Plastic, silicone or…? Here’s how to choose the baby food set
Here on Fertile Period we talked a lot about weaning . Among many things, we have suggested valuable advice to start weaning in the right way , published a complete guide to weaning , recommended how to choose a high chair for baby food . I in particular then, have taken care of pointing out many easy recipes to prepare according to the stages of growth of the child.
To continue enriching the topic, today I want to focus on an interesting topic: crockery for children . In fact, with the beginning of weaning, the purchase of plates and cutlery for children is essential and thanks to the great variety of products that can be found on the market, there is only an embarrassment of choice. But how to choose the set for baby food or tableware to buy?
Guide to choosing the baby food set
On the market you can find both individual crockery to be purchased separately, and complete sets of coordinated saucers, cutlery and glass. In this case there is no better choice than the other, as long as you keep in mind that you need to have more than one to meet all your needs.
But beyond the type of format to buy, when buying weaning dishes the fundamental things to take into consideration are not so much the design or what color they are, but the quality of the materials and the safety of the product .
Baby food sets and crockery: which material to choose?
Assuming that every certified product of serious brands should be built with safe and non-hazardous materials, different choices can be made when faced with the dishes to be used for newborns . Buying plastic or silicone products, for example, is the easiest choice to make, but also the most commercial. For alternative and more aware purchases there are also other materials such as stainless steel, bamboo, glass and porcelain. But let’s see them one by one.
Plastic feeding set
Buying plastic baby food sets is the most classic, practical and economical choice. Plastic crockery for children is resistant to bumps and falls (which frequently happens from a high chair), they are easy to wash even in the dishwasher and can be found in a thousand shapes and colours. Generally, the saucers also have non-slip bases and the cutlery has an ergonomic handle specially designed for small hands and ideal for learning to eat alone. The cost is accessible to everyone.
Buying plastic tableware is a choice, however, that not everyone likes. In addition to not being ecological, plastic crockery that contains melamine and formaldehyde or that comes from oriental countries (without naming names) makes many parents turn up their noses.
In these cases it is always good to open your eyes, read the labels and rely on brands that have been on the market for years and that have your trust.
Crockery and baby food set in silicone
Buying children’s tableware in food-grade silicone is a more conscious and ecological choice than plastic. In fact, silicone is a material that is now found in all kitchens as it is practical, durable, unbreakable, silent and fairly inexpensive (mostly also suitable for the microwave and dishwasher).
It also seems particularly suitable for children’s dishes because it is soft, pleasant to the touch and generally very colorful , therefore also very attractive on an aesthetic level.
Mealtime sets made with this material are highly appreciated by mothers and include both saucers and cutlery as well as placemats and bibs.
Furthermore, for those who want reassurance about its origin, it is true that it is a material created artificially by man, but with a base of silicon and oxygen (therefore with natural elements) then treated to stay in contact with food and resist heat in a safe way .
Bamboo dinner set
There are also bamboo mealtime sets on the market, a perfect choice for those looking for a product where they can serve food to children other than plastic. In fact, bamboo is a vegetable fiber , therefore ecological and safe. This is why it prevents food from coming into contact with any harmful substances such as phthalates, BPA and melamine.
Bamboo crockery washes well and does not get damaged , even if for optimal care you need to be careful not to leave them to soak but to wash and dry immediately. In addition, the bamboo saucers and spoons are sturdy and resistant to children’s bumps. On the market you can find sets completely in vegetable fiber, bamboo and silicone and different proposals in terms of shape and color.
Crockery and baby food set in stainless steel
Buying stainless steel tableware is the closest choice to adult tableware. 18/10 stainless steel is characterized by excellent resistance and hardness. The dishes therefore do not break, are eternal and are easily washed like those we adults use.
You can find on the market saucers, bowls and cutlery all in steel or even with silicone or plastic handles for a better grip.
Many parents prefer them to other types of crockery even if, being inflexible and hard, they are more suitable for children who have already started weaning.
Here examples that can be purchased on Amazon:
Ceramic/porcelain tableware set
The ceramic or porcelain mealtime sets are products to be offered to children over one year of age or in any case with “easily manageable” children.
In fact, porcelain is not unbreakable and can break under the blows of the little ones, but it still offers the advantages of an easily washable, hygienic and aesthetically varied material. In fact, on the market there are plates and bowls with very captivating designs and colors.
Ceramic sets are often coordinated with steel cutlery.
Baby food crockery in glass paste
Finally here is a surprising material with which plates and bowls of various shapes and colors are made. It is a glass treated in such a way as to make it resistant to wear, chipping and breakage, stains and scratches. It’s thin and light and washes well like all things glass. In short, a choice with practically unlimited duration, with all the advantages of glass but without the disadvantages of breakage. The cost is high but for those who prefer intelligent and lasting solutions perhaps it is worth it especially for older children.
Notes are the Corelle tableware that offer products that are good for children but also for the whole family.
That said, before buying crockery for the little one, carefully evaluate which material is right for your needs and then have fun looking for the cutest and most fun style and design!
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.