Best Toddler Utensil
Similar in appearance to adult silverware, the Exzact Kids Silverware Set is a good option for experienced toddlers. It has an engraved dog or bunny on the handle, which is sweet and simple design touch. Considering it is made of stainless steel (a material we believe is healthier), it provides durability and longevity. In fact, we believe these forks and spoons will last years, and your little one will most likely outgrow them before they show wear and tear. We also appreciate the cutlery's one-piece design (no nooks or crannies for food remnants to hide), and they are super easy to clean - toss them into the dishwasher. Who doesn't appreciate convenience? Unlike other toddler forks that feature round tines, those in this set are not as rounded, making it easier for kids to pierce tough foods.
The utensils measure about 5.5 inches in length, which is smaller than adult silverware but longer than other toddler cutlery in our lineup. So, they may seem too big in young tots' hands, which can influence how well your little one can control the tool. Therefore, we recommend this set to older toddlers, preschoolers, and kids who need silverware until they are ready to transition to adult-size cutlery.
The TOMY Take & Toss Toddler Flatware may fit your needs if you seek quantity with a low price tag. This set includes 16 utensils (8 spoons and 8 forks). Toss one in your diaper bag, leave some at daycare, and have some for mealtime at home. Plus, they're cheap, so if you accidentally misplace one, it's no big deal. From our testing, this product is well-liked, and it holds up well with use over and over again. The handle is concave and nothing fancy, but they are shorter than some contenders and work well in little hands. The rounded fork tines help your child who is still learning self-feeding skills, and the packaging says it works for children nine months of age and beyond.
Keep in mind, this set is basic, and we feel that the product's name is slightly misleading and suggests that the utensils can be used and tossed after use. However, we would argue that they last much longer, helping to scoop and pierce food time and time again until they show wear and tear. When you are ready to dispose of them, they are recyclable (#5 plastic). Given the product's price, we think this option is low risk. If you love them, great. If not, no big deal; you may discover they work well as a backup for picnics and meals while traveling.
The handle design on the Munchkin Raise Toddler Fork and Spoon Set makes this product stand out among the competition. It features a raised design to keep the utensil tip off the table and away from germs (even if the utensil is right-side up or upside down). We appreciate this innovative design, and we think the stainless steel utensil heads are an advantage as we prefer stainless steel over plastic. The utensils adequately fit a toddler's hand. The handle's thickness makes it a nice intermediate size, which can assist grip, especially while your little one is developing self-feeding skills. The handle also offers silicone on top for added grip, with plastic on the bottom. This set is a top-rack dishwasher-safe product; however, handwashing may keep this product in tip-top shape.
We think the spoon's shape and size is on the smaller end, plus slightly deep, but believe it sufficiently works for toddler bites. But, if you appreciate a toddler utensil set that sports a unique handle design to keep the tip from touching the table, we suggest the Munchkin Raise for children 12 months and up.
Honestly, the name speaks for itself. The Grabease Ergonomic Baby Utensils are crafted for small hands and little eaters, making it a good introductory cutlery option for babies as early as six months of age. It can help teach and encourage self-feeding skills and independence. The flower-like barrier serves two advantages; it prevents the baby from the fork or spoon too far into their mouth, and it keeps the utensil tip off the table. The ergonomic handle is short, stubby, and great for little hands to grab. The one-piece construction makes cleaning more manageable, and it comes with a to-go pouch, making it travel-friendly for meals away from home.
The set fits a niche (hello cute little eater who are still learning to hold and use utensils). So, they are too small for older children. You may notice that the utensil's plastic is harder, especially when compared to silicone baby spoons, but this can aid in stabbing foods. The set includes one spoon and one fork; that's all. Therefore, we suggest evaluating the product's cost, quantity, and lifespan they may play in your child's life. For those on a budget, the short lifespan may not justify the overall cost. Despite these factors, we believe this product is an excellent introductory utensil option.
The doddl Cutlery Set includes one spoon and fork, as well as a child-friendly knife that no other competitor in our review offers. Unlike the Grabease, this set features stainless steel heads, but they share a similar size. The ergonomic handles design, which has some non-slip material, can encourage your child's 'pincer' grip and make it easier to hold and use. Since we are big fans of including children in food preparation and cooking, we appreciate having a safe knife alternative. The blade's teeth are not sharp and work best with softer food items, like banana and avocado, which is likely what you'd allow your child to cut as a beginner. The set is also dishwasher safe and free of BPA and phthalates. The packaging suggests that this product is suitable for children ages 12 months and beyond.
The cost of this set is higher than most of the competition. However, if you seek a beginner cutlery set, this one may be worth every penny. We think this set will help your little one build confidence in cutlery.
Is your child a construction truck enthusiast? If so, turn mealtime into a fun and engaging event using the Dinneractive Utensil Set. This set includes two utensils: (1) loader spoon and (1) tractor fork. The utensils are about 6.5" long, made of BPA-free and phthalate-free plastic, and encourage the use of cutlery. Perhaps they may even inspire a picky eater to take more bites.
The utensils are long, and we think they are most suitable for an older child than a beginner eater who is learning to hold utensils. Although they are dishwasher-safe, we encourage handwashing as we believe this prolongs the material's durability and longevity. Plus, the set has a more detailed design, with nooks and crannies, and this will allow you to inspect it for wear and tear frequently. The set's price is costly, making it a factor to consider; however, does fun have a price tag? We believe this utensil set may be a favorite for a truck-loving toddler, bringing some excitement to the dinner table.
