Back when my kids were slightly smaller, mealtimes were always a circus. Getting toddlers to pay attention, eat their food, or wait in a restaurant is often a challenge. Do you use products at mealtimes that will entertain your kids? Do you find them a help or a distraction from mealtime? More

Bowl & Cup Sets
• $55
• Abby Berkson Ceramics

Just as you've adopted your very own coffee mug, kids love having things just of their own. These sweet bowl and cup sets (in a variety of animal designs) are hand thrown and painted by Abby Berkson.

Jungle Brothers Stacking Cups
• $22.99
• Erie Drive

I know my son would get a chuckle out of these cartoonish cups and enjoy configuring them in different ways. Now if they just had a version you could draw on yourself...

Dan Zanes' Musical Dish Set for Fishes Eddy
• $36.85/set or purchase individually
• Fishs Eddy

If you're a parent I can almost guarantee you have heard Dan Zanes' folky, family-friendly music. Sharing a downhome sensibility, NYC tabletop emporium Fishs Eddy, asked Zanes to collaborate on this charming, old-timey instrument dish set. This would make a lovely gift for a young music lover (and, hey, throw in a cd!)

Food Face Dinner Plate

• $12.99
• Maukilo

We recently received this plate as a gift and even though I wish the face reminded me less of Elmer Fudd, my son asks for it at every meal. We get a kick out of giving him ketchup mustaches and hummus hair and, to my relief, there is more eating than playing involved. (There's also a Ms. Food Face.)

Arrhenius Melamine Plates
• $12 each
• Huset

I have a stack of melamine plates at home for my son, but they're nowhere as cute as these by Swedish designer Arrhenius. I love that these are playful and bright, but not sappy. 9 to choose from.

Keekaroo Cafe Booster
• $59.95
• Keekaroo

I bought a booster seat for my son when we were visiting relatives and I had limited options at the local store. If I had my druthers, I would have have opted for Keekaroo's booster seat. Cushy, yet impermeable to liquid, it comes in a bunch of fun colors, has an optional safety harness and is even made in the US.

Bento Mealtime Kit

• $24
• SkipHop

This summer I asked readers for suggestions for lidded, microwaveable containers to use for my son's preschool. You had some great ideas and I ended up buying this set which has totally fit the bill. The slim, insulated cooler bag holds three CLIX containers (that click or unclick together) and 3 more CLIX are included for good measure. I use 3 for lunch and 3 for his snacks. I've also used it on road trips with the included freezer pack. The elasticized handle makes carrying easy or it can hold a thermos, sippy cup or banana.

Placemats are invaluable in kitchens with kids. And the more wipeable the better. We love this simple idea that allows you to customize easy-to-clean kiddie placemats to your child's interests while at the same time letting you consider your room's palette.

More

By now, everyone's back to school, but a few of us (*raises hand*) still need to get our act together. Anyone else still need some good lunch options? Lego love + lunch supplies = BINGO! More