Cake smash...

[SleepingStandingUp]

I know I am. But if people can convince me I'm not I'll be much happier 😁😁

When DS was 1 I was opposed to cake smash photoshoots because it was a waste of cake. And he was tube fed all wouldn't have touched it and was actually in the middle of a 4 month awful hospitalisation for his birthday and when he came out he ate even less than when he went in and he had/has sensory issues that just would have made it not viable.

Now I have twins who would devour a cake shop between them, who don't seem to have any issues touching messy stuff or eating ANYTHING and I really want one.

But I know they're terrible.

Would I be unreasonable to bury my principles for some cute photos of fat babies covering in icing and cream?

I don’t know if headbands are a class signifier. To me, they’re a ‘totally unnecessary’ thing which would line up with having a cake smash photoshoot.

@SleepingStandingUp what about this point?
“ Given it's perfectly good to have a birthday cake and give a child a slice to eat (which inevitably goes everywhere anyway under a certain age), I don't really see what the appeal is in getting a second cake purely to pose for photos and then mush up, when anyone taking photos of a baby eating a slice of cake will see it gets everywhere anyway. If, as people claim, it's all about the enjoyment of a child eating cake and being a bit messy then the only reason to get a special smash cake is vanity to get the right shots. ”

If you really just want to see baby covered in cake (bizarre and thank god none of my social circle have embraced this nonsense along with baby showers and gender reveals) why is a slice of cake not good enough? Or is it that you do just want the photo op or a full cake?

@ShebaShimmyShake

Oh, I used to do "hand sandpits" too. Mix dry lentils, rice, seeds, nuts, couscous etc together in a container for some sensory play. I did keep them in a tub and reuse them, but after however many times of being rubbed around by baby and toddler hands, they definitely didn't get eaten.

This wouldn't be a waste of food cos the babies would just shove it in their moiths

I think the point being made was that cake is inherently wasteful, in that it is totally unnecessary for sustenance and very unhealthy, and is consumed purely because it is fun to eat.

Yes, this is where i'm coming from.

No one needs the calories from cake. Any nutritional benefits from the eggs/flour are negated by the sugar/fat. It's a 'waste' whether you eat it or let your baby smash it.

Except of course emotionally, where its a symbol of celebration.

I don’t know if headbands are a class signifier.

Are you very new to Mumsnet?

[quote Racinglikeapronow]@SleepingStandingUp what about this point?
“ Given it's perfectly good to have a birthday cake and give a child a slice to eat (which inevitably goes everywhere anyway under a certain age), I don't really see what the appeal is in getting a second cake purely to pose for photos and then mush up, when anyone taking photos of a baby eating a slice of cake will see it gets everywhere anyway. If, as people claim, it's all about the enjoyment of a child eating cake and being a bit messy then the only reason to get a special smash cake is vanity to get the right shots. ”

If you really just want to see baby covered in cake (bizarre and thank god none of my social circle have embraced this nonsense along with baby showers and gender reveals) why is a slice of cake not good enough? Or is it that you do just want the photo op or a full cake?[/quote]
I think they'd enjoying smushing themselves in cake. I think a nice big round one will be considered more fun than a slice of mainly sponge or a single cupcake esp with two of them. I like photographs of my children having fun. Because I'm a bad Mom, they've already tried cake. This isn't about a photo of the first time they try processed Sugar, but them having fun with food, getting messy, enjoying the sensory experience and having a record of that for the future

@AuntyPasta

I don’t know if headbands are a class signifier. To me, they’re a ‘totally unnecessary’ thing which would line up with having a cake smash photoshoot.

They are definitely considered a class signifier on here. They will be deemed chavy and tacky. Personally I agree with you on pointless, and if add choking hazard too

I think what it ocmes down to OP, is that potato prints are homemade and are ART. Whereas cake smash photos are mere kitschy commerce.

< I want to make potato prints. Haven't done that in years >

@lottiegarbanzo

I think what it ocmes down to OP, is that potato prints are homemade and are ART. Whereas cake smash photos are mere kitschy commerce.

