Best Baby Plates and Bowls For Less Messy Mealtime

checked mark Fact-Checked by Jessie Van Amburg  | January 5, 2024
best baby plates and bowls 2023
Baby Plates and Bowls

Introducing solid food is an exciting milestone, but it’s also usually a messy endeavor. Figuring out how to serve your baby's food and keep it from getting all over the floor is almost as challenging as getting those first tiny bites into her mouth.

Thankfully, baby and toddler plates and bowls are designed with these obstacles in mind. The best products help parents do more than just feed their little ones — they also make the experience of experimenting with and trying new foods cleaner, easier and more fun.

Not sure where to start when buying dishware for a tiny, messy eater? These plates and bowls for babies (anywhere from 4 to 6 months and up) and toddlers will help you transition to purees and solids with less mess. And, hopefully soon, you’ll have a more independent eater in the family.

How we chose the best baby plates and bowls

  • According to recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all the products on this list are BPA-free for optimal baby safety. 
  • We spoke to three moms on the What to Expect team who shared what baby plates and bowls made serving dinner easier. 
  • We turned to the What to Expect community to gather consensus on brands and specific baby plates and bowls that real parents have used and loved for feeding their babies. Based on their feedback, we made sure that every bowl and plate on this list:
    • Has a suction bottom — a favored feature among many parents. 
    • Has overwhelmingly positive reviews for their durability and function
  • We prioritized dishwasher-safe plates and bowls, although a few on this list are not. 

Other factors to consider when buying baby plates and bowls

  • Material: Baby has soft and tender gums, so the utensils, plates and bowls you use to feed her should be soft too. We typically recommend silicone, plastic or plant-based biodegradable materials over metal for your little one’s dinnerware. The AAP also recommends opting for BPA-free products to reduce your baby’s exposure to this potentially harmful additive. (Just note: Many WTE parents say that silicone products tend to hang onto smells and odors.) 
  • Traction or grip features: Babies are messy eaters, no matter what you do, but many parents like baby plates and bowls that have either suction on the bottom or other features to secure them to your table or high chair
  • Cleaning instructions: Pay attention to the care instructions before you purchase. Some types of materials are hand-wash only, while others can only go in the top rack of the dishwasher. If you’re particularly pressed for time or hate washing dishes already, machine washable dishes are going to be your best bet. 
  • High chair type: WTE parents report that the size of high chair tray — as well as what it’s made out of — can impact how well a baby bowl or plate will work, especially when it comes to suction. Check the dimensions on a baby plate or bowl before you purchase it to ensure it’s not too big to fit, and see if the manufacturer lists whether it’s compatible with your chair or not.

Why Trust Us?

What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.

Best Baby Plate Overall

Bumkins Silicone Grip Dish

Best Baby Plates and Bowls - Bumkins Silicone Grip Dish
Pros
  • Oven- and dishwasher-safe
  • suction base
  • lots of color options
Cons
  • Some parents say the plate's suction is less effective when it gets wet
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It

This divided silicone dish has a strong suction base, ensuring the dish stays put no matter how determined your little one is to throw it from her high chair. It’s also safe to put in the oven (up to 400 degrees), freezer, microwave and dishwasher, making it easy to store leftovers and then reheat them for another meal. (You can also purchase a silicone lid to help cover up the plate and slip it right into the fridge.)

The divided compartments are great for baby-led weaning, as they keep different kinds of foods contained, and make it easy to portion out foods to your little one. The food safe silicone is free of BPA and phthalates, too, for extra peace of mind. And with a variety of colors to choose from (perhaps marble-washed or sage green?), you're guaranteed to find a hue that works with your existing dishware. 

