Non Toxic Baby Dinnerware: What to Avoid and What to Choose

You check the ingredients on their food. You read the back of the sunscreen. Then one day you look at the bowl they eat out of every single day and think: what's this actually made of?

Fair question. Here's a plain English guide to what's in kids dinnerware, what's worth avoiding, and what to look for instead.

What "non toxic" really means

Here's the honest bit. "Non toxic" isn't a regulated term. Any brand can put it on a box.

So look past the buzzword and check for specifics:

• What the product is actually made of
• What it's free from, such as BPA, PVC and phthalates
• Whether it's made to a recognised food contact standard, like the FDA in the US or LFGB in Germany
• Clear care instructions for the microwave and dishwasher

Materials worth a second look

Plastic, including "BPA free" plastic

BPA is a chemical used in some hard plastics. It's been linked to hormone disruption, which is why "BPA free" is now everywhere.

The catch is that some BPA free plastics use close cousins like BPS, which haven't been studied as much. Heat and scratches can also increase how much leaches into food. If you use plastic, keep it out of the microwave and replace it once it's scratched.

Melamine

Melamine is hard, cheap and very common in kids plates. It's fine for cold food. Australia's food regulator advises against microwaving it, because heat can cause chemicals to move into food. Hot, acidic food is worth avoiding too.

"Bamboo" dinnerware

Bamboo sounds natural, but most bamboo kids plates are bamboo fibre held together with melamine resin. In 2021, European regulators pulled bamboo and plastic composite tableware from sale. Testing had found melamine and formaldehyde moving into food, especially with hot food. If a bamboo plate doesn't say what's holding it together, give it a miss.

Ceramic and glass

Both are inert, so they don't react with food, which is great. They also break, and toddlers drop things for fun. Some imported ceramic glazes have been found to contain lead or cadmium, so buy from a brand you trust.

PVC and phthalates

These turn up in some soft plastic bibs, placemats and toys. Phthalates are used to make plastic soft, and they're best avoided for anything that ends up in little mouths.

Stainless steel

Durable, inert and easy to clean. It's a great choice for cutlery. As plates, it can slide around, clatter, and get hot or cold fast.

Why so many parents choose food grade silicone

Food grade silicone is made from silica. It's stable, flexible and doesn't contain BPA or phthalates.

• It doesn't break. It's dropped, thrown and chewed, and nothing shatters.
• It's soft on gums and has no sharp edges.
• It's easy to clean. Our silicone bowls and plates go in the dishwasher and microwave.
• Silicone suction bowls stay put. Fewer spills, fewer bowls on the floor.

A couple of honest notes:

• Not all silicone is equal. Cheaper silicone can contain fillers. A quick check some parents use is the pinch test: pinch and twist the silicone, and if white shows through, it may contain fillers. It's not a lab test, but it's a useful red flag.
• Silicone can hold onto strong smells or a soapy taste. A soak in white vinegar or bicarb soda usually sorts it. Our FAQs have the full how to.

What our pieces are made of

Every Wild Indiana plate, bowl, cup and bib is 100% food grade silicone, BPA free and PVC free, made to FDA food contact standards.

• Silicone Suction Bowl Set: a strong suction base and a clip in spoon, microwave and dishwasher safe. It won Gold at the Clean + Conscious Awards in 2021.
• Fancy Silicone Dinner Plate: a wide, weighted base and raised edges, for 6 months and up.
• Fancy 5 Piece Silicone Dinner Set: the plate, a grip cup, and kids cutlery with soft silicone handles and stainless steel heads.

Starting from scratch? The Starting Solids Bundle gets you a suction bowl, spoons and a bib in one order.

Quick checklist when you're shopping

• It says exactly what it's made of, like "food grade silicone" or "stainless steel"
• It lists what it's free from: BPA, PVC and phthalates
• It's made to a food contact standard
• It has clear care instructions
• Skip bamboo plates that don't say what binds them
• Never microwave plastic or melamine

FAQs

Is silicone safe for babies?

Food grade silicone is widely used for baby feeding products and is considered safe for food contact. Look for products that say "food grade" and list what they're free from, such as BPA and phthalates.

Is bamboo dinnerware safe for kids?

Most bamboo dinnerware is bamboo fibre bound with melamine resin. Regulators in Europe pulled bamboo and plastic composite tableware from sale in 2021 after testing found chemicals moving into food. It's best avoided, especially with hot food.

Can you microwave silicone baby bowls?

Food grade silicone is heat resistant, and Wild Indiana silicone bowls and plates are microwave safe. Avoid microwaving plastic or melamine dishes.

Is BPA free plastic safe?

It's better than plastic that contains BPA, but some BPA free plastics use similar chemicals that are less studied. Keep plastic away from heat and replace it once it's scratched.

What should I look for in non toxic baby plates?

A clear material, such as food grade silicone or stainless steel, a list of what it's free from, a recognised food contact standard, and easy care instructions.

You've got enough to think about at mealtimes. What the bowl is made of shouldn't be one of them.

Shop the Silicone Suction Bowl Set or the Fancy range. Free Aussie shipping on orders over $99, and a free gift when you spend $150.