Avanchy Stainless Steel Suction Baby Bowl
Top pick
This stainless steel bowl has a removable suction-cup base and a lid for saving leftovers.
When it comes to feeding kids, durable and easy-to-clean stainless steel accessories are hard to beat. My kids have been using the 10-ounce Avanchy Stainless Steel Suction Baby Bowl for more than six months (I bought a used version at a secondhand shop prior to starting work on this guide), and it barely has a scratch. It fits plenty of food and has both a lid and a suction base, which are handy during the toddler stage. As of press time, the bowl was out of stock, but the company is expected to re-stock at the beginning of April.
It stands up to frequent and rugged use. This bowl is also easy to wash by hand, and it resisted staining and rusting during testing. This is notable, given that the competition (I tested three other stainless steel bowls) showed signs of wear and tear.
You can use this bowl without the suction and lid. One of my kids loves a long, leisurely meal. The other not so much. The airtight lid makes it easy to quickly save barely touched food for later. And you can remove the suction cup base, so elementary-age kids can use the bowl without feeling like it’s too babyish. It’s also stackable, if you choose to buy more than one.
Bowl once a child is no longer likely to toss it from the high chair; add the lid, and the bowl is great for storing leftovers. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
Its double-wall insulation keeps its contents warm. My toddler frequently eats soups and oatmeal out of this bowl, and its walls don’t get hot to the touch.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Its suction isn’t kid-proof. No suction is, really. Multiple Amazon buyer reviews (like this one and this one) mention that their kids figured out how to peel the bowl’s suction grip from various surfaces.
It’s pricey. This is among the more expensive feeding accessories I tested. However, this bowl is so easy to wash and store, I’ve found that I only need one.
Kiddobloom Children’s Stainless Steel Divided Plate
Top pick
This plate comes plain or with kid-friendly characters, and it stands up to frequent washing and use.
Plastic dinnerware and utensils frequently feature bold colors and recognizable animated characters; this is one of the hardest things about giving them up. Both of my kids love the Kiddobloom Children’s Stainless Steel Divided Plate. It’s highly rated on Amazon, and comes plain or with a frog or princess detail—basically the next best thing to that well-loved plastic Bluey plate.
It fits a just-right amount of food. The plate has three compartments—one large and two small. The large section is perfect for a kid-size sandwich, a small slice of pizza, or a few chicken nuggets, while the small sections are great for fruit and veggies or dips. At 9.4 ounces, this plate weighs 2 ounces less than our top silicone pick, and it’s one of the most portable options I tested.
It’s easy to use and care for. Wirecutter’s guide to flatware explains the difference between various types of stainless steel: 18/8 stainless steel has a higher nickel content than 18/0 and is therefore more corrosion-resistant. This plate is made from 18/8 stainless steel and did not develop scratches or rust during the two-month testing period.
It can also be purchased as part of a giftable set that includes a cup and bowl, which I also tested. My kids loved the handles on the 13-ounce bowl, which makes it easy to drink cereal milk and soup. And the 6-ounce cup is a nice size for toddlers.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
It doesn’t stick to surfaces.This plate may not be for you if your kid consistently throws their plate from the high chair or table.
Klean Kanteen 10 oz Cup
Top pick
These colorful cups fit the right amount of liquid for kids. You can also add a spillproof lid.
I tested three stainless steel cups for kids, and the Klean Kanteen 10 oz Cups performed the best. My children love using these cheery cups for everything from milk to juice, and the cups have so far resisted rust, staining, and scratches. (Stainless steel is designed to last decades.) I’ve also owned a similar set of 12-ounce Klean Kanteen cups for close to 10 years, and they’ve held up extremely well.
They’re dishwasher-safe and stand up to rugged use. After an exhausting meal (face it, not every family dinner is one you want to remember), it can be a relief to toss everything in the dishwasher and turn out the kitchen lights. That’s one reason I love these 10-ounce cups, which stand up to frequent washing and use and come out looking spick-and-span, whether I wash them by hand or throw them in the dishwasher. They also stack well and are compatible with a spillproof (though not leakproof) straw and lid.
