Yes — 100% food-grade silicone is one of the safest materials available for baby feeding items, provided it genuinely is food-grade and not a cheap blend. Food-grade silicone is inert, contains no BPA or phthalates by nature, tolerates boiling and steam sterilising, and does not leach at normal food temperatures. The catch for Indian parents is that "silicone" on a listing tells you nothing; this guide shows you exactly what to check before anything goes into your baby's mouth.
Quick Takeaways
- 100% food-grade silicone is chemically inert, naturally free of BPA, PVC and phthalates, and withstands temperatures from freezer to boiling water (roughly −40°C to 200°C+).
- In the United States, food-contact silicone is regulated under 21 CFR 177.2600, which sets strict limits on what can migrate from the material into food.
- In India, teethers fall under IS 9873 — the Cubkins Silicone Ring Teether and Fruit Feeder Teether are BIS Certified (IS 9873); no bowl, plate, cup or bib from any brand carries BIS teether certification, so ignore listings that claim it.
- The pinch test catches many fakes: twist or pinch pure silicone and it stays uniform in colour; cheap filler blends turn white at the stress point.
- Smell matters — genuine food-grade silicone has no odour after a wash; a persistent chemical or plastic smell after boiling is a reject signal.
- Replace any silicone item that tears, turns sticky, or clouds — damaged surfaces can harbour microbes even in a safe material.
What Is Food-Grade Silicone, Exactly?
Food-grade silicone is a synthetic rubber made from silica — the main component of sand — bonded with oxygen, refined to a purity fit for food contact. Unlike plastics, it contains no BPA, BPS, PVC or phthalates to begin with, so there is nothing of that family to leach out. It stays stable across the temperature range an Indian kitchen throws at it: boiling water sterilisation, steam, a fridge chill for a teether, hot dal in a bowl.
The benchmark most global manufacturers work to is the US regulation 21 CFR 177.2600, which governs silicone and rubber articles intended for repeated food contact and caps what may extract from the material into food. A product may accurately be described as compliant with that standard; be suspicious of any listing that claims outright approval by the FDA — the agency does not approve feeding products, and honest brands do not make that claim.
Is Silicone Safer Than Plastic for Baby Feeding?
For repeated, heated, chewed-on use — yes. The weaknesses of everyday plastics (BPA-type leaching when heated, scratching that traps residue, warping in boiling water) are precisely where silicone is strong. This is why the NHS guidance on cups for babies can focus on the design of the cup (free-flow, open) rather than warning about the material — a well-made silicone or steel item removes the material question so you can choose on function.
| Property | 100% food-grade silicone | Ordinary plastic |
|---|---|---|
| BPA / phthalates | None by nature | Depends on grade; can leach when heated |
| Boiling-water sterilising | Yes, routinely | Often warps or degrades |
| Scratches that trap germs | Resistant | Common with use |
| Safe chew surface | Yes — soft, firm | Can crack into sharp edges |
| Lifespan with daily use | Years | Months |
How Do You Check Silicone Quality in India? The 5-Point Test
Run these five checks on any silicone feeding item, whichever brand you buy. One: the pinch test — pinch and twist a section; pure silicone keeps its colour, filler blends stress-whiten. Two: the smell test — wash, boil for three minutes, sniff; any lingering chemical smell means reject. Three: the claim test — the label should say "100% food-grade silicone", not just "silicone" or "food-safe". Four: the certification test — for teethers specifically, look for BIS Certified (IS 9873) with a licence number you can read (the Cubkins teether range carries CM/L-7600198513); remember this Indian Standard applies to teethers, so a plate claiming "BIS certified teether standard" is a red flag, not a reassurance. Five: the seam test — fewer joints and no glued parts means fewer places for monsoon mould to hide.
Where Silicone Belongs on the Indian Feeding Table
Silicone earns its place in items that meet heat, suction and chewing: plates, bowls, bibs, straw cups, spoon handles and teethers. A Silicone Suction Plate — a 4-compartment thali design in 100% food-grade silicone — takes hot khichdi, sambar and kheer without any leaching worry, and its suction base survives the daily fling test. For a deeper comparison on utensils specifically, see our guide to silicone vs stainless steel baby spoons — the short version is that the two materials are teammates, not rivals: silicone for gums and grip, steel for durability and cutting through textures.
When Should You Replace Silicone Items?
Replace at the first tear, permanent stickiness, or cloudy film that survives washing. Silicone does not "expire", but a torn teether can shed a fragment, and a sticky surface means the material structure has begun to break down — usually from years of use or contact with harsh solvents. Twice a year, deep-clean silicone items in boiling water with a spoon of baking soda to strip oil films that make surfaces tacky in humid weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is silicone safe for babies to chew on?
Yes — firm, one-piece, 100% food-grade silicone is exactly what regulators recommend as a chew surface. The US FDA advises firm rubber or silicone teethers over liquid-filled or frozen ones, and in India the relevant teether standard is IS 9873.
Does silicone leach chemicals into hot food?
Genuine food-grade silicone does not leach at normal cooking and serving temperatures; the migration limits in 21 CFR 177.2600 exist to guarantee exactly that. The risk sits with cheap filler blends — which is why the pinch and smell tests matter before first use.
How can I tell if a silicone product is really food grade?
Pinch-twist it (no whitening), boil and sniff it (no smell), and read the claim (must say 100% food-grade silicone). For teethers, additionally look for BIS Certified (IS 9873) with a visible licence number. If a listing says only "silicone" with no grade, assume the worst.
Can I boil silicone bowls and plates to sterilise them?
Yes. 100% food-grade silicone handles boiling water and steam sterilisers without warping — one of its biggest advantages over plastic in Indian kitchens, where boiling remains the most trusted sterilising method.
Is coloured silicone safe, or should I buy only plain?
Colour itself is not the issue — quality is. Reputable manufacturers colour silicone with food-safe pigments mixed through the material. Warning signs are colour that rubs off, uneven patches, or stress-whitening at a pinch, which point to poor pigment or filler, whatever the shade.
About the Author
Samarth Jain is the Co-Founder of Cubkins. As a parent himself, he built Cubkins around one question: "Would I let my own daughter use this?" Every Cubkins product is held to rigorous safety and certification standards before it reaches your home.