10 of the best children's cutlery sets
Check out our top child-sized cutlery sets for feeding and weaning, with easy-to-grip handles and rounded edges to help them gain independence at meal times
Once you start to wean your child, your ultimate aim is to teach them to eat with all the rest of the family which includes using cutlery. A set of children’s cutlery, perfectly sized for little hands and mouths, will help them to feel independent and are a great transition for moving on to normal sized utensils. We chosen some of the best sets available including easy-to-grip handles, portable sets, chopsticks and more.
What to look for when buying children’s cutlery
Is it easy to wash? – You’ll be offering this cutlery to your child as often as 3 times a day, so make sure it will stand up to washing, or to a dishwasher if you have one.
Is it the right size for little mouths? – Child-sized cutlery is only really useful if it’s the right size for those little mouths, so choose something you think will be a good fit for their mouth and hands.
Can the handles be easily gripped? – An easy to hold, non-slip, ergonomic handle will make all the difference when your child is learning to eat unaided.
Will it stand up to frequent use? – A durable set of cutlery will repay its purchase price over and over. Avoid sets that may have paint or decals that might wear off in the wash, or that might break or perish.
Will your child like it? – Kids are attracted to items that are brightly coloured, easy to grab and easy to use. Bear this in mind when buying. They also love to copy you!
Here’s our pick of the best cutlery sets for weaning and feeding:
1. DoddlCutlery Set, £16.95
– Best for ergonomic grip
Age: 12 months+ | Dishwasher safe: No
This cute little set of knife, fork and spoon looks totally different from most kids’ cutlery sets and there’s a reason – the baby palm-sized handles have been offset at an angle to make the journey from plate to mouth as easy as possible for your child.
The handles are really easy to grip and control and they also help your child develop the pincer grip that’s going to be so useful for holding a pencil later on.
MFM Reviews Editor Gemma used the set with her toddler and said, “These have really helped my 14-month-old learn how to use cutlery and he now feeds himself brilliantly. He will even use the spoon to slowly scoop out all the leftover milk from his cereal.”
2. Munchkin Splash Toddler Cutlery Set, £5.49
– Best for experienced toddlers
Age: 18 months+ | Dishwasher safe: Yes
This is a sweet, no frills set of 3 cutlery utensils in a choice of different colours that are designed for toddlers who are more experienced with using cutlery (18 months plus).
The shape of the child-safe knife makes cutting easy and both spoon and fork have wide, curved surfaces that will scoop food up well.
We like that the handles have a rounded shape that makes gripping them easy for little hands and they are safe to put in the dishwasher too.
Available from: Amazon
3. Vital Baby Nourish Chunky Cutlery Set, £2.49
– Best for early weaning
Age: 6 months+ | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Suitable right from the first moments of weaning your baby at 6 months, these bright and cheerful little spoons and forks have a small, rounded shape that is perfect for your child’s tiny hands.
The bowls of both the spoon and fork are wide and shallow, helping your child become more independent by allowing them to scoop up their own mouthfuls.
You also get 2 of each utensil in the packet, so you can have a set handy if the other is in the dishwasher.
Available from: Amazon and Ocado,
4. Acehome Toddler Utensils in Travel Case, £8.99
Best for feeding on the go
Age: 12 months+ | Dishwasher safe: Yes
If you like to get out and about with your child, a travel cutlery set will help you to carry all your feeding essentials with ease.
This spoon and fork is made with 100% food grade stainless steel tops with rounded toddler-safe edges. It also come with a child-safe silicone handle that’s BPA, lead, latex and phthalate free.
The utensils are easy to wash, dishwasher safe and stay hygienically clean in their handy little travel case. We love the 3 pastel colour choices to choose from too
Available from: Amazon
5. Done by Deer Easy Grip Cutlery Set,£22.95
– Best for Scandi chic
Age: 6 months+ | Dishwasher safe: Yes
This knife, fork and spoon is the epitome of Scandinavian design and style, and will look great in even the most contemporary home.
The curved, easy-to-grip handles each have a cute character on them (Ozzo the hippo knife, Nozo the rhino fork and Elphee the elephant spoon) that will encourage your child to want to pick them up and start to explore the world of food.
They are made from food grade stainless steel for the working ends, with an easy to grip soft handle. There is also a whole range of matching plates, bowls and bibs to make a complete feeding set.
Available from: Scandiborn, Alex and Alexa, and Natural Baby Shower
6. TUMTUM Children’s Cutlery, £17.99
– Best for easy to grip silicone sleeves
Age: 3+ | Dishwasher safe: Yes
This little knife, fork and spoon set looks similar to adult-sized cutlery, which can be useful in helping kids to familiarise with it.
Our favourite feature is the silicone sleeve-covered, easy-to-grip handles that prevent slipping, which can also be removed as your baby grows.
The shape of the bowl of both spoon and fork are deep enough to hold sloppy or rolling food like peas and the child-safe knife is at a good angle for unaided cutting too.
Available from: Amazon
7. BamBam Bamboo Fork and Spoon Set, £9.95
– Best bamboo cutlery
Age: 0+ | Dishwasher safe: No
If reducing your plastic footprint is important to you, this little set of nicely rounded and shaped bamboo cutlery is ideal. Bamboo is a fast-growing resource that is eco-friendly and biodegradable, so is a more sustainable option compared to plastic.
This set is just the right size for little mouths and has an easy to hold handle. Match it with one of Bam Bam’s fun animal-shaped bamboo plates to make feeding even more fun!
Available from: Harrods
8. HAKACC Kids Training Chopsticks, £5.49
– Best first chopsticks
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Whether you traditionally use chopsticks at home or not, they are a great utensil to master and they can take the place of a knife and fork at many meals.
This training chopsticks set, with a join at the top, allows kids to get used to how they move. With 4 pairs included, they can be used by left or right-handed kids and are ideal for developing your child’s fine motor skills.
Available from: Amazon
9. Baby's First Utensils by Boo Chew, £9.99
– Best for baby-led weaning
Age: 6 months+ | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Bronze – Cutlery and tableware, MadeForMums Awards 2021
Designed to help babies learn to feed themselves independently from even the early stages of weaning, these chewable, Giraffe-shaped utensils combine a fork and spoon for fun exploratory eating.
They're perfect for baby-led weaning as they let children decide how they're used: they're double-ended but come in packs of two so they can be combined in any way you like.
The soft, chewable silicone is also soft on the gums, so if your child is teething they may offer some extra relief.
Available from: Boo Chew, Trouva and The Teeny Kitchen
10. Viners Jungle Personalised Cutlery Set, £25.99
– Best for a personalised gift
Age: 2+ | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Having a set of cutlery with your child’s name on it will make a lovely keepsake. This personalised set from Viners also comes in a gift box with a picture book, so would make a lovely gift for parents of a new baby.
It has a jungle theme with sweet animals on the handles, but there are other themes too such as teddies and football.
The 4-piece set is made from a durable stainless steel and is dishwasher safe, so is practical as well as cute.
Available from: The Laser Boutique
About the author
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Authors
Sally J. Hall has been a parenting and health journalist for over 20 years. She is a former Consumer Editor of Parenting & Birth magazine and former Editor of both Bounty (where she launched the Bounty Baby Product Guide) and Emma’s Diary, as well as contributing to many other parenting magazines and websites.
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