Children are the best! Messy at times, but always worth it. As parents, we are always looking for quick and easy clean-up solutions. Our family has found that toddlers placemats whether reusable or disposable come in very handy, and not just for dinnertime. Here are our top choices.
7 Best Placemats for Toddlers (2024 Reviews)
The Best Placemats for Toddlers
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1. EZPZ Mini Mat
(Best for travel — $$)
Why it’s great: Free from all BPA, BPS, Latex, Lead, and Phthalates, this 100% silicon mat is great to throw in the diaper bag. The happy design has 3 compartments (2- 2oz and 1- 4oz) for balanced meals anytime. It is lightweight, dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and you can even put it in the oven. What more could you ask from a placemat?
Keep in mind: This placemat has a recommended temp of 350. Be careful with high-powered microwaves and ovens. They also have suction cups on the bottom which are not always as strong as some other adhesive placemats.
Good for: Developing motor skills in beginners.
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2. Babebay Stick-on Placemats 40 pack
(Best disposable — $)
Why it’s great: These disposable placemats have a colorful ocean design with other options available. The easy-peel adhesives on all sides make for a secure hold without damaging surfaces when removing. Since the pandemic, we have all become more aware of sanitary issues. These are wonderful to throw in your purse for spur-of-the-moment pit stops. It is always nice knowing your child has a clean place to eat and play even in a restaurant.
Keep in mind: These are disposable and obviously not as durable as some silicone placemats. We have cut and torn these when used for crafts, luckily, they come 40 to a pack so we can easily replace and continue.
Good for: All ages and projects. Perfect for restaurants.
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3. Simply Magic Placemats 5 pack
(Best educational — $$)
Why it’s great: Made from food-grade safe plastic, this educational 5 pack should get kids learning. From ABCs to 123s this set is full of options for a curious toddler. The 11 by 17-inch sturdy placemat is big enough to cover most of a child’s reach. Also, they wipe clean very easily with just a wet cloth.
Keep in mind: The bright colors may fade after cleanings; I wonder if the kids would even notice such a thing. Well fun facts for the parents. Also, they had a strong plastic smell when opening but seemed to go away after washing.
Good for: A range of ages with growing minds.
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4. BabyMumbo Silicone Mat with Tray
(Best quality — $)
Why it’s great: This wonderful placemat comes in a variety of colors and is made from completely safe and child-friendly silicone. The unique design is lightweight, non-slip, heat-resistant, and BPA-free. That is only a handful of benefits included with this placemat. Moms love the tray that catches food instead of the kitchen floor. It is bendy, soft to the touch, and easy to clean.
Keep in mind: These may not be your best bet for a highchair because of the tray design. It hangs off the edge of the table nicely but could be different depending on the shape of the highchair tray.
Good for: Keeping kid areas cleaner.
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5. UpwardBaby Reusable 3 pack
(Best for highchairs — $$)
Why it’s great: These perfectly shaped placemats fit wonderfully in the majority of highchair trays. Proven to make a dinner clean-up much easier, these placemats rinse clean so easy. This durable 3 pack is dishwasher safe and had a built-in loop for hang drying. Free from all BPAs, BPS, PVC, and Lead, these placemats are child safe, microwave safe, and freezer safe.
Keep in mind: These placemats are non-slip; however, they do not come with suction cups or adhesive. Simply a non-slip bottom, which seems to work well on most tables.
Good for: Fitting in the half-moon-shaped high chair trays.
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6. Blue Toddler Placemat
(Best proper table settings — $)
Why it’s great: Help your toddler to learn a proper table setting early with this placemat. The wonderful shapes and information are said to improve independent eating skills. The strong non-slip food grade silicone material is eco-friendly and easy to clean. Great for crafts because even glue peels right off. It also rolls up nicely for easy storage.
Keep in mind: These placemats are semi heat resistant, but only up to 240 degrees. Personally, ours seemed to take forever to ship but depending on where you live this may not be a problem.
Good for: All ages and child development.
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7. Tot Talk Educational Placemat
(Best value — $)
Why it’s great: This Harvard designed placemat is very descriptive and packed full of facts about the human body with many other options available. The thick laminated placemat is durable, waterproof, and easy to clean. Children and even parents will learn a thing or two with all the information included. It is reversable with activities on both sides and inspires more family interaction.
Keep in mind: Parents be ready to do some reading for the younger kids. Also, a great opportunity to get a chuckle at mom and dad trying to remember what they learned in school.
Good for: Children who love to read and learn.
EZPZ Mini Mat
The EZPZ Mini Mat is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..
FAQs about Toddler Placemats
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1. What is the purpose of a toddler placemat?
We have found multiple uses for placemats. From friendly lunches to finger paints, placemats are handy to have around.
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2. Are these placemats safe for my child?
The majority of placemats nowadays are made free from BPA, BPS, lead, and other harmful materials. However, parents should always keep children well supervised, and double-check product materials before buying.
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3. Can placemats be used on high chairs?
Many options shown in this list are designed to fit high chairs. Most, if not all give accurate measurements to make sure before purchasing.
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4. Do placemats work on all surfaces?
Our family has yet to find a placemat that holds or attaches to a tablecloth. Other than cloth, we have had good luck with adhesive and suction cups.
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5. Are placemats reusable?
There are a variety of wonderful reusable placemats available. Our family has found many purposes for both reusable and disposable placemats, but we always keep long-lasting ones handy at home.
Conclusion
In conclusion, placemats have proven to be useful over the years. Now more than ever simply for sanitation purposes. Oddly enough our family uses them for crafting way more than dinnertime. Whatever the purpose, they are nice to have around. We hope this article is helpful and informative in picking the one right for you. With so many products to choose from, narrowing it down can be tough. But after some research and personal preferences, we think you will love your purchase.