Does your baby make a mess when eating?

[Motherofking]

When I feed my baby food ends up on his face hair clothes sometimes the floor. I can never seem to feed him and keep him clean. My husband is critical saying he has never seen a mother make such a mess when feeding their baby but I don't intentionally make a mess . My baby ties to self feed , or puts his hands in his mouth with food in it or pushes the spoon out if my hands which drops and causes mess. He makes me seem like such a crappy mother because of it . Tells me in doing something wrong because with his previous child with his ex he doesn't ever remember their being mess when eating . So now I don't know if this is normal or am I doing something wrong . Im a first time mum with no baby experinces and I don't have mum friends unfortunately due to lockdown ive not been able to make any so I don't know if this is normal or am I doing something wrong
Do you mums end up with some mess on the floor after feeding your baby ?

Your husband sounds challenging

Your baby sounds entirely normal. Your husband, on the other hand, sound like a dick.

Btw I recall when my baby had her one year check up at the hospital (as a result of being prem) our nanny (ie a professional with many years of childcare experience) had fashioned a natty hat out of kitchen roll for her to wear whilst eating lunch as she was going through a phase of smearing cream cheese in her hair and she didn't think the doctors would appreciate a cheesy child!

It sounds like you're doing a great job - letting them make a mess while they are learning and developing IS great parenting. You sound like you have the right attitude there.

Unfortunately it sounds like you have a husband problem. He should be supporting you and building you up, not running you down.

Instead of questioning your parenting skills I'd start looking at that. And putting a stop to it.

Don't let him ruin this time with your little boy.

Babies are DISGUSTING when they are eating . I could barely look at mine sometimes when they were eating, I would say it was like feeding time at the zoo except a tiger will actually clean itself up after it's demolished half a cow.

I never understood why the straps on the high chairs were made of that webbed nylon material, so that all the smooshed-in banana / porridge etc got stuck in all the little crevices and was impossible to get out. My children are teenagers now, so I'm hoping that there has been a revolution in high chair design recently, and that the straps are now detachable and can go in the washing machine?!

We've not long started weaning and yes - so much mess. We're taking a mostly baby led approach although we do lots of mash, yoghurt, porridge etc I just let her use the spoons herself - she likes at least one spoon in each hand,a couple of spare for throwing across the room and still likes to grab fistfuls of it to suck off her fingers too. I just tell myself its good sensory play for her!

My friend stopped BLW because she couldn't stand the mess, she keeps the bowl near her and spoons the food directly into the baby's mouth. I don't like that idea and don't think my baby would go along with it really but it works for them.

We have a cheap shower curtain under the high chair and I use bibbado bibs. Our kitchen is really cold at the moment so I haven't fed her in just her nappy but that might work for you. We use cheeky wipes to wipe her face and hands after - although I've just now spotted she still has porridge behind one ear so clearly I'm not always thorough enough.

Your husband should be doing his share where feasible around work etc and definitely not criticising or comparing you to his ex.

@LutherRalph1

Some mess?!

All the mess! Babies are messy

Your husband sounds like an arsehole

This first reply says it all. No further comment required.

We loved bibs with full sleeves because dd hated baths.

My “favorite” moment was when I walked by dd and she decided my backside needed to be covered in yogurt.

Babies are messy. Feeding themselves is good for their development.

OP, why doesn't your husband feed your baby?

Completely normal. My first baby made very little mess, but my second more than made up for her!! It would take me longer to clean up than actually cook the meal some days. In the summer I fed him outside as much as I could.

With all respect OP all your replies are about your baby and feeding, and this isn't really about that at all. Its about being married to someone who is nasty, critical and determined to strip away your confidence in yourself. That's what you need to think about.

I don't think you are ready to really open your eyes to the fact your partner is purposely being an arsehole op.

All I would say, if a baby making a bit of mess while they eat causes this level of criticism, comparison and bullying, he isn't going to cope well with the stages to come is he?

Could you have a conversation with his ex-partner? I be willing to be my mortgage that he was a bully to her too, hence why they are not together anymore.