Etsy seller MagicMarkingsArt creates beautiful handpainted pottery and ceramics in her Virginia Beach, VA shop. All of her items are guaranteed to be non-toxic and lead-free. One of the most beautiful of her handpainted items is this Happy 1st Birthday Handpainted Plate. The design featured here is for a boy; she also has a Happy 1st Birthday Princess plate more suitable for a girl. The plate measures 6.5″ square and features a cupcake, painted with non-toxic, food-safe paint. It is signed on the back with a special note for the birthday boy. This is a functional gift that will be a keepsake for years. You can view this and other items in MagicMarkingsArt’s Etsy shop at MagicMarkingsArt.

We’ve written about La Plates before–a great site where you can personalize a plate for your child or other loved one.  Right now the company is offering 10% off any purchase.  Just use the coupon code friend10.  What better way to redeem that coupon than on a great Valentine plate that will surely make your little one’s Valentine’s Day (or any day) special?  This Heart Retro plate features a pattern of multi-colored hearts.  You can personalize the plate with your child’s name, or a message (such as “Love,” shown here). This plate retails for $22.  You can customize your own at LaPlates.com. It takes 10-15 business days to complete your order, so order soon for Valentine’s delivery.

This place mat is made to hold its own plate securely in place. The Stay-Put Mat & Plate by Mate is an interesting idea that really makes sense. The plate itself has three compartments and includes a fork and a spoon that attach onto the mat until you’re ready to sit down with your child. The mat has a skid-resistant surface to help keep everything in place. It’s a little bit of a twist on those baby bowls that have a huge suction cup on the bottom (not very attractive). It can also help with keeping a hot plate away from little fingers. When you bring the warm plate from the microwave it can slip right into place.

The Stay-Put Mat & Plate are BPA-free, pthalate-free, and pvc-free, so you can feel good about using it to feed your child. You can view this product at SkipHop.com where it is priced at $20 and comes in Orange, Raspberry, and Sky Blue.

Skip Hop always delivers hip yet practical products for infants and toddlers that won’t destroy your budget.  Their Table Fun Feeding Sets are no exception.  Available in several fun designs, these sets include a plate, a bowl, a sippy cup, and a spoon and fork.  I particularly like this Sea Critters set, which is appropriate for either a boy or a girl.  The sea critters that decorate each piece are as cute as can be.  Designed by artist Eleanor Grosch, they are sure to delight your little diner. Everything is made from high-quality melamine, and is dishwasher safe for easy clean-up.

You can pick up one of these fun sets for $24 at MamasAndMunchkins.com.  It would also make a fun gift for an older infant or toddler.

For some reason, folk dolls please me immensely. One year, at the Christmas tree farm, I purchased ornaments in the form of the little dolls. These Thomas Paul folk doll plates from babywit.com are delightful in that they are colorful, eye-catching, and unexpected at the dinner table. They’d also be fetching hung on a nursery wall with real folk and rag dollies propped on shelves nearby to accent them. Unusual but still suitable for a little girl’s room, or even the family play room, they come in a set of 4 for $28.00 and are sure to add enjoyment to late night feedings and diaper changes. Thomas Paul items are unanticipated for baby and really worth a gander!