What do you do with all the food mess your LO creates in a public highchair?

[ILikeYourSleeves]

I was just wondering this as more often than not my DS leaves a huge mess of crumbs, cheese, bits of crust, blobs of food, veggies etc smeared all over the tray and seat when we are out and he is in a highchair in a cafe / restaurant. I put a muslin round his lap to catch most of it but inevitably food still lands on the floor and gets smeared around. I usually try to pick up the obvious bits of food and wipe the tray but my pal with same age DS says she never does that and leaves the mess behind. What do you do???

[lilymolly]

Oh I hate people leaving a mess

I wipe up as much as I could with a wipe of napkin and put on a plate we had used to its taken away and scraped into a bin.

I think its just good manners to tidy up before you leave- not saying I would get dettol spray or anything, but would make an effort.

[Bowddee]

I always did the same as you.

I don't want to have to clean up some other child's mess, and I expect no-one wants to clean up after my child.

[thisisyesterday]

i clear it up as much as poss.

and not least because the staff don't always and I hate trying to find a clean highchair in some places.

[Seona1973]

I clear it up too using baby wipes/napkins, etc and then leave the pile of them on the plate. I couldnt leave a big mess - that would just be rude

[onepieceoflollipop]

I hope your pal leaves a big tip for the staff as well as a big mess . that is rude imo. I try and clean up any spillages/mess. It only takes a moment or two. You can even ask the staff for a stack of spare napkins to save using all your own wipes.

[penona]

I clean it up a bit, ask the staff for extra napkins, especially if somewhere I often go.

In a cafe near me I did this once after lunch with another mother of twins (so LOTS of mess) and the owner came over and said 'no no no, that is my job, you relax and have a nice lunch and then go home'. he forcibly stopped me from tidying. I was so ashamed at the mess I haven't been back

[eidsvold]

I wipe as much as I can with napkins and then use wipes to wipe down tray and seat. NOthing worse than trying to get child in chair with mess everywhere.

But then I am sad in some people's eyes - I return my dirty dishes ( if I have had coffee and cake) at a cafe to the counter. Often staff are busy and tables don't get cleared as quickly as needed so I see no problem with returning my coffee cup and small plate.

penona - I would have just thanked him graciously and not worried about it. At least you started and he chose to take it from there.
Why would you not go back?

[ILikeYourSleeves]

I think that's why my pal doesn't clear up as she sees it as the waiters job. Yes it is in a way but i make sure I get most of it up anyway.

[technics]

I try to pick most of it up and wipe the tray clean with a wet wipe.

If I picked up most of the food from my plate and left it on the table I wouldn't expect a waiter to clear it up.

[oldcrock]

dd2 is a very messy eater (she has SN so I'm not sure if it will get any better!) She partially chews and throws lots of food around on the floor/chair/table. I always try to clear up with napkins/wipes - I wouldn't want to use our table after us otherwise! Isn't it just good manners?

[TrinityRhino]

I clear all the mess up with wet wipes and then put them in the bin

I would have thought everyone does...

[DoNotAnnoy]

TBH mine have never been especially messy eaters (well DTDs were, but we didn't leave th house with them, so it was never an issue).

With DD3 i tend to give the highchair a cquick wipe with a baby wipe (re-using hte one which I have just used to wipe her down). Ignore the floor though, although again not normally a huge mess.

[QuintessentialShadow]

Of course I clean it up. Babywipes are perfect.

[Shoegazer]

I always clean up and i have been known to wet wipe the floor when DD was younger and very messy. I have a friend who never cleans up afterward and sees it as the job o fthose who work there. I always feel embarrassed by it actually.

[lulu25]

nothing but apologise and tip more

[Marne]

depends where we are, i will pick anything up off the floor and sometimes tidy up the chair. Sometimes i will leeve a higher tip.

[penona]

eidsvold - I went back yesterday! I think I just felt embarassed to have left such a mess. The owner was thrilled to see me and all my mum friends and LOs. He cuddled and played with them all, and when the other customers had gone created a small area with chairs around it so they could roam around safely while we had a coffee. What a nice man. Now am going back every week

[milkysallgone]

Mine are very messy so I usually pile most of the debris onto a plate and wipe up any obvious spillages with a wipe. However I did not do any of this on our most recent meal out. We had an appaling meal and bad service for silly money; I was and left the place feeling as though I'd just been mugged. I left our mess there quite happily.

[TeenyTinyTorya]

I always clean up - as a part-time waitress it's horrible having to clean up other people's mess. You do get people that will leave food all over the floor, vomit-filled baby wipes, and chewed stuff all over the highchair. I don't get paid enough for that!

[laweaselmys]

Clean it up with wet wipes and chuck everything on the tray. I think most people do this and generally make some effort.

I did used to have people leave baby wipes on leather sofas and individually shredded sandwiches all over the floor... seriously that is not on.

IMO, having to stop and spend 20 minutes cleaning up after every family isn't the staff's job and it's not really fair either!

PS. I also liked people who bought their empty stuff back to the counter. ahhh... I'm so happy I don't work in a coffee shop anymore.

[whoops]

I work in a pub and we have one particular women that does nothing but moan when she comes in then lets her little boy throw food all over the place (when she remembers to give him something) dunks his dummy in her wine for him and then buggers off leaving us to clear her mess up.
If she appologised about the mess I wouldn't be bothered but I'm sure she helps make the mess!

[likessleep]

I use babywipes.
Mind you I always babywipe highchair when I go somewhere ... a little OCD!

[ajm200]

I carry a pack of milton wipes to remove the worst of it. I've never been too sure about using baby wipes on surfaces that babies eat from.

I always apologise for the mess on the floor too.

[hazeyjane]

I always clean highchair and floor with wipes, but don't think i have ever seen anyone else do this, do you think it is just wierd 'mumsnet behaviour'