We use Fiestaware. It seems to hold up really well.

Fiestaware for adults. DC uses a sectioned kid plate, not melamine (can't use those in the microwave) but similar and BPA free.

Regular china plates, and real glass glasses. We used melamine for my son until he was about three.

And yes, like PP, we and our kids place dirty dishes NEXT to the sink rather than throwing them into the sink.

We have "real" plates from Crate and Barrel (my guess is they're ceramic?) and the kids use them fine. We've never had one break, and only a few have chips now after 10 years. I don't trust any plastics in the microwave -- we have a few plastic plates but only use them for serving things outside where we'll be carrying plates around.

Anonymous wrote:We use sturdy porcelain dishes and I've been the only one to chip one in 14+ years. We use bistro type glasses for most beverages. Our set came with four sizes and the smaller two are great for kids. The glasses have landed on our tile and still not broken.

Yep, ours are the Picardie ones. Our set was from Williams-Sonoma and seemed like a good deal at the time (15+ years ago), but I'm sure they have them elsewhere. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/picardie-glass-tumbler/

Are you asking generally or specifically about keeping kosher? Do adults really use melamine? We had a couple of melamine plates for the kids , and we used those when they were young, but it never occured to me to use anything other than everyday china for our meals. I guess we have chipped a few plates over the years but it's not a big deal. I can't remember when we ditched the plastic plates for the kids - maybe when they were about 6-7?

Another vote for the Picardie glasses. I've dropped one on our tiled kitchen floor (which breaks everything else that comes into contact with it), and it survived.

http://www.ecomom.com/eco-friendly-home-products/mealtime-kitchen/cups-glasses-bottles-sippys/be-kind-picardie-tumblers-set-of-4-large.html

Here's the link, not sure what happened in my previous post.

I love the Picardie glasses by Duralex, they are so durable and my kids love having a grown up glas slike mommy and daddy. We do have some plastic sippies for travel and such but at meal times we use these...
[/url]http://www.ecomom.com/eco-friendly-home-products/mealtime-kitchen/cups-glasses-bottles-sippys/be-kind-picardie-tumblers-set-of-4-large.html[url]

They also have a sippy cover but we have not tried those.

Ecomom runs promos on Plum District often - $20 for a $40 voucher. Recently PLum District had been offering an additional 20-30% discount so for $14-$16 you can get a $40 voucher.

We use sturdy porcelain dishes and I've been the only one to chip one in 14+ years. We use bistro type glasses for most beverages. Our set came with four sizes and the smaller two are great for kids. The glasses have landed on our tile and still not broken.

I love melamine and do not worry about using it. That said, we usually use porcelain plates that the kids carry to the counter. All of us have broken plates and the world has not yet ended; the stores are full of more plates to buy.

OP here. I should have mentioned two things: what triggered the thought was a broken glass in the dishwasher... and DS is 9.5 months so I am thinking ahead.

It may be more an issue of what I grew up with vs what DH grew up with, so I am just curious what other people use...

We use "real" plates and glasses. Our plates are porcelain and very sturdy. Our glasses are pretty heavy duty, too, not delicate crystal.

We have DC put plates next to the sink, not in the sink. Not a big deal.

Not an expert on whether or not melamine is safe. I'm sure Google can find lots of pros and cons for it. But if your DC is old enough to be bussing dishes, real dishes should be fine.

All of our plates and drinkware are glass. DH grew up keeping kosher and the glass plates were a way to only have one set of plates (we don't really keep kosher anymore, though DH tries). I grew up using melamine plates and acrylic cups (I think) and I don't love having glass for everything (especially now that we have a kiddo. I remember throwing stuff into the sink when I couldn't reach to set it in gently). Is melamine safe these days? What do you use?