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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick and tired of BLW

49 replies

ArtFine · 20/05/2014 21:04

It just creates such a huge mess, at every single meal time!

I have wiped the floor four times today and I just find myself constantly cleaning. Is it just my baby who makes such a mess? Sometimes I wish I had stuck to purées!

OP posts:
ilovepowerhoop · 20/05/2014 21:08

you could do a mix if you wanted, it doesnt have to be one or the other

StinkusMinkus · 20/05/2014 21:09

Even with purées you have to let them feed themselves at some point - DS is 9mo and we're starting to self feed with a spoon and a beaker. Complete nightmare. He is currently getting none of his afternoon milk as he just decides to upend the cup every time.

Just glad it is summer and I can feed him outside and then plonk him in the paddling pool!

TheNightIsDark · 20/05/2014 21:13

I do a mix. He has some things he feeds himself but I do weetabix, soup and the like.

Also I put a sheet under the highchair and just shake it into a bin bag. Another option is to buy a dog Grin

Stumbelina · 20/05/2014 21:14

I agree. I did it with DD1 and found myself on my knees almost constantly cleaning up the mess. I'm doing a mixture with DD2 as I just can't be arsed with all the mess and I like to see her eat spoonfuls of stuff in the hope she will get full up and sleep through the night. On a positive note DD1 eats exceptionally well and has amazed everyone with her no fuss attitude to food so I think it was worth it. Try a mixture it might save your sanity.

elportodelgato · 20/05/2014 21:15

Yep, remember wondering more than once why I had bloody BOTHERED to get a degree just to wipe food off the damn floor 3x a day. Eventually got some large tablecloths to go under the high chair, so could shake crumbs out of the back door and stick the damn thing in the washing machine. On the whole I enjoyed BLW and it was definitely easier than puree in that I wasn't spooning stuff into the baby and could get with my own meal most of the time.

littlegreengloworm · 20/05/2014 21:15

I do a mix of both.

I give the main meal at 1 pm spoon fed and in the evening chop berries, cheese, brown bread etc.

Mim78 · 20/05/2014 21:17

I feel that blw is part of a general government initiative to ensure babies remain hungry for milk at night as long as possible. Maybe that is just me.

curlyclaz13 · 20/05/2014 21:18

We have a cheap shower curtain under the high chair and two cats to help clean the worst up.

MrsMook · 20/05/2014 21:19

DS2 was much messier if attempting to spoonfeed as he'd grab the spoon then take advantage of the extra leverage to use as a catapult. At least whole foods land within a metre of the high chair.

BerniesBurneze · 20/05/2014 21:19

Mim, what a load of tosh. It's been marvellous for my baby!

littlegreengloworm · 20/05/2014 21:21

Tesco sell cheap messy mats, I must get one.

I am also grrr... Tht I didn't get an antilop ikea chair as in dh said 'that's a basic I looking yoke'

Now I am cleaning a piña in the arse type of high chair each evening

Grrr

HairyWorm · 20/05/2014 21:22

You can buy rubber mats from ikea that you can put under their highchair or Poundland has basic plastic sheeting that's just as good.

We do a mix of finger food and spoon feeding. Sometimes wish I could just hose DD and the highchair down after a particularly messy feed.

Cluelessat30 · 20/05/2014 21:23

It got better for me when I learned DD2's 'tell' that she was about to chuck her bowl on the floor. She still pushes her plate away now when she's done eating, it's her 'cute' (according to some) way of communicating without words. It's only cute when you're not the one stepping around rice and veg til it's hard enough to sweep up.

wheresthelight · 20/05/2014 21:24

I have very little mess but then I have a mobile dustbin in the shape of a small black dog!!

Like someone upthread has said I feed her things like weetabix but she feeds herself pretty much everything else.

If it's particularly messy like yoghurt then I do put a wipe clean table cloth under the highchair

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 20/05/2014 21:24

Can i make a suggestion? I put my baby in a bumbo seat on our table and just hand her food from our plates or stick the little tray thing on and put a selection of foods on her tray. All mess drops onto the table so easy peasy to clean up afterwards. I Just keep an eye though that she doesnt try and buck out of the seat but there's always someone with her anyway.

Cluelessat30 · 20/05/2014 21:25

Ooh YY to ikea high chair

TheNightIsDark · 20/05/2014 21:26

We have the ikea highchair. Best £16 ever spent!

Stresseduptotheeyeballs · 20/05/2014 21:29

YANBU, I am now doing a mixture so I have the option to puree feed if I need to be somewhere by a certain time. I do find BLW a little wasteful too as most of it ends up on the floor, but I suppose they have to learn to feed themselves at some point.

I'm now hoping the weather is nice tomorrow so I can try StinkusMinkus's suggestion and feed him outside then dunk him!

PecanNut · 20/05/2014 21:31

I have 4 DC, none of them did 'BLW' - wasn't invented when I started - just a mix of finger food and purees.

They all made a mess of food all over the floor and still do.

Forgettable · 20/05/2014 21:39

Crikey, bumbo on table is terrible advice.

Newspaper under the highchair every day is a pretty low tech solution, just fold the food scraps in as you scrunch it up at the end of the day

IndiansInTheLobby · 20/05/2014 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bodicea · 20/05/2014 21:50

I wanted to do baby led weaning but
My lo has severe eczema so i can't get food allover his face as he reacts to it. Doing careful spoon feeding. Am i going to turn him into a fusspot??

Original poster
ArtFine · 20/05/2014 21:51

I have attempted to do a mix but DD refuses to be fed.

I love the newspaper idea! Smile Why didn't I think of that before? Genius!

OP posts:
Original poster
ArtFine · 20/05/2014 21:52

Bodicea, simple answer, no. Don't worry, all will be fine.

My DD has multiple allergies, and BLW just hasn't worked well for her. She hardly eats much and is up every hour at night for a feed. Even if there wasn't the mess with BLW, I still think BLW is way over hyped.

OP posts:
TheBreastmilksOnMe · 20/05/2014 22:03

Really dont see how it's 'terrible' advice, forgettable. As with anything baby-related you make it safe! Bumbo is on table, table up against wall, people sitting all around bumbo. What, exactly is terrible about it? It's actually lovely as baby is so included and up on the same level as all of us and mess all lands on table.