When did yours stop using bibs when eating?

[Stains90]

Ds is 2, coming 3 in a few months. He has also got a pre pre place in a nursery so now has to wear a uniform every day which I've purchased for him. My issue is that in his current room (ages 2.5 and up) they don't use bibs for the kids when they're eating but most days involves some form of sauce or beans or similar and his uniform tops are getting wrecked as I cannot get the stains out. They've said they'll try him with a bib which obviously I appreciate but that he'll be the only one in the room wearing one. Every day he's coming out absolutely claggered in curry or spag bol or similar to the point where sometimes I've changed my mind about doing messages after pick up because I don't want to take him out in such a state, and I'm honestly not precious about these things usually! When he's at home, I do use a bib on him if he's eating something that is easy spilt or will stain but now I'm wondering if he's behind on this and should be able to find his mouth? I can pretty much bet he's really hungry by lunchtime as he's always on the go, plays hard and he's got a good appetite and loves his food (they always give him seconds) so I can see him being so happy to get his lunch that he's eating too enthusiastically and then dropping bits so I'm not sure what the solution is.

I can’t remember with my first, but my second stopped using bibs as soon as he started trying to pull them off and tipping more food over himself / the floor than he would have done without it, so… 18months max? He’s not really messy now at 2.5 (although he did get egg yolk in his ear at tea this evening). Does yours use cutlery? Have you tried to help him slow down / focus on finding his mouth more when you eat together?

I'm not an expert on what's normal OP but my DD is 3 in November and I still use bibs at home and she is still a messy eater as well! Can use a fork and spoon but does still often eat with her hands. She also doesn't like having dirty clothes so she uses a bib at pre school. Don't know if the others do! But if they're willing then I would just keep using them. Im pretty sure some people still chuck kitchen roll down the tops of their kids at school age to protect spills at breakfast so surely some mess is normal at this age still!

Stopped about 2. Are the uniform stains really that bad? I would have thought vanish takes care of most food related stains and when there are the odd thing that doesn’t come out (usually paint rather than food IME) then meh, it’s only uniform.

Usually when we eat breakfast or dinner together he might get a little of it round his face - especially if it's something saucy -but for the most part he's not too bad. I'm thinking he's also maybe a bit distracted by what the other kids are doing. He's very good with his cutlery but might use his hands to get the last few tricky bits of rice/ pasta out of the bowl and we're working on getting better with knives and cutting at the moment - he can do it but mixes up which one goes in his mouth. He rarely spills his drink or anything like that. I'd really only notice him shovelling like that at home when he's really ravenous and I will tell him to slow down and put less on his fork/spoon and he will, but the next time he's super hungry it's the same again. He doesn't seem to mind wearing a bib, he'll go fetch it himself and put it on while I'm plating up. If we're out I don't usually bring a bib and just tuck a napkin in his top and that's usually enough.

Yup, vanish has taken the bulk of the stains out (curry or pasta sauce are the main offenders) but along with some of the dye on the tops unfortunately. They're very pale in colour so it doesn't take much to discolour them unfortunately. Before I would usually have sent him in in darkish clothes or stuff I didn't really mind getting paint etc on but since it's his uniform and right down the front I feel like I'm going to end up having to buy more which feels so wasteful.

Around 3 I would say. But I do remember the state of DDs school uniform when she started reception - definitely needed a clean jumper every day!

My hubby is 65. Definitely needs a bib!

Sunshine will shift curry and tomato stains, even a relatively bright cloudy day will help.

Stains are just "clean dirt"
Our son is 3 and still uses them but he does respond to "lean over your plate' and he gets a cloth out before meals to clean up any mess.
I think some kids just have better awareness than others, some things they are behind on are less obvious than others.
Just keep plugging away with the washing machine!

"Claggered"? I hope this is wonderful regional slang.

Haha yes, I didn't even realise sorry! Its like when you're absolutely plastered in dirt/spill/ food usually applied to something thick - like your boots are claggered in muck type of thing! It's probably a more local version of being "clattered" in muck.