You can use them beyond the kitchen. I’ve taken these cups camping and on picnics, and I’ve put them to work in the pantry storing art supplies. The various colors are inviting, and they can easily be used by older kids and adults as well.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
They don’t work well with hot beverages. Unlike the Avanchy bowl, these cups aren’t insulated and readily conduct heat. The company doesn’t recommend using the straw lid with warm liquids.
The spillproof lid is an additional cost. Adding the straw lid costs about $7.50. Klean Kanteen also sells a single cup with a lid for the same price.
Elk and Friends Babies/Toddler Stainless Steel Spoons + Forks with Silicone Handle
Top pick
These colorful utensils have gentle, rounded edges and silicone handles that are easy to grasp.
There are many utensils designed for kids, but it can be surprisingly tricky to find a stainless steel set that works well for babies and toddlers. Some spoons have a shovel so cavernous it seems designed exclusively for soup, for example, or the tines of a fork are far too sharp. The pint-sized Elk and Friends Babies/Toddler Stainless Steel Spoons + Forks with Silicone Handle, on the other hand, have an intuitive design and rounded edges that won’t give young eaters an unexpected poke.
The silicone handles are easy to grasp. When St. John works with families, she advises them to select toddler silverware with a built-up handle that’s easy to grasp, which is exactly what this set offers. “The shorter it is, the more control they’re going to have.” My 2-year-old had the most success self-feeding with these forks and spoons out of all the cutlery I tested. The handles measure a manageable 4 inches, compared with 4.5 inches for the long-handled Beaba First Stage Two-Tone Silicone Spoon. A pack includes three spoons and three forks.
Rounded stainless edges are gentle on tiny mouths. Importantly, the shovel of this spoon is deep enough to fit a dollop of yogurt or a scoop of soup. My son uses this spoon to eat Cheerios and milk—the shovel fits four or five milk-soaked Cheerios at a time. The tines of the fork are just sharp enough to be effective; I’ve watched my toddler repeatedly use the fork to spear a cooked carrot and bring it to his mouth.
They sit off the table. The Elk and Friends utensils have a tiny heart on the back of the silicone handle that prevents the stainless steel end from touching the table when you set it down. This arguably helps keep mealtime more hygienic (although it won’t protect the silverware when it’s tossed on the floor).
Flaws but not dealbreakers
A two-piece design is more susceptible to mold. You don’t need to remove the utensil’s silicone sleeve from the metal handle for washing, but the two pieces do come apart. Some customer reviews mention that, as a result, their cutlery developed mold where water collected between the silicone and metal. I did not observe this.
OXO Tot Cutlery Set for Big Kids
Top pick
These utensils are slightly smaller and have smoother edges than ones intended for adults.
Elementary-age kids can benefit from dedicated cutlery, too, especially when the available adult options are heavy or sharp. The OXO Tot Cutlery Set for Big Kids performed best out of three sets of cutlery I tested geared toward older children. Though similar in size to adult salad forks and dessert spoons, this set weighs less, comes in kid-friendly colors, and includes a dull, serrated knife so kids can practice cutting and spreading. These have a plastic handle, but the part that kids put in their mouths is stainless steel.
Colorful options are inviting to kids. I’m continually surprised by the small details that compel my 5-year-old daughter to come to the table, and this set—available in pale shades of pink, blue, and green, as well as white with navy—is one of them. She’s even started helping me to set the table in the hopes of securing her favorite cutlery.
Rounded edges shouldn’t hurt little mouths.These utensils are lightweight enough for kids who are developing hand strength, and the rounded edges of the fork and spoon are gentle enough for older toddlers to use (OXO says the set is designed for kids ages 3 and up). The adult soup spoons I own weigh 1.7 ounces, whereas this one weighs 1.1 ounces.
When your kids have grown up, you can use the set for outdoor dining. The set is durable, showed no signs of rust over more than two months of use, and withstood more than 20 washings in the dishwasher. The utensils are also large enough for adults to use and resemble something you’d throw in a picnic basket.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
They aren’t much smaller than adult-size salad forks and dessert spoons. A set costs about $12 and comes with a spoon, fork, and knife. Save your money if you think your child might be ready for adult-size silverware.
