Hello BabyNames.co.uk readers!
Today, we have another product review for you all! Amazon.com has sent us the Munchkin Go™ Folding Placemat for us to try and we’re here to give you our independent and unbiased review about the item.
Here is the official product description from Munchkin:
“The Go™ Folding Placemat by Munchkin is a portable silicone placemat with super gripping powers, keeping it securely attached to the table while kids make their way through meals. Little ones will love the fun animal designs, and mum will love the raised plastic edge that keeps crumbs and rogue meatballs on the mat instead of the table or floor. Once mealtime is over you can fold the placemat up, snap shut and when convenient carry crumbs to the kitchen for a quick and easy cleanup in the dishwasher or sink. It’s perfect for dining at home, but also great for on the go, as it keeps food and hands off grimy tables, too. Dine. Fold. Go. Repeat!”
Not only does it promise to make mealtimes free of mess, the placemat is also made out of non-toxic silicone, is BPA-free and also dishwasher safe. Big claims indeed!
DESIGN
The placemat comes in two bright colours and designs – a pink one with flowers and birds and a blue one with a whale and nautical theme. We received the blue one for review and we love the fun character designs very much. It’s just subtle enough to decorate the placemat but not so bold that it will be distracting to children during mealtimes. Munchkin is not known for heavily branding their products, so the design does not compete with any type of logo, which we appreciate.
One thing that we think is very important when it comes to a placemat is the size. Because this particular product markets itself as a folding placemat, it is obviously meant to be taken out of the home for meals out. When it is spread out, the placemat measures almost 40cm, and when folded up is half that size. We think this is a good size that is just big enough to hold a child-sized bowl or plate, a cup and cutlery and when folded up, is easy to to put into a bag. It also doesn’t take up much room, which is important when conserving space in a diaper bag that holds so many other things a child needs when it is out and about.
The simple design of it also means it makes it really easy to clean. Other placemats sometimes have crevices or cracks that food can be stuck in, making it a pain to wash, but not this one!
MATERIAL
The frame of the placemat is made out of a sturdy plastic, while the actual placemat itself is made from a flexible silicone. The great thing about using silicone is that the placemat is firmly gripped onto whatever type of table you and your child happen to be eating from, so there is no risk of slippage or your child trying to pull it off the table.
The plastic material means that clean up is easy and any stains can be easily wiped off with a wet cloth or just chucked directly into the dishwasher for effortless cleanup. We also think that this placemat will stand the test of time as it is made out of very durable plastic that is hard to destroy.
SPECIAL FEATURES
One of the best features of this placemat is the raised plastic edge because it is really good for containing crumbs and stray pieces of food in one place. When your child is finished eating, all you have to do is fold it up and bring it to the sink or bin to tip out the mess.
Another great feature is that that silicone can be wiped clean. If you are out at a restaurant, just wipe the placemat clean with whatever you may have on hand and fold it up to put away. This is a good solution for when you can’t get home immediately to give it a good wash – obviously we recommend washing it whenever possible, but it is relatively easy to keep clean when you are on the go with your child.
What’s more, you can actually fold things into the placemat to further save space. The silicone is quite flexible and can carry quite a few things – we tried putting in a spoon, a bib, and some wipes, all of which fit into it comfortably. Afterwards, all that we needed to do was fold it back up and we were good to go!
VALUE FOR MONEY
The placemat currently retails for £12.81 on Amazon. This is a comparative price to other placemats on the market, but is vastly superior to others in terms of quality and convenience. The fact that you can easily contain any food messes alone is worth the price and its design and portability is just extra incentive to purchase one.
This price is also very acceptable when you consider the alternative, which is buying disposable placemats that you throw away after several uses, or a flimsy placemat that you have to replace every few weeks. We think this placemat is definitely worth shelling out the money for.
OUR VERDICT: 👏👏👏👏👏
In summary: This is a nifty product that is perfect for keeping mealtime messes to a minimum. It is easy to clean, compact and durable and the most important thing is that it provides a clean eating surface for children that protects them from any harmful bacteria on tables.
