When it comes to choosing tableware for children during the complementary feeding stage, I have done a lot of homework. The principle of choosing tableware for Mumu during the complementary feeding stage is that the material must be safe, shatterproof and heat-resistant, lightweight and easy to clean. Today I will talk about these aspects.

My principles for choosing tableware for babies

Principle 1: Material safety

Baby tableware is for daily use and food, so the material must be safe. Especially for babies who have just started to add complementary foods, it is easy to put the tableware in their mouths and chew it. If it is not a safe material, long-term use will endanger the baby's health.

Principle 2: shatterproof and heat-resistant

Secondly, heat-resistant and shatterproof are also very important. From feeding to letting the baby eat independently, and letting the baby use tableware proficiently, this requires a process. At this time, if the tableware we choose is not heat-resistant, it is easy to burn the baby's skin. In addition, in the process of learning to eat independently, it is common for the baby to be unable to hold it steadily and let the tableware fall to the ground. At this time, if it is made of non-shatter-resistant materials such as ceramics and glass, it is easy to break, forming a sharp surface and scratching the baby's hands.

Principle 3: Lightweight

The most important thing for babies to eat independently is to hold and grasp the food firmly. If the tableware we choose for babies is very heavy, it will not only be inconvenient for babies to hold and grasp, but also increase the frustration of babies eating independently.

Principle 4: Easy to clean

If the tableware selected for babies is not easy to clean, over time, the food residues left in it will form bacteria, which will harm the baby's health when used by the baby. Or the tableware is easy to form sharp surfaces after washing, which may scratch the baby's skin, which should also be carefully considered.

How to choose the material of baby tableware

There are countless materials for baby tableware on the market now, and the more common ones are stainless steel, plastic, ceramic, silicone and wood.

The advantages and disadvantages of these materials are as follows:

1. Stainless steel

Advantages:

①Easy to clean, no rust, not easy to breed bacteria

②Corrosion-resistant, long service life

Disadvantages:

①Strong thermal conductivity, easy to burn

②Unqualified heavy metal content will endanger health

③Cannot hold seasonings for a long time, which will dissolve harmful substances

④The tableware is heavy and it is difficult for babies to use it independently

2. Plastic

Advantages:

①Lightweight, convenient for babies to use independently

②Resistant to falling and high temperature

③Easy to clean, not easy to breed bacteria

Disadvantages:

①After cleaning and rubbing, it is easy to have edges and corners, scratching the baby

②Long use time, easy to deform and become brittle

Note: Because there are many types of plastic materials, you must pay attention to which kind of plastic it is when purchasing, and choose non-toxic and harmless polyethylene and polypropylene materials.

3. Ceramic

Advantages:

①No rust, corrosion resistance

②No water absorption, easy to clean

③Smooth surface, not easy to scratch the baby

Disadvantages:

①Easy to break, easy to form sharp surfaces to scratch the baby

②Some ceramics and other colored glazes contain heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, and long-term use will have the risk of heavy metal poisoning.

4. Silicone

Advantages:

①Non-toxic and tasteless;

②The material is soft and will not hurt the baby;

③Resistant to high temperature, resistant to falling, not easy to deform;

④Can maintain the temperature of food for a period of time.

Disadvantages:

①Easy to absorb oil stains, not resistant to dirt

5. Wood

Advantages:

①Natural material, no toxic substances

②Lightweight, resistant to falling, resistant to high temperatures, good thermal insulation performance

Disadvantages:

①Easy to mold

②Uneven surface, not easy to clean, easy to breed bacteria

③Painted wooden tableware contains lead, long-term use is harmful to baby's health

Combining the advantages and disadvantages, it is recommended to choose tableware made of silicone, which is safer, softer, resistant to high temperatures, resistant to falling, easy to clean, and heat-insulating. Of course, stainless steel is also a good choice, but you should pay attention to choosing stainless steel tableware with an insulation layer to prevent good thermal conductivity and scalding the baby.