Mumsnetters share the biggest mess their children have made while out and about with Nice ‘n Clean

[LucyBMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed - thank you to everyone who shared their stories

It’s happened to all parents, you turn your back for all of three seconds and what you see on your return shocks you - it’s difficult to comprehend how your child made that much mess! Whether it’s Sudocrem, spaghetti or paint that they’ve managed to cover themselves in, the clean up is more manageable in the comfort of your own home. Baby wipes can be an essential when out and about, but with increasing awareness around their environmental impact, it can be easy to feel guilty about their use. With this in mind and following their launch of plastic free baby wipes Aqualettes, Nice n Clean would like to hear about the biggest mess your child has made while out and about.

Here’s what Nice ‘n Clean have to say: “Kind to little ones and even kinder to the planet. Nice ‘n Clean Aqualettes are truly environmentally friendly baby wipes. The wipes are plastic free and made from plant based, biodegradable fibres helping to ensure a brighter future for children everywhere. Super soft and gentle, each wipe cares for delicate, new skin using a natural pre-biotic to help protect baby’s skin whilst being pH skin neutral.

Not only are they loved by mums and dads nationwide, Nice ‘n Clean Aqualettes are dermatologically tested and paediatrician approved too. As a family business, we know how precious every baby is and how important their future is too. That’s why we’ve made our wipes from biodegradable fibres and our packaging recyclable*. We think looking after little ones and their planet is a big deal. If you think so too, find out more at aqualettes.co.uk. We’d love to hear from Mumsnetters about how they look after their babies' skin whilst they’re out and about.”

What was the biggest mess your child has ever made while out and about? How did you tackle the clean up? Do you have to approach the situation differently if you’re out of the house? Do you feel guilty about using baby wipes containing plastic?

All who share their stories on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Insight T&Cs apply

*Packaging is recyclable where recycling facilities for shopping bags exist

I have a 20 year old son who has severe cerebral palsy and when he was younger he had really, I mean REALLY bad reflux. As a toddler he could hit 10 feet away with his projectile vomit.
I can remember the horror on my neighbour's face when we were in their flat and we had the warning sound of the impending vom-fest. With no time for my DH to grab "pukey bowl" as we called it, I just had to stand in front of DS and cup my hands into a bowl shape to catch the tsunami of vomit.
The neighbour's never looked at us the same since.

I used to dread taking mine out when they were small as there are two of them and keeping my eye on the both of them was almost impossible and as soon as I forgot for a second they were off into everything and making a mess of everything.
I will never forget being in B&Q and looking at some new door handles and in the seconds that I had my eyes off them they had managed to empty the shelves of all the hinges which were all over the floor and under the counters. I was mortified and on my hands and knees trying to gather them up at the same time as trying to keep a hold of them both.

The worst one was my little girl when she was still in nappies at 18 months and did the most horrendous number 2 while in a cafe. It was up her back and front! It was so bad we had to leave before eating as she needed a whole outfit change and we didn't want people having to smell her!

the biggest mess what my kids made, it was when they paint my tv with markers:)))

Throwing up all over the back of my husband as he was driving the car, a real mess to clean up and the smell lingered :(

It's flooding and boggy at the moment where we live! As soon as I lose sight of the kids when walking the dog it's all hands on deck haha!

Aged three and a half my son: throwing up ice cream sundae all over his brother. In a tent. In the dark. In a field. Luckily we did have wipes but it took many to clean the tent and get rid of the smell. The baby we washed in a sink in the toilet block. It was beyond grim. Would be nice to know there were more environmentallly friendly options for when we are out and about camping

In pubs and restaurants my DS and DD both made a mess on the floor when sitting in a high chair. We left feeling slightly guilty about the crumbs on the floor

Whilst on holiday in Italy, we were taking photos at the beach and I was holding my 11 month old DD. You can see the progressive look of horror on my face in the pictures as she pooped through her swim nappy, her swimsuit and all over my top!

When she was 3 my DD fell into a more mud than water puddle. Rather than cry she started playing with the mud. By the time I scooped her up she was caked in it. It went everywhere! Big bath when we got home

While at play school, my little treasure made a huge mess with paints and when he was mildly rebuked by the teacher, promptly pooed his pants!

My niece did a poo in one of the B&Q display toilets while we were queuing for the tills. How she got her pants down and on the loo in the 2 seconds she was not being watched I will never know.

Oddly the staff said it happens all the time 😱

Giving DS1 an Oreo biscuit in his pram - there was chocolate everywhere, hands, face, ears and the pram - this was cleaned up with my trusty pack of refillable baby wipes - which I do feel guilty about as they are not decomposable - I would happily change to plant based, biodegradable wipes. Thank you

It has to be a chocolate covered ice cream - last summer, as well as trying to eat it - it melted really quickly down DS2, down to his vest and was so sticky, after around 20 baby wipes later and a full change of clothes - we were presentable again. I would love to swap to more environmentally friendly wipes - so thanks for promoting.

