13 Best Toddler Plates [Silicone vs Bamboo vs Stainless Steel vs Plastic]

Finding the best toddler plates can feel like wading through a sea of never ending options. Before choosing one it's important to figure out what's most important to you: non toxic, plate sets, suction, lids, stackable, divided, or dishwasher and microwave safe. Below you'll discover how to choose the best toddler plates for you, plus our top picks we tested.

Best Toddler Plates By Material: 

Avanchy

Avanchy is another great toddler plate brand that’s ideal for parents that love the look of bamboo wood.

While Avanchy is more readily available, we like Bamboo Bamboo because it's generally cheaper (but check the links below to see if a sale is happening!) and comes in more fun designs; other than that they are basically the exact same in durability!

WeeSprout

If you’ve got slightly older toddlers who are past the “let me throw this plate” stage, the stackable WeeSprout Bamboo plates are a good investment.

Shopwithgreen Bamboo Divided Plates 4 Pack

Divider plates can make life easier, especially if you have a child with an aversion to foods touching.

Additionally, they have a 7 pc set of bamboo kids dinnerware with a plate, bowl, fork and spoon, cup and removable silicone suction add on with the most fun toddler designs like dinosaurs, owls, outer space, fairies, and more. Parents can also rejoice because the cup comes with a store-away lid!! I can't even tell you how many times my kids ask for juice then don't finish it and this is such a nice feature!

Bamboo Bamboo

Bamboo Bamboo has some really fun bamboo plate designs featuring bunnies, monkeys, and Peppa Pig that toddlers are sure to love.

Parents will also love the suction ring is removable so you can easily clean underneath or get rid of once your toddler is past that stage.

Silicone is a softer material that has a great hand feel and tends to be fairly durable as long as you don't cut anything on it. The biggest complaint with silicone toddler plates is that they can sometimes retain a soapy taste from washing or stain from saucy foods. We've never had that experience with any of ours so we largely think it has to do with people's soap.

Best: Wee Sprout Silicone Tableware

Wee Sprout’s silicone tableware features a classic three-divider design but is available with and without suction cups.

Choose from a ton of different colors.

Most Affordable: Bumkins

Bumkins is a wallet-friendly silicone toddler plate brand that’s ideal for parents watching their budget with a wide selection of sizes and bright colors.

Aside from their bright and neutral colors, they also have a ton of fun prints and characters to choose from like Disney, Pooh, Hello Kitty, and dinosaurs:

Versatile: EZPZ

EZPZ is a fun children’s gear brand that makes dinnerware to meet your child at their current milestone stage.

They come in several designs with both one compartment or up to six different compartments as well as a large array of colors.

Stainless steel can be a classic choice for kids tableware thanks to it's durability, ease of cleaning, and non-toxic qualities even when using hot food on it.

Kiddobloom

Kiddobloom’s stainless steel toddler plates are a lesser known fan favorite. You can opt for individual pieces or as sets, featuring an accompanying mug and dual-handled bowl, making this a set that grows with your tiny tots.

Avanchy Toddler Stainless Steel Plates

Avanchy doesn’t just make bamboo products, they also offer their signature strong suction base plates in stainless steel as well.

Innobaby

Stainless steel combines with a cute brightly colored plastic lid and an adorable design to ensure that mealtime will be fun.

They also offer a variety of stainless steel cups, and silveweare for toddlers with a carrying cose for preschool lunch boxes!

Best: Replay Toddler Plates

Durability is important when you’re trying to buy items for small children. The Replay toddler plates are perfect for conscious parents thanks to the fully recyclable materials used to make them.

Most Affordable: Pillowfort

A cult favorite on reddit for toddler plates are the Pillow Fort plastic kids plates. Largely thanks to the price of $3 for a pack of six!

These are stackable, dishwasher machine washable, and comes in pretty colors. Additionally, you can opt for bowls and cups that match too!

By Style:

WeeSprout Bamboo Plate, Bowl, Cup Bundle

EZPZ Mini Feeding Set

Avanchy Bamboo Plate, Bowl, Spoon set

If stainless steel isn’t your thing, you might appreciate Avanchy’s bamboo and silicone combination plate sets which comes with everything you need to get started with baby led weaning.

Just remember that bamboo should be hand washed to preserve its antimicrobial and antibacterial integrity and prevent damage. These sets may also crack and break easily.

Kiddobloom Children Stainless Steel Dinnerware Set

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for toddler parents, this three-piece stainless steel dinnerware set from Kiddobloom is ideal.

Just be aware that because they are stainless steel they may get some scratches.