Material: 100 percent food safe silicone

Dimensions: 8 inches x 7 inches x 1 inch

Care instructions: Dishwasher (top rack only)

Community Reviews
  • we love the bumkins divided plates! they are easy to clean and they definitely suction down” 

Best Baby Bowl Overall

Avanchy Bamboo Suction Baby Bowl + Spoon

avanchy bamboo baby bowl and spoon
Buying Option
Pros
  • Comes with a spoon
  • uses organic materials
  • detachable suction
Cons
  • Hand wash only
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It

Many What to Expect community parents love the bamboo feeding products from Avanchy for their little ones. “We use avanchy and they work great!” says one WTE mom. The high-quality bowl is made out of organic bamboo, and comes with a silicone suction bottom that can detach for easier cleaning. It suctions onto lots of different surfaces with ease, including even the most notoriously difficult high chair trays. 

“We bought a few different bowls and plates, but the Avanchy was the only one to fit on our Tripp Trap high chair tray,” says Leah Rocketto, What to Expect’s Associate Commerce Director. “I also found it was the only bowl that wasn’t too deep, making it easier for my daughter to practice using utensils.” 

The set also comes with an ergonomic spoon, with a soft silicone tip that’s gentle on her mouth and sturdy bamboo for you (or her!) to grip. The only downside: The bamboo must be hand washed. 

Material: Organic bamboo and silicone

Dimensions: 5 x 3 inches (bowl), 5.5 x 1.25 inches (spoon)

Capacity: Holds 10 ounces

Care instructions: Handwash bamboo bowl and spoon, dishwash silicone ring

Community Reviews
  • We have a few kinds (ezpz, Bumkin, etc.) but our high chair tray has a slight texture to it so nothing really stays stuck! The best one we have is the Avanchy bowl (they also make plates), it takes my son a while to get this one free.” 

  • We use avanchy bamboo suction plates and bowls w the trip trapp and they stick on really well to the tray. I’ve been using them for 2.5 years w my twins.

Best Baby Suction Plate

Miniware Healthy Meal Set

miniware baby meal set
Buying Option
Pros
  • Powerful suction
  • cute design
Cons
  • Expensive
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It

While WTE parents are the first to admit that suction plates can be hit or miss, depending on how determined your baby is, many swear by the Miniware plate for how well it sticks to almost every surface. The plate also comes with a removable divider so that you can portion out foods, or use it on its own as a cute snack tray. The plate is also made out of a plant-based, biodegradable material, which might appeal to more eco-minded parents.

You can find it in lots of cute colors, too, and the chic design doesn’t immediately scream “baby.” While they’re pricey, many parents find the cost worth it. “They aren't cheap, but definitely worth every penny to alleviate some of that stress from meal times!” says one WTE mom

Materials: Plant-based PLA and silicone

Dimensions: 8.31 x 8.31 x 1.46 inches (plate), 8.66 x 5.71 x 0.98 (divider)

Care instructions: Dishwasher safe

Community Reviews
  • I ordered a set and they are great they stick really well and have a suction base that are interchangeable with their bowls and plates.” 

  • Miniware!! I too was googling plates with better suction for the Tripp Trapp and almost gave up. Recently received our Miniware suction plate from Nordstrom and was over the moon to finally see a plate that stuck well!

Best Dinnerware Set

Ezpz First Foods Set

Best Baby Plates and Bowls - ezpz Tiny Collection Set
Buying Option
Pros
  • Compatible with all highchair trays
  • powerful suction
  • comes with utensils
Cons
  • On the pricey side
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It

This feeding set (complete with a suction mat with a bowl, tiny cup and silicone spoons) has everything you need to introduce your child to the concept of eating and drinking (out of a cup, that is) — making it a popular pick among WTE parents. “We are big fans…The design is fantastic!” says one WTE mom

The bowl’s attached suction mat promises to stick to any highchair tray and really grips well — good news for you, bad news for babies who love to fling their dinners. Melissa Bykofsky, What to Expect’s Executive Editor, said the mat suctioned perfectly to the table when her son was a baby. Now, at 2 years old, he can pick it up but Melissa says they still use it because of the convenience. Sarah Darby, What to Expect’s Senior SEO Strategist, has similar success with the Ezpz mat staying in place. 

