The Best Non-Toxic Dishes & Dinnerware For Kids Of All Ages

From stainless steel bowls and spoons for babies to safe, non-toxic mealtime essentials for toddlers and kids, we’ve rounded up the best alternatives to plastic. Set the table worry-free with fun, colorful, and toxin-free dishes designed just for kids.

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Plastic dinnerware may seem like the best choice if you have a strong-willed toddler, but it isn’t the best option if you worry about harmful chemicals leaching from the plastic. When food is heated on plastic plates and in plastic bowls, the plastic can leach harmful chemicals into the food. There are plenty of safe, non-plastic dish and dinnerware options for kids that look cute on the table and won’t break if thrown. From babies to toddlers to kids, we’ve found the best non-toxic kids dishes and dinnerware for every stage of feeding.

Materials To Avoid In Kids Dishes & Dinnerware

Plastic: Why risk letting your kids eat off plastic plates and bowls that may leach chemicals? BPA is a known endocrine disruptor, and even if a plastic bowl or plate is labeled “BPA-free”, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any safer. It may contain other bisphenols, such as BPS, which have the same harmful properties as BPA, and even bisphenol-free plastics may contain other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Melamine: Melamine dishes seem to be everywhere, featuring a smooth hard plastic surface that’s difficult to break. They’re often used as children’s plates and for outdoor dining. Melamine is combined with formaldehyde and heated to create melamine resin, which is molded into colorful plates and bowls. Melamine is also used in some bamboo plates as a binder (check with the brand). If acidic or hot food is placed on a melamine dish (or if the melamine plate is microwaved), melamine can leach from the dish into the food, and has been detected in urine of those eating off melamine plates.

Best Materials For Kids Dishes & Dinnerware

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is unbreakable and will not leach harmful chemicals into your food. Stainless steel cannot be microwaved, and the material can get dents in it, but is otherwise indestructible. Stainless steel snack and lunch containers are great options for on-the-go and school lunches. Note that stainless steel cannot go in the microwave.
Glass: Tempered glass is very sturdy, but not entirely unbreakable. It’s a great non-toxic dishware option for older kids. Tempered glass can be microwaved and is oven (check with manufacturer), dishwasher and freezer safe.
Enameled Dishware: Made from porcelain-coated steel. Check that the glaze meets regulations for lead and cadmium. Stovetop, dishwasher and freezer safe. Very sturdy, but not entirely unbreakable. If they have a steel interior, they cannot be microwaved.
Porcelain– Porcelain is a durable, non-porous ceramic that’s widely used for dishware. Porcelain can break, so I would look for a brand like Elk & Friends that has a silicone sleeve. Porcelain can go in the microwave.
Plant-Based: Made of renewable plant materials like bamboo, corn or sweet potatoes. Look for plant-based dinnerware without melamine-based binders and lead-based colorants. I would use these sparingly.
Use Silicone Sparingly: Look for food-grade silicone. I put it in a grade above plastic, but it can contain fillers and dyes that are not great. I’m okay with silicone used on the outside of containers, but I’d be weary of using silicone dishes on an everyday basis if the silicone is touching food. Silicone is unbreakable and oven safe (up to 350°F), microwave, dishwasher, & freezer-safe. Silicone is mainly made up of oxygen and silicon (present in sand and glass), although fillers and dyes are usually added during production.

When my kids were babies and just starting with pureed foods, I would hold a Pyrex glass custard cup and feed them. As they transitioned to feeding themselves, dishes got tipped and spilled and thrown on the floor, so unbreakable bowls were the best choice at this stage. There are some very cute stainless steel dinnerware options for toddlers that have suction cup bottoms to keep the dish in place. Most kids that are beyond the toddler stage can handle food served on strong tempered glass plates and enamelware.

Whether you’re in the market for bowls and spoons for babies, silicone feeding mats for toddlers or tempered glass and enamelware for older kids, look below for the best safe, non-toxic alternatives to plastic dinnerware.

