Key points for the safety design of children's tableware

Material safety

Non-toxic and harmless: The materials of children's tableware must be non-toxic and harmless, and must not contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, as well as harmful chemicals such as bisphenol A and plasticizers. Because children's bodies are not yet fully developed and their resistance to harmful substances is relatively weak, long-term exposure or intake of these harmful substances may affect the normal development of their nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, etc. For instance, some low-quality plastic tableware may release plasticizers, which could enter children's bodies through their mouths after use, posing a potential threat to their health.

High-temperature resistance: Considering that tableware may need to undergo high-temperature disinfection, the material should have good high-temperature resistance. Generally speaking, materials that can withstand temperatures above 100℃ are more suitable. In this way, when boiling for disinfection or heating food in a microwave oven, the tableware will not deform, release harmful substances or produce unpleasant odors. For instance, some food-grade silicone and stainless steel materials have relatively good high-temperature resistance.

Not easy to break: Children may accidentally drop or bump into tableware during use, so the material of the tableware should have a certain degree of toughness and not be easy to break. Broken tableware may scratch children's skin. Even if the fragments are accidentally ingested, it may cause more serious injuries. Compared with materials like glass and ceramics, some plastic and silicone tableware are less likely to break and have higher safety.

Safety in styling design

Smooth edges: The edges of tableware, including the rim of bowls, the rim of plates, the edges of spoons, and the ends of chopsticks, should all be polished to be smooth and round, without sharp edges or burrs. This can prevent children from being scratched or cut during use. For example, the edges of spoons used by children should be as smooth as carefully polished pebbles, so as not to cause harm to children's mouths and hands.

Appropriate size: The size of tableware should be designed according to the age of children and the size of their hands. For younger children, the size of tableware should not be too large; otherwise, they may have difficulty holding and operating it. It should not be too small either, so as not to spill the food easily. For example, the diameter and depth of bowls and plates used by children should be moderate to facilitate their own eating. The length and thickness of the chopsticks should also be suitable for children's small hands, allowing them to grasp and use them easily.

No small parts: There should be no easily falling small parts on the tableware, such as small beads or stickers. These small components may be accidentally ingested by children, leading to dangerous situations such as suffocation. For instance, some tableware with cartoon decorations, if the small decorative parts are not sturdy, children may pick them down and swallow them while playing or eating.

Anti-slip design

Anti-slip surface: The surface of tableware can be designed with some anti-slip textures or made of anti-slip materials to increase the friction when children hold it and prevent the tableware from slipping out of their hands. For instance, the surface of some plastic tableware may have tiny protrusions or grooves, which make it more stable for children's little hands to hold. Silicone material itself also has a certain anti-slip performance, which can better fix the tableware on the table and make it less likely to be knocked over by children.

Anti-slip at the bottom: The bottom of the tableware can also be designed with anti-slip pads or made of anti-slip materials to make the tableware more stable on the table. When children are having meals, they may touch the tableware due to large movements. The anti-slip bottom can reduce the possibility of tableware moving and toppling over, preventing food from spilling and tableware from being damaged. For example, some children's plates have rubber anti-slip pads at the bottom, which can effectively prevent the plates from sliding on the table.

Easy-to-clean design

Simple structure: The structure of tableware should be as simple as possible, without complex crevices and dead corners, which is convenient for cleaning and less likely to accumulate dirt and grime. For instance, the bowls and plates used by children should have regular shapes both inside and out, without excessive grooves or protrusions. This way, parents can easily rinse away food residues and stains when cleaning them.

Detachable parts: If the tableware has some detachable parts, such as the handle and spoon head of a spoon, the lid and body of a cup, etc., they should be designed to be easy to disassemble and install, making it convenient for parents to clean thoroughly. Moreover, the connection points between these detachable components should also be easy to clean, and there should be no gaps where food remains. For instance, for some children's water cups with straws, the straw and the cup body should be easily disassembled for cleaning to ensure the hygiene inside the straw.

Other safety designs

Transparent or semi-transparent design (for some tableware) : For some tableware containing liquids, such as water cups and baby bottles, using transparent or semi-transparent materials enables parents or children to clearly see the volume and state of the liquid inside, avoiding situations such as overflow or excessive drinking due to not knowing the amount of liquid. Meanwhile, the transparent or semi-transparent materials also make it convenient for parents to observe whether the inside of the tableware is clean.

Clear labels: Tableware should have clear labels, including material descriptions, usage methods, precautions and other information. These signs can help parents understand the safety and applicable scope of tableware and guide children to use it correctly. For instance, the label will indicate whether the tableware is suitable for microwave heating and can be disinfected at high temperatures, etc., making parents feel more at ease during the usage process.