Silver is one of the most commonly used metals while manufacturing cutlery and utensils. It has been around for centuries and is available in almost all households in India. This is because of the centuries-old belief that Silver has antibacterial properties. Thus, including silver utensils in our everyday cutlery spread is a must option as it can help prevent disease-causing bacteria from spreading. Benefits of feeding your child in silver utensils
WHEN CAN YOU START USING SILVERWARE FOR BABIES?
When you start feeding your child solid foods, it is a good idea to use a silicone or rubber spoon. At this early stage, the child may bite on the spoon and chew it due to the teething pain and it could hurt the insides of the child’s mouth.
By the age of around 24 months, you may offer silver spoons to the child as they are now more adept at using one on their own with decent motor control which ensures that the spoon smoothly goes in and out without scraping against the sides of their mouth or gums.
BENEFITS OF USING SILVERWARE FOR BABIES
Here are some proven benefits of using silverware while feeding your baby:
1. Antimicrobial properties: The antimicrobial properties of silver have been well-documented by researchers, which gives you a valid reason for transitioning to silver cutlery for your little one. Silver is recognized to kill bacteria, fungi, and certain viruses and has a long history of use in medical, personal care, and domestic applications.
2. Low maintenance: Since silver utensils can be cleaned, sterilized, and dried quickly, they are easy to maintain. You can put silverware into the dishwasher or wash it properly with your hands using a mild cleaning agent and warm water.
3. Non-toxic: Some metals, such as mercury and lead, are toxic to humans. Whereas, silver is a non-toxic and perfectly safe metal to use in the kitchen. Even if ingested accidentally, silver passes through the body and does not get absorbed into the tissues.
4. BPA-free: Bisphenol A or BPA is a chemical contained in many plastic containers used to store water and food. BPA can flow into the food or water and affect your child’s brain and prostate gland and lead to behavioral changes in them. Using silver utensils for the baby is an excellent way to prevent the risk of BPA from plastics leaching into the baby’s food, especially if you tend to use bowls for storing baby food.
5. Phthalate-free: Phthalates are used in the manufacture of PVC and other plastics. Apart from the antiandrogenic effects, phthalates are also believed to influence children’s psychomotor abilities and cognitive functions. Thus, if you are looking for phthalate-free utensils for your child, silver is an excellent choice.
6. Long life and resilience: The food-grade baby feeding bowls you find in the market have a limited shelf life, while the glass containers are difficult to manage with active children, and they also involve a great risk of injury if shattered. With silver, both these problems are eliminated. Silver utensils could be used for years and passed on to the next generation without any hesitation.
TYPES OF SILVERWARE AVAILABLE FOR BABIES
Silver kitchen sets include the following:
1. Silver bowl: The advantage of silver bowls is that you can store both hot and cold food items, including soups, semi-solids, and solids, or even finger foods for a baby who is just learning to eat on their own.
2. Silverplate: This is an ideal utensil for letting your baby explore eating on their own or get a feel of solid foods.
3. Silver spoon: A well-designed silver spoon is a great substitute for plastic feeding spoons, which usually contain harmful chemicals. Silver spoons are hygienic and can also be used for a long time.
4. Silver glassware: Once the child is accustomed to drinking directly from a cup, giving them a silver cup glassware is ideal. You can leave milk, water, or other liquids in it for long without the risk of any chemicals seeping into them.
TIPS TO USE SILVERWARE FOR BABIES
Following are some tips to keep in mind while introducing silverware to your baby:
GLASSES
- Choose a lightweight product so that the child can hold it securely in their little hands.
- Glasses with handles to make drinking from them easier for the child.
- Always check if the edges are smooth and well-rounded as sharp edges may cut the child’s lips while they drink from it.
BOWLS
- Active and curious children lay their hands on things all the time. Therefore, make sure the silver bowl is easy to hold and not too big to be easily knocked out of your hands.
- When your toddler is old enough to eat directly from the bowl give them something easy to hold.
SPOONS
- Get light-weighted spoons like the one that is designed for children to handle easily.
- Avoid ornate silver spoons and bowls because these are tough to clean as food particles get stuck within the intricate designs.
- Silver spoons with short handles are best for toddlers to operate easily without much spillage.
- The edges of the silver spoons must be well-rounded to prevent the child’s mouth from cuts and bruises.
PLATES
- Use a slightly heavy plate that doesn’t flip over when the child scoops up food from it.
- Ensure the plates do not have sharp edges.
- To reduce spillage, use plates with some depth and high-rounded edges.
HOW TO CLEAN SILVER VESSELS?
Baby’s silverware can be cleaned with warm water and a mild dishwashing liquid and you can also put them into the dishwasher. However, they are prone to scratches, so avoid putting too many at once.
You will hardly find tarnishes if you keep using your silver bowls, spoons, and glasses. However, these tips might help you get your baby’s silverware back to its original shine is lost.
- In a large flat bowl, place a sheet of aluminum foil with its shiny side upwards.
- Now arrange the tarnished spoons and bowls in a row, over the foil.
- Submerge all the utensils by pouring hot water.
- Sprinkle some baking soda over it.
- Let the foil absorb the tarnish for some time and the utensils will acquire a lovely sparkle and shine.
- Take them out and clean them minutely with soap and water.
- To get rid of all the baking soda, rinse them completely with water.
- Use a soft cloth to dry them to make them ready for use.
Silverware provides many benefits, making it an excellent choice for using it to feed your toddler. These spoons, bowls, and plates are easy to handle, quick to clean, and safe to use and also make feeding time more fun and trouble-free.
