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Original poster

Coping with the mess of weaning

36 replies

MrsCKT · 11/07/2023 10:54

I don’t claim to be the most cleanest person ever but I’m already dreading the mess of weaning! my son is 5.5 months old and showing signs of wanting food so I’m starting to introduce him to baby porridge etc but how does everyone cope with the whole weaning stage and mess of it? Is BLW better? Or am I just having to suck it up and just clean the high chair and my baby 3 times a day?

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violetcuriosity · 11/07/2023 12:15

I'm a bit of a clean freak and I've just had the ikea highchair for my kids, it wipes clean easily and has a big tray. After each meal I just wipe it quickly with a baby wipe and then hoover and mop and clean the chair properly each evening when I clean up after dinner. Cba with cleaning it all properly 3 times a day.

justaweenamechange · 11/07/2023 12:58

The dog really started contributing to childcare when we hit weaning. Finally pulling his weight in this family.

We did not do BLW with anything messy for months.

Puree and messy foods went in first with a spoon and then BLW bits were offered second.

TinyTeacher · 11/07/2023 13:14

Itspretty horrific. But it gets better!!!

Splash mat on the floor. Minimal clothes on baby with a nice washable bib (you can get sleeves on it). Yes, you just have to wipe baby and high chair several times a day. I still have to sweep up after brekfast every day and my boys are nearing 3.... you get used to it and it takes very little time really.

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Mamabear04 · 11/07/2023 14:12

I would say yes clean up 3 times a day buy there are also less messy things you can give so each clean up isn't so bad ie tomato based pasta sauces will be very messy whereas cheese and Oatcakes will just be crumbs (however when DS just started weaning we gave him plain pasta and spoon fed him the sauce so there was less mess). Ikea weaning smocks are very good for keeping clothes clean. Also we have a joie high chair that has a removable tray on the table so means we sometimes just need to clean that and give the babies hands and face a wipe. Once you start weaning you'll find your own ways to clean up quicker and as they grow there is generally less mess!

shakeitoffsis · 11/07/2023 14:20

You just get on with it there's no other way really. Better to clean them up 3 times a day than have them with all crusty food dragging it round the house 😂

BobbleWobble1 · 11/07/2023 14:44

Definitely a basic easy clean highchair and a splash mat. Food offered in just a nappy to begin with. We did BLW but didn't find it horrendously messy. The worst was over very quickly and I'd say it's less work in the long run. I also had a very keen eater so the majority of it was going in the child from about 7 months. I also made sure I didn't offer something really messy at every meal.

ButterCrackers · 11/07/2023 14:52

Get an easy clean high chair. I liked the ikea one. Clothes that are easy to take off and wash.afterwards I also used tea towels as bibs and those plastic bibs with a collection scoop on them. I used spoons at first but once the baby can take the spoon and feed themselves it really helps. It will be messy but they get used to eating really well. It’s part of the experience at first to put the hands and face in the food after awhile they learn to eat their food without the huge mess.

YorkshireIndie · 11/07/2023 15:17

Yes to getting a dog 😆
I got some washable cloth wipes that were just for LO and bibs that covered the whole top half of his body. Once meal time was finished the bibs and wipes went into the washing machine.

Do not know if someone has mentioned but part of BLW is the mess and just to embrace. We did start implementing the whole on your plate/tray or in your mouth rule when he was older.

Spoon feeding is such a chew

Original poster

MrsCKT · 11/07/2023 15:21

Thanks everyone! Think I’ll invest in the bibs you all have mentioned and spoon feed as much of the messy food as I can and give food to eat that isn’t as bad. I do have 2 dogs so I’m sure they will help with a lot of clean up as mentioned. I have a wipe down high chair so I can clean the tray easily and have hard flooring so I’ll just embrace the mess as much as I can 😂

OP posts:

FoodFann · 11/07/2023 15:42

Don’t fret, it’s great fun! I absolutely love weaning, it’s such a delight to see your LO eating. My DD is 7 months now and absolutely loves her food, it’s really wonderful. From 5 months, til now, my baby was having one big solid meal (Ella’s kitchen puree), plus three 8oz bottles a day. Now she also has yoghurt for breakfast after her bottle too.

it just takes one wearable bib which she wears for that big meal at lunchtime, once a day, chuck it in on a rinse cycle after. No bother.

Good luck and have fun!

MinimalistMe · 11/07/2023 15:46

My dog was great for this, still is and my child is 3. You just get used to it OP. I find all sorts of bits of food in toys, clothes, even the bed 🙄

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