The safest baby tableware is made from a material that stays stable in contact with hot, acidic or fatty food: stainless steel, tempered glass and ceramics without coloured decoration come out on top. “Bamboo” tableware bound with melamine, on the other hand, has been banned in the European Union since 2021, after checks revealed formaldehyde and melamine migrating into food. The rest of this guide covers each material, the results of official investigations and practical criteria for choosing a plate, bowl and cutlery suited to first meals.
Baby tableware: which materials are really at issue?
All tableware sold in France falls under the rules on materials in contact with food. The principle, set out in European Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, is simple: a material must not transfer substances to food in quantities that could endanger health. France's consumer protection authority, the DGCCRF, checks compliance with this rule every year, and its results give a clear picture of which materials to keep an eye on.
In its 2019 investigation, published on 23 July 2021, the DGCCRF visited 1,187 businesses and took 374 samples across all materials. Almost 16% were non-compliant, compared with 12% the previous year. The most frequent problems involved plastics, “bamboo” items and certain decorated ceramics. These figures cover tableware as a whole, not just items intended for children, but they point to the weak spots worth knowing about before you buy.
Why is bamboo tableware for babies banned?
The “bamboo” plates and bowls sold for toddlers were not made of wood. They were melamine-formaldehyde resin filled with bamboo fibres or powder. Bamboo, however, is not on the list of substances authorised in plastics in contact with food, set out in Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. From 2019, the European Commission and national authorities made clear that these items therefore could not be placed on the market.
The problem is not just a legal one. In the DGCCRF's 2019 investigation, more than half of the samples of this type, 54% compared with 33% in 2018, were judged “non-compliant and dangerous”. The excess levels involved formaldehyde, classified as carcinogenic, and melamine, which is notably toxic to the kidneys. Migration increases with heat and repeated washing, which is exactly how a bowl of warm purée that goes in the dishwasher is used.
Claims such as “100% bamboo”, “natural” or “biodegradable” on these products were considered misleading. If you still have this type of tableware, the most sensible thing is to stop using it for hot food, then replace it. Utensils made of solid bamboo, such as a spoon carved from the wood, are not covered by this ban: it is the mix of resin and fibres that causes the problem.
Stainless steel, glass, ceramics: the safe bets
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is stable, unbreakable and goes in the dishwasher without deteriorating. The DGCCRF flags a risk of metals migrating with very acidic or very salty food, especially in poor-quality alloys. For a baby plate or bowl, food-grade 18/8 or 18/10 stainless steel is the most durable choice. Its only practical drawback is heat: a stainless steel bowl warms up quickly, so check the temperature before serving.
Glass
Glass does not hold on to smells or colourings and withstands repeated washing. Tempered glass reduces the risk of breakage without eliminating it: it is suitable once your child eats sitting down, under supervision, and should be kept away from the edge of the table. The DGCCRF groups glass with ceramics among the materials where the risks are concentrated in the decoration.
Ceramics
Earthenware and porcelain are safe when they are plain. Checks point to possible release of lead, cadmium, aluminium or cobalt from decorated or coloured items, particularly when the decoration is on the surface that touches the food. A white plate, or one with underglaze decoration, bought from an identified manufacturer avoids most of the problem. Ceramics remain heavy and breakable: they are better suited to the table than to days out.
Silicone and plastic: under what conditions?
Food-grade silicone is flexible, light and popular for suction plates. The DGCCRF notes possible migration of volatile organic compounds, peroxides and colourings, especially from poorly cured parts or items of uncertain quality. Platinum silicone, with no smell when you buy it and no white marks when you twist it, limits this risk. Avoid very brightly coloured or scented items.
Plastics raise the issue of phthalates, regularly found in checks and classed as endocrine disruptors. Bisphenol A has been banned in France in all food containers since 2015. A recent plastic with no scratches, washed by hand rather than in a hot dishwasher, ages better. As soon as it is scratched, cloudy or warped, it should be replaced. Only use the microwave for containers explicitly marked as suitable, and never for old plastics.
We have already covered what health agencies say about the chemical safety of baby products, and the specific case of microplastics released by baby bottles.
How do you choose baby tableware by age?
- Around 6 months, first purées from a spoon. A small bowl with a high rim and a soft spoon are all you need. The bowl stays in the adult's hand, so the shape matters more than the material. Stainless steel or ceramics are fine.
- Around 8 to 12 months, your baby wants to hold the spoon. A suction plate cuts down on spills, in good-quality silicone or stainless steel with a suction base. This is also the age when children learn to drink from an open cup: a small thick glass or stainless steel cup is easier to hold than a light beaker.
- Around 12 to 18 months, meals become almost independent. A divided plate helps serve small portions. Short cutlery with a thick handle, in stainless steel with rounded tips, is easier to grip than all-plastic designs.
- After 2 years. Your child can move on to the family tableware in a smaller size and start eating with a fork.
These pointers go hand in hand with the stages described in our article on when babies feed themselves with a spoon. The right seat matters as much as the right plate: a stable high chair with a tray at the right height reduces the number of plates that end up on the floor.
How many pieces do you need?
A child eats three or four times a day, and a dirty plate does not always go straight into the dishwasher. Two bowls, two plates, two cups and three or four spoons cover everyday needs, plus a lightweight set for days out. There is no point in buying lots of “special baby” sets: part of the family tableware, chosen in the right materials, does the same job and will last longer. A sleeved bib protects clothes better than an extra plate.
Care and lifespan
Stainless steel, glass and ceramics can go in the dishwasher without restriction. Silicone can too but sometimes holds on to greasy smells; a soak in boiling water with a little bicarbonate of soda reduces them. Plastic is best washed by hand. Whatever the material, an item that is scratched, chipped, cracked or has flaking decoration should be taken out of use: surface defects harbour bacteria and encourage migration.
The DGCCRF also points out that aluminium utensils from small artisanal foundries were the subject of a suspension order in 2019 because of excessive lead levels. This marginal case illustrates a general principle: buying from an identifiable manufacturer or retailer that can provide a declaration of compliance for food contact remains the best safeguard.
Common mistakes
- Buying “bamboo” tableware second-hand or abroad, where it is still in circulation.
- Serving hot purée in an old or scratched plastic container.
- Choosing a plate decorated on the food side, especially in bright colours, with no known origin.
- Microwaving a container that is not designed for it.
- Heating a meal in a stainless steel bowl and putting it in front of your child without checking the temperature.
To organise the kitchen around these meals, our article on cooking with a baby complements this guide. If a question remains unanswered, our FAQs are there to help.
In summary
For baby tableware, choose stainless steel, glass and plain ceramics. Accept good-quality silicone for suction plates, keep plastic to recent items and cold food, and rule out bamboo-melamine tableware for good. A few well-chosen pieces last longer than a complete set.
Sources
- DGCCRF, “Les matériaux au contact des denrées alimentaires”, results of the 2019 investigation, published on 23 July 2021.
- Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of 27 October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
- Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 of 14 January 2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, Annex I (list of authorised substances).
- French Law No 2012-1442 of 24 December 2012, “visant à la suspension de la fabrication, de l'importation, de l'exportation et de la mise sur le marché de tout conditionnement à vocation alimentaire contenant du bisphénol A”.