< I want to make potato prints. Haven't done that in years >

Ok so if I get the kids to roll on paper afterwards and leave podgy roll prints in icing and then put THAT on my wall / Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / MySpace that will be ok? 😂😂😂

I think what it ocmes down to OP, is that potato prints are homemade and are ART.

I don't want to do down my child or anything, but last time they made potato prints, they were not exactly art of any great or lasting value. They had fun doing them though (which would also be true of cake smashing).

The definition of art is quite subjective.

I am not getting into a discussion on the definition of art here I do know how that one goes.

But yes, OP, that would certainly be ok. All the more so if you blur the lines between abstract and figurative work with some identifiable prints of body parts, merged into the over-all expressive melee.

Well we're definitely keeping nappies on now!!

I'd worry their chubby handprints would go mouldy and attack flies.

I'm desperate for the craft place to open up so I can step them to their vests and then them ""paint"" a canvas. Omg the photos of PFB were better than the art work. And no, no tutus or listing on the Gram

Haven't rtft but, I got great photos of my dc being cute and covered in food just from ordinary meal times when first exploring different solid foods.
Do you really have to do a cake smash for that?

Do it. I have dc with medical issues and I know what it's like to miss out on things that everyone else seems to be doing. My 4th was prem and I became quite fixated on wanting a photo of me sat up in my hospital bed on the postnatal ward cuddling dc5.

If you're worried about wasting cake etc you could do it with a cupcake each or even a few smarties.

@elliejjtiny

Do it. I have dc with medical issues and I know what it's like to miss out on things that everyone else seems to be doing. My 4th was prem and I became quite fixated on wanting a photo of me sat up in my hospital bed on the postnatal ward cuddling dc5.

If you're worried about wasting cake etc you could do it with a cupcake each or even a few smarties.

The Smarties would last the beasts about 3 seconds and then someone would choke 😂.

I might go with cupcakes. I really wanted to take baby swimming as we've never managed it with PFB but then I had twins 😂 so came smash it'll have to be

’Haven't rtft but, I got great photos of my dc being cute and covered in food just from ordinary meal times when first exploring different solid foods’

That’s why I think it’s odd - the staging aspect. How many young children need food washing out of their hair on a daily basis? How many children managed to bite their first or second birthday cake when the adults were distracted for a split second?

I'm happy to be told us bit for all those who don't understand the staging aspect, would you be equally critical of a newborn shoot, a family shoot, a superhero or fairies about, posed wedding photos?

Yeah I don’t like it really. Unnecessary and wasteful.

I’m not a fan of posed pictures generally but newborn or wedding shoots are fairly standard. The odd family shoot is too. Fairies or superheroes? Is that a thing?

I wouldn’t expect it to be Stannis Baratheon’s kinda thing, now you mention it. 😂

some cute photos of fat babies covering in icing and cream

That just sounds the complete opposite of cute to me. I've never seen the appeal in cake smash photos. I dont find anything cute or appealing in photos of babies covered in food. But to each their own

How about making/using cupcakes with copious amounts of icing? Same affect but less waste 😁

Photos of (or actual real life) children smeared in food make me queasy, but I don't have children myself so it's safe to say I'm more delicate on this than presumably most of the people who'd see your canvases OP (at the current time, very few I imagine!). It's hypocritical of me really as I'm a very messy eater.

It is a bit of a class marker, but the thing is so are about 2187 things (headbands on babies, French manicures, those really long pointy talons, gender reveals, Life Love Laugh signs, tattoos with your children's name or DOB, slug eyebrows, drag queen make up, leather sofas, canvas prints, names like Jayden) the list goes on and on, and most of us will fall foul somewhere along the line, so who cares really? It's just a way to make people feel better by putting others down.

I think we all need all the joy we can get after the last few months and this is a pretty harmless way to achieve that. Especially in the context of your older child.

@AuntyPasta

I’m not a fan of posed pictures generally but newborn or wedding shoots are fairly standard. The odd family shoot is too. Fairies or superheroes? Is that a thing?

Yes, usually for small children in costumes, not adults, with added realistic backgrounds

Why?