To serve a baby led weaning buffet at my daughters party?

[PignutSalamander]

Dd is turning 1, I am planning to do a buffet based on the very hungry caterpillar. The plan as stands is to set it all up on a trestle table and when it's time to serve it put the legs down and let them at it.
Consideration has obviously been given to making it safe and easy for kids to feed themselves and the first few people I mentioned it to said they thought it was a great idea
I mentioned it to a mum who will be bringing her dd and she said " err! What about germs? How will we stop them taking a bite and dropping it, then another baby eating it?"
I basically feel that they will be spending the whole party sharing toys, touching each other etc and that germs are just going to be shared.
Obviously I will ensure that hands are washed before they eat and have also checked for allergys and warned mums not to put them in there best clothes. Also seperate snacks for adults
So what's the consensus mn? Aibu?

[storminabuttercup]

Sounds fine to me, for DS's birthday I I did little party boxes with easy to eat stuff in. They were still eating out of the other boxes.

[Adamit]

i need to see a picture of something or a link. what the hell is a caterpillar buffet?

i see the other mums point ...i wouldnt fancy my ds at one eaten some regurtiated chicken nugget (though sounds like you wouldnt serve these )

[Adamit]

little party boxes ... thought not same thing as giving them all a bowl or something?

[scrumpkin]

It sounds a really good idea to me

[Adamit]

jaysus me spelling is horrendous ... am half asleep my apologies!

[HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey]

I would love a buffet based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar!!

It sounds great and my dds would have loved it!

[karatekimmi]

my little one spends time with friends putting toys in mouth, passing them around, crawling on the floor, pooing on the floor and rolling in it I think I sounds fine as they wont be exposed to any more germs than crawling on the floor surely!
I'd go for it!

[BlackholesAndRevelations]

Give paper plates for parents to use if they wish.

[NotADragonOfSoup]

In all honesty, I think it is a nightmare waiting to happen. The children are too young (assuming they're all the same age) to select food from a buffet without scattering it everywhere, sitting in it, knocking whole plates off the table.... it may be better to have a selection plate/box per child or let the parents choose.

Germ Mother is a little bit bonkers though.

[Sparklingbrook]

It sounds like a nice idea, but one Mum has already been all over it so what if the rest feel the same? Is it worth the backlash? I don't think YABU but potentially everyone else is.

My children are older so memories a bit vague, but what's the alternative?

[whatsforyou]

Isn't that just a buffet? Don't see what the issue is. Would you be giving paper plates though?
Not sure I would have it down on the floor though, not so much for the picking up pre chewed food but for the babies running/crawling over it.
For my ds's birthday I had it all out on a table and they got a selection on a paper plate and all sat on a huge shower curtain and all ate each others

[coldcupoftea]

Well hopefully parents will keep an eye on their own children and pick up any regurgitated breadstick with a napkin, rather than just leave it on your floor!

[Adamit]

is it actually a low table for a kids buffet? i cant picture it how is it different that having everything laid out on kitchen table/counter and serving them bowls/boxes/paper plates?

[Moominsarescary]

I've always done buffet type food at parties, even when they were 1.

[Adamit]

coldcupoftea you would think so ... but have seen parents once child is in door plonk themselves at kitchen table drinking tay while everyone else has to mind their kid making sure they are safe eating

[bigkidsdidit]

Germs wouldnt bother me but they will all crawl all over it!

[flumperoo]

How about you provide bowls for those who would rather their child have their own portion? Best if both worlds then?

[CheCazzo]

A 'baby led weaning buffet'? Oh ffs - really? For 1 year olds? Firstly - just call it a buffet and be done with it. Secondly - it's going to turn into a complete nightmare so make sure you have plenty of dustpans and cleaning equipment to hand. The germ mother will be the very least of your troubles.

[PignutSalamander]

How do I post a pic? Err basically will be in 3 rows with a column down one side. Fruit platters on top row for Monday to Friday. Pineapple sunshine, Swiss roll caterpillar and a leaf platter in the middle. Then all the things from Saturday on bottom. The column on the side will have big fat caterpillar, cocoon and beautiful butterfly!
Does that make sense?
If you search Pinterest lots of people have done their own versions.

[TwoKidsAndCounting]

Sounds like a fantastic idea!

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Yeah, I'd have little paper bowls or plates to put a few things into for each child. That doesn't stop it being BLW, does it?

How come it won't all slide off when you let the trestle legs down?

[Adamit]

agree. let parents plate up what they like (less food wastage) and look after their own child while eating as i presumed was normal with all bday parties especially at that young age.

what about unknown allergies?

[theotherboleyngirl]

I did a Hungry Caterpillar buffet for my twin's 3rd bday and it worked brilliantly - but there's no way I would have lowered it to the floor. The kids (if old enough) and the parents (of little ones and for themselves) loaded up plates and went to a table to eart. Not because of germs but because when my DT's were just rising 2 they went to a party where all the food was put in the middle of a picnic rug with the babies/young children sat around the edge and it was absolute carnage - sat in bowls, everything knocked over, then all over the kids which got walked about the hall and very little ability to eat things once they had been crawled in and squashed. Also a nightmare for a twin mum who couldn't physically control all 3 of my kids to ensure they were 'staying put' and actually getting some food!

[Adamit]

christ almighty i havent a clue what you just described. prob cos am irish never heard of it. would love to see it now. sounds lovely ... but so much work and would have me as a guest parent on edge minding my child.