Safer Kids Cup and Dish Guide

Kids Safer Cups and Dish GuideFinding safer cups and dishes for older kids has been a challenge. We’re embarking on an expedition to see what we can find. Our list is growing as we confirm more BPA, PVC, phthalate, and melamine-free options, so check back soon!

Urban Trend FunWares

These Urban Trend Funwares products are innovative and unique, and encourage interaction and family unity at the table. While not designed as “toys,” these items help parents get their kids to the table for a little mealtime fun.

FunWares A Knight’s Meal

FunWares Princess Platter

FunWares Chew Chew Train

FunWares Chew Chew Train

 

Fantastic Anti-plastic Dishes

Zoe B Organic has created the only bio-based kid dishes that are also dishwasher safe.   Not only are they modern in design, but they’re also made in the USA!

 Kinderville Bigger Kids Silicone Dishes

Kinderville knocked our socks of with their line of baby dishes, and now they’ve done it again with the introduction of new eating gear designed for older kids!

Kinderville Bigger Bites Silicone Storage Jars

Kinderville Bigger Bites Divided Silicone Plates

Kinderville Silicone Ice Pop Molds

EIO Glass Kids Cup

EIO‘s unique design offers the only spill-resistant toddler training cup designed for convenience and health benefits. The Kids Cup is a spout-free, valve-free cup is designed to transition young children properly from bottles to real glass dinnerware.

EIO Glass Kids Cup

 

Fuel Kids Waste-free Lunch Containers

It so easy to go 100% reusable and waste-free with the wide array of affordable Fuel lunch gear! From sandwich boxes to insulated soup containers, Fuel products are simple for kids to use and their unique features open up a whole new world of healthy meal possibilities.

Fuel Wet and Dry Thermal Snack Container

Fuel Wet and Dry Thermal Snack Container

Fuel PVC-free Kids Lunch Bag

Fuel PVC-free Kids Lunch Bag

Fuel Uno Dry Snack Container

Fuel Uno Dry Snack Container

Kidishes

Parents everywhere today are looking for an alternative to plastic dishes. Kidishes are made from tempered glass, which is amazingly durable and safe. They’re available in kid-size bowls (5.5″ diameter), cups (5oz) and plates (7.4″ diameter).

Kidishes Glass Dishes

Kidishes Glass Dishes

Crocodile Creek

Crocodile Creek just launched the cutest and most functional lunch gear!  Their new stainless steel drink bottles and PVC-free lunchboxes are the perfect pair for kids on the go.

Crocodile Creek Waste-free Lunch Gear

Crocodile Creek Waste-free Lunch Gear

CaliBowl

The one-of-a-kind CaliBowl is perfectly shaped to help toddlers and kids feed themselves without the mess!  They’re available in BPA-free plastic or ceramic.

CaliBowl

CaliBowl

Lunchbots

The LunchBots containers and kid’s dishes are the perfect container for packing a sandwich, burrito, grapes or nuts – your favorite lunch to go. 100% high quality stainless steel (both lid and container) make for a seriously durable and healthy food storage system!

Lunchbots Stainless Steel Food Containers

Lunchbots Stainless Steel Food Containers

ECOLunches

ECOLunchbox Waste-free Kit comes with a bamboo spork, stainless steel food container, sauce container with lid, cotton napkins – all in a handmade, durable carrying bag that can be used like a backpack. The stainless steel food and sauce containers can be purchased separately too.

ECOlunchboxes

ECOlunchboxes

Thinkbaby

Thinkbaby Stainless Steel Feeding Set includes a soup bowl and cereal bowl with lid, insulated bento box with snap down, leak-proof lid, cup with handle and utensils.

Thinkbaby Insulated Stainless Steel Dish Set

Thinkbaby Insulated Stainless Steel Dish Set

Kids Konserve

The Kids Konserve waste-free lunch gear was the natural outgrowth of what two women saw as a big need that required immediate attention. With the premise that any business they undertook had to help the environment in some way, it didn’t take much imagination to see how they, as parents of young children, were contributing to garbage landfills, pollutants and sending the wrong message to their own children.

