21 in	40 x 20 x 8 in

Atomic Blazer 7’ Hockey Table

Yes, this model costs a little over $600, which seems like a lot of money until you know that “professional-style” home air hockey tables will run you more than $2000 (sometimes, a lot more). And the Atomic Blazer gives you almost everything those pro-style tables do, except for the heavy-duty casings required in commercial environments where people are playing the games non-stop and often abusing the equipment on a regular basis. This table (and other home models) may get dinged up fairly quickly because it’s made from medium-density fiberboard (MDF) instead of metal or solid wood. But it’s sturdy and durable, and the dings shouldn’t affect game play or fun.

A seven-foot by four-foot play area is the standard for a full-sized table, so this 7x4 model with a ¾” PVC playfield will seem just like the ones at the arcade. There’s a heavy-duty blower motor on the Blazer which makes the action smooth and fast, and we like the fact that there are integral overhang railings which keep the puck in play (most of the time, anyway – there’s no way to stop pucks from flying off the table every so often, as every player knows). We also like the metal strips around the inner sides of the table which protect against impact damage.

A level air hockey table is naturally required for fair play, which brings us to another great feature of this Atomic model. The 6” wide pedestal legs (providing great stability for the table) each have built-in 5” wide leg levelers, which allow you to ensure that the play area stays level wherever you install it. For bells and whistles, there’s a fold-up electronic scoreboard (which does run through AA batteries very quickly) and somewhat-annoying sound effects (which can be turned off if desired). You can also get an optional ping-top table top to fit right above the table hockey surface.

Kids and adults will both enjoy the Atomic Blazer because of its full size and fast speed; just remember that it’s going to be heavy to move and that you’ll need some extra clearance around the table to allow you to reach those pucks easily.

Details of the Atomic Blazer 7’ Hockey Table
Size	84 x 48 x 32 inches
Support	6” Pedestal legs with built-in levelers
Material	Medium-density fiberboard with PVC play area
Power	AC, 4 AA batteries for scoreboard
Extras	Electronic scoreboard, 4 pucks, 4 strikers
Weight	155 pounds
Warranty	90 days limited

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Viper Vancouver Air Hockey Game Table

We actually liked the Viper Vancouver a little more than the Atomic Blazer. We rank it a bit lower, though, because it costs an extra $200 for the extra features it provides and we’re not sure that most readers would consider the extra cost worth those features. But if you’ve got a little extra to spend, read on.

This is another full-sized table made from MDF with a PVC play area, with pedestal legs and integral leg levelers. It’s sturdy – in fact, it’s heavier than the Blazer, one reason we liked it a bit more. There’s plenty of air flow to keep the game action fast, and there are deep inner rails to keep the puck on the surface rather than the floor as much as possible. There are also dual puck returns on either end of the table.

The Vancouver is an attractive air hockey table, looking somewhat more professional than the Blazer. One small but nice aspect of the overall appearance is the large, dual-faced electronic scoreboard which is situated on one side of the play area rather than above the surface, and lets you track and count down time as well as just the number of goals scored. A drawback is that the sound effects can’t be turned off, but they’re not as obnoxious as the canned sound you usually find on games like this.

This Viper table is the nicest mid-range model we’ve seen, and while it’s not going to last as long as one of those “armor-plated” machines you see in arcades, it should hold up to the battering it will get from energetic pre-teens and teenagers without a problem. Just be advised that it can be an hours-long project to assemble; once that’s been accomplished, though, the fun will be worth it.

Details of the Viper Vancouver Air Hockey Game Table
Size	89 x 50 x 32 inches
Support	6” Pedestal legs with built-in levelers
Material	Medium-density fiberboard with PVC play area
Power	AC
Extras	Electronic scoreboard, 4 pucks, 4 strikers
Weight	219 pounds
Warranty	90 days limited

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Playcraft Derby 6’ Air Hockey Table

We now move on to smaller air hockey tables which will fit a smaller family game room, a smaller budget, or both. The one-foot difference in length between the Derby and the two full-sized tables we’ve already discussed isn’t going to make an enormous qualitative difference in your game play, but it could make the difference between having enough room for a table and having to go to the arcade. The cost under $400 may make a big difference to you as well.