“I find that it stays put much better than the other plates we have and he has no issues with it,” Sarah says, noting that the “the low lip and lack of corners made it really easy when he was first learning to eat.” Sarah also adds that the mat is wide, so it didn't lie flat on the tray of her Stokke Clikk high chair, but was perfect once she could pull her son up to the table. 

The cup that comes with this set doesn’t have a lid, but instead offers a weighted base and treads on the bottom to make it more resistant to spillage. The soft silicone spoons are easy for babies and parents alike to grip thanks to the short, fat handles. Decor-focused parents will love the pretty pastel colors you can choose from, and tired parents will love that everything in the set can be cleaned in the dishwasher. That said, Melissa heard from many friends that the cup and utensils start to taste like soap after a few runs in the dishwasher. 

Material: Silicone 

Dimensions: 9 inches x 6.5 inches x 1 inch (bowl), 2.2 x 2.2 x 2.5 inches (cup), 3.75 x 0.9 x 0.9 inches (spoon)

Care instructions: Dishwasher safe

Community Reviews
  • I have the ezpz plate/placemat thing and we liked it esp when we first transition to plates.” 

  • We have the mats, bowl, cup and silverware and love all of them!” 

Best Bamboo Feeding Set

Bamboo Bamboo Baby Plate With Suction

bamboo bamboo monkey face baby plate
Buying Option
Pros
  • Less expensive than other bamboo brands
  • sticks well
  • cute design
Cons
  • Not dishwasher safe
  • spoon sold separately
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It

If you like the look of bamboo baby plates and bowls, but want a lower price point, you’ll probably like this brand. It tends to be a bit less expensive than competitors, but the products are still fairly high quality — especially when it comes to the suction on the bottom. “We lifted our coffee table with this plate. No joke,” says one WTE parent. The plates come in lots of different whimsical animal designs, and some have dividers while others do not. Just note that these plates are not dishwasher safe, which is a bummer for those of us who aren’t eager to add another thing to clean in the sink. 

Materials: Bamboo and silicone

Dimensions: 9.53 x 7.32 x 2.13 inches

Care instructions: Hand wash only

Community Reviews
  • Bamboo Bamboo brand bowls and plates are amazing. They are pricey, so I wasn't sure it was worth it when someone recommended them to me, but they don't budge.”

  • I just bought a couple of the Bamboo Bamboo plates/bowls on the recommendation of another mum on this board and they’re great, they stick to the tray really well (as well as the dining table)”

Best Travel Feeding Set

Busy Baby Mini Mat

busy baby mini mat
Buying Option
Pros
  • Comes with a carrying case
  • thoughtful design
  • stores easily
Cons
  • Not a ton of space for food
  • food has to be stored separately
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It

WTE parents swear by the Busy Baby mini mat for baby feeding on the go. The compact mat has three suction cups that ensure a super secure fit on practically any flat surface, while a built-in divided tray lets baby feed herself directly from the mat. Parents also love the attached toy straps, which help keep toys or utensils secure (read: not all over a restaurant floor). The whole thing is made out of food-grade silicone and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Plus, it comes with a reusable storage bag so you can slip it into your diaper bag when meal time is over. The only downside is that the flat tray can’t actually hold much food, so you’ll have to carry along snacks in separate containers. 

Materials: 100 percent food grade silicone

Dimensions: 11 x 3 inches

Care instructions: Dishwasher safe

Community Reviews
  • I keep this in the diaper bag and we use it all the time. I just keep adding more food to it and she doesn’t try to lift it very often” 

  • I’ve found that we love his busy baby mat for when we eat out - it’s a placemat plate that sticks to the table and has loops for toys and stuff. That way he’s not throwing the plates or putting his food straight on the table” 

  • Our lo loves just chewing the toy leashes when she’s teething too and doesn’t want to eat much.” 

What to Expect the First Year, 3rd Edition, Heidi Murkoff. 

American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics Says Some Common Food Additives May Pose Health Risks to Children, July 2018.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Baby Bottles and Bisphenol A (BPA), February 2012.