Page 5 | Licking dinner plates

Pinklightning · 10/09/2026 17:40

That’s fucking feral.

Spiderx · 10/09/2026 17:35

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/09/2026 17:26

Timothy Winters goes to school, Eyes as wide as a football pool....

It was a very sad poem.

Show quote history

Yes it was ( sad) ...and maybe we still haven't moved on that much with so many kids not eating ok before school ?

DustyMaiden · 10/09/2026 17:34

My DH does it . If I make a chocolate cake. He wouldn’t do it in public. He’s got an extremely long tongue, that’s why I put up with him.

DramaAlpaca · 10/09/2026 17:30

The only plate licker in our family is the dog... if he gets the opportunity, which is not encouraged.

scalt · 10/09/2026 17:29

Is licking the bowl icky? Is another childhood pleasure gone?

Yes I know, the question is about doing it in front of other people. But as always, you can play Mumsnet bingo with this thread.
Grim - tick.
Ick - tick.
Only “crass” is missing.

AyrshireTryer · 10/09/2026 17:28

Slice of bread if she must, but I wouldn't allow a place to be licked.

Notsosweetcaroline · 10/09/2026 17:27

I think if my child started doing this suddenly I’d be concerned she’s still hungry and isn’t being fed enough. Of course greed can play a part but maybe not at 8, so I’d worried she was still hungry,

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/09/2026 17:26

Spiderx · 10/09/2026 17:09

The wartime poem when food was in short supply ...." a blitz of a boy is Timothy Winters, licking patterns off his plate"

Show quote history

Timothy Winters goes to school, Eyes as wide as a football pool....

It was a very sad poem.

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/09/2026 17:24

malloryknox123 · 10/09/2026 15:47

You’re right to teach her not to do that, it’s bad manners and she will be judged harshly if she does this in public.

it’s not okay even in the privacy of her home.

I was very firmly taught not to dip bread in soup and taught my DS the same, only for his very uncouth aunt to loudly remonstrate with me and call me a snob for stopping him from doing it at a wedding.

I always dip bread in my soup. I am obviously uncouth.

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/09/2026 17:20

godmum56 · 10/09/2026 15:30

From a child, I have known at home manners and "restaurant manners" Its not unlike teaching children different (actually extra) manners when there are visitors.

Show quote history

Inside voices and outside voices. Helping yourself at home or waiting be asked when you are guest. Breaking wind in the bathroom but not at the table.

Different rules for different contexts, it's not complicated.

Many years ago I was the teacher in a school nursery class which offrred full time places. One little girl stayed for dinner for the first time and ate every scrap of shepherd's pie then licked the plate. I said 'Oh you enjoyed that did you?' and she said 'Yes I've never eaten meat before'. I was so horrified that I'd committed a terrible faux pas that I forgot about the manners aspect. I confessed to her Mum at home time but she was fine about her daughter eating meat at school. I don't think the plate picking became a habit.

Notsosweetcaroline · 10/09/2026 17:12

I abhor poor table manners and no you shouldn’t permit this, she’s eight, old enough to know how to behave at the table.

is she still hungry though, is she getting enough food?

Viviennemary · 10/09/2026 17:12

You're right. It's awful Don't allow it.

godmum56 · 10/09/2026 17:11

Endlessblueskieswhatsnottolove · 10/09/2026 16:01

Oh I dip bread in soup-lovely!

I draw the line at licking plates though!

Show quote history

why would you not dip bread in soup when at home?

Spiderx · 10/09/2026 17:09

Endlessblueskieswhatsnottolove · 10/09/2026 14:03

Recently my 8 year old has started licking her dinner plate when she's finished. Whilst I appreciate it when she says it's because it was delicious, I've told her not to do it as it's yucky and bad manners.
Dh thinks I'm being harsh on her for getting cross with her

Aibu to not want my child to think it's ok to lick plates after finishing their food?!

The wartime poem when food was in short supply ...." a blitz of a boy is Timothy Winters, licking patterns off his plate"

Itsbeenalongtimeincoming · 10/09/2026 16:35

daisyydaisyy · 10/09/2026 16:10

I do this but ONLY if I’m alone. Luckily; I live alone so I’ll lick as many dinner plates and drink out of as many cartons and lick my knives as much as I damn well please. Mum taught me it was bad manners so I do not do this in company of others.

Yeah but licking knives is also about not cutting your tongue.

Itsbeenalongtimeincoming · 10/09/2026 16:34

Bez72 · 10/09/2026 14:36

Jump up and get the plate off her? Way to traumatise the poor girl...

Show quote history

Really? Is it really going to traumatise her? Hyperbolic language is the worst.

OP, its disgusting and poor manners. Tell her not to and when she starts to ask for the plate.

Or, as other poorly mannered people have said let her carry on and then wonder why in a restaurant or public setting she can't figure out that having good manners is necessary.

IdaGlossop · 10/09/2026 16:31

I wouldn't have allowed it but I wouldn't have got cross. I would have explained that table manners are about being considerate towards people we are eating with. Bread is your friend.

malloryknox123 · 10/09/2026 16:30

dozer222 · 10/09/2026 16:27

Bizarre!

Show quote history

How so?

Bellaboo01 · 10/09/2026 16:30

Jc2001 · 10/09/2026 14:13

It not a pleasant thing to watch at the dinner table. Give her a slice of bread to mop it all up with

Show quote history

I totally agree with this (i'm an 80's child so bread was also a staple with any meal).

I used to always 'Mop up' with some bread but, never with my tongue - sounds pretty gross!

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 10/09/2026 16:28

I think it's fine as long as she knows to only do it at home.

dozer222 · 10/09/2026 16:27

malloryknox123 · 10/09/2026 15:47

You’re right to teach her not to do that, it’s bad manners and she will be judged harshly if she does this in public.

it’s not okay even in the privacy of her home.

I was very firmly taught not to dip bread in soup and taught my DS the same, only for his very uncouth aunt to loudly remonstrate with me and call me a snob for stopping him from doing it at a wedding.

Bizarre!

BiscottiBandit · 10/09/2026 16:26

Licking plates is revolting, use bread for goodness sake. It’s not something that would have been tolerated in our home and the plate would have been removed if any of my children had done that.

WarriorN · 10/09/2026 16:18

It’s not ok.

but I’d do it if no one was around 😈

DressOrSkirt · 10/09/2026 16:18

I don't see how it's yucky, but it is bad manners.
Just tell her you don't want to see/hear that, and she can mop the end up with bread.

daisyydaisyy · 10/09/2026 16:10

I do this but ONLY if I’m alone. Luckily; I live alone so I’ll lick as many dinner plates and drink out of as many cartons and lick my knives as much as I damn well please. Mum taught me it was bad manners so I do not do this in company of others.