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- Skip Hop offers a large collection of mealtime products for babies and
toddlers . - I tested its Zoo Smart Serve Nonslip Bowls, Training Set, and Plates (all $10 per set) along with their Zootensils Fork and Spoon set ($8).
- The training set helped engage my son while eating, and the scoop-aid rim helped him guide food onto his fork.
- The bowls and toddler utensils could use some design improvements and better options exist.
When it comes to mealtime, there are a lot of products designed to make feeding toddlers a little bit easier — ones that suction to the table, have nonslip and no-spill features, and are designed with lids for travel. It can be overwhelming to decide what to buy, and you may just end up with an entire cabinet's worth of plates, bowls, and cups if you're not careful.
If you're a parent, you probably have at least one product from Skip Hop in your house. The company makes everything from diaper bags and strollers to interactive toys and products for mealtime. Overall, I've been very pleased with its nonfood related products.
I never tried out any of the items from its mealtime collection previously, but I was intrigued by the variety of options, which include plates, bowls, training sets, snack cups, utensils, and straw bottles.
For this review, Skip Hop sent me its Zoo Smart Serve Nonslip Bowls, Training Set, and Plates and its Zootensils Fork and Spoon set to test. I used these for a month with my 2-year-old son.
Zoo Smart Serve Nonslip Bowls
Available in five different prints, these BPA-free plastic nesting bowls are recommended for ages 6 months and older. The microwave- and dishwasher-safe set includes three different-size bowls, all with nonskid bottoms to help prevent sliding or slipping from a table or high chair.
Although the nonslip feature worked well, I did have one issue. Only the largest bowl comes with a lid. Skip Hop suggests these bowls are good for storing leftovers, but in that case, I would prefer a matching lid for each bowl. Lids would make it convenient for carrying snacks in my diaper bag using one of the smaller bowls. These bowls could be handy for serving single snacks at home too.
If you're looking for a more versatile bowl set for traveling or storing leftovers, I'd recommend the Pinwheelers Nestable Quad, set of four ($28). Though pricier and without slip protection, each container comes with a lid making them ideal for travel or storing leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer.
Zoo Smart Serve Nonslip Training Set
This nonslip training set is available in seven colorful prints and recommended for ages 6 months and older.
The set is designed with three pieces: a divided plate with two sections, a separate bowl that fits inside the plate, and a scoop-aid rim that hugs the entire plate and can be removed if not needed.
My son and I both really loved this one. The plate's fun print helped engage him while eating, and the scoop-aid rim helped him guide food onto his fork without it falling off of the plate. The Training Set worked well for us when he had meals like pasta and cereal since those could go inside the bowl that fits onto the plate.
I also could serve sides on the plate section without needing two separate dishes.
Zoo Smart Serve Nonslip Plates
This plate set, designed for ages 6 months and older and available in five different print-color combinations, includes two identically sized nonslip plates. The plates also feature a rim making it harder for food to slip off.
I absolutely love these plates. They are so simple in design but work really well for mealtime and snacks.
My son has thankfully passed the age of throwing his plate on the floor, so having it suction to the table isn't a total necessity for us. But the nonslip feature helps protect against any accidental bumping of the arms and hands that may happen when he eats his meals.
Zootensils Fork and Spoon Set
Skip Hop's Fork and Spoon set is available in nine colorful animal-themed prints. They are designed with stainless steel heads and soft sides that the brand says make the utensils easy to hold.
My son was able to eat with these fine, but I had a few issues with them. First, they slid off the kitchen table very easily. Every time he bumped one of the utensils with his hand or put it down too hard, it slid and most of the time hit the floor. I was surprised that given Skip Hop has a whole collection dedicated to nonslip items, the fork and spoon weren't also designed with that in mind.
Also, the stainless steel heads touch the table when not in use, which can lead to more cleanup post-mealtime. The utensils also couldn't easily rest on the plate and kept slipping off. There is nothing in the design to protect the head of these utensils.
At half the price, the Munchkin Raise Fork and Spoon Set is a nice alternative. Each utensil is designed so that the heads don't touch the floor when dropped, and I've had fewer issues with them slipping off of the table.
Care instructions
According to Skip Hop, all of the products are top-rack dishwasher safe. I don't have a dishwasher, but everything was easily cleaned with a sponge, warm water, and dish soap.
The cons
I want to make sure what I'm buying really has a good purpose, works well, and is worth taking up the limited space in my cabinets. There are some really great products in this collection but also ones that aren't necessities.
The Zoo Smart Serve Nonslip Bowls and the Zootensils Fork and Spoon didn't hold up in my opinion. With only one lid, the bowl set is not ideal for storage. The Fork and Spoon set offers no protection for the stainless steel head when resting on surfaces.
The bottom line
Skip Hop is a brand I trust, and overall, I was pleased with the mealtime products I tested. The nonslip feature really works, and items like the Training Set and Plates are ones that I'm happy to have it my kitchen. They've made mealtime and snack time a little bit easier in my house.
Pros: Affordable, fun designs, nonslip, Training Set eliminates need for multiple dishes
Cons: Nesting bowls only come with one lid, utensils have no protection for the stainless steel head
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