Is Silicone Safe for Babies? | Silicone Feeding Product Guide | For the Baby
Is Silicone Safe for Babies? Your Complete Guide to Our Silicone Feeding Products
It's the question every parent asks before switching from plastic. Is silicone actually safe? What's it made from? What do all those certifications actually mean? Here's everything you need to know about the silicone feeding products we sell at For the Baby.
What Is Food-Grade Silicone?
Not all silicone is the same. The silicone used in our feeding products is 100% food-grade platinum silicone — a high-purity form of silicone that's specifically manufactured for safe contact with food and with babies' mouths.
It's made from silicon (a naturally occurring element found in sand and rock), oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. It contains no plastic, no BPA, no phthalates, and no PVC. It's chemically stable, meaning it doesn't react with food or leach substances into whatever your baby is eating — even when heated.
The result is a material that's soft and flexible like rubber, heat-resistant and durable like a much harder material, and completely safe for babies from day one of weaning.
Our Safety Certifications
Our silicone feeding products are independently tested and certified to the following standards:
EN 14372:2004 — the European standard specifically for child feeding utensils, covering safety requirements, mechanical testing, and chemical migration. Our silicone plates and bowls passed every applicable test, with zero detection of heavy metals, phthalates, formaldehyde, and BPA across all 15 colour samples tested.
LFGB (German Food Safety Code, Sections 30 and 31) — widely regarded as one of the strictest food contact material standards in the world. Tested by Eurofins — one of the world's leading independent testing organisations — our products passed overall migration testing, peroxide value testing, volatile organic matter testing, and a sensorial examination confirming no perceptible odour or taste transfer.
BPA-free — independently verified across all product ranges and all colour variants. Not detected in any sample.
Phthalate-free — independently verified across all product ranges. Not detected in any sample.
Heavy metal-free — tested for lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, barium, selenium, and antimony. Not detected in any sample.
CPSIA (US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) — our silicone toys are tested to US safety standards including ASTM F963 and CPSIA.
These aren't box-ticking exercises. They're independent third-party tests that verify our products are safe before they reach you. You can download the full test certificates below:
Silicone Baby Plates and Bowls Safety Test Certificate (PDF)
Silicone Teething and Stacking Toys Safety Test Certificate (PDF)
Silicone Beach Set and Building Blocks Safety Test Certificate (PDF)
Silicone Bath Toys Safety Test Certificate (PDF)
Why Silicone Is a Great Choice for Weaning
Parents choose silicone feeding products for a handful of very practical reasons.
It survives everything. Drop a silicone plate from a high chair and it bounces. Squeeze it, bend it, throw it — it comes back to the same shape and carries on. In the weaning phase, that matters.
It's dishwasher safe. Most of our silicone plates, bowls, and cups go straight in the dishwasher. When you're cleaning up three times a day, that's not a small thing.
It's microwave safe. Unlike bamboo, silicone can go in the microwave. Reheat directly in the bowl without transferring food to a different container first.
It doesn't harbour bacteria. Silicone has a naturally non-porous surface, which means bacteria and mould can't get into micro-cracks the way they can with some other materials. A thorough wash leaves it genuinely clean.
It's gentle on gums. The soft, flexible texture is kind on babies' mouths during teething — which, as any weaning parent knows, often coincides with the beginning of solid food.
It's long-lasting. High-quality food-grade silicone doesn't degrade, discolour, or deteriorate with regular washing and use. Buy it once and it lasts through weaning and well into toddlerhood.
How to Clean Silicone Baby Feeding Products
Silicone is one of the easiest baby feeding materials to keep clean. Here's what you need to know.
Daily cleaning:
- Dishwasher safe — top rack recommended for shaped items and cups
- Alternatively, hand wash with warm soapy water and a soft sponge
- Silicone's non-porous surface means food lifts away easily — a quick rinse often handles lighter meals
For deeper cleaning:
- Boil in water for 3–5 minutes to sterilise, particularly useful in the early weeks of weaning
- Silicone is fully heat-resistant and won't warp, melt, or degrade during boiling
What to avoid:
- Abrasive scouring pads or harsh chemical cleaners — these can scratch the surface over time
- Bleach-based products — stick to baby-safe washing-up liquid
Dealing with staining: Silicone can occasionally pick up light staining from strongly pigmented foods like tomato, turmeric, or beetroot. A soak in warm water with a small amount of bicarbonate of soda usually lifts this without any scrubbing.
When to Replace Silicone Baby Products
Silicone is highly durable but not indestructible. Check your products regularly and replace them if you notice:
- Tears, cuts, or punctures in the silicone
- A sticky or tacky surface that doesn't resolve with washing — a sign the silicone is beginning to degrade
- Persistent odour that doesn't clear after thorough cleaning
- Any cracking around suction bases or spout joints
Frequently Asked Questions
Is silicone safe for babies? Yes. Food-grade platinum silicone is widely used in medical and food applications precisely because of its safety profile. Our silicone products contain no BPA, phthalates, PVC, or plastic, and are independently tested to CE, LFGB, EN71, CPC, and REACH standards.
Is silicone better than plastic for babies? For most parents, yes. Plastic can contain BPA and other plasticisers that may leach into food, particularly when heated. Food-grade silicone is chemically inert — it doesn't react with food or release anything into what your baby eats, even in the microwave or dishwasher.
Can silicone baby products go in the dishwasher? Yes. Most of our silicone plates, bowls, and cups are dishwasher safe. We recommend the top rack for shaped or suction items to keep them in the best condition.
Can silicone baby products go in the microwave? Yes. Food-grade silicone is heat-resistant and microwave safe. It's one of the practical advantages silicone has over bamboo, which cannot go in the microwave.
Can silicone baby products be sterilised? Yes. Silicone can be boiled or sterilised using a standard baby steriliser. It won't warp, melt, or degrade at sterilising temperatures.
What age are silicone feeding products suitable from? Our silicone plates, bowls, cups, and feeding sets are suitable from 6 months — the standard recommended age to begin introducing solid foods. Always supervise your child during mealtimes.
Is silicone eco-friendly? Silicone is more durable and longer-lasting than plastic, which means less replacement and less waste over time. It doesn't biodegrade in the way bamboo does, but high-quality silicone products that last for years are a significantly better environmental choice than cheap plastic items that crack and need replacing.
What's the difference between food-grade silicone and regular silicone? Food-grade silicone — and specifically platinum silicone — goes through additional purification processes to remove impurities and ensure it's safe for direct food contact. Not all silicone products are food-grade, which is why certifications like LFGB matter. All our silicone feeding products meet food-grade standards.
Ready to shop? Browse our full range of certified silicone feeding products:
Silicone Baby Plates | Silicone Baby Bowls | Silicone Feeding Sets | Silicone Sippy Cups | All Silicone Feeding Products
A Note on Supervision
Parental supervision is essential whenever your child is using our silicone products. While our products are made from 100% food-grade platinum silicone and are designed with safety in mind, close supervision ensures your child uses them appropriately and reduces any potential risks. Your little one's safety is our top priority.