6 Tips to Improve Suction Plates and Bowls (and When They Still Won’t Work)

6 Practical Tips to Improve Suction Plates and Bowls (and When They Still Won’t Work)

If your suction bowls or plates keep sliding, lifting, or ending up on the floor, you’re not alone. Many parents assume suction isn’t working because of the bowl or plate — but in reality, suction performance depends on both the tableware and the surface underneath it.

In this guide, we’ll share practical ways to improve suction, explain why suction sometimes fails despite “doing everything right”, and help you understand when a tray-based solution is needed for consistent results.

How Suction Actually Works

Suction relies on creating an airtight seal between the bowl or plate and the surface underneath it.
If air can enter under the suction base, the seal breaks and the bowl lifts, slides, or comes off entirely.

For suction to work properly, both elements matter:

• The surface underneath
• The design of the bowl or plate itself

Tip 1: Start with a Clean, Dry Surface

Even a well-designed suction bowl won’t hold if the surface is wet, greasy, dusty or has food crumbs, as these can allow air to slip underneath and weaken suction.

Before placing any suction bowl or plate:

1. Wipe the surface thoroughly
2. Dry it completely
3. Removeany food residue or cleaning product film

This applies to both the tray and the suction base, and improves suction performance for many families.

Tip 2: Press From the Centre to Remove Air

A common mistake is pressing only around the edges. To form a strong seal, air must be fully expelled from under the suction base.

To create proper suction:

1. Place the bowl or plate flat on the surface
2. Press firmly in the centre to push air out (use a utensil when food is in the bowl/plate)
3. For divided bowls or plates, press down over the central divider

If air remains trapped underneath, suction will break easily.

Tip 3: Check the Surface You’re Using

Suction works best on smooth, flat, non-porous surfaces.

Many high chair trays, including popular models like the Stokke Tripp Trapp and wooden high chairs, allow air to slip under suction bases, which weakens the seal.

If suction works briefly but releases during meals, the tray surface is often the limiting factor. These trays usually have:

• Textured finishes
• Small patterns
• Grainy or wooden surfaces

This is one of the most common reasons suction “doesn’t work”.

Tip 4: Use Well-Designed Suction Tableware

Not all suction bowls and plates are created equal.

For reliable suction:

• Look for wide, flat suction bases
• Choose flexible silicone designed to form a seal
• Avoid warped, damaged, or plastic suction bases

Poorly designed, plastic or small suction bases may lift or slide, even on smooth surfaces. Improving the tray surface helps, but it won’t compensate for incompatible or poorly designed tableware.

Tip 5: Clean Silicone Properly to Maintain Suction

Over time, silicone can build up invisible residue that interferes with suction.

To keep the suction tableware performing well:

• Wash with mild, unscented detergent
• Always rinse thoroughly after washing
• Avoid oily residues that interfere with sealing

A clean suction base grips better and lasts longer.

Tip 6: Understand When Tips Have Limits

If you’ve tried all the tips above and suction still fails, the issue is often not the bowl or plate; it’s the tray surface itself.

Textured, grainy, or wooden trays prevent suction from sealing properly, no matter how well the bowl is designed.

In these cases, improving the tray surface is essential.

It’s also important to remember that suction is designed to reduce sliding and lifting, not to make bowls or plates impossible for a determined child to remove.

As babies grow and become more curious, some will test boundaries by lifting or pulling at their tableware. This is a normal part of development, not a failure of suction.

Fixing Suction on Textured High Chair Trays

A tray-based suction solution creates the smooth surface that suction bowls and plates need to grip properly.

Brightberry Suction Stickers are applied directly to the tray, creating a smooth, suction-friendly surface that allows compatible suction tableware to perform as designed.

For the most reliable results, suction works best when:

• The tray surface is prepared correctly
• Suction bowls or plates are designed for strong contact

👉 Explore tray suction solutions for your high chair here

Starting Fresh? Choose a Complete Suction Set

If you’re just starting solids or upgrading your mealtime setup, complete sets remove guesswork.

Brightberry Baby and Toddler sets are designed to work as a system on textured trays like the Stokke Tripp Trapp, combining:

• Well-designed suction bowls and/or plates
• Tray-based suction solutions
• High chair compatible accessories

This approach provides the most consistent suction and fewer frustrations at mealtime.

👉 View Brightberry Baby & Toddler Sets

Already Have Suction Bowls or Plates?

Improving the tray surface can significantly improve performance when the bowl or plate is well designed.

A tray suction sticker helps create the smooth surface needed for suction to hold consistently.

For best results, we recommend using suction stickers together with high-quality suction tableware, such as Brightberry bowls and plates.

👉 Find the right suction solution for your high chair here

Quick FAQs

Why won’t my suction bowl stick properly?
Suction requires a smooth, airtight surface. Textured trays allow air in and break the seal.

Why does suction work at first, then stop?
Air entering under the suction base, surface texture, residue buildup, or bowl design can all weaken suction over time.

Will a suction sticker work with any bowl or plate?
Suction stickers improve the tray surface, but suction performance still depends on the design and quality of the bowl or plate being used.

Is buying a set better than individual pieces?
Yes. Sets are designed to work together, reducing compatibility issues and providing more reliable results, especially for first-time users.