mucky stage of self-feeding (1yr) plus family eating

[time4tea]

i'm sure this is completely normal but I've been finding this lark of having two DSs a bit tricky on coordination of all people in the family without lunacy breaking out...

currently DS2 is one year old and has just started to prefer to feed himself, leading to mess everywhere. what is the best way to mop him up for reasonable hygiene (damp flannels don't seem to do the job, a bath after every meal is excessive and impossible)

also I'm getting very demoralised fixing up and clearing up separate breakfast lunch tea for DSs and us, esp as the children eat different things. DH and I have periodic run-ins about the (perceived) lack of fairness in tidying up afterwards, so for everyone it is now important to find a way to simplify matters. During the working week DH & I need to eat after the children are in bed (he gets in too late to eat with them) but at weekends we could eat together.

any tips for starting this off would be really appreciated

Have 2 dds

In the week, dds and I have breakfast and lunch together

For dinner, I either cook just for them (they get the same, no choices!) but sometimes will cook for all of us if dp is in between 5-5.30. Otherwise we'll eat later.

We try to eat all together at weekends (doesn't always happen though)

I agree the tidying up after 3 meals a day malarkey is Groundhog Day-esque

For me and dp, whoever cooks, the other one tidies away after.

I have NO solution re toddler mess, dd2 is 18m and a very messy eater!!

Are you anti baby wipes? I use loads at mealtimes. DD is 18 months and A LOT cleaner than she was. When we can't eat with children I sometimes try to make in advance. Fish pie, cottage pie, stew etc. but in two different dishes so you can prepare it all at once but just cook one earlier than the other.

I do also try to have messy things like rice when we're all eating together so that cleaning up isn't such a chore. You could put a mat down under your DS to catch the worst of it.

Recently started a thread for easy dinners that are still healthy for exactly the reason you're talking about here

Roll on summer - I'm going to invest in a gas barbeque (despite DH's protesting) and try to cook and eat as much as possible outside thus keeping an immaculate kitchen

Would it be really wrong to use paper plates .....!

I do sympathise - my ds aged 14 months is going through the messy eating stage too. All that clearing up drives me insane! (cleaning isnt dh's strong point...........)

I do use a flannel as I dont like wipes much, it doesnt always get everything off but what are a few food stains on the cheek until bath time.....?!

We are starting to try to eat together at weekends (lunch and breakfast), but ds usually has tea at 5pm which is too early for us, so still has that on his own. HAve only him at the moment but am pregnant again so soon will be trying to juggle everything like you!

Have you tried giving the children the same as you? Just reheat yours and DH's later? They will probably like to copy what you're eating anyway. I use wet flannel on dd, but quite quickly after whole meal's over, and then, as TheApprentice says, the rest can wait till bathtime. Cheap shower curtain under high chair can save floor, and pelican bib with muslin underneath good for clothes.

me and the kids eat breakfast (normally cereal) and lunch (sandwich and fruit) together in the week and I fix dinner for just them as I eat with dh when they are in bed. I am quite lucky in that dh cooks for us two when he gets in so I dont have to do that. I clear up, load dishwasher, etc afterwards.

ds (17 months) has a messy mat thing under his highchair and used to wear a tommee tippee roll and go bib which catches food as it falls (I only use it when he has really messy food as he is quite clean at feeding himself now). I use a wipes for cleaning him afterwards.

At weekends dh makes a breakfast (usually something cooked e.g. roll and sausage, cooked breakfast) and on a Saturday we go out for a family meal around lunchtime and have a snacky thing later on. On a sunday we have all meals together and dh tends to make a sunday roast or rissotto or spag bol, etc that we can all eat. (dh does most of the cooking as I am crap at it and have little inclination do cook much at all)