The lunch kit includes recycled cotton sack, cloth napkin, 16 oz. stainless steel beverage bottle, food kozy, two stainless steel food containers, and recycled aluminum name tag.

Kid Konserve Reusable Lunch Gear

Kid Konserve Reusable Lunch Gear

Bambu

The Bambu Kids line has a little bit of everything to make meals safer and more eco-friendly: Disposable Bamdino Plates, Mini Bowls, Spork and Utensil Sets

Bambu Bamdino Plates

Bambu Bamdino Plates

Thermos

Thermos continues to pump out safer feeding gear for kids. The FUNtainer Straw Bottles and Food Jars are amazing and in our experience, you just can’t top their the versatility, durability and cuteness. We often entice our older kids to drink their water by loading up a straw bottle – it helps keep them from from feeling like they’re missing out on those sugary drinks.

Thermos FUNtainer Food Jars and Straw Bottles

Think Sport

Think Sport has turned their grown-up water bottle into a mini me for kids! Just like the adult version, Think Sport’s super light weight stainless steel bottle has an elegant design and is easy to hold and drink from. It holds 12oz, is vacuum sealed to keep drinks hot or cold for hours, won’t “sweat” and fits into most car cup holders. The new mini me is be the perfect solution for sports teams on those hot summer days!

Thinksport 12oz Stainless Steel Kids Bottle

Obentec

Laptop Lunches were created by two Moms with school aged kids. Their mission is to help families improve lunchtime nutrition and reduce waste. They believe that healthy kids come from healthy communities and work hard to provide products free from BPA, PVC and Lead.

Laptop Lunches Bento System 2.0

Recycline

Recycline Preserve dishware is made from recycled polypropylene (#5) which is BPA, PVC and phthalate free. Their products are reusable, dishwasher safe on low-heat cycles and made in the USA. You can find them at the Recycline website.

Arrow Plastics Manufacturing

Arrow is based in Illinois and all of their products are manufactured right here in the U.S. All of their plastic scrap, used corrugated containers, wrapping materials and pallets are recycled (none of these materials are deposited in landfills). You can often find these products at Walmart, but they are not currently available online (we’re working with Arrow to add their children’s line to our store soon). They have a huge line of products, so we’ll just focus on great stuff for kids. All of the following Frostware and Sip-a-cup/bowls/pops are made from polypropylene and are marked with recycling code #5.

 

 

IKEA

IKEA’s Stated Commitment: “IKEA works to ensure that products and materials are environmentally adapted and are safe for our customers from a health perspective. As part of our business idea, we insist on keeping costs low and always try to use resources wisely when designing our products. We strive to use renewable and recyclable materials in our products.” You can locate an IKEA store near you here.

UPDATE 12/10/08:  I’m even more impressed with IKEA now that I’ve been searching through website again for new options – they have labeled ALL of their food containers with the materials used.  Hooray for IKEA!

IKEA Miniature Stoneware Bowls & Plates

IKEA Miniature Stoneware Tea Cup Set

IKEA Duktig 24-piece Dinnerware Set

IKEA PVC-free Place Mat

Any purchase you make from The Soft Landing Shopping Guides helps to support our website, our research, and the free content we provide. If you have an Amazon login, it’s even easier to make a purchase. Thanks for browsing!

 

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Missy,

    We did a little investigative work into Rubbermaid products (see the post here).

    We found a helpful list provided by Rubbermaid that shows the juice boxes as BPA free – so you’re in good shape!

    Alicia

  • Monique

    Is polypropylene a safe alternative for baby dishes/forks/spoons, etc?

  • Monique

    Is polypropylene a safe alternative for baby dishes/forks/spoons, etc?

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Monique,

    That’s a great question – and YES, polypropylene is a safe alternative to toxic plastics such as polycarbonate and PVC.

    Alicia

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Monique,

    That’s a great question – and YES, polypropylene is a safe alternative to toxic plastics such as polycarbonate and PVC.

    Alicia

  • Celia

    Does anyone know about the BPA content of Gladware and other similar storage containers that you can buy at the grocery store? I always use them for my leftovers, and am now wondering if I need to throw them away, along with all of my sippy cups! Thanks for publishing all of this info–I found it extremely helpful!

