To ask when 'cake smashes' became a thing?

[SalemSaberhagen]

Loads of them popping up on Facebook at the moment, and I just don't get them. What's the point? When did it become a popular thing to do on a child's first birthday?

It's glorifying food waste though. The principle of it, I'm going to take pictures of my child smashing to bits a cake purchased purely for the purpose of ruining it. It's just not nice.

Chill Walshie.

They do eat the cake? plus why do you care if the cake was made for that child you're asking me to chill? You made a thread on how other people's choices bother you!

It's tacky and pointless. Yet another thing pretty much built for social media, another way to show off.

No, it's not to show off? It's memories, photos, their enjoyment

If that's what floats your skirt up, fine. Relax.

Why does it matter to you that other people you've never met find it tacky and vulgar?
I do, but that's my opinion, you don't have to share it.

Calm down walshie, I'mm entitled to my opinion.

Intentional food waste, I think it's disgusting. Hate food fights too, not funny at all. Can you imagine what people in poorer countries would think about this hilarious and cute trend. I wouldn't even dare to tell my mum about it, she would be horrified!!

Also, you can take pictures of kids enjoying 101 things, so smashing a cake and rubbing it all overntheor faces and wasting it isn't necessary for that. Personally I can't understand why anyone would want such contrived photos. I much prefer the ones people have of their kids trying certain foods for the first time. Not set up to deliberately get them filthy.

Do you get what I mean when I say it's the principle walshie? Yes, I made the thread. I didn't say it angered me though.

You are getting very het up here. If you are happy with your choice then crack on. I (and others) just really don't like it.

I can't get excited about it one way or another. I think it's only become 'a thing' because it's been given a name. As someone has already said people have been doing this for years. I couldn't do it myself because the mere thought of cleaning up the mess makes me tired but each to their own.

The only issue I have with this thread is someone saying that a 1 year old baby looks like a brat. Are we really stooping to that level now?

It's done at a studio, so no mess

I'm happy for you to have your opinions, but calling me a twat? That's too far.

At no point have I called you a twat?

Oh don't take it so personally ffs! Has someone you know in real life made a comment about them that you didn't like? It's honestly the only reason I could see for you getting so bizarrely wound up.

Mine are teens now. On DS1's first birthday we went for a boat trip down the river. I have some lovely pictures of that. Somewhere.

Cake smashes hadn't been invented in 2000.

Someone made the comment of twat on the first page, no they haven't and because I don't know why you'd bother to talk about them, if they don't concern you!

Forgetting something and deliberately destroying something is different.

I photograph them occasionally, there's a market for them and what some consider a fun celebration of a first birthday. More effort than they're worth but if it's what the client wants...

A toddler poking at a cake is so not the reason there are foodbanks in this country. What makes any of you think apart from the little bit of mushed up mess for the camera, that the whole cake is wasted?

When I was first asked about them I did a bit of research and it seems they're an American/Pinterest 'thing', rather like Lemonade Stand or Pumpkin Patch shoots. What about the lemons?! Save the pumpkins!!

See, I thinking people are twisting it into 'glorifying food wastage' in order to satisfy their own urge to look down their noses at others.

Do you really think, OP, that their are parents who are purposely buying a cake for their child to smash up - and eat because believe me they'll be shovelling loads in their mouth too - as a statement of food wastage? Could it not just be that they want a photo of their child on their first birthday having fun with their birthday cake and being allowed to play with their food?

If this was happening every weekend then yes, it's glorifying food wastage but as a one off?

Maybe save your ire for the supermarkets who throw out thousands of pounds worth of perfectly good food every day, then come back and bang on about food banks.

And I'm coming at that from an angle of someone who grew up in poverty.

Brie is very last season, the well stocked fridge contains some Vacherin.

Mine has a rind of Parmesan, it's going in the beans later. Or maybe the dogs will share it.

I don't waste food. We had none when I was growing up.

Whilst the net effect (waste) is equally bad, whether it is a cake smash or forgotten Brie, the intention is what makes the former so reprehensible. I do find it shocking. It's the difference between doing something bad on purpose or by accident. Surely it's clear that the first is worse?

The thing is, the cake isn't being waisted it's being used, it's not that a cake was made and then just thrown in the bin, there was benefits from it

*wasted

i don't see it as simply an act of destruction though. Potentially the baby gets a lot out of it - a fun sensory experience (tactile and taste wise), parents get memories and nice pictures. It's not even a given that the cake is wasted.

That's much more desirable in my eyes than a piece of Brie in the fridge that gets binned without anyone getting joy or pleasure from it.

There is no benefit to smashing a cake for shits and giggles.