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I used mesh feeders to help introduce all four of my older children to solids, and they loved them. They were a safe, easy way to introduce my babies to new flavors, and I didn't have to worry about them choking.

So, of course, when my fifth baby hit 6 months old and we began the process of introducing solids, I purchased the same mesh feeder I'd always used.

Unfortunately, I only got a couple uses out of it before it became caked with food that was impossible to clean out, even after multiple rounds of scrubbing and soaking. The biggest culprit? Bananas — I just couldn't seem to get those smushed bananas out of the mesh.

I resigned myself to prepared baby food, but wished I could still give my daughter the fresh food options that the feeder allowed.

But here's the thing: Times have changed since I first became a parent and innovative products like Dr. Brown's Fresh First Silicone Feeder now exist.

Dr. Brown's — maker of the best baby bottles we've tested — sent me their silicone feeder to test, and I was immediately impressed by how easy it is to clean. I've been using the feeder every day for three weeks, and my daughter loves it, especially when it's filled with bananas.

Made for babies 4 months and older, the smartly designed Fresh First Feeder resembles a nipple top on a bottle. To use it, fasten the silicone nipple portion through the base, then add food into the top, and screw the top onto the base, just like a bottle. With a cover that fits on top, it can also be taken on-the-go.

The feeder has a wide BPA-free plastic handle on the bottom, which has been perfect for my daughter to grip on her own, even though she still has a bit of a shaky grasp at 7 months old.

I'm a big proponent of baby-led weaning and love the fact that I can safely introduce my daughter to a variety of fresh foods and flavors with the Fresh First Feeder. It doesn't necessarily provide nutrition for your baby, as the holes are small and babies can't get a lot of sustenance from it. Rather, it's meant to introduce them to new foods and flavors. So far, my daughter has been able to try lots of fresh foods, from apples and frozen peaches from our orchard to strawberries and avocado.

The feeder is made of three parts that are dishwasher safe. Chaunie Brusie

By far, my favorite feature of the feeder is how easy it is to clean. Just unscrew the top from the base, remove the silicone nipple, and hand-wash it, or toss all the pieces on the top rack of the dishwasher. It's also safe to sterilize in a microwave or electric sterilizer or in boiling water. Compared to the multiple rounds of soaking and scrubbing required with mesh feeders, cleaning the silicone feeder is a breeze.

The feeder also does double duty as a teether. The entire thing can be popped into the freezer to make a super convenient and tasty teether to soothe your baby's gums.

Because it is made of silicone, the feeder is a little bit tougher for my baby to chew on and get out those tasty juices as compared to mesh feeders. I've found that I need to squeeze whatever food is in the feeder to release the juices before giving it to her. Once she gets a taste of it, she is encouraged to suck on it on her own, and then there's no stopping her.

Dr. Brown's Fresh First Silicone Feeder is an excellent fresh food feeder. It allows me to introduce fruits to my baby with the same safety assurance of a mesh feeder but without the cleaning troubles. Plus, it's been great for soothing her swollen gums as she's teething.

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