  • Celia

    Does anyone know about the BPA content of Gladware and other similar storage containers that you can buy at the grocery store? I always use them for my leftovers, and am now wondering if I need to throw them away, along with all of my sippy cups! Thanks for publishing all of this info–I found it extremely helpful!

  • mandelyn

    I had purchased the tumblers from ikea a couple of years ago and they had a #5 on bottom- i went back and was going to purchase more and they now have no # on the bottom but the packaging had a four- so they must have changed something- i put them back and found this site

  • mandelyn

    I had purchased the tumblers from ikea a couple of years ago and they had a #5 on bottom- i went back and was going to purchase more and they now have no # on the bottom but the packaging had a four- so they must have changed something- i put them back and found this site

  • mandelyn

    lap top lunches often have over stock on their containers and lids you can pick up individual containers pretty cheap if you check every so often

  • mandelyn

    lap top lunches often have over stock on their containers and lids you can pick up individual containers pretty cheap if you check every so often

  • http://www.sarenasworld.blogspot.com Sarena Kopciel

    Ok any idea on the new bamboo line of cutlery for kids. I would assume that is same??

  • http://www.sarenasworld.blogspot.com Sarena Kopciel

    Ok any idea on the new bamboo line of cutlery for kids. I would assume that is same??

  • Amanda

    I was checking out the safe dishware for kids. Are these plastics melamine free? I am trying to find something for my son that won’t leach melamine as well. Just curious if you knew.

  • Amanda

    I was checking out the safe dishware for kids. Are these plastics melamine free? I am trying to find something for my son that won’t leach melamine as well. Just curious if you knew.

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Amanda,

    Great question!

    All of the products on the list are Melamine free (as are all the products we recommend on our blog and on our website at http://www.thesoftlanding.com).

    We’ve clarified our position on ZAK! melamine products above to make sure it’s clear that we don’t recommend it. You can read more about Melamine here.

    Alicia

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Amanda,

    Great question!

    All of the products on the list are Melamine free (as are all the products we recommend on our blog and on our website at http://www.thesoftlanding.com).

    We’ve clarified our position on ZAK! melamine products above to make sure it’s clear that we don’t recommend it. You can read more about Melamine here.

    Alicia

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  • Jen

    I am unsure about the arrow products….the company confirmed they are bpa and pvc free correct? And those items listed are the only ones that are okay, or are all their kids/juvenile products okay? I checked a store near me and their Arrow dishes were dated 2005…does that mean they could be unsafe even if they are on your list? Ha, for some reason knowing they are sold at Wal-Mart and so inexpensive makes me uneasy…..

  • Jen

    I am unsure about the arrow products….the company confirmed they are bpa and pvc free correct? And those items listed are the only ones that are okay, or are all their kids/juvenile products okay? I checked a store near me and their Arrow dishes were dated 2005…does that mean they could be unsafe even if they are on your list? Ha, for some reason knowing they are sold at Wal-Mart and so inexpensive makes me uneasy…..

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Jen,

    I called the company myself to confirm that the Arrow products are indeed BPA, PVC and phthalate free :)

    They’ve used the same polypropylene “recipe” for many years, so even dishes made in 2005 are fine. Also, the year label on the bottom may not represent the year it was made, but rather the year that particular design was implemented.

    They’re using the same inexpensive polypropylene plastic that many other companies like Boon, ZAK! and IKEA use, so no need to worry about safety based on the cost.

    Alicia

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Jen,

    I called the company myself to confirm that the Arrow products are indeed BPA, PVC and phthalate free :)

    They’ve used the same polypropylene “recipe” for many years, so even dishes made in 2005 are fine. Also, the year label on the bottom may not represent the year it was made, but rather the year that particular design was implemented.

    They’re using the same inexpensive polypropylene plastic that many other companies like Boon, ZAK! and IKEA use, so no need to worry about safety based on the cost.

    Alicia

  • Jen

    Thank you. This site is the best site I’ve found for information about plastics. I plan to buy as much as I can from softlanding because the customer service and time spent on safety issues is top rate and MUCH appreciated.