The worst mess I have had was with a bottle of baby suncream I had put in the hood of my pram, DS1 has reached for it, popped off the lid and decided to cover his legs, arms, comfort bear and hair (not sure why the hair was done), I had to take of the excess with wipes, and buy a towel for him to sit on. I love the thought of biodegradable wipes - or can you buy washable reusable ones ?

What was the biggest mess your child has ever made while out and about?

I gave my DS1 and 2 a cup of sliced strawberries and raspberries, their faced and hands - oh dear it looked like a crime scene. (especially when it was coming out of their ears)

How did you tackle the clean up?

A tea towel for the majority and the rest with a baby wipe.

Do you have to approach the situation differently if you’re out of the house?

Yes, because I would have used a facecloth which I could have washed and reused.

Do you feel guilty about using baby wipes containing plastic?

Yes definitely - I am glad companies are changing to alternatives.

It has to be a pot of jelly when we were on a coach trip to the seaside, MOST of it hit the spot the rest was down his front, down his vest, in his hair and up his arms. Most of my essentials was in the pram in the storage area. Luckily I had some travel wipes in my handbag, they were a little dry, but managed to get the worst off.
If I was at home I would have had flannels which I use all the time, and can re-wash.
I love that there are plastic free wipes out there - just hope they are affordable, and rolled out to many other products - and hope it's not too late for our planet to recover from the plastic pollution.

My DD1 has very sensitive skin, so I am very careful when buying baby wipes, and have to be gentle when cleaning mess, and stickiness.

The worst mess she got into was with a ice cream lolly last summer, it melted so quickly, and I had a supply of my preferred baby wipes.

If I was at home I would have put her in the bath to get all the stickiness off.

I don't usually check my baby wipes to see if they contain plastic - I will from now on - I swapped to a bamboo cup for my coffee last year - so need to make more changes.

DD suffers from travel sickness and we've had some spectacular projectile vomiting over the years. In fact I didn't leave the house without wet wipes until she was about 10 years old (and we still have an emergency packet in the car)

When my son was a little younger he knocked over a whole display of Quality Street, including the two opened tubs. I was so embarrassed I didn't know whether to help pick them up or leave the shop fast in case I was asked to pay for damage !!!

My youngest projectile vomited a full bottle of milk all over her, her buggy, me and the floor in a large well known chain store! The staff were lovely and straight away sorted the floor but the nearest toilet was 5 mins away so off I rushed holding a very wet (but surprisingly content baby!). In the toilets I had to strip her down and clean me (luckily it was not too much on me!), her and the buggy as best as I could. I had 3 reusable wipes and some paper towels but also had to use some wet wipes (which I did feel guilty about). I then had to carry her to the nearest shop, whilst pushing the buggy) selling baby products and buy a new buggy liner as hers was sopping (and the buggy behind it was also damp and too hard to sit on) and used muslins to cover the soggy straps. I also had to buy her a new cardigan as I had forgotten a spare. I had blocked that memory from my mind until now, although I was glad it was in a shopping centre not a day trip out elsewhere!

The biggest mess was when DS was about 10 months old and we’d been out shopping for longer than intended. He was getting hungry so I ordered him a kids’ pasta at a cafe, not thinking that it would come with tomato sauce! He got it all down himself, over his face, his hair and the high chair. I hadn’t planned on being out so long so I didn’t have a bib or any spare clothes. When he’d finished I carried him to the loos at arm’s length and rinsed him in a sink, intending to go back and clean up the high chair. We got back to the table and two members of staff had taken the high chair outside and were cleaning it with a hose I was mortified! I apologised profusely but they were lovely about it.

Mine was in Argos with DD2 they had Christmas trees up to show what they looked like from the catalogue and to be festive and my DD just ran into one and knocked them over like dominos. I had just had another baby who was days old at the time I was so tired and drained I just said sorry and left with her

The biggest mess that comes to mind was the post-party vomitting episode at the DIY store. My son had great fun with his toddler friends jumping on a bouncy castle, had tons of jelly/icecream / cake and party food, then we needed to stop at the DIY store on the way home where he vomitted everywhere!!! Purely from the combo of jumping and food (he didn't have an illness thankfully) but it was awful and it was embarrassing! It also reminds me of the "baby sick all down my back" episode at the building society when he was younger as a baby too. Oh dear!!! Yes - wipes are crucial to life with babies and toddlers and having spent time today with my baby nephew, it did make me more conscious of how many we use so plastic free wipes are definitely the future!!!