Ashler + Olivia Bamboo Plate and Stainless Steel Silverware Set

Easy stacking and durable dinnerware combine in the Ashler + Olivia Bamboo Plate Set.

Re Play Divided Plates, Bowl, and Utensil Set

Durability and eco-friendly is the name of the game with this multi-piece starter set from Re Play.

Depending on where you shop, the set will include a plate, cup, bowl, and/or cutlery. Choose from nine different color combos — but avoid microwave use to prevent warping or staining.

Munchkin Multi Toddler Dining Sets:

Munchkin always gives you the ultimate customization with their wide selection of baby gear. You can choose from two predone dining sets: just plates, bowls and cups or with utensils too

Munchkin Splash Toddler Dining Set (Plates, Bowls, Cutlery)

Best Overall: Bumkin Silicone Plates

A simple dishwasher and microwave safe silicone plate with a suction base, and a wide selection of colors makes this Bumkin Silicone Plate a great overall choice.

However, as with all silicone, be mindful of the soap you use so that the silicone doesn’t absorb that flavor or cutting the plate. Additionally, the suction on this plate isn't the best on all surfaces.

Runner up (better suction): Wee Sprout Silicone Suction Plates With Lids

If your child isn’t a member of the Clean Plate Club, this pick from WeeSprout with the accompanying lid is a great choice and offers better suction than Bumkins, but tends to cost a little more (prices do fluctuate though, so we suggest checking both!).

Most Sections: EZPZ Mini Play Mat 

The EZPZ Mini Play Mat is awesome! Not only does it make a great snack/tasting plate, it can double for activities.

One thing we love about EZPZ in general, is their suction lays flush on the table, verses a lot of others where kids will grip under the plate rim.

Most Unique: Bamboo Bamboo 

Make mealtime fun with these adorably designed bamboo divider plates from Bamboo Bamboo. Your toddler can choose from unicorns, foxes, elephants, bunnies and more.

shopwithgreen Bamboo Divided Plates

Whether you need to feed multiple toddlers or want to stock up to cut down on daily cleaning, this four-pack of bamboo divider plates from Shopwithgreen is a great pick.

Avanchy Toddler Stainless Steel Plates

Innobaby Din Din Smart Stainless Divided Platter with Sectional Lid

We’re big fans of plates with lids. Innobaby’s Din Din stainless steel plate is shaped like a car with five compartments — and a molded lid to match.

Best Toddler Plates With Lids:

All of these plates have been discussed in more detail above, so this is just a “best by material with lids” quick guide:

• Best Overall: Bumkins Silicone Grip Dish with Lid, Suction Plate
• Silicone Runner Up: Wee Sprout Suction Plates With Lids (better suction, but tends to cost more than Bumkins)
• Steel: Innobaby Din Din Smart Stainless Divided Platter with Sectional Lid
• Plastic: Re-play 3 divider toddler plate with lid and utensils

Best Toddler Plates With Suction:

All of these plates have been discussed in more detail above, so this is just a “best by material with suction” quick guide:

• Best Overall: Bumkins Silicone Grip Dish with Lid, Suction Plate (best combo of features for price)
• Silicone Runner Up: Wee Sprout Suction Plates With Lids (better suction, but typically costs more)
• Bamboo: Bamboo Bamboo (better suction than Avanchy's bamboo)
• Steel: Avanchy

Lightening Bamboo Construction Plate with Utensils

Dividers and a fun design makes this bamboo dinnerware set from Lightening a fun pick. With seven design scenes to choose from, there’s definitely something for everyone here. Each plate is made to look like a specific shape with matching artwork.

ARI MES Unicorn Shaped Plate and Spoon & Fork Set Divided Plate

If you have a unicorn fan in your home, this three-piece set from ARI MES is a great solution. This BPA-free set features an adorable unicorn shaped plate with five dividers and a matching fork and spoon.

Dinneractive Dining Set For Kids With Tractor Utensils

Your little construction worker will love this three-piece set from Dinneractive which is designed to look like a tractor. You’ll get a four-compartment dinner plate with an anti-slip base.

Along with being BPA- and toxin-free, you’ll like that this set is dishwasher safe and available in four colors.

The First Years Disney Feeding Set

Disney fans will appreciate this four-piece set from The First Years. Depending on the design you’ll get a circular, square, or Disney Ears shaped plate plus a matching bowl and cutlery set.

Note that the plate will have two to three compartments depending on the design you select.

How To Choose The Best Toddler Plate:

The time will eventually come when your bouncing bundle of joy will transform to a walking, talking toddler. It’ll be time to put away those baby cups, bowls, and spoons and graduate them to “big kid” cutlery and plates. Yes, it’s time to introduce them to toddler plates. 

