Do you use napkins at meal times?

[Dillytante]

I went a proper 'ladies wot lunch' lunch this week, all matching china, jugs of elderflower & 3 types of salad. It was lovely, & so far above my hostessing skills that I am not even on the same scale. I don't even have matching crockery, which I'm ok about, I just have stuff I like. But what struck me most was the napkins. They were paper, granted, but floral & lovely. It's not like they were leftover Christmas napkins or Peppa Pig ones.

So do you all have napkins? Do you have linen ones? Are they special occasion things or do you have them with every meal? I don't have 'guests' very often, but when I do they make do with kitchen roll. But then it is usually good friends.

Tell me, have I been committing social suicide until now?

[Mintyy]

We have kitchen roll.

Quite nice Sainsbury's ones if people are coming round (ie. not your budget Ikea packs) .

Decorated ones at Christmas.

I own some cloth napkins but, really, who cba?

[cruxible]

Reading this has left me f eeling superior that my three small ish children can eat a meal without needing to wipe their hands / face on something. Are you really all so sloppy that you need a bib replacement for every meal?

Serviettes are for special meals to decorate the table (or barbecues)

[Dillytante]

Somehow we have managed to survive without napkins. DD2 usually wears a bib,& a wet wipe or a flannel suffice for her face, though if they are not too bad I don't even worry as we eat quite close to bedtime when they get a good scrub.

Occasionally we use kitchen roll but other than that I've never had the need for anything (though I must confess to wearing my apron if I'm having spaghetti bolognaise!).

[Dillytante]

The only time I've come across the napkin ring thing where you reuse the napkin is in a military mess.

[olivertheoctopus]

I love any excuse for pretty paper napkins but tend to use them for parties rather than general dinners. Don't have dinner parties v often mind you. Linen napkins were on the wish list for Christmas last year but didn't get them in the end. i want them mainly because I can see myself getting excited about napkin rings!

[ifancyashandy]

When you go to a restaurant & put a napkin on your lap, you don't necessarily use it to mop up numerous spilages or droppages, but you might use it to dab your mouth, yes?

That's how we use them. Not because we're messy eaters but in case.

[ChippingInLovesSunshine]

What an eye opener!

No - we don't use napkins. The adults manage to get the food in their mouths and the children get hosed off wiped with a damp flannel (clean for each child and each meal).

I have pretty paper napkins for if we have people around and we have cake or whatever and my lovely aunt who is like a ship lost at sea without her napkin, even with a cup of tea

[ChippingInLovesSunshine]

No, they annoy me in restaurants too. I put the food in my mouth, not around it and anything I do spill lands on my chest not my lap, it hasn't a chance of getting that far they just fall off of your knee and are a faff.

[mervynmouse]

Blimey. Linen napkins and your own napkin ring? It's kitchen roll here and if I have guests I scrabble around for left over paper Christmas/kids party napkins. Feeling woefully inadequate!

[carriedawayannie]

Why do you need to know whose napkin ring is whose? What am I am missing?

[Dillytante]

Because you reuse the napkins I think.

[carriedawayannie]

Ok I've read the thread now and I have to admit to being more than a disgusted that you would use napkibs that haven't been washed and contain bits of yesterday dinner.

You may think thats classy. I think its gross. Go to the bathroom and clean yourselves. Don't use yesterdays napkin under the pretence of being 'posh'.

[carriedawayannie]

Excuse typos - combination of phone and wine.

Point still stands though.

[steppemum]

well, I am amazed at what tidy eaters you all are!

seriously I think that it might depend on what you eat. eg at lunch time, i a have a sandwich full of salad with some salad cream. Often a bit of tomato juice of sauce will get on my fingers or round my mouth.

We like meals which are full of sauces and juice. If we ate different foods, maybe it wouldn't be needed. Or maybe we are just messy eaters.
I often need to wipe round my mouth and wipe my fingers. My dcs are 10, 8 and 5, to old for wipes and bibs, but still end up with messy faces/fingers.

We use same napkins for a week. I make no pretensions to being posh. In fact no-one on this thread has said it is posh. I simple find it a useful tool and I don't like the waste and expense of paper napkins every day. We have napkin rings so we know whose is whose as we re-use them.
using same one all week doesn't bother me, but then I don't wash my towels after every use either.
If I jumped up and went to the bathroom every single time I wanted to wipe a finger or a mouth I would be like a jack in the box.

I am that people think napkins have no function and are just there to dress the table. They are there to be used! I do find it difficult when at other peoples houses there is nothing on offer to use, not looking for napkins, but a bit of kitchen roll would be nice. And I have o idea why a linen napkin is any better than a cheap cotton one?

[Wuldric]

I am terribly posh yet manage to survive without napkins for family meals

[CocktailQueen]

Yes, we have proper napkins for every meal - why on earth not?? I hate paper towel. That's for wiping kitchen counters, not your face!

[seeker]

Is this the most divisive mumsnet thread ever? I hate not having a napkin!

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

steppemum I'm shocked you can end up with salad dressing or curry on your fingers [shocked]. Do you pick up your food with your hands? Or am I thinking the wrong types of foods?

[PigeonPie]

Steppemum you said what I wanted to say! Thank you.

This thread shows that there is a huge divide between those who use napkins and those who have never thought about them and never need them.

Having grown up with napkins it was just natural to me to continue when I left home. I introduced DH to napkins when we met and now he feels 'nude' when he doesn't have one - he eats lunch at work and the diners all have napkins and rings (yes he does work in an arcane place!).

[carriedawayannie]

You can't see the difference between towels you have used when you are clean ans napkins you have used when you are dirty?

Some of you sound like you weren't taught how to eat very well. I can manage to eat all my food without covering myself in it. I am not 2yo.

[ifancyashandy]

Haha! I have excellent table manners. Which is why I always provide napkins.

[Jan49]

"If I jumped up and went to the bathroom every single time I wanted to wipe a finger or a mouth I would be like a jack in the box".

Steppemum, just wash your hands at the kitchen sink and keep a towel in the kitchen for hands.

[Cies]

Cotton for everyday. Linen for special occasios. Fun paper napkins for parties.

[carriedawayannie]

And spill food down yourself ifancyashandy

[ifancyashandy]

Nope. But I do delicately dab the sides of my mouth.

Not quite sure why the rolly eyed emoticon is necessary. Not been critical if those who don't use napkins. Unlike comments about people being badly taught how to eat.