BLW and eating out

[gloyw]

I'm mainly asking for placemat suggestions, but it's a general question