What's this cake smashing lark all about? Another US import?

[GoldenKelpie]

Colleague at work was chatting about visiting a photography studio for professional cake smash pics plus having a birthday party one. Then, today I read on fb of another mum organising a cake-smash. So it's a thing? Good grief!

Eurgh
I thought the cake was broken up and eaten by the adoring parents and grandparents ( because they might not mind the DC mucky paws being in it) but it isn't

Anyone who does one deserves to have a Balloon -in-a-Cake ( inflated , disguised with artfully cut cakey bits and loads of sticky icing and cream) and get them to cut it.
Stand realllly close now , lovely photo.

I disagree with most people here,but then we did a cake smash. We also ate the remainder of the cake (ours maybe wasn't as messy as he could have been) we took the photos ourselves and all in it cost about 15pounds. It was the first time he had cake and as such was an exciting moment for him and we have some cute photos of it.

imagine the comfort you could bestow on underprivileged children, in the name of your DC, by donating that cash instead!

By that logic you'd donate to charity rather than throw your children a birthday party and you'd only buy the bare minimum at Christmas. In fact maybe we shouldn't spend any money on our children or ourselves and donate everything else to charity?

Thanks for your replies, opinions and experiences. Back in my day (my kids are in their twenties now) I didn't have any experience of "gender reveals", "baby showers", or "cake smashes". Also, my car seats were tiny, basic things in comparison with modern ones .

I don't think it is snobby to question some of the ideas that are imported from America; they all seem to involve being encouraged to spend lots of money, that's for sure . Halloween is a good example, in my day we made our own costumes and carved turnips. No one spent money on decorating homes like nowadays, or bought ready-made costumes and accessories either.

I guess its a sign of the times. Nevertheless I've bought various goodies for any spooky callers on Wednesday .

Who is spending £50-£100 on cake?!
Usually a cake smash involves a £5-£10 cake...

Every game smash picture I've ever seen has involved a specially made cake and they certainly don't come cheap.
This isnt some £5 Tesco traybake.

I can't see the point but then I don't find photos of babies covered in food cute at the best of time

Isn't it quite an old French custom? Bride and groom smash the cake glaze with a hammer.

Oh look, another thread about bashing American traditions. Yawn.

The smash cake is a very small cake just for the baby. It costs about $5. It is NOT a $50 cake, although I suppose some people may choose to spend that. I have never seen an expensive smash cake at a baby's party.

The smash cake is a very small cake just for the baby. It costs about $5. It is NOT a $50 cake, although I suppose some people may choose to spend that. I have never seen an expensive smash cake at a baby's party.

The op isn't talking about a smash at a babies party but a pre-arranged photo shoot specifically to record a baby smashing a cake. Here in the UK the pictures I've seen on my Facebook are of babies smashing proper cakes that have been specially made, often with their names etc on.

Google image search cake smash and you'll see the type.

Isn't it quite an old French custom? Bride and groom smash the cake glaze with a hammer.

I am assuming the bride and groom don't then go on to paw through the cake and smear it all over the place?

It is a tradition which has come over from America - that's a fact. It's not sneery to say that cake smashes, like baby showers, are an American thing. In general, my opinion of American things is very positive - they have a very positive outlook on life and a "get off your arse" attitude.

I'd judge cake smashes as vulgar and tacky whether they're happening in Minnesota or Manchester.

So a cake smash is where you get to stick your face in the middle of a cake and just gorge with abandon, getting it smeared all over you in the process? Do they do them for adults too? Asking for a friend.

It's not my thing, but each to their own etc. I am not a fan of staged photoshoots in general.

Can't get worked up about it. It's the baby's birthday, s/he's mainly had a diet of strained veggies and pureed meat up until now, here's a first taste of cake. It's generally a very small cake, just something the baby can eat with their hands or however they're able, without anyone having to worry about keeping the cake nice for party guests. Some parents want to capture the moment and take a photo / have a photo taken.

It wouldn't be my thing but it's hardly offensive.

Formerly tbf that's not my experience of them. It's usually a small £5-£10 cake or a homemade cake. There are always people who spend way too much on something but that doesn't mean it is always expensive. If I said I was doing a cake smash, you may imagine I am spending £200+ whereas in reality is less then £20.

I did one for DD and I’ll do one for DS. I made the cake and i take the photos. Costs me nearly anything.
It’s amusing to watch the kids mess it up.
I did in the garden and her dress wasn’t ruined. I have lovely photos of her in front of the cake and her first few bites up. The very messy ones aren’t displayed.
It was fun for us all lots of laughing.

Don’t know how I’m going to my November born boy though. Don’t want that mess in the house.

Don’t know how I’m going to my November born boy though. Don’t want that mess in the house

Buy a big paddling pool , you can contain the mess and hose it down after . .