Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

371 replies

PignutSalamander · 20/01/2013 09:31

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?

OP posts:
FutTheShuckUp · 20/01/2013 10:53

It all sounds toe curlingly cringeworthy im afraid

munchkinmaster · 20/01/2013 10:54

See dd eats (or doesn't depends which way the winds blowing) finger foods. I put it on her high chair tray. I sit at the table it's civilised a food fight

I don't lay it on the floor and leave her to it. So why would I do this at a party.

DoItToJulia · 20/01/2013 10:55

OP, I totally get it that you want to do something lovely and seemingly age appropriate for your dds first birthday.

However, I do think it has the potential to turn into a giant food fight. You could either totally accept that and make provisions (the giant shower curtain picnic blanket sounded like a good idea and a mop and bucket so you can leave the hall in the clean condition you found it in) or save the idea for a later/older party?

Someone up thread talked about food boxes....I have used these before, little cardboard boxes (ad I am sure you can get hungry caterpillar ones) filled with a packed lunch.

Just a thought, maybe germ mom is worried about the food being served on the floor of a hall?

Whatever you do, I think your daughter will have a lovely party!

SolomanDaisy · 20/01/2013 10:55

Umm. I did BLW and don't find the BLW concept pretentious. And I am quite casual about germs. But I think this is a crazy plan. Your 1 year-old won't care, so you are doing it to impress the other parents, who don't even like the idea. The buffet will contain a load of things I wouldn't want my DS to have unlimited access to, so it will be a hassle for the parents. But I suppose you'll have a picture to pin...

pigletmania · 20/01/2013 10:56

Exactly, most of te tim they will crawl through it, tipping plates on the floor. At least if it's put on a table, parents can select a little and gve it to their dc

manormuppet · 20/01/2013 10:58

My poor CD's, they grew never knowing what blow meant, never co-slept, were never "worn", and I had no idea what an attached parent was and shock horror they survived.

manormuppet · 20/01/2013 10:59

CD's even

munchkinmaster · 20/01/2013 10:59

Also a few people have mentioned grapes my OCD head tells me I must point out grapes are so chokeable even though I know you all know and we're all going to chop them into 4.

So to recap:

No grapes for babies
No BLW buffet fuck wittery

manormuppet · 20/01/2013 10:59

DC DC DC aaaarrgg

munchkinmaster · 20/01/2013 10:59

Were going to chop

manormuppet · 20/01/2013 11:00

BLW not blow

usualsuspect · 20/01/2013 11:00

It will be carnage. Grin

There will be babies covered in food all over the place. Madness to do this for a 1 year olds IMO.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 20/01/2013 11:01

I think that you love the idea of the babies having a fun immerse experience with food.

Which is fine. But this is also supposed to be a meal, with other parents who don't feel the same as you. The reality is that at least some of the adults will be tense and unhappy, and some of the less confident children will get nothing to eat, and also be unhappy.

Why not save the food play for a different activity? Or for after the main food? There could be a jelly pudding course they could all go crazy in if the parents want, after they've eaten and are happy.

MisForMumNotMaid · 20/01/2013 11:01

If you're talking biggish spread i'd go for mixed food platters.

Because my quiet DD would just eat whatever food she has in easy reach without having to move others out the way be it a tray of carrot sticks or a whole plate of cakes.

I also tend to not put all the sweet foods out first - almost a two course buffet. If you hold back a bit on some of the cakes biscuits it gives some mums who have fussier eaters to attempt to get their little one to have something savoury before stuffing themselves with cake.

I also wonder whether two extra big table cloths on the floor either side of the buffet would aid clearing up and germ concerns on dropped food.

manormuppet · 20/01/2013 11:02

I suspect the naysayers are wasting their breath....op will not be deviated from her course.

Greythorne · 20/01/2013 11:03

Sounds absolutely foul. And pretentious. And like you have FAR too much time on your hands. And i saw that as a veteran of two BLW babies.

BLW can be done with plates, too. Set up the Very Hungry Caterpillar buffet on a normal table, get the parents to choose a selection of food for their babies, give the plates to each chikd and let them choose what they want to eat.

Personally, I hate people who use the BLW trend to allow their children to have appalling table manners, all in the name of "BLW".....you sound like one of these, TBH.

I can't believe you are suggesting this madness. Do you live in a trendy suburb of South London?

usualsuspect · 20/01/2013 11:04

All one year olds eat most foods surely, no need to call it a BLW buffet. Thats just a bit poncey.

Panzee · 20/01/2013 11:06

I feel like some people have too much time on their hands.
You could come round and clean my house if you're bored, OP. Grin

soverylucky · 20/01/2013 11:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 20/01/2013 11:08

So basically you are covering the floor in food and then setting a load of 1 year olds free. Complete madness!

MustTidyPlayroom · 20/01/2013 11:09

It is pretentious to call it a BLW buffet - by the age off one it is just called eating!

StrawberryMojito · 20/01/2013 11:10

Provide paper plates and bowls, they will be appreciated.

My DS is 15 months and eats pretty much anything he can get his hands on. If I was going to this party I would have to spend all the time stopping him from eating the half chewed/trodden on bit of fruit/sandwich/whatever from the floor that has just been dropped by one of his little friends. Whilst I accept that probably no great harm would come from this...who is it supposed to be fun for? He would be equally happy eating from a plate then being let loose to play. He sure as hell wouldnt be enjoying himself when he is tired and I have to change his entire outfit...cue much ranting.

mrsjay · 20/01/2013 11:14

would you like to go to a free for all buffet and then have to eat what a baby has mushed up and left, I think you need to provide paper plates so the parents can take what they want for the babies, it sounds a lovely idea but in reality it will be chaos and mush and perhaps some snot eww,

mrsjay · 20/01/2013 11:15

All one year olds eat most foods surely, no need to call it a BLW buffet. Thats just a bit poncey.

(nods) yeah it is,

Iatemyskinnyperson · 20/01/2013 11:18

1 yr birthday parties are for parents/families rather than the LOs. They are hardly going to eat much, or even aknowledge each other! They'll just be to crawl over someone else's house!

I'd say calm down about the whole thing and provide normal party food and a honking big chocolate cake so you can get cute pictures of them covered in chocolate.