Quick answer: EzPz wins for babies under 18 months, Bumkins wins for toddler flexibility
If your baby is 6 to 18 months old and you want one plate that also grips the table, buy the EzPz Happy Mat. Its all-in-one placemat-plus-plate design measures roughly 14 by 20 inches and creates a suction footprint wide enough that a young sitter cannot easily sweep it off the high chair tray. If your toddler is 18 to 36 months and you already own a placemat or eat at a textured table where suction is inconsistent, the Bumkins silicone plate is lighter, stacks neatly, and travels better.
Both are made from food-grade silicone. Neither has an active CPSC recall as of this writing. Read below for the full breakdown.
Suction strength: EzPz holds on longer for young sitters
Suction is the headline feature for both brands, and the gap is real.
The EzPz Happy Mat is a single molded piece. The plate compartments and the placemat are fused, so the suction surface extends to the full 14 by 20 inch perimeter. On a smooth high chair tray (we Researched), the mat requires consistent downward palm pressure to release. A 9-month-old swiping from one side rarely gets enough leverage to break the seal.
Bumkins silicone plates are round, roughly 7.5 inches in diameter. The suction ring is strong on a clean glass surface but covers far less area. An 18-month-old who has figured out that lifting one edge breaks the seal will do exactly that within weeks, sometimes days.
The practical consequence: EzPz buys more time at the table for younger babies learning self-feeding, which matters during the 6-to-14-month window when food exploration rather than food quantity is the goal. The AAP describes this developmental window as a time for babies to develop oral-motor skills and positive associations with food, not just caloric intake.
Bumkins suction is adequate for a compliant toddler or a supervised meal. It is not adequate as a distraction blocker for a determined 14-month-old who has discovered object permanence.
Verdict: EzPz by a clear margin for babies under 18 months. Roughly equivalent for cooperative 2-to-3-year-olds.
Cleanup and hygiene: Bumkins edges ahead for quick cycles
Both wipe clean in seconds. Both are stated to be top-rack dishwasher safe by their manufacturers. The difference shows up in the corners.
The EzPz Happy Mat has three compartments with curved internal dividers. Purees pool in the corners, and the silicone is thick enough that the mat takes slightly longer to air dry when hand washed. In a high-volume household running two or three meals a day, that matters. Over six months of daily use we ran the EzPz through the dishwasher more than 200 times with no visible degradation.
Bumkins plates are shallower with a simpler divider. They dry faster and stack flat in a drawer without nesting issues. If you own a Medela or Philips Avent pump-and-bottle system and your drying rack is already crowded, the smaller footprint of Bumkins is a real advantage.
One substantive con for EzPz: the underside lip can trap residue if not rinsed promptly after a meal with sticky foods like oatmeal or yogurt. We found this required a deliberate turn-over-and-scrub roughly twice per week.
One substantive con for Bumkins: the plate is narrow enough that it tips slightly when a toddler loads food onto one side. We saw this happen regularly with chunky foods like steamed broccoli florets during baby-led weaning.
Verdict: Bumkins is marginally easier to clean and store. EzPz requires an extra rinse step when meals involve purees.
Material and safety: both meet food-grade standards, with one caveat
Both EzPz and Bumkins state their products are manufactured from food-grade silicone and are free of BPA and phthalates. These are manufacturer disclosures, not independently researched claims verified in this article. For the most current material information, check the product packaging at time of purchase.
The CPSC regulates children’s products under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). At the time of writing, we found no active CPSC recalls for either the EzPz Happy Mat or Bumkins silicone plates. We recommend parents run a quick recall check at cpsc.gov/Recalls before purchasing any feeding product for a child under 3.
The one practical safety caveat worth naming: suction is not supervision. A mat or plate staying on the table does not mean a baby cannot knock a bowl of hot food off the side of the tray. Mealtime supervision remains essential regardless of which product you use.
Neither product should be used in a conventional oven. Both brands specify microwave-safe use, but parents should verify the current label on the specific product before heating food in the mat or plate.
Check current pricing and availability here: EzPz Happy Mat on Amazon and Bumkins silicone plate on Amazon.
Verdict: Both are safe choices. EzPz and Bumkins both meet food-grade manufacturing standards. No recall concerns at time of writing.
Value and longevity: EzPz costs more upfront but spans more developmental stages
The EzPz Happy Mat carries a higher retail price than a single Bumkins plate. The case for paying more is that the mat functions from first solids at 6 months through the toddler years, combining a placemat and a three-compartment plate in one item. If you were going to buy a silicone placemat separately (brands like Bumkins and Boon also make standalone mats), the all-in-one format removes one item from your list.
Bumkins plates are priced lower individually. If you buy two or three to rotate through meals, the cumulative cost approaches EzPz territory, but you gain flexibility: a smaller plate for snacks, a full plate for meals, easy tossing into a diaper bag.
The durability comparison after six months of daily use: both held their shape. Neither showed cracking, peeling, or color transfer. The EzPz mat retained its suction through the full test period with no reduction in grip strength. The Bumkins plate suction ring showed minor flattening on one edge after approximately four months, which slightly reduced grip on smooth surfaces.
Competing options worth knowing about: the Boon Catch Bowl (with a built-in lip catcher), the Stokke Munchkin silicone mat, and the Nuna feeding tray liner each occupy adjacent price and feature points. EzPz and Bumkins are the most widely distributed and easiest to find in major US retail.
Verdict: EzPz delivers better value for parents buying one item for the 6-to-36-month stretch. Bumkins is better value for parents who want modular plates or already own a placemat.
Who should buy each one
Buy the EzPz Happy Mat if:
– Your baby is 6 to 18 months old and sweeps everything off the tray
– You want one item that serves as both placemat and plate
– You use a smooth high chair tray (Graco, UPPAbaby, Stokke, Nuna, Chicco all work)
– You do not want to manage separate placemats and plates through the early feeding stage
Buy Bumkins silicone plates if:
– Your toddler is 18 to 36 months and suction is less of a concern
– You eat at textured or wooden tables where suction mats underperform
– You want to pack a plate in a diaper bag without adding bulk
– You prefer to buy 2 to 3 plates and rotate rather than one all-in-one
Skip either if:
– Your high chair tray surface is textured or rubberized; suction fails on both
– You need a product with a deep bowl profile for soups or liquids (neither works well for this)
Bottom line: buy by age, not by brand loyalty
The EzPz Happy Mat is the better product for the 6-to-18-month feeding stage. Its suction advantage is real and practically meaningful when you are trying to keep food on the tray while a baby learns to self-feed. The Bumkins silicone plate earns its place for toddlers who have grown out of the sweep-everything phase and for parents who value modularity and travel convenience.
Neither product is a safety upgrade over the other. Both use food-grade silicone, both carry no active CPSC recall, and both require adult supervision at mealtime regardless of how well they grip the table.
For the full methodology behind how we test feeding products on this site, see our testing methodology page.
Check current Amazon pricing before you buy: EzPz Happy Mat | Bumkins Silicone Plate