How to Choose a Toddler Plate (7 Checks Before You Buy)

A toddler plate goes flying for one reason: it's fun. So suction is the first thing to check. A good base sticks when you press the middle down, and it lets go when you lift the tab on the edge.

But suction only works on a smooth, clean, dry surface. A glossy high chair tray is perfect. A wooden table or a textured tray often isn't. Wipe the tray first, then press down from the center out.

The plate we'd pick is a simple silicone suction divided plate. It's budget priced and stays put on the high chair. The honest con: no suction plate holds on every surface, and a strong toddler can still peel up an edge.

Tip: A drop of water under the base can help it seal on a slightly dull tray.

Lots of toddlers hate foods that touch. Sauce on the rice can end a meal. Sections fix that without a fight, and they make each food easy to see.

Dividers also help you serve a safe food next to a new one. Put a favorite in the big section and one bite of something new in a small one. That small, calm habit sits at the heart of our one-bite rule. If your child only eats crackers and pasta right now, our guide to picky eaters and beige food has more ideas.

Three or four sections is the sweet spot. More than that and each one holds about two peas.

Tip: Keep one section for a dip. Kids often eat more veggies when they can dunk them.

Each material has a trade-off, so here's the short version.

Silicone bends, grips and won't shatter. It can hold on to oily smells, though, and lint sticks to it.

Bamboo looks lovely, but most bamboo plates need hand washing. Many can't go in the microwave either. Read the care label before you buy.

Stainless steel lasts for years and goes in the dishwasher. It can't go in the microwave, and it's noisy when it lands on the floor.

Plastic is light and cheap. Still, the AAP's page on food additives suggests you wash plastic by hand and avoid heating food in it.

Tip: Check the recycling code on plastic dishes. The AAP suggests avoiding codes 3, 6 and 7.

You'll wash these toddler plates three times a day, so care rules matter more than color. Look for the words "dishwasher-safe" on the listing, and check if it means top rack only.

Microwave rules vary even more. Some silicone is fine, while bamboo and steel usually aren't. The easy habit: warm food in a glass or ceramic bowl, stir it, test it, then spoon it onto the plate.

Tip: Stir warmed food well. Microwaves can leave hot spots in the middle.

At 1, your child eats on a high chair tray. So the plate has to fit the tray with room to spare, or the suction base hangs over the edge and pops off.

By 2 or 3, most kids move to the table. Then a slightly larger plate with higher walls helps them scoop food onto a spoon. Toddler portions stay small either way. Our toddler breakfast ideas show how little food a toddler serving can be.

Tip: Measure the high chair tray before you order anything.

Smooth inside corners clean in seconds. Sharp corners and deep grooves trap yogurt, then grow things you'd rather not see.

Also look under the plate. Some suction bases come off for washing, and some are one piece. One piece is simpler to clean, but you can't scrub under the rim as well. Either way, rinse soon after meals, because dried oatmeal sets like glue.

Tip: If silicone starts to smell, a soak in hot water and baking soda usually helps.

Around age 3, many kids eat calmly enough for a plain plate. That's a nice step, because a plain plate is easier to carry, stack and pack. Some kids still want sections at 4 or 5, and that's fine.

Keep one divided plate for packed lunches, though. Sections work just as well in a cold lunch, like our five-minute hummus plate.

Tip: Let your child choose the color of their first plain plate. It makes the switch feel like a promotion.