The baby silicone tableware has become a must-have for little ones' mealtimes in just a few years. Suction plates, bowls, spoons, pocket bibs: these food-grade silicone accessories really do change daily mealtimes for the better. But how do you choose, and why has silicone become the go-to material? We'll explain it all. 🍽️
🔍 Why choose silicone tableware for babies?
Food-grade silicone offers several decisive advantages over traditional alternatives (plastic, melamine, glass):
- BPA-free, phthalate-free, bisphenol A-free — certified food-grade silicone is inert: it releases no chemical substances into food, even when hot
- Unbreakable — no risk of dangerous breakage, unlike glass or ceramic
- Soft and flexible — won't hurt baby's delicate gums, even before teeth come in
- Temperature-resistant — dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe, depending on the model
- Non-slip — the suction cups on the plates keep the tableware in place on the table, even when baby pushes and bangs
- Easy to clean — no nooks and crannies, a smooth surface, and no porosity where bacteria can build up
🍜 Which silicone tableware accessories are essential?
The compartmentalised suction plate
This is THE essential piece of silicone baby tableware. The suction cup keeps the plate firmly stuck to the table or highchair tray — baby can push, bang or twist it, but the plate won't budge. The compartments keep foods separate, which matters for babies who don't like their textures mixing together — and for baby-led weaning (BLW), which calls for presenting foods distinctly.
The suction bowl
For soups, purées and cereals. With a built-in suction cup, it stays put while baby learns to use a spoon — a naturally very messy phase, but an essential one for building independence.
Ergonomic spoons
Silicone baby spoons have a soft tip that won't hurt the gums, a short handle sized for little hands, and a curved shape that makes it easier to load the spoon. From 6 months for first purées, from 12 months for gradually feeding themselves.
The waterproof pocket bib
The silicone bib with a catch-all pocket is a game-changer: it catches everything that falls — and with a baby learning to eat solo, a lot falls. Dishwasher-safe and dry in minutes, it's far more hygienic and hard-wearing than fabric bibs.
The fruit feeder / nibble teether
For first flavours and the teething stage: baby slips a piece of fruit or vegetable into the silicone mesh and nibbles away freely. Ideal for safely introducing new tastes from 4-5 months, with no choking risk.
PetitMaxou offers several complete silicone tableware sets. Our complete silicone feeding set brings together a suction plate, bowl, spoons and bib in one coordinated set — ideal as a birth gift or for kitting baby out in one go.
⚠️ How to recognise good-quality food-grade silicone
Not all silicones are created equal. Here's how to spot a good product:
- FDA or LFGB certification (American and European standards for food-contact materials) — check the packaging
- The pinch test : pinch the silicone and twist it — if a white mark appears, the product contains fillers (silica, plastic) that can migrate. Pure silicone doesn't turn white
- No plastic smell — good food-grade silicone has virtually no odour
- No added filler — very low-end products cut the silicone with fillers that reduce its safety
🧼 How to care for baby silicone tableware
- Dishwasher : yes, for the vast majority of quality silicone products — preferably on the top rack
- Hand-washing : warm water and washing-up liquid are enough — rinse thoroughly
- Sterilising : can be done with a steam steriliser or by boiling, for spoons and bibs
- Storage : flat or stacked — silicone won't lose its shape
- Time to replace if : there are tears, lingering odours after washing, or unusual discolouration
🎁 Baby silicone tableware: the perfect birth gift idea
A complete silicone tableware set is one of the most useful birth gifts you can give — and often one of the last things people think of. Parents receive plenty of clothes and soft toys when a baby is born, but rarely the complete feeding kit they'll need from 4-6 months onwards.
Our crab baby meal gift set is perfect for that — complete, attractive, and ready to give straight out of its packaging.
❓ FAQ — Baby silicone tableware
From what age should you use silicone baby tableware?
The fruit feeder from 4-5 months. Spoons and bowls for spoon-fed purées from 5-6 months. The compartmentalised suction plate from the start of BLW (6 months) or as soon as baby starts feeding themselves. The pocket bib from the start of weaning.
Is silicone really safe for baby?
Certified food-grade silicone (FDA/LFGB) is considered safe by both European and American health authorities. It's inert, doesn't release chemical substances into food, and withstands extreme temperatures. Today, it's the safest material for baby tableware.
Does the plate's suction cup work on every surface?
Silicone suction cups grip well on smooth, clean surfaces: varnished wooden tables, smooth highchair trays, glass or plastic tables. They're less effective on textured surfaces, raw unvarnished wood, or surfaces covered with a plastic tablecloth. Make sure the surface is clean and dry before placing the plate down.
Can silicone tableware go in the microwave?
That depends on the product — always check the instructions. Most pure silicone pieces are microwave-safe, but some sets include pieces with metal or plastic inserts that aren't compatible. If in doubt, heat the food separately and then transfer it.
🛍️ Baby silicone tableware at PetitMaxou
Complete sets, suction plates, silicone bibs, fruit feeders: PetitMaxou offers a selection of certified, BPA-free silicone tableware in soft colours and designs that children love. Free delivery across the EU, returns within 14 days.
→ See all PetitMaxou baby silicone tableware
🎁 Putting together a complete silicone baby tableware set
To kit baby out consistently from the start of weaning, here's the ideal silicone tableware set list:
- 1 compartmentalised suction plate (3 sections)
- 1 suction bowl
- 2-3 silicone spoons (soft to start with, firmer afterwards)
- 1 silicone toddler fork (from 12 months)
- 2-3 silicone pocket bibs
- 1 fruit feeder (for the teething phase)
You can also go straight for a complete set that brings the essentials together in a neat package — ideal as an original birth gift for parents-to-be. Practical, useful, and put to use from the very first months.
🔬 Food-grade silicone and European regulations
In Europe, tableware that comes into contact with food is governed by EC regulation No. 1935/2004 and material-specific directives. To be legally sold in the EU, food-grade silicone must comply with strict limits on the migration of substances into food. LFGB certification (a German standard, one of the strictest in Europe) goes even further than simple CE marking. When you buy silicone tableware for your baby, check the packaging for at least one of these certifications — it's your best guarantee of safety.