While buying plates for your tiny tots isn’t all that different from shopping for yourself, there are a few other key factors you need to consider. As you think about which plate is right for your child, keep the following tips in mind. 

Materials

In most cases, you’ll find that children’s plates are usually made from a handful of kid-safe materials. However ideally you want to make sure that they are free from BPA, BPS, PVC, & phthalates, and Melamine.

This usually includes metal, silicone, BPA-free plastic, wood, and plant-based plastics (think bamboo or wheat).

There’s no right or wrong option, it’s a matter of preference. However, for wooden plates, ensure that they’re properly designed and that you engage in routine maintenance (oiling the wood) to avoid splinters from forming. 

Design

Toddler plates usually come in a few configurations. You can find a traditional plate similar to what you would use which is a simple flat surface with rounded edges. Or, you can opt for a plate with dividers.

Generally, all toddler plates come with a “lip” as they get used to pushing food around their plate so it doesn't fall off the edge. As your child gets older, this feature typically becomes less important.

A regular plate is ideal for simpler meal choices like sandwiches, waffles, or where only a single type of food is being eaten. Meanwhile, dividers can help picky eaters get used to new food and the added edges offer more support as they learn to use cutlery.  

Maintenance

Just like with regular plates, not everything is dishwasher safe. If you’re trying to take one more to-do off your list, prioritizing plates that are approved for dishwasher use is a good idea.

However, certain materials such as silicone might develop a soapy taste by putting them through the dishwasher. You should also be aware that if you pick toddler plates that feature brightly colored printed scenes, you may find that you need to hand wash them to prevent the design from fading prematurely.

And don’t forget that some foods stain — like tomato sauce. So, you’ll want to pick a plate made from material that’s not as likely to show wear. This is especially true if you have a child on a food jag who refuses to eat anything but a stain-inducing option. 

Similarly, if you’re preparing foods in your child’s plates (thinking chopping foods into kid-safe sizes), make sure that you can use a knife on the plate surface without damaging it. And along the same lines, be sure that a plate is microwave-safe before you attempt to heat food up in it — and find that it’s melted. 

Durability

Toddlers can be rough on their plates. While all of the main brands on this list (we didn't test the ones in the “fun” category) have withstood our toddlers durability test, if you choose to stray from it, keep in mind you'll want thick, strong plates to withstand falls and tosses.

Generally speaking, silicone is the most durable in terms of toddlers falls, but is most likely to stain and food should never be cut on it. Stainless steel is another durable option for falls (it may dent but likely won’t break), however it won’t stain like silicone. It’s also more durable if you need to cut food on it compared to silicone, bamboo, or plastic. 

Depending on the brand, bamboo and plastic are more likely than the other materials to break or get scratched from general cutlery (again, I wouldn’t cut on them regardless). And like silicone, they can absorb food stains.

Intended Use Surface

One big, often overlooked area, is where do you intend to use the plate? If you plan to use it on a high chair tray, make sure you opt for one that fits. If you plan to use it on a wooden table, then some of the suctions may not work as well as a glass table.

Age Recommendations

Just because a plate is marketed as for toddlers doesn’t mean that it’s right for your child. The toddler stage can range anywhere from 12 months to three years. But a plate for a 12 month old might feature a suction cup to prevent curious eaters from tossing their plate on the floor. Meanwhile, a three year old is less likely to fling their plate to the floor

FAQS About Toddler Plates

What is the best materials for toddler plates?

Generally speaking stainless steel, bamboo, or food grade silicone are considered the best materials for toddler plates.

However, when it comes to non toxic dishware and cookware, it's honestly a murky world full of buzzwords and left out information.

While many plates may boast BPA free, it doesn't take into account BPS or melamine. While some may say they are stainless steel, it doesn't account for other metals like lead, cadmium, and aluminum. While food grade silicone is considered safe today, plastic was also once considered safe. While bamboo is considered great because you don't need pesticides to grow/harvest it, there's also been rumors of brands mixing the bamboo with microplastics.

In our opinion, the best thing you can do for limiting toxic exposure, whether with plates or cookware or other things in your home, is to just keep rotating it. Don't use just one brand every time. Mix things up. Each plate/brand will have some cons, so by focusing on keeping general exposure levels low through a variety of products, you'll do yourself the biggest favor with the least amount of headache.

How to choose toddler plates?

