A plate integrated into a placemat? Why didn’t I think of that! The EZPZ Happy Mat is a silicone mat with raised divisions in the center that act as a serving plate for children’s food. The mat suctions to the table and becomes a fun, mess-containing meal time tool. Gone is the need for separate bowls and plates that inevitably get tipped over or tossed on the floor!
The EZPZ Happy Mat, manufactured by EZPZ and funded by KickStarter, is 100 percent silicone and BPA/Phthalate free. It is dishwasher and microwave safe and wipes down easily with just warm water and soap. According to their website and some personal research, silicone is a great material for a feeding product since it doesn’t support the growth of fungus, mold or bacteria.
My 4 year-old son was very excited to try out this new placemat. I gave it a quick clean and let him use it for dinner. We had to fill each of the three compartments with a different food (the compartment dividers are very high which is great for picky eaters that don’t want their food touching!). He thought the happy face shape integrated into the mat was “silly and fun.”
The mat immediately suctioned to the table and did not move as he ate. He is a bit older and does not normally have accidents with plates or bowls anymore, but I can see where this mat would be very helpful with beginning eaters. The size (15”x10”) provides a great deal of coverage on the table and definitely contains the mess of toddler eating. Unfortunately it does not fit on normal high chair trays so we couldn’t try it out with our younger daughter, but it would work great if you pull your child directly up to the table.
The EZPZ Happy Mat comes in a variety of bright colors. We tried out the mat with the “plate” – 3 divisions. They also have a mat with a bowl and a smaller size snack mat. Overall I was happy with the mat, although I did find it slightly annoying to have to remove the entire mat to wash and dry before the next meal instead of just washing a separate plate/bowl and giving a normal placemat a quick wipe. It is a fun product that would make a cute gift, but I wouldn’t put it on a list of essential feeding items, especially for $24.99.
Pros:
• Does not slide – great suction to surface
• Microwave and dishwasher safe
• Silicone doesn’t harbor fungus, mold and bacteria
• Will not corrode or deteriorate like some plastic products
• Fun, bright design
Cons:
• Does not fit on a highchair tray
• Quite heavy
• Pricey for a placemat/plate
• Does stick well, but toddlers can figure out how to peel up and food goes flying
EZPZ Happy Mat
Manufactured by EZPZ
www.ezpzfun.com Also available at Amazon and at the baby boutiques listed on their website.
$24.99
Durability: 5
Ease of Use: 4
Comfort: 5
I would purchase this for my child: Yes
I would purchase this as a gift: Yes
Overall rating: 4.5
Christy Petrak is a systems engineer currently taking a leave of absence to raise her two children, Thomas (4) and Eliza (1). She enjoys spending time with her family, swimming and baking/decorating cupcakes.
