The Bumkins Silicone Grip Dish showed up in five of the seven sources we analyzed, and two of the most rigorous hands-on testers ranked it first. Rachel Murphy at Reviewed.com spent a month testing 12 suction plates across glass, wood, quartz, and plastic high chair trays. Her toddler could not lift the Bumkins from any surface. The mom behind Little Loving Life confirmed the same result after months of daily use with three children.
What separates the Bumkins from its competitors is the combination of suction strength and material quality. It uses platinum-cured silicone, free of BPA, PVC, lead, and phthalates. Unlike cheaper plastic plates, it goes in the microwave, the oven (up to 400F), the freezer, and the dishwasher without warping or degrading.
The flat front edge brings the plate closer to your toddler's body, which Motherly and Little Loving Life both highlight as a self-feeding advantage. Sloped interior walls help small hands scoop food toward the edge instead of chasing peas around a flat surface. At roughly $10 per plate, it costs less than most of its competitors while outperforming them on the metric that matters most: keeping food on the table.
Twelve color options is a nice bonus. Your kid picks the green one, eats more broccoli. Probably not, but at least the plate stays put.
What It Won't Do
Silicone absorbs soapy taste and smell over time. The Bump and Little Loving Life both report this, and it gets worse if you leave the plate soaking in soapy water. The fix is simple (rinse immediately, boil occasionally, use less soap), but it is real and annoying. BabyGearLab also scored the Bumkins at just 52/100, partly because of this issue and partly because their eco-health weighting penalized silicone less than plastic but still below stainless steel.
The Munchkin Splash Plate & Bowl Set gives you four pieces, two divided plates and two bowls, for around $16. That is $4 per piece. A single Bumkins plate costs $10. The math is simple.
Munchkin shows up in four of our seven sources. BabyGearLab calls it the best budget option. Motherly highlights the steep walls that keep food from sliding off the edge. The plates and bowls are microwave safe, dishwasher safe, and require zero maintenance. No monthly oiling like bamboo. No special soap like silicone. No "skip the dry cycle" warnings like stainless steel.
The anti-skid rubber on the bottom is not suction, and Reviewed.com confirmed that a motivated toddler can slide these plates around. But for parents who just need functional, durable feeding dishes without spending $10-25 per plate, the Munchkin set covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the price of one premium competitor.
What It Won't Do
No suction. The anti-skid rubber bottom helps on smooth surfaces, but a toddler who wants to throw a plate will throw it. BabyGearLab gave the set a 46/100 overall, driven by the lowest eco-health score in their test group. The plastic scratches easily with metal utensils and shows wear after months of dishwasher cycles. If you care about microplastic exposure from heated plastic, this is the wrong choice.
Who Should Buy Which
Bumkins Silicone Grip Dish
Suction so strong your toddler will give up trying to lift it
- Parents of toddlers in the active throwing phase (10-24 months) who need dishes that actually stay on the table
- Families who microwave food directly on the plate and want a material rated safe for heating
- Parents who want one high-quality plate per child rather than a drawer full of cheap sets
- Anyone concerned about material safety who wants to stay below the $25 price point of stainless steel options
- Daycare providers who need dishwasher-proof plates that survive rough handling from multiple children
Munchkin Splash Plate & Bowl Set
Four durable pieces for the price of one premium plate
- Budget-conscious families outfitting a full feeding station (plates and bowls) for under $20
- Parents of older toddlers (2+) who have mostly stopped throwing dishes
- Families who want microwave and dishwasher convenience with zero maintenance requirements
- Parents who need backup sets for grandparents' houses, daycare, or travel without spending premium prices
- Anyone who prioritizes practicality over material purity and just wants dishes that work