Deciding on Dinnerware for Babies and Toddlers
Weaning is a huge milestone for you and your baby, and one that brings with it endless questions. We already covered some of these questions in our traditional weaning vs baby-led weaning blog, or for tips focussed solely on baby-led weaning, you can read a more recent post here.
As well as deciding on the best high-chair option, or the best style of bib or weaning sets, there’s also the material to consider. In this week’s post, we will be looking at the most popular materials used for baby-weaning plates: plastic, silicone, and bamboo.
Firstly, a brief but important mention regarding the safety of weaning plates, bowls, and utensils. You might think it’s just a plate, therefore what could go wrong? Well, there’s a little more to it than that, and unfortunately with so many small businesses selling on unregulated social media marketplaces, there are many products readily available that have not been safety tested. Perhaps the most common of these are made from the materials silicone and bamboo. These are products that are easy to source from abroad (we get multiple emails every day from companies offering us such products), however, most will not have undergone the rigorous safety testing required in the UK by British Safety Standards. The risk in this case is the contamination of your child’s food by unsafe chemicals leaching from the silicone or bamboo plate.
What to look for when buying baby dinnerware: Products should come in packaging clearly stating they have been tested. They should also come with instructions for cleaning. If you purchased something online that arrived in a plastic bag and nothing else, it is almost certain that it has NOT been safety tested. In most cases simply buying from a reputable brand or store should be enough to ensure your weaning sets are safe.
Plastic Plates for Babies & Toddlers
Cheap and readily available, plastic plates are probably the most common choice for most parents. They are lightweight and colourful, and often adorned with your child’s favourite cartoon characters. Most of the time they are dishwasher safe, and importantly, are shatterproof. The downside is that they can stain very easily, or even hold onto the smell of food. They are also prone to scratching which can harbour bacteria, and in the case of untested plates, an increased exposure to chemicals including BPA.
Bamboo Plates for Babies & Toddlers
Probably our personal favourite, bamboo plates are a natural, eco-friendly choice. They are bio-degradable which makes them a popular choice with environmentally conscious parents. They often come with a silicone base that sticks to a table(depending on the surface), or a high-chair table. This prevents your little one from throwing their plate, which in the case of bamboo which can shatter, is a particularly good idea! This suction plate will also help with self-feeding if you are going the baby-led weaning route. As for cons around bamboo weaning plates, we already mentioned their propensity to shatter when dropped, but for busy parents, it’s also worth noting that bamboo plates are not dishwasher safe.
Silicone Plates for Babies & Toddlers
Silicone plates are fast becoming a favourite among parents. Silicone is non-toxic and super durable. They are also flexible, making them shatterproof. Many are available with suction bases (like our bamboo plates) which helps avoid spills and flying dinnerware! Silicone is dishwasher and microwave-safe, just be sure to always follow the instructions on the box. The cons of silicone plates are the cost, and they can also develop stains and absorb odour similar to plastic.
Final Thoughts
When choosing the best plates for your child’s weaning journey it all comes down to your family priorities. Plastic is of course the most affordable, durable, and available in colourful designs which kids love, but may need more attention when it comes to bacteria and chemicals. Eco-friendly Bamboo dinnerware is the number one choice for environmentally-conscious parents but does require manual cleaning. Silicone, whilst expensive, is a top choice for safety and convenience. In our own household, we have a selection of each, often basing our purchasing decision simply on what we like the look of the most. The most important takeaway is to know the source, and that you are purchasing safe products for feeding your children.
