EZPZ Happy Mat Review (Pros + Cons)
The award-winning ezpz Happy Mat is one of our favorite feeding products for mealtime success. In this review, you will find key features, our user experience, frequently asked questions, pros and cons, more ezpz products, and feeding tips using the ezpz Happy Mat for toddlers and preschoolers.
Medically reviewed and co-written by Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
EZPZ Happy Mat
Feel like you’re losing the mealtime battle with messes?
Tired of plates and bowls getting scratched and cracked?
Yeah, us too.
So we decided to invest in an ezpz Happy Mat, an all-in-one placemat and plate that suctions to flat surfaces to reduce spills from tipped bowls and plates. This investment was the best decision ever! We love that the ezpz Happy Mat helps contain the crazy tornado of chaos that comes with toddler eating habits.
And because we feel so in love with this mat, we decided we needed to tell you all about it. So buckle up, this review is loaded with all the information you could ever need to know about this amazing product.
Key Features
Here are some of our favorite features of the ezpz Happy Mat:
- Suction feature and stable base helps prevent the mat from sliding around, being tipped or pulled off table, which helps your little one be more successful and independent with feeding
- Made from 100% toxin-free silicone (and BPA, BPS, PVC, latex and phthalate free)
- Designed for toddlers 24+ months
- Cheerful design on the plate is fun to eat from
- Has 3 different compartments to encourage a balanced meal – and help separate pureed foods like applesauce, yogurt, or dips
- Raised edges all around the plate are helpful for beginning eaters to grasp foods and scoop with a spoon
- Happy Mats can be stacked and carried with food
- Available in a variety of beautiful colors
- Dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe (up to 350 degrees)
User Experience
This Happy Mat is absolutely one of our all-time favorite baby and toddler products! I mean, first of all, it just makes you happy looking at the cute smile design. But most of all, we love that it helps baby explore their food without so much cleanup. It has a wide placemat section that catches all the discarded and crumbs from the food, while the just-deep-enough sections let baby and toddler have an easy way to learn how to scoop out their food with their hands or utensils. Plus, these mats can easily be tossed in the dishwasher after each meal.
Difference Between Mini Mat and Happy Mat
There are some key differences between the Mini Mat and the Happy Mat. First, the Happy Mat is slightly larger (15 x 10 inches) than the Mini Mat (7.75 x 10.75 inches). Second, the Happy Mat is designed for both toddlers and preschoolers ages 24+ months, while the Mini Mat is made for 12+ months.
Third, the Happy Mat holds a larger amount of food (18 oz) compared to the Mini Mat (8 oz). Finally, the Happy Mat’s placemat has a large surface area, versus the Mini Mat’s smaller, oval-shaped mat around the perimeter. The Mini Mat’s compact and lightweight design, along with its compatible lid, makes it ideal for traveling and taking food to-go.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve done any research on the ezpz Happy Mat, this is a question that often gets asked. The ezpz Happy Mat IS dishwasher safe, but as with all silicone-based products, be aware that phosphate-free or scented dishwashing detergents may cause silicone dishes to hold onto certain smells/tastes. Basically, this means that sometimes your ezpz mat might start to taste a little “soapy.” If that happens to you, here are some suggestions to try:
– Clean mat with warm, soapy water instead of the dishwasher
– Use the steam and dry settings on your dishwasher and ensure that there is enough distance between the mats (space allows the dishwasher to clean the detergent thoroughly)
– Sometimes a soak in vinegar or washing with a paste made from baking soda + water will help
– Try baking the mat at 275 degrees for about 45 minutes, which helps inactivate the soap esters causing the smell
– Wipe any water spots with a wet washcloth or with white vinegar and hot water
Ezpz mats are self-sealing and as long as the air can’t get underneath the mat, they cannot be released by pulling on the plate or bowl. Smooth surfaces work best however, so if you have a tiled or wood table that has divots or cracks, the suction feature will not work as well. In addition, make sure that the back of the ezpz Happy Mat is clean and free of lint and dust. Peel the outer edge to release the suction.
The ezpz products are made from 100% food-grade silicone that is 3rd-party quality tested (FDA approved and CPSC certified). Silicone is made from sand (silica) and carbon, which makes it a great sustainable choice for plates and bowls. The ezpz products are also free of BPA, BPS, PVC, lead and phthalates and their non-porous surface helps inhibit bacterial growth.
EZPZ Happy Mat
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More EZPZ Products
Mini Mat (ages 6+ months)
The ezpz Mini Mat offers the same great suction and stable base features as the Happy Mat, just in a smaller design for the littlest of eaters. In addition, the Mini Mat fits most highchair trays and is compact for traveling and taking food on the go. In fact, the Mini mat is compatible with the Mini Mat Lid so that you can easily store leftovers, meals and snacks.
Mini Cup (ages 12+ months)
This adorable cup fits toddler-sized mouths and hands incredibly well. Its non-slip silicone grip allows your toddler to be more successful with drinking and its interior angle provides an even flow of liquid. Soft silicone protects toddlers’ developing teeth and the cup has a weighted base and tactile bumps that help minimize tips and spills. This open cup holds 4 oz and is dishwasher safe.