  • Jen

    Thank you. This site is the best site I’ve found for information about plastics. I plan to buy as much as I can from softlanding because the customer service and time spent on safety issues is top rate and MUCH appreciated.

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Wow, Jen! That’s music to my ears :)

    Customer service is our primary concern, because without our customers – we a big fat zero.

    Sincerely,

    Alicia

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Wow, Jen! That’s music to my ears :)

    Customer service is our primary concern, because without our customers – we a big fat zero.

    Sincerely,

    Alicia

  • Faith

    It would be great it you did a squidoo guide for utensils or a separate quick reference guide. Just searching for spoons (baby spoons) wasn’t as easy as the other items you’ve covered.

  • Faith

    It would be great it you did a squidoo guide for utensils or a separate quick reference guide. Just searching for spoons (baby spoons) wasn’t as easy as the other items you’ve covered.

  • Amber

    I’ve seen several questions posed about the safety of acrylic in dishware but no answers. We just purchased 100% acrylic cups from Target and are trying to figure out whether they’re safe. Any info is very much appreciated!

  • Amber

    I’ve seen several questions posed about the safety of acrylic in dishware but no answers. We just purchased 100% acrylic cups from Target and are trying to figure out whether they’re safe. Any info is very much appreciated!

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Amber,

    We haven’t done a lot of homework on acrylic, so we aren’t able to be of much help here. I can tell you that it is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free, but the “ingredients” used are definitely toxic during production. We would love to hear from others about any studies showing chemicals leaching after the materials have been stabilized into a resin.

    Alicia

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Hi Amber,

    We haven’t done a lot of homework on acrylic, so we aren’t able to be of much help here. I can tell you that it is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free, but the “ingredients” used are definitely toxic during production. We would love to hear from others about any studies showing chemicals leaching after the materials have been stabilized into a resin.

    Alicia

  • Leigh

    Thank you so much for the wonderful resources you provide. I have not found a better website anywhere else online. Please continue to keep up the good work – Busy moms out there really appreciate it! :)

  • Leigh

    Thank you so much for the wonderful resources you provide. I have not found a better website anywhere else online. Please continue to keep up the good work – Busy moms out there really appreciate it! :)

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Wow, Leigh! Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to let us know that you’re benefiting from our work :)

    Sincerely,

    Alicia and Sisters

  • http://www.thesoftlanding.com softlanding

    Wow, Leigh! Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to let us know that you’re benefiting from our work :)

    Sincerely,

    Alicia and Sisters

  • meg

    Any info about the safety of Tervis Tumblers would be appreciated. Thanks!

  • meg

    Any info about the safety of Tervis Tumblers would be appreciated. Thanks!

  • maya

    What do you think about enamelware? From what I’ve read it looks like it might be safe? There are some kids enamelware dish sets, and then there’s the coleman camping enamelware dish sets. What do you think?

  • maya

    What do you think about enamelware? From what I’ve read it looks like it might be safe? There are some kids enamelware dish sets, and then there’s the coleman camping enamelware dish sets. What do you think?

  • Lori

    Thank you! This is just want I needed. I have been looking everywhere for safe, non-breakable cups for my toddler ready to drink from a big-kid cup, but not glass. Thank you for providing this guide – I wish I came across it weeks ago!

  • Lori

    Thank you! This is just want I needed. I have been looking everywhere for safe, non-breakable cups for my toddler ready to drink from a big-kid cup, but not glass. Thank you for providing this guide – I wish I came across it weeks ago!

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  • staceyleigh

    Have you reviewed Fit N Fresh? I believe it is BPA free, but I can't find if it is PVC free…. I love the containers, their shape, the included icepack, etc. But I don't want to use them if they are not safe for my 3 year old. Thanks much!

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  • Ara

    Hey thank you for posting this guidelines and information. I also want to add up the stainless steel latch tiffin by happy tiffin, http://www.happytiffin.com its quite affordable, safe, earth friendly and stylish. Have you learned about it too? It comes from different design.

  • Heavy Duty Plastic Pallets

    I'll post the same information to my blog, thanks for ideas and great article.