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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate this smashcake craze?

588 replies

skerrywind · 09/04/2017 10:35

A close member of our family has just spent £100 on a smashcake for her 1st baby's birthday.
I find it quite disgusting to waste food like this. It surprises me that I have quite a gutteral reaction to this. I also find it disgusting to see people in baths of beans etc.

Anyone else feel like this or am I just a killjoy?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
histinyhandsarefrozen · 11/04/2017 06:54

You either think smearing cake on you and your kids so a photographer can take pictures of you 'having fun' is a great idea or you don't.

Only1scoop · 11/04/2017 07:09

Oh Lordy pp was bang on re the headband Grin

Original poster
skerrywind · 11/04/2017 07:12

I noticed the headband too- didn't want to mention............

OP posts:
Lweji · 11/04/2017 07:29

Heaven forbid people try something new and different.

It's hardly new or different, isn't? Not if everyone is doing it these days.

I don't see the problem with parents making memories with their kids.
It's also hardly memories with the children. Those 1 year old babies won't remember the cake thing at all. It's not even a funny story to share because they are contrived photo shoots.

It only really makes you happy.

If you wanted a sensory experience, it didn't have to be in a photographer with cake.

you can feed the left over cake to your domestic helper so there really is no waste involved,

Wow, did people actually say that? Shock What twats.

originalbiglymavis · 11/04/2017 07:34

A lump of cake scraped off the baby/floor/walls and covered in baby spit? AND I get to mop the floor and hose down Lord Timmy? Oh thank you maaarm. The children will be so pleased to eat this week...

FrancisCrawford · 11/04/2017 07:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
skerrywind · 11/04/2017 07:55

I thought I just said that! I find these pictures verging on the scatological,

OP posts:
Lostpangolin · 11/04/2017 08:10

I'd never heard of this, but since the chance of food landing on clothing appears to be related to the colour of clothing/ level of turmeric in said food, I may have accidentally been here, although I hope I was photographed

kkkkaty123 · 11/04/2017 08:12

I'd never heard of this till this thread, I had to google it ! Think I must live under a rock sometimes...... think I might get a photographer round when it's spag boll night, Grin

Riversleep · 11/04/2017 08:26

I have lots of memories with my kids. Many of them involved them making an almightly mess. They did it by themselves, learning to eat, or painting, or playing outside. I took pictures with my phone. None involved a contrived photoshoot. I wonder how many of those photo's will be looked at in 5 years' time?

gemsparkle84 · 11/04/2017 08:32

I had a cake smash done for my daughters first birthday. Funnily enough I don't really like newborn photos (the ones where they're really tiny etc) so didn't get any done. Any way I felt a bit guilty we didn't have any professional photos of her, never really liked the cake smash but decided to go for it. I love the results. I spent a lot more than £100 Blush but I will treasure the photos. They're fun and we all had fun doing it. I paid to have the cake especially made which was covered in the cost of the shoot.

histinyhandsarefrozen · 11/04/2017 08:33

I have no memories of my kids. If only I'd got a professional photo shoot done...

Riversleep · 11/04/2017 08:34

Glom I think you've hit on why Im uncomfortable with it. Cakes at parties and weddings are symbolic. They are about celebration and sharing food with your family. Giving a one year old one whole cake to themselves to destroy is the opposite of that. And it does smack of the Hunger Games- deliberately showing off how profligate you can be because you can, when others can't. No matter how cheap the cake actually is. Again, it's symbolic.

Moonbear10 · 11/04/2017 08:37

Yanbu, they're tacky and classless

PoorYorick · 11/04/2017 08:44

And it does smack of the Hunger Games- deliberately showing off how profligate you can be because you can, when others can't.

This is absolutely ridiculous.

insideoutoutsidein · 11/04/2017 08:49

LaurieMarlow and limitedperiodonly have been the voice of reason on this page! I can not believe how many people have a holier than thou attitude towards people! 'I would lose respect for someone if I saw them doing a smash cake'?! FFS, get over yourself! I don't eat meat, so I suppose it's OK for me to go around judging meat eaters is it?

I also think people misunderstand the concept of a smash cake as well. You don't encourage the baby to 'smash' the cake. You just put the cake in front of the baby and watch the baby eat the cake and the smearing of cake on baby's face is inevitable. This would be the first time they have a birthday cake and the photographer is there to capture the moment. We had a 'smash cake' and my DD barely touched it, she took a bit of the cream and ate it, DH and I and many members of my family then ate the cake!

TinfoilHattie · 11/04/2017 09:04

I loathe all this #makingmemories shite - it's all so try hard. I have lots of lovely memories of my childhood, none of which were contrived or set up by my parents. It's the spontaneous things which you remember, or something funny which happens. And thinking a one year old is going to remember anything is simply wrong.

Still think they're tacky and awful.

abcBears · 11/04/2017 09:06

We had a 'smash cake' and my DD barely touched it

then what's the point of the cake in the first place? Babies eating cakes messily is hardly a new concept, it's the fashionable trend that is distasteful.

May I introduce you to the next fashionable concepts:
Graffiti on the wall photoshoot
Smearing content of the nappy in cot photoshoot
Finger painting on sofas photoshoot
Dribling on computer equipment photoshoot

Oh the possibilities, the memories!

TinfoilHattie · 11/04/2017 09:07

You don't encourage the baby to 'smash' the cake.

Really? Google "smash cake" and you'll find thousands of images of babies respectfully licking a small portion of cake, leaving the rest to be munched by their adoring parents/relatives. Not. Hmm

MistyMinge · 11/04/2017 09:08

There's one word for cake smash photo shoots: TACKY

Megatherium · 11/04/2017 09:10

I agree that "making memories" is nonsense. Just do normal things and take photos if you want to, it's much better than artificially engineered events.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 11/04/2017 09:18

Heaven forbid people try something new and different.

It isn't new or different.

HTH

hamster1 · 11/04/2017 09:55

oh my goodness! I'd not heard of this. How utterly offensive. Right with you OP. Disgusting and vulgar.

citychick · 11/04/2017 09:57

lweji

you can feed the left over cake to your domestic helper

That's what she said. I was 😳🙄 and 😡😡😡

I've had lunches with people who nibble at their enormous plate of whatever and leave almost all of it.

It makes me so cross. I hate waste.

manicmij · 11/04/2017 10:14

Never heard of this obsession. Aren't we so gullible nowadays buying into whatever latest craze that comes out all to make money. Not sure if child will appreciate a photo of this craze when older and as for the parents feeling they must have it -self indulgent comes to mind. Be thankful if you have a healthy happy child and able to provide food they need.