Mini Cup + Straw Training System (ages 12+ months)
The ezpz Mini Cup + Straw is a convertible cup that can be used in multiple ways to grow with your toddler as they master drinking from a straw, a spoutless sippy cup, and an open cup. The sensory bumps on the training straw were designed to give tactile input to help your little one feel where to put their lips for age-appropriate swallowing.
Mini Utensils (ages 12+ months)
These thoughtfully designed ezpz Mini Utensils help toddlers learn how to scoop and pierce foods. The non-slip grip and short, round handles make grasping easy. A narrow spoon bowl and appropriately sized fork prongs fit safely in little mouths. In addition, tactile bumps provide sensory awareness and bumps on the bottom of the utensils stabilize the spoon and fork when placed on the table.
Happy Bowl (ages 24+ months)
The durable all-in-one bowl and placemat is the perfect product for helping toddlers and preschoolers eat foods that require scooping, such as soup, pasta, oatmeal or cereal. The ezpz Happy Bowl holds a 12 oz serving to support growing toddler and preschooler needs.
Pros & Cons
Here are some pros & cons of the Happy Mat:
Pros
- Durable and made to last
- Eco-friendly
- Can be easily repurposed for arts and craft projects or even be sold second hand, due to durability
- Easy to clean
- Helps prevent accidental spills and plates from sliding around the surface
- Promotes self-feeding
- Fun face shape creates a positive mealtime experience
- Placemat catches messes very well, so you’ll spend less time cleaning the table after meals
- Products are designed with a pediatric feeding specialist to support feeding safety and developmental milestones
- Ezpz’s website has an incredibly helpful visual to help you compare various products at a glance
Cons
- May not suction as well on tiled or wood tables with divots (such as farmhouse-style, reclaimed wood)
- The Happy Mat’s size may not fit all highchair trays, so make sure to measure if using on a tray instead of a table
- Mats also fit better on straight edge tables than round tables
- Although mats are stackable, they might not fit as easily in your cupboards at other plates do
- Costs more than most plates ($25.99 for the ezpz Happy Mat) – although it may be the only mat you’ll need to buy for your toddler and preschooler because of their long-lasting durability
Feeding Tips Using the EZPZ Mat
- Get in the habit of using all three compartments at each sitting – not only will this encourage a balanced meal, but sometimes just having a separate compartment to place a new food in can make that food seem less intimidating. So fill ’em up, even if it’s just one or two pieces of a new food!
- Use the Happy Mat’s design to make “faces” of characters your kids will want to eat. Food art makes mealtimes fun, interactive, and often less stressful for picky eaters.
- Make foods into different shapes using cookie cutters and then use these shapes to decorate the mat
- Fill up one of the smaller compartments with a pureed food or dipping sauce to use with other foods on the mat. The raised edges hold these types of foods so well and dipping foods is fun!
What Parents are Saying
And it’s not just me who’s completely in love with the EZPZ Happy Mat! Here’s what a couple of parents have to say from the EZPZ website…
This mat really stays in place despite my 9 month old pulling at all angles. The clean up is so easy and the mat has maintained its quality after dozens of washes in the dishwasher.
Gisselle G.
Very easy to wash, love the colors of all the products ezpz offers. They look super cute, the suction part of the plate makes the whole BLW experience go with ease.
Sandy L.
We love the Happy Mat! It is currently a little big for our 2 year old, but I’m excited about that because it will last us a LONG TIME! This is our 9th item from EzPz and we will continue to purchase more! All the products we have gotten have been of the utmost quality and super durable and so easy to use and clean!
Nichole J.
Review
Note: I reviewed this product because I personally think it is an amazing product and think you need one in your life if you have a baby or toddler – this is not a paid sponsorship.
ezpz Happy Mat Review
Product Name: ezpz Happy Mat
Product Description: An all-in-one placemat + plate that suctions to the table to create less mess for toddlers and preschoolers.
Brand: ezpz
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Price
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Convenience
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Quality/Design
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Ease of Use
Summary
The award-winning ezpz Happy Mat is one of our favorite feeding products for mealtime success. An all-in-one placemat + plate that suctions to the table to create less mess and more meal time fun!
Pros
- Durable and made to last
- Eco-friendly
- Can be easily repurposed for arts and craft projects or even be sold second hand, due to its durability
- Easy to clean
- Helps prevent accidental spills and plates from sliding around the surface
- Promotes self-feeding
- Fun face shape creates a positive mealtime experience
- Placemat catches messes very well, so you’ll spend less time cleaning the table after meals
- Products are designed with a pediatric feeding specialist to support feeding safety and developmental milestones
- Ezpz’s website has an incredibly helpful visual to help you compare various products at a glance
Cons
- May not suction as well on tiled or wood tables with divots (such as farmhouse-style, reclaimed wood)
- The Happy Mat’s size may not fit all highchair trays, so make sure to measure if using on a tray instead of a table
- Mats also fit better on straight edge tables than round tables
- Although mats are stackable, they might not fit as easily in your cupboards at other plates do
- Costs more than most plates ($25.99 for the ezpz Happy Mat) – although it may be the only mat you’ll need to buy for your toddler and preschooler because of their long-lasting durability
