If you have ever wiped pureed sweet potato off a fabric placemat at 7am, you already know not all high chair accessories are created equal. Silicone placemats Australia parents reach for most are popular for good reason: they wipe clean in seconds, stay put on the tray, and last well past the baby stage. This guide covers the main types available, what to look for, and how to pick the right one for your setup.
Part of our complete guide to silicone baby feeding sets.
Silicone vs Traditional High Chair Placemats
The two main categories you will come across are silicone placemats and fabric or plastic alternatives. They behave very differently at mealtimes.
Silicone placemats
- Non-porous surface. Food and liquid sit on top rather than soaking in.
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth or rinse under the tap. Most are dishwasher safe.
- Flexible enough to roll up for the nappy bag, but rigid enough to stay flat on the tray.
- Durable. Good silicone does not stain, crack or warp over time.
- No sharp edges or rough textures for little hands to catch on.
Fabric placemats
- Absorbent, which sounds helpful until porridge dries into the fibres overnight.
- Need washing after every meal. Most require a machine wash and dry cycle.
- Can slide around on a smooth highchair tray unless they have a non-slip backing.
- Some fabric options are bulky to travel with.
Plastic or vinyl placemats
- Wipe clean like silicone but tend to be thinner and less grippy on the tray surface.
- Can crack or yellow with repeated dishwasher cycles.
- Worth checking that any plastic mat is BPA free and food safe.
For most families doing three meals a day in a highchair, silicone is the lowest-effort option. If you are after a mat specifically designed for the IKEA Antilop or similar timber highchairs, it is worth looking at mats shaped to fit those trays exactly. Browse our silicone placemats designed for IKEA highchairs if that is your setup.
What to Look for When Buying a Silicone Placemat
Not all silicone mats are equal. A few things separate a mat that holds up from one that curls at the corners after a week.
- Food-grade silicone. Look for 100 percent food-grade silicone. It should be BPA free, phthalate free and free from PVC. Check the product description rather than assuming.
- Thickness. Thicker mats stay flatter and resist curling. Thin mats are easier to roll up but can lift at the edges during a meal.
- Raised edges or lip. A mat with a raised border catches spills before they reach the tray. Useful once your baby starts self-feeding.
- Suction cups or grip base. Some mats have suction cups underneath. Others rely on the weight and texture of the silicone itself to grip the tray. Neither is perfect on every surface, so it helps to know your highchair tray type before you buy. If suction is a priority, our guide on why suction plates sometimes fail to stick runs through the common causes and fixes.
- Size. Measure your highchair tray. A mat that overhangs the edge will fold and defeat the purpose. A mat that is too small leaves tray edges exposed for sticky fingers to find.
- Colour. Darker colours hide staining from foods like turmeric and beetroot better than pale tones. Something to consider if you feed a lot of strongly pigmented purees.
If you are still deciding on a highchair altogether, it is worth reading through the key things to weigh up before you buy. Our article on choosing a highchair for your baby covers the practical factors most parents overlook.
Caring for Your Silicone Placemat
Silicone is one of the easiest materials to keep clean, but a few habits help it last longer.
- Rinse or wipe after each meal. Dried-on food is harder to shift, even from silicone.
- Dishwasher safe mats can go on the top rack. High heat on the bottom rack can warp thinner mats over time.
- Avoid abrasive scrubbers. A soft sponge or cloth is enough.
- Store flat or loosely rolled. Folding tightly in the same spot repeatedly can cause a crease line to form.
- Check for any tears or degraded areas periodically, especially around suction cup points, and replace if the silicone is breaking down.
For guidance on food safety and feeding equipment standards in Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission product safety site is a useful reference when assessing whether a product meets local requirements.
Finding the Right Mat for Your Highchair
The IKEA Antilop is one of the most common highchairs in Australian homes, and the tray dimensions are specific enough that a purpose-made mat makes a noticeable difference. A mat designed to sit neatly inside the tray edge is more stable and easier to wipe around than a generic mat that does not fit the shape.
You can find more detail on sourcing options in our guide to buying a highchair placemat online in Australia, including what to check before you order.
If you are ready to shop, view the full range of highchair silicone placemats available at Zoe Sage, with free shipping across Australia.
