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Sanrio Hello Kitty Bowl
by miwa
This Hello Kitty bowl is the last item in Sanrio's range of children's meal-time products we bought. Like other items in the same range, the bowl was bought from Home Bargains and is currently sold out on their website.
First off, the bowl is made from scratch resistant plastic, great for baby cutlery as doesn't display the ... ear-piercing screech of traditional plates and bowls do against tiny metal implements.
There is no information given about the plastic being BPA free or microwave safe, but in general Sanrio's products are BPA free and NOT microwave safe. It would be great if the bowl had some packaging that would mention this.
The bowl is not dishwasher or steriliser safe either. To wash, warm soapy water is perfectly fine, but harsh scrubbing may remove the pattern on the bowl.
The pattern is probably the highlight for kids. There are two designs available, the one pictured above with Kitty peeping out of the center, and another with Kitty buried in a pile of red and pink bows. Both are the same price and have matching items, such as a cup and plate, which we own.
The bowl is not terrifically deep or wide, I'd say 10cm in diameter and able to hold a few large table spoons of food, but of course you can always refill it. It is about an average size as baby food products we have experienced go. So far, we have had no staining of the plastic and despite being dropped on the floor a few times, the bowl looks as good as new.
Obviously, food equipment like this is only suitable for children who are eating by themselves. If your child is weaned using the baby led method, this can be as early as six months. However, the baby led weaning website (http://www.babyledweaning.com/) suggests not using bowls when first introducing food to infants -- so this item is likely more useful for infants between 10-18 months and above.
My niece is 19 months and uses this pretty well for her age. She likes Hello Kitty but the bowl is not stimulating enough to distract her from eating. It is light enough for her to pick up, but this often means she dumps food on herself, but this is better than her hurting herself with a heavier bowl. In general, she is getting better at it and her other meal-time utensils, which is to say, less food fights happen. I would say this bowl, along with other items in the set, would be very handy for travelling or at a picnic, as they are so light and easy to clean.
We bought this for £1.50 at Home Bargains, but I have seen the same shop in other areas of the country selling them for as little as 99p and as much as £3. Shop around, as they are definitely worth buying, for a fun and easy way to help your little one enjoy their meal.
¡Buen provecho*
* "Enjoy your meal", in Spanish.
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Sanrio Hello Kitty Plate
by miwa
Mealtime paraphernalia may not sound particularly important, but it can be a tricky business deciding what utensils are appropriate for what age.
One of the concerns with feeding a child from a normal plate is that it could smash or overturn. A plate made of plastic removes the smashing problem but makes the overturning ... problem all the more likely. Not a big deal with cold food; clothes clean, baby wipes are a godsend - but with warmer food it is a concern, so we make sure her food is only lukewarm.
Herein lies my first qualm: neither the plate, (nonexistent) packaging or the Home Bargains website mention if the plate is microwave safe or BPA free* - it is definitely not the former. I would advise anyone to warm food separately and transfer it to the plate to cool before eating. Bit of a faff? With things that are cooked without using a plate, not really; but when you get down to more mushy food that has to be cooked in something, it's more annoying. And yes, she does eat that varied a diet, being on baby-led weaning. Just don't give her hummus.
For similar reasons, I would also advise against sterilising it or putting it in the dishwasher (the lack of heating info; not the hummus).
So far, the plastic has been scratch-resistant. The plate washes well with warm water and soap.
That is a relief, as I'd feel guilty scratching Hello Kitty's face. The logo of Hello Kitty in the center of the plate is suitably bright and benign. Our version has Kitty surrounded by white and red bows, presumably after shoplifting.
The plate is incredibly pink. I suspect the design has more to do with enchanting a child in the shop rather than enticing them to eat, as the food covers Kitty in quite a brutal way. Maybe the idea of uncovering kitty from drowning in rice pudding cajoles a child into eating more? I am not a child psychologist. My niece likes it just fine; but then again she liked her Mickey Mouse plate as well. My older cousin just likes food.
Buying the bowl and plate together, I think we assumed that they would be suitable at the same ages. However, I would say the plate is better for a slightly older child to eat off of, whereas a bowl is better to catch spills and more runnier foods for those that puree their child's food.
Available at Home Bargains, it is currently sold out on their website, but we bought ours for £2.50. Matching items available.
Itadakimasu!**
* BPA is a plastic chemical that can cause damage to health. Sanrio's products are generally all BPA-free but I cannot find any conclusive information on this item.
** Common meal-time saying in Japanese; Hello Kitty's motherland.
For more information:
http://www.homebargains.co.uk/products/3597-hello-kitty-bowl.aspx
http://www.sanrio.com/
More on the effects of BPA: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/bpa.html
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Word Count: 499
Written for the Short & Sweet Kids/Family & Toys review competition, May/June 2013.
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