[Mama Bear]

I've made to switch to stainless sippy cups, but am having a hard time finding an alternative to those plastic/melamine kids plates and bowls. The ones my son has been using are beginning to chip/flake off. It freaks me out and I have thrown away those that are bad. I am too afraid to use our ceramic plates b/c he is only 2.5 years old.<br>
Any suggestions??? TIA! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/loveeyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Loveeyes">:

 

[Lovenest]

I would go to the thrift store and get ceramic plates. Kids are usually fine if at the table.

 

[darlintxmomma]

corelle...mine have paid for themselves and then some. completely microwave safe and even though they feel like glass or ceramic, they practically bounce. mine have hit the floor countless times and i still havent lost a single plate. you can buy them individually at walmart , including the smaller sized ones which are perfect for my almost 2 yr old.

 

[srain]

We use mostly china pretty much from birth, but our kids have always insisted on having someone sit with them while they eat, so we can stop any flying dish problems before they start. This depends on personality, but my kids don't intentionally throw dishes after 18 months or so, and carry their own very carefully. I've probably broken more dishes than they have.<br><br>
We also have some enamel-covered metal ones that came in a picnic set, and some wooden salad bowls that are breakproof.

 

[Ilovelife]

Yes, the enamel covered metal ones are nice, although they do get warm with warm foods on them. Wooden bowls make good teethers. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[sweetpeas]

Another vote for corelle! Also for bowls, I have some little pyrex ones likes <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&tag=motheringhud-20&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPyrex-Original-10%25252doz%25252e-Custard-4%25252dpk%25252e%2Fdp%2FB000FQFDTC%2Fref%3Dpd_bbs_sr_2%2F104-0098328-7947125%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dhome-garden%26qid%3D1177727499%26sr%3D8-2" target="_blank">these</a> that I swear are indestructible! I only have a few of the small corelle bowls, and the corelle cereal bowls seem so BIG for little kids, so I love these pyrex ones, a nice thick glass that's I seriously think you'd have to take a hammer to in order to break LOL.

 

[Mamma Mia]

I have some cheap and really nice wooden plates from Crate and Barrel. They are unfinished and very pretty. There are also bowls and little sauce dishes. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[gmvh]

Have you tried ceramic/porcelain/earthenware plates with your 2.5 year old? We've been using Fiestaware with our two since 14 months or so with only two breakages. I think kids have a sense when something is delicate and treat it as such. Maybe my kids have just never been inclined to toss a dish off the table... FWIW, I've gotten metal splinters from the enameled metal dishware on more than one occasion so I avoid the stuff like crazy. I agree with finding dishes at the thrift store if you're worried about losing your good stuff!

 

[eco_mama]

bamboo <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[MaMaLi]

We have a stainless divided plate from the camping store. We use clear glass plates for single items though and never had a break.

 

[Mama Dragon]

Corelle, my set has lasted through 3 toddlers now, the only breakage being the one I threw <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[Slabobbin]

I have a divided stainless steel plate for each child that I found at a thrift store for under a dollar each. Not only are they SS and durable but I love the divided compartments because my son is picky (like his mama <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"> ) and hates it when the juice from his fruit or vegetables touch his other food.

 

[mommajb]

We use corelle but when it breaks it turns into 1 million little pieces.

 

[Dillpicklechip]

I think with Corelle it depends on what kind of flooring you have. We have very hard ceramic tile in our kitchen, and EVERYTHING that hits that floor breaks into a million tiny pieces. Including my Corelle dishes. We've lived here about a year and a half and I'd say at least a dozen Corelle dishes have been broken in that time (several were at once when my 2 year old decided to look through the dish rack), as well as about 10 glass cups. Probably a wood or cork floor would be more forgiving.

 

[counterGOPI]

most indian gorcery stores sell stainless steel plates. thats what we use <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[oneotamama]

So is the general census that Corelle isn't harmful? I guess I always thought of it as not much better than plastic?! Is it???

 

[momto l&a]

Corelle<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"><br><br>
We have only broken 2 dishes in the 7 years we have had the stuff. One a table fell on and the other just landed really funny I guess.<br><br>
I dont see how Corelle could be harmful <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shrug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shrug"><br><br>
I use to break so much ceramic just washing the stuff.

 

[snookies]

I got the cutest little 8inch bamboo plates from Winners here in Canada. They are great and wash really easily.

 

[snookies]

Heres a link to ones similar from amazon.com<br><br><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&tag=motheringhud-20&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FAll-Occasion-Bamboo-Veneerware-Plates-9%2Fdp%2FB000HM409I%2Fref%3Dpd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_3_txt%2F102-9892196-7862509" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/All-Occasion-B...892196-7862509</a>