The Munchkin Multi Fork and Spoon are plastic and basic, but they work. Plus, they sport an inexpensive price tag. The fork is rounded and with no sharp edges, and we think this set is great for beginner eaters who are practicing self-feeding skills. The handle has some thickness, which can help a toddler's grip compared to thin handles seen on some competitors.
Plastic is not our preferred choice of material due to potential concerns about chemicals leaching into a baby's food. Also, the packaging states this set is top-rack dishwasher safe; but we suggest hand washing due to it being plastic. Some users mention that the white material on the utensil can stain, such as from spaghetti sauce. Although this is not the first product we would recommend, it does get the job done for a great price.
Dish up with the Kirecoo Fork and Spoon Set. This product comes with a hard-shell carrying case, which we think is a perk for families who often travel and enjoy meals away from home. We appreciate the stainless steel heads. The fork and spoon fit a toddler's hand, and the plastic handles slightly curve, which we think is more pronounced and can help ensure food gets to its intended destination.
The fork is more of a spork (combo of spoon and fork) with rounded prongs, and we believe this design is safer for tots still learning to aim for their mouths. Nonetheless, If you seek a toddler utensil set with rounded edges and appreciate the carry case, we recommend this flatware set.
The Skip Hop Zootensils Fork and Spoon may catch your attention with its playful handle design, which adds a pop of color to mealtime. We appreciate the stainless steel heads, which we prefer over plastic options. The fork and spoon are shorter than other contenders and sport wide and chunky handles. We believe the product's size and shape are more comfortable for younger tots and the handle design encourages a steady grip.
Although dishwasher-safe, we noticed some peeling on our set during testing, and we wonder about the handle's long-term durability and suggest hand washing this product. If you can overlook this flaw, we recommend this product for a toddler who needs extra surface area to hold or a little one who will enjoy the fun handle design.
Why You Should Trust Us
BabyGearLab has been testing various baby-related gear over the past 10 years. Leading our review is Molly Bradac, Senior Review Editor, and Nanny with over 14 years of experience. Drawing from her experience with a range of children ages and developmental stages, Molly can provide recommendations for a utensil set that may work for your family and needs. We purchased each product in our review, sent them through rigorous, side-by-side testing before rating and ranking the competition.
Analysis and Test Results
While evaluating and ranking performance among the competition, we reviewed each contender for material and usability, such as comfortability to hold and cleaning ease.
Material
Toddler utensils use various materials, including stainless steel, silicone, plastic, or bamboo. For a health-conscious parent, stainless steel is an excellent option, plus it is durable and long-lasting. The Exzact Kids Silverware Set fits this profile. Silicone is another safe and healthy alternative as it is considered toxin-free, particularly 100% food grade or medical grade silicone. Plus, it is soft and can withstand the high temperatures of a dishwasher. Our review does not include a 100% silicone product, but the handle of the Munchkin Raise Toddler Fork and Spoon Set features some silicone for added grip.
As for plastic, we are not big fans, primarily due to the potential of chemicals leaching into baby's food. However, we recognize that this material tends to be less expensive. There are multiple plastic options in our review, including the Grabease Ergonomic Baby Utensils, Dinneractive Utensil Set, and the Munchkin Multi Forks and Spoons. Considering that safer and healthier materials are available, like stainless steel, silicone, or bamboo, we recommend heading in that direction when you can. But, if you think a plastic option meets your needs, these contenders will get the job done.
Size
We've done the measuring and side-by-side comparison so you can reap the benefits of the details and select an option that will work for your child's age and stage. The Grabease Ergonomic Baby Utensils and doddl Cutlery Set are the shortest among the competition, whereas the Exzact Kids Silverware Set and Dinneractive Utensil Set are some of the longest. The Munchkin Raise Toddler Fork and Spoon Set and the Kirecoo Fork and Spoon Set fall within the average range, and lastly, the Skip Hop Zootensils Fork and Spoon and TOMY Take & Toss Toddler Flatware are slightly below average. Since every child is different, you should find a utensil set that best fits your child's hands.
Ease of Cleaning
This metric is all about convenience. Of course, a dishwasher-safe product (top-rack preferable) is more manageable than handwashing as this task can be slightly more time-consuming. We believe the Exzact Kids Silverware Set is hands down the easiest to clean. The one-piece stainless-steel design can tolerate the high heat of a dishwasher. Even if a product's manufacturer states that a product is dishwasher-safe, we encourage handwashing to avoid high heat and reduce the potential risk of chemical exposure, especially since it will be in your baby's mouth. When it comes to the Skip Hop Zootensils Fork and Spoon, we suggest handwashing this product as we wonder about the handle's durability. The Dinneractive Utensil Set has many details and nooks and crannies to inspect; therefore, we believe this product requires more effort when cleaning.
Conclusion
When your baby graduates to their very own utensil set, it can be an exciting milestone. Of course, using a utensil takes practice, and you can expect messes, but eventually, your toddler will be a scooping and spearing champ. Let our recommendations help guide your decision-making, and soon enough, your toddler will be dishing up their own meals.
— Molly Bradac