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Plastic-Free Kids' Plates, Cups & Utensils That Survive Toddlers
Kids' dishes take a beating: dropped, chewed, microwaved by a well-meaning grandparent. When our colorful plastic plates started looking scratched and cloudy, I switched to these. Here's what's worked and what to skip.
Plastic kids' dishes are cheap and light, which is exactly why they're everywhere. The concern is mostly about heat and wear. Scratched plastic and plastic that gets heated (microwave, hot dishwasher cycles) are where chemical migration is more likely, according to guidance like the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2018 policy statement on food additives. You don't need to toss everything tomorrow, but when it's time to replace them, there are great options.
Quick guide to materials
- Stainless steel: my top pick. Unbreakable, dishwasher-safe, lasts for years. Not microwave-safe.
- Tempered glass: great for older kids at the table; heavier, and can break.
- Food-grade silicone: soft, grippy, good for babies and toddlers. Choose reputable brands and replace when it degrades.
- Skip: "bamboo" dinnerware. Many bamboo kids' plates are actually bamboo fiber bound with melamine resin. Melamine is fine for room-temperature food but shouldn't be microwaved or used with hot, acidic foods, and the "bamboo" label makes that easy to miss.
Plates & dinnerware sets
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Ahimsa Stainless Steel Kids Dinnerware Set, 5-Piece (Classic)
A plate, bowl, cup and utensils made of food-grade stainless steel and designed specifically for little hands. It won't break when it gets dropped (and it will get dropped), and there's no plastic or coating touching food.
Worth knowing: Stainless isn't microwave-safe, so reheat in glass first and then transfer.
Check price on Amazon →Ahimsa Stainless Steel Divided Kids Plates, Set of 4
Divided compartments for the 'my foods can't touch!' stage, in sturdy stainless that goes straight in the dishwasher. A set of four means one is always clean.
Worth knowing: The rainbow colors are a surface finish on the steel, so a plain stainless set is the simplest option if you want nothing but steel.
Check price on Amazon →Ahimsa Stainless Steel Round Kids Plates, Set of 4
Plain, lightweight round plates that work from toddlerhood through elementary school. Great for snacks, lunches and picnics.
Check price on Amazon →Elk and Friends Stainless Steel Divided Plate + Lid, 4 Pack
Lids turn these into leftover containers or a packed snack tray, which is handy for picnics and car snacks.
Worth knowing: Lids are typically silicone or plastic, so they're for covering food, not heating it.
Check price on Amazon →Corelle Livingware 8.5-Inch Divided Dish, Winter Frost White
Corelle's layered glass is light and chip resistant, and the plain white divided dish is a nice grown-up-looking option for kids.
Worth knowing: Stick with the plain white pattern. Some older decorated Corelle has been reported to contain lead in the painted designs; plain white avoids that question.
Check price on Amazon →For the plate-throwing stage
ezpz Happy Mat, 100% Silicone Suction Placemat + Plate
One-piece silicone that suctions to the table, made for the toddler 'let's see what happens if I flip this' phase. Silicone is plastic-free and doesn't break.
Worth knowing: Food-grade silicone is generally considered stable for everyday use. Keep it out of high-heat ovens unless it's rated for it, and replace if it gets sticky or cracked.
Check price on Amazon →Cups
Real Deal Steel Kids Cups, 10 oz, 8 Pack
Small, stackable stainless steel cups that survive endless drops. Eight in a pack means enough for playdates.
Check price on Amazon →CHILLOUT LIFE Stainless Steel Kids Cups, 8 oz
A smaller 8 oz size that's easier for toddlers to hold and less to spill. Simple, unbreakable stainless steel.
Check price on Amazon →Klean Kanteen 10 oz Stainless Steel Cups, 4 Pack
Klean Kanteen is a long-time stainless steel bottle maker, and these short cups stack neatly and work for kids and grown-ups alike.
Check price on Amazon →Klean Kanteen 10 oz Kid's Cup with Straw Lid
A stainless cup with a straw lid for car rides and the couch. Liquid sits in steel, not plastic.
Worth knowing: The lid and straw are not steel, so wash and replace the straw when it gets worn.
Check price on Amazon →Duralex Picardie Tempered Glass Tumblers, 8.4 oz, Set of 6
Tempered French glass that's famously tough, in a small size that fits kid hands. A good next step once your child is ready for 'real' cups at the table.
Worth knowing: Tempered glass is strong but can still shatter into small pieces if dropped on tile. Use them at the table with supervision.
Check price on Amazon →Utensils
Elk and Friends Toddler Silverware with Silicone Handles, 6 Pieces
Stainless steel forks and spoons with soft grip handles sized for little fists. Blunt tips, but real enough that kids can actually stab food.
Check price on Amazon →CHILLOUT LIFE Kids Stainless Steel Silverware Set, 6 Pieces
Small, all-stainless kids' forks and spoons for preschoolers and up. Nothing but steel.
Check price on Amazon →Tips from our table
- Stainless cups can get cold with icy drinks, and hot with warm ones. Test before handing them over.
- Keep one glass container handy for reheating leftovers, then move the food to the steel plate.
- Silicone can hold onto smells from dish soap. A soak in hot water with baking soda helps.
- For lunchboxes, see our glass and stainless lunch guide.
