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Parenting

How long do you keep using plastic plates?

40 replies

jollyfrenchy · 09/02/2016 10:39

So, I'm just wondering at what point do you start using china plates and grown up cutlery with your kids? I was tidying cupboards this morning and thought that perhaps we have carried on just out of habit and there's no need.

My kids are 5, 7 and 9, and we still tend to use plastic bowls/plates/cups, and they have metal cutlery but it's kid sized. The 9 year old would obviously be fine on adult stuff, though adult dessert spoons still seem really big for her mouth (she's quite small for age). She uses china mugs for hot chocolate but the younger two never drink hot drinks so they still use plastic.

Is it time to ditch the plastic? It's not really even like our china is super special. We have Denby which we only use for 'best', so our everyday china, it wouldn't be the end of the world if it did get broken. Just curious to know at what age other people give them china plates.

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CMOTDibbler · 09/02/2016 10:42

We ditched plastic by 2. Our cutlery has smaller knives and forks (I think they are for starters), and ds has used those since he was 4

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gaggiagirl · 09/02/2016 10:43

We still use plastic plates/bowls/cups/cutlery for nearly 5yo DD but its more because of its size really. She finds her china mug too heavy to drink from and adult sized stuff is too big for her portions.

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Lweji · 09/02/2016 10:44

Yes, it's time, unless they are particularly prone to dropping plates on the floor.

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SuburbanRhonda · 09/02/2016 10:49

We still use ours for snacks. DD is 20 and DS is 17 Blush. Not sure DD would ever forgive me if I got rid of her Miffy plate Smile

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StitchesInTime · 09/02/2016 10:53

I can't remember when we stopped using plastic for DS1 (4.5 yrs). But we've been using proper plates for DS2 for at least 6 months and he's almost 2.5 yrs now. He still gets plastic cups though as he drops cups a lot.

We use the smaller plates for the DC - so side plates or cake plate sizes instead of adult sized plates. We've got smaller children's metal cutlery for them too.

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jollyfrenchy · 09/02/2016 11:21

Rhonda, :-D I still have my Peter Rabbit plate and mug from when I was little. They are china though (and I won't let the kids use them as I really would be upset if they got smashed!).

I think some of the plastic will still be useful, eg we have little plastic bowls that they have fruit in at breakfast time etc. But maybe I will get rid of plates and free up some cupboard space.

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dayslikethis · 09/02/2016 11:26

DC here are 11, 8, 5 & 5 - we use plastic for snacks as they tend to walk around the house with them, but proper for everything else - have done since the DTs were about 3. Our Denby is actually our everyday stuff (I like it too much to keep it for best) and it's pretty hardy - the only breakages have been by DH, not the DC!

We do still often use plastic cups however as they are clumsy with glasses! It depends what comes out of the cupboard first mind you!

For cutlery we have IKEA dragon I think it's called - it's technically dessert cutlery but it's great for kids - proper serrated knives and the forks & spoons are bigger than most kids sets, but not as big as adult ones. (In fact, I prefer the spoons for things like cereal and ice-cream myself!) DS (11) can use adult cutlery fine (and to honest DD1 (8) could too) but they usually just all grab the same ones out of the drawer

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cornishglos · 09/02/2016 19:23

Never used plastic. Had no breakages so far in over 2 years.

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Pointlessfan · 09/02/2016 19:28

DD is nearly 2 and desperate to use the same plates as us, she often tries to slide them towards her while we are eating.
Today we let her eat her pancake on a proper plate and she cracked it by bashing it with her spoon. Back to plastic tomorrow, otherwise that'll be all we have left!

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winchester1 · 09/02/2016 19:30

Started to move to glasses and china about 18months. We've a one yr old as well.though so there are still plastic bowls around that are sometimes used for snacks for the two half yr old.
We use breakfast plates or shallow bowls mostly as they are smaller and easier to.eat from with just a spoon or fork.

We didn't use baby/toddler cutlery at all, we tried they weren't interested and just took ours.

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RedOnHerHedd · 09/02/2016 19:30

By the time they were 2. We've had a few smashed plates and cups, but it's how they learn to be careful.

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RedOnHerHedd · 09/02/2016 19:33

And adult cutlery too. They've just used the teaspoon instead of the dessert spoon until they felt they needed the dessert spoon. They're 11 and 7 now. But I still eat with a teaspoon sometimes for yogurts etc. It fits better than a dessert spoon. I have a little mouth but a big voice.

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Blueberry234 · 09/02/2016 19:34

From a year, I just use a side plate for portion control

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sillyoldfool · 09/02/2016 19:34

We use kids plastic plates, not because of breakages but to keep an eye on portion sizes, we used big plates for a bit and found it too easy to give them too much.

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LadyIsabellaWrotham · 09/02/2016 19:34

We carried on using plastic plates until they broke or got stained or knackered in the dishwasher (we had hard plastic ones not soft, so they did break eventually). We've still got one last plastic one that gets used for toast and the DC are in secondary school.

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janethegirl2 · 09/02/2016 19:42

Never used plastic plates although my DM still uses hers

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neversleepagain · 09/02/2016 20:53

We moved to China plates and adult cuttlery when our twins turned 3.

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DinosaursRoar · 09/02/2016 20:58

DD is 2.5 and we're just making the transition to china plates and grown up knives and forks, although she (and DS - 6yo) uses the smaller starter forks and knives. We still use plastic tumbles as both are accident prone, DS has ones that look like glass though. (the thick plastic ones you get a posh outdoor events/for picnics)

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CoperCabana · 09/02/2016 21:01

I have been wondering about this. My two are 3 and 6. I overface them if I use a normal dinner plate, which is why I have stuck with the plastic. I need a plate slightly bigger than a side plate, but smaller than a regular dinner plate. Does anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks for the Ikea Dragon Cutlery suggestion. I will add that to my next time I am in Ikea spread in my (brand new) Bullet Journal!

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dayslikethis · 09/02/2016 21:04

We use our Denby salad plates for the DC (and often for ourselves) - the dinner plates are just far too big and yes, side plates are tiny. The salad ones are the perfect size for the DC and they help us with portion control for ourselves. We only pull out the dinner plates when we have guests!!!!

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CoperCabana · 09/02/2016 21:07

Thankyou dayslikethis. Will look for salad plates.

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Yellowaveo59 · 09/02/2016 21:07

Look at //www.greysimmonds.co.uk they supply restaurants you could get a box or Titan winged 8" or 9" plates which are between side plates and mains plates. They are restaurant plates carry a 5 year edge chipping warranty so should with stand a bit of bashing around.

I have the they are dishwasher and ivenproof

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RandomMess · 09/02/2016 21:10

I have 4 DC and I think we stuck with the plastic plates for quite a long time basically because it was easier to dish up as we know whose plate each one was!!!

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foreverton · 09/02/2016 21:18

These Kath Kidston ones are fab I've had this for 2 years now and they still sell them and in several boy/girl/neutral designs.
Have also made great presents.
Dd is 5 this week

How long do you keep using plastic plates?
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foreverton · 09/02/2016 21:20

Priced around £6/7

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