While we covered this in more detail above, here's a quick checklist for you to prioritize features:

• Nontoxic materials
• Ease of maintenance and use: dishwasher or microwave safe? Lids to quick store left overs?
• Storage: If you're in a small space, stack-ability should likely be prioritized
• Lip/edging: For young toddlers learning to use cutlery the lips/edges can help
• Dividers: If your child has food sensitives or is a picky eater, dividers can help you figure out what is and isn’t working for them easily. 
• Use area: Make sure the plate fits n the intended surface area (i.e. a high chair tray) or is compatible with the surface you plan to put it if using a suction plate (e.g. some suction plates don't work on certain high chair trays or wooden tables)
• Suction: We would suggest giving this the least amount of priority as suction wears and isn't always compatible on all surfaces

Why do toddler plates have sections?

Toddler plates have sections for a few reasons:

• Encourage trying a variety of foods
• Extra edges/lips help them keep food on the plate while learning to use cutlery
• Prevent meltdowns from picky eaters who don’t like their foods touching
• Make things less overwhelming if properly portioned (don’t fill the sections to the brim, just a few pieces in each and let them ask for more)

While you don't need a toddler plate with dividers, we do suggest having at least one, especially in the early days.

When should toddlers start using plates?

Toddlers ideally started using plates when introduced too solids, though you could’ve just used the high chair tray until this point. 

If you haven’t introduced your toddler to plates don’t stress, now is a great time. 

How many toddler plates do you need?

Again, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. In theory, a parent could get away with one or two plates if they’re comfortable hand washing them after every use. We personally start with just two plates.

If that’s unrealistic, you’ll want to have several plates (think four to eight) on hand to get you through one to two days of meals (assuming three main meals per day) between cleaning cycles. 

However, a better guideline would be how frequently you plan to wash dishes or run your dishwasher. If you’re the type who likes an empty sink, you might not need as many plates. Meanwhile, if you only want to run a dishwasher once or twice a week and despise dish pan hands, you should consider stocking up so you don’t have to prep a plate before making your toddler’s meals. 

Do suction plates work on all surfaces?

No, suction plates do not work on all surfaces. Typically they'll stick best to glass or quartz. They tend to have a harder time on high chair trays, lamenant, or wooden tables in our experience. Also, double check the high chair tray or area you plan to put the suction plate can actually accommodate its size!

How can I make mealtime with a toddler more enjoyable?

Relax and go with the flow. Honestly, mealtime should be enjoyable for everyone so try not to get into a power struggle with your toddler.

Personally, we only ever got 1 color plate the first few years, so there would be no meltdowns about the “wrong color” plate. That may not work for all kids, but it helped with us until our toddler was older.

Another thing, is think about what YOU hated as a kid and see what you can to see what you can do to accommodate your kid. For instance, I HATED being forced to sit at the table as a kid. So when I noticed dinner was becoming less enjoyable with our toddler, we started giving her the option to sit with us or watch TV in the other (nearby) room. 

Her dinner plate had to stay at the table, but she was allowed to run back and forth to her playroom where her iPad was (we do limit screen time, but we needed an enjoyable dinner and found that saving screen time until dinnertime worked well for us at that time). 

Keeping the food at the table, ensured she'd come back and wasn't turning into a zombie in front of the screen, and if she didn't finish her food,   the kitchen was closed so she learned quickly to note just watch TV but eat too. Some nights she'd eat with us, others she was back and forth the whole time. 

Once she did start preschool, we continued to offer the same option, but she chose to eat with us since we weren't home together all day and those dinners have always been enjoyable. 

Now if you’re home all day with your toddler, but your significant other isn’t and they want the toddler a the table for dinner, I’d suggest implementing this at breakfast or lunch instead. Basically give them (and you) a break SOMEWHERE if you can. 

What else do I need for an easy meal time with a toddler?

While not all of these are a “need” they certainly make clean up and mealtime with a toddler more enjoyable:

• Splash mat for under toddlers chair to protect floor/rug
• Utensils
• Cup
• Placemat setting for teaching table manners
• Step stool for getting to sink

Final Thoughts:

Toddler plates ideally are durable, easy to clean, and nontoxic.

For silicone plates, the Wee Sprout plate with suction definitely works better than the Bumkin, and both have lids, so we suggest going with whichever is cheaper since suction can be so finicky anyway.

We love the Avanchy for their great suction and complete dining sets with bowls, cups, and spoons.

Innobaby’s durable steel, fun design, and optional lid are a fantastic stainless steel plate choice.

And in terms of plastic, we prefer the eco-friendliness of Re-play, but know redditor’s LOVE the Pillowfort plates thanks to their incredibly affordable price!

Originally pubslihed 5/26/22; Updated 10/31/23