My grudge is with the handwashing. And all 5 parts of the bottles for cleaning. Not to mention the counter space for drying all the pieces.
But in all fairness, it’s not solely Dr. Brown’s fault that my obsession with finding dishwasher-safe (and less sketchy plastic) items began. Because the handwashing continues as your baby starts solids. Silicone suction bowls are great but start to taste like soap after they go through the dishwasher. These bowls aren’t cheap! So this means more handwashing and clutter as they dry on the counter. And it continues to multiply by the number of kids…
If you’re starting to think, okay, this sounds a bit lazy. I’ve thoroughly convinced myself that I’m actually just very efficient vs. lazy with my dishes, k?
Here are some favorite dishwasher-friendly items for both your baby and toddler.
Baby
Advent Glass Bottles – I remember hearing a friend consider glass bottles and thinking to myself, “Wow, that seems like a bad idea. They’ll definitely break.”
And then my second pregnancy rolls around. The Dr. Browns bottles are still haunting me. Hmm, maybe I’ll just give glass bottles a try. I really liked the idea of being able to put them in the dishwasher without any concerns about sketchy plastic.
And I’m here to tell you, best decision ever. My family is HARD on our things, but here we are, 7 months in without a single broken bottle.
I love microwaving the water for the formula in the glass bottle to get it warm (just shake water to make sure it’s evenly warmed and not too hot).
Another hack is this dishwasher basket. The basket has a dedicated spot for the nipples to keep everything clean and in its place, so you don’t lose anything. It’s great because you can keep it on the top rack!
Thinkbaby Stainless Steel Straw Cup – This is a great first straw cup for babies!
NumNum Pre-Spoon Gootensils – Best first baby spoons! Doubles as a teether and perfect for their little hands.
Stainless Steel 360 Sippy Cup – Here’s the deal with EZPZ silicon-type plates. They are great for your baby starting solids with the suction. Can’t deny it. However, they claim to be dishwasher safe, and ours tasted like soap after taking a dip in the dishwasher. I definitely recommend hand washing, so they sadly don’t make the list.
Toddler
Stainless steel plates – As your baby gets older and suction is less critical, these plates are the best! My toddler loves them. And I love that they are dishwasher safe.
Bamboo Cups – These are great open cups.
Simple Modern Kids Water Bottle – The big bonus: toddlers cannot pull out the straw. And it has a handle so you can clip on your bag! Plus, so many fun designs kids love!
Cupkin Cups – The only drawback is that the toddler can pull out the straw. The website stated the coating on the outside can also peel if you use the dishwasher, but ours have been fine! And even if the outer coating peels, it doesn’t affect drinking from the cup.
A way to keep the straw in place is to use a clean hair tie or rubber band and wrap it around the straw- just below the lid (obviously high enough so it’s not touching the liquid.
Kids Stainless Steel Spoons and Forks
Or this option on Amazon!
