When your baby is weaning, your kitchen cupboards will be full of plates, cutlery, cups and all your essential feeding paraphernalia. Which usually means plenty of plastic. But have you considered bamboo when it comes to your plates, bowls and cups?
Bamboo is a fantastic material that absorbs CO2, grows at incredible speed, has a tensile strength that’s greater than steel and takes centre stage in our Bambou feeding range. Our bowls, plates and cups are durable, bio-degradable and made from this renewable source. They stand the test of time, are practical options in your kitchen and they look great too. But does bamboo work just as well as plastic? And how easy are bamboo plates and bowls to clean? Here we answer some key questions around choosing and using bamboo for your baby’s mealtimes.
Are bamboo bowls safe?
By choosing bamboo over plastic, not only will you be choosing a more sustainable material, but you’ll also be selecting a perfectly safe and natural option for your children too. With some poorly made plastic baby bowls, plates and cups chemicals can gradually leach into food and drink, which can potentially negatively affect your baby’s health.
Bamboo on the other hand is a safe alternative to these low grade plastics, as these chemicals aren’t used in production. When it comes to bamboo, you just need to check for any use of melamine, which is often used to colour the bamboo. At Munchkin, our Bambou range is made from 100% bamboo without the use of any chemicals. It’s super safe.
Can bamboo plates go in the dishwasher?
It’s recommended that you don’t wash bamboo in the dishwasher as the harsh detergents and heat can be too much for the material to take.
When you come to wash our bamboo bowls, cups or plates make sure you remove the silicone cup liner or silicone bowl/plate base and wash the bamboo element by hand in warm soapy water. You should then allow it to air dry – it’s as simple as that! You can however wash all the silicone elements in the dishwasher.
Yes, it might be tempting to whack your bamboo bowls and plates in the dishwasher when you’re busy, but this natural material needs a bit of natural love and care. With that in mind, you should also apply a thin layer of olive oil on a monthly basis to maintain the quality and lifespan of the bamboo.
Can bamboo bowls go in the microwave?
You might be wondering whether you can microwave bamboo cups to warm up some hot milk or reheat something in a bamboo bowl. It’s not a good idea.
Bamboo contains moisture and is made from natural fibres which won’t tolerate being cooked in the microwave or oven. And most bowls, cups and plates are made from crushed bamboo strips that are glued together. If you put bamboo in the microwave, the moisture will start to evaporate which will eventually cause the bamboo to warp and crack. It will then become fragile with the wood darkening, and it’s also likely that the glued strips will begin to fall apart.
It’s not a good way to look after your bamboo.
Is bamboo a good choice?
Bamboo is always a good choice. Yes you can’t put bamboo bowls, plates or cups in the microwave or dishwasher but they still make practical options for your kitchen. Our Bambou range is designed around your little ones to make eating and drinking easier, as well as being beautiful to look at and use.
The thin edge and the narrow body of our Bambou cup work for small hands while the 100% silicone edge makes drinking from all sides possible. The vertical wall of the Bamboo suction bowl ensures scooping is easy, and our bamboo divided suction plate has an arc design and 100% silicone suction base that better fits table or highchair eating, and is very difficult to dislodge.
When you’re done and baby is full, any bamboo feeding items simply need a little care and attention to make sure they’ll last for years to come.
Considering bamboo for your mealtimes?
We couldn’t recommend it enough!
If you’ve decided to be more sustainable this year and do your bit for the environment, opting for bamboo at mealtimes is a great place to start. Interested in more baby advice? Simply head to our blog or check out our StrollerCoaster podcast.