Elk and Friends

Elk and Friends makes baby and child-friendly bowls, divided plates, spoons and sippy cups made with materials like porcelain (microwave safe), stainless steel (#304, 18/8), food grade silicone and borosilicate glass (baby food storage jars). From glass tumblers to stainless steel mason jars, all their products are created from quality, natural materials, which are 100% safe from nasty toxins.

Avanchy

Avanchy makes baby bowls, baby plates, baby spoons and baby forks, all made from sustainable, eco-friendly materials. Avanchy baby dishes are made with food grade stainless steel (#304) with silicone outer wraps. They are non-toxic, earth-friendly, BPA, BPS, PVC, Lead, and Phthalate free. Their stylish products are designed with safety in mind, and the suction cup plates and bowls stay in place, reducing spills and making meal time less messy. As your child grows, the 100% silicone suction ring can be removed.

stainless steel kids dishes

Ahimsa

Ahimsa is consciously crafted of high quality food-safe stainless steel and titanium. Their dishes are free of BPA (and all bisphenols), PVC, phthalates, lead, siloxanes, melamine and formaldehyde—meaning that harmful chemicals won’t transfer into your child’s food.

Kiddobloom

Kiddobloom specializes in producing high aesthetic, high quality, and safe stainless steel utensils and dinnerware for babies, toddlers. Their mission is to empower parents to make healthy and environmentally-friendly choices for their families, by providing beautifully crafted high quality, food-grade stainless steel products that are free from harmful chemicals and toxins commonly found in plastic products.

Beaba

Beaba makes a whole range of French baby-related products, including the Beaba Babycook Neo Glass Babyfood Maker, a steam cooker and blender for making baby food.

Haware

Virtually indestructible, this stainless steel kid’s dishware is made of high quality 18/8(304) stainless steel. This reusable dinnerware is perfect for daily use, is easy to care for and is dishwasher safe. Stainless steel cannot go in the microwave!

Corelle

Corelle uses a material called Vitrelle glass, which is a three-layer laminate: two thin outer layers of clear glass and a core. I would stick with the white dishes without any patterns or colors. We’ve used Corelle dishware in the past- it can break, and when it does, it shatters into really small, sharp pieces, so it’s not recommended for really little kids.

Crow Canyon

Established in 1977, Crow Canyon is a family-owned business that is focused on creating stylish, versatile and eco-friendly enamelware that connects generations. This lovely enamelware passes all FDA and California Prop 65 food service requirements. It’s food-safe and is rigorously tested to meet both FDA as well as California Food Safety regulations for lead and cadmium. Safer than glass — it’s shatterproof. Can be used in an oven or on the grill.

Duralex

Founded in 1945, the French company Duralex has been manufacturing tempered glassware for over 80 years. Impact & chip resistant, extremely durable Duralex tempered glass is 25 times stronger than ordinary glass. Shock resistant manufactured to withstand sudden temperature extremes from -4 Degree to 266 Degree and is suitable for hot or cold liquids. Microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. The colored glass uses organic colors and is food safe and Lead free, cadmium free, and BPA free.

Weesprout

Weesprout is a family-owned business that makes healthy and safe mealtime products for kids. They use 100% food grade silicone in their silicone-based products that are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe, and feature an extra strong suction base and leakproof and airtight lids. All Weesprout products are BPA, PVC, & Phthalate-free. I would use silicone dishware sparingly, but I’m including it because some situations may warrant using silicone over plastic. The glass cups and food storage containers are made from high grade food-safe glass that is microwave, freezer, & dishwasher safe.

Bobo & Boo

Bobo & Boo is a mom-owned company with a mission is to produce quality, eco-friendly children’s dishes that are stylish, functional and affordable. Made from natural, renewable and sustainable materials, these colorful bamboo and plant-based children’s dishes are non-toxic to people and the planet alike. Bobo & Boo products are free from BPAs and melamine, which means zero toxins and nasties. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Bobo & Boo Kids Dinnerware Set– Features food-safe PLA-based plates, cups and bowls. PLA is a bioplastic made using a plant-based resin created from renewable fibers extracted from crops like corn and sweet potatoes and is compostable.

More Natural Kids Inspiration

silicone bibs and dishes for kids