The construction of this Playcraft unit is similar to the first two entries on our list of the top 5 best air hockey tables for kids. It’s made from MDF (with a cherry wood grain finish and chrome accents, a black PVC finish is an extra $50) and has a glossy, scratch-resistant PVC play area and pedestal legs with built-in levelers. The power in the blowers isn’t quite up to that of the larger tables we’ve looked at, but it’s more than sufficient for fun game play. There’s a single-face electronic scoreboard with multiple setting options – and perhaps the best feature of all is that the Derby comes mostly assembled, so there’s less wrestling with this air hockey table than with most other larger models before you can start playing and enjoying yourself.

Will it last forever? Of course not. But it will certainly give your family more than $400 worth of enjoyment.

Details of the Playcraft Derby 6’ Air Hockey Table
Size	72 x 36 x 31 inches
Support	Pedestal legs with built-in levelers
Material	Medium-density fiberboard with PVC play area
Power	AC, two AAA batteries for scoreboard
Extras	Electronic scoreboard, 4 pucks, 2 strikers
Weight	117 pounds
Warranty	Six months, limited

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Harvil 4 Foot Air Hockey Table

With another step down in size, we take a huge step down in price as well. The playfield on the Harvil air hockey table is a little less than half the size of a full-sized table, but it will only cost you about $100 – so it’s perfect for the smaller kids in your family who aren’t ready for full-out game action, and may not even be able to reach across a 7-foot table in the first place.

The Harvil is constructed from lesser-quality MDF, and has L-shaped instead of pedestal legs (with levelers) so you shouldn’t expect this to be a durable piece of indoor sports equipment. However, it will hold up decently under the less-rigorous play of elementary school kids (or the gentle play of pre-teens and teenagers, if they have that sort of restraint in them). Play speed is medium because of the lesser-powered AC motor on this table, but it’s definitely sufficient and fun for the kids. There’s a small electronic scoreboard, but no puck return; you have to reach in and retrieve the puck from the goal after every score – a slight annoyance, of course, but worth putting up with for $100.

If you’ve been motivated to buy your very own air hockey table after having a blast playing against friends at the local pub, this is not your best option. In fact, it’s not an option at all, because you’ll be severely disappointed. For the young kids in the family, though, it should be more than enough to get them away from the PlayStation for a few hours.

Details of the Harvil 4 Foot Air Hockey Table
Size	48 x 34 x 21 inches
Support	L-shaped legs with built-in levelers
Material	Medium-density fiberboard with PVC play area
Power	AC, two AA batteries for scoreboard
Extras	Electronic scoreboard, 2 pucks, 2 strikers
Weight	35 pounds
Warranty	90 days, limited

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Playcraft Sport 40-Inch Table Top Air Hockey

Versatility and convenience are front and center with this budget table-top model from Playcraft, which has a play area that’s small enough to fit almost anywhere, can be picked up and stuffed in a closet when not in use, and will only cost you about $70.

The 40-inch surface is ideal for young players and the air flow provided by the motor is nearly as strong as on the Harvil we just reviewed, so there will be more than enough action to keep the kids enthralled. The frame is built from decent-quality MDF so it’s not going to fall apart on you; there are legs on the frame but primary support is provided by the table it’s placed on, meaning it will be sturdy enough for the kids and even for grownups who use a light touch while playing. You should expect the Sport to last at least for a year or two. It won’t slip and slide on the tabletop either, which was one of our main concerns going into this review.

One difference between this Playcraft and the other air hockey tables on our list: it uses two-inch pucks instead of the standard three-inch pucks you’re probably familiar with, and that means the strikers are also smaller than you’d expect. Once the game starts, you get used to the difference quickly, however.

Make no mistake; this table-top air hockey unit is more like a toy than the real thing – if you’re accustomed to “real” air hockey, that is. Remember that the majority of younger kids won’t know anything about “real” air hockey, so they’ll be fascinated and thrilled when the Sport shows up at your door and you open it up.​

Details of the Playcraft Sport 40-Inch Table Top Air Hockey
Size	40 x 20 x 8 inches
Support	Small legs, sits on table top
Material	Medium-density fiberboard
Power	AC
Extras	2 pucks (two inches), 2 strikers
Weight	19 pounds
Warranty	90 days, limited

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