Baby led weaning is messy, there's no doubt about it! Here's why that is okay, plus pro tips for containing the mess of baby led weaning for first time parents.
We all cherish the photos of our sweet babies, grinning in high chairs, covered from head to toe in yogurt or spaghetti sauce at 6 months old. They are so darn cute aren't they? But when you're in the thick of it, wiping down that high chair three times a day every day, it doesn't always feel so rosy in the moment. (Though in hindsight, it passes so quickly!) No matter the method, starting solids is a messy process. But there are a few tips from seasoned BLW moms (like me!) to help you contain, and even embrace the mess just a little more as your little one learns to self-feed.
Is Baby Led Weaning Messier Than Spoon Feeding?
Yes and no. At the start, baby led weaning is definitely more messy since there is no steady hand guiding the food to baby's mouth and away from the floor (and baby clothes, and his head, and the dog). Baby doesn't have a whole lot of coordination yet, so dropping and knocking over food will happen often. A lot of food will get raked into the high chair seat, smashed around, and pushed on the floor. It's also a lot of fun for baby to use food as finger paint!
But as your baby is making this big mess, he is also practicing his eating skills and developing that coordination that it takes to neatly pick up a blueberry between forefinger and thumb and place it in his mouth. Or to use a soft spoon to scoop up oatmeal and bring it to his mouth. Since he is getting to practice so often at an earlier age, baby led weaning actually helps your baby develop these skill faster. And that means the giant mess that looks like a tornado came through at each meal is over sooner, and baby can eat fairly cleanly at an earlier age.
So while baby led weaning IS very messy at first, it ultimately leads to a less messy eater in the older baby to toddler stage.
Tips For Containing The Mess
1. Don't Stress About It.
I know this isn't a tip for making things less messy, but it will help your sanity. Go into each meal knowing that it will be messy, and prepare (more details below). But when things do get messy, try to embrace it! The mess means that baby is getting to explore and develop motor skills instead of passively having a spoon stuck in her mouth. So even though it's a little more work, you can feel good knowing it's worth it!
2. Feed Baby In a Cleanup-Friendly Environment.
If you can help it, make things easier (and less stressful on yourself) by having mealtime in a place that is easily wiped down. This means placing the high chair on a hard floor instead of carpet if possible, and use a high chair that doesn't have a lot of cloth. I like the ones that are just wood or plastic because they're easier to wipe down. You can also eat outdoors if the weather is nice. And if you have anything valuable in the dining room, such as a nice rug or expensive artwork on the walls, consider stashing it elsewhere for a few months.
I love this high chair! It is so easy to clean, has an ideal ergonomic design with a comfortable footrest, and is convertible to a chair for older kids. It can be pulled right up to the table or used with a clip in tray.
3. Get a Splat Mat.
Splat mats are fold-up, washable mats that you can lay under the high chair to catch food and protect your floors from spills. They are great for people who have carpet under the dining table or who would rather throw the whole thing in the wash than mop the floor daily. I bought one and didn't end up using it much under the hair chair because our floors were easy to clean. But now I use it ALL THE TIME to protect the table from the kids' arts and crafts.
Baby led weaning can be pretty messy, so if you have a rug or floor that needs to be protected, a splat mat is a must! They catch (most of) the food that will inevitably fall on the floor. I love that they are machine washable, and once the messy eating stage is over, you can use them for messy crafts and such!
4. Use a Pocket Bib.
Pocket bibs are my favorite. They catch a lot of the food baby drops or spits out before it falls into the chair or on the floor. This way, you or baby can scoop the food back out and try again! They also catch and hold a lot of liquid, which is super nice for keeping baby's pants dry when she doesn't quite have the hang of drinking water yet.
Pocket bibs are a must with baby led weaning! Your little one will drop a lot of food, and these genius bibs catch those dropped pieces, saving you a little more cleanup and preventing more waste. They're super easy to clean, and I love that this brand donates a meal to kids in need for every product purchased! Stock up and taken them with you everywhere!
5. Feed Baby in a Smock (or Just a Diaper!)
Baby's clothes will undoubtedly get very messy. There are two simple solutions for this in the very early messy days, or days when you're serving spaghetti sauce, or yogurt, or beets. The first is a smock that slips over baby's clothes and covers arms as well as the whole front. The other is to simple let baby eat in a diaper so that there are no clothes to get dirty!
These long sleeved smocks are easy to slip over baby's clothes to protect them from messy foods. Then simply wipe down or toss in the wash!
6. Use Suction Dishes.
Suction dishes are great. They keep the plate or bowl in place while baby scoops up the food - meaning there is less chance of an entire plate being turned upside down onto the floor! You can also ditch the plate altogether if you're serving something in pieces that can be placed right on the high chair tray.
Babies love to pick up their plates with food still on them! That's why I love these silicone dishes with suctions on the bottom. They stick to the high chair tray, the table, or just about anywhere, making mealtime much cleaner. I also love that I can toss one in my purse for when we go out to eat, because our little one especially loved to turn over restaurant plates. This set includes an undivided plate (which I prefer), bowl, spoon, and open cup, which is great for practicing drinking.
7. Put the Dog On Cleanup Duty
Tired mom hack: After a super messy meal, let the dog come in and lick up the floor (and the high chair, and baby's toes). As long as the food is safe for dogs, your pup will love getting a tasty treat and I promise your baby will get a kick out it. Cue the cuteness!
8. Get a Good Stain Remover.
When food inevitably gets on baby's clothes, it helps to have a tough stain remover that you trust. This all-natural stain remover is the ONLY one I buy. It gets out the toughest stains, but is safe and gentle enough for my family.
This is the ONLY stain remover I will buy. It gets out even the toughest stains and is safe for my family. It also comes in big refill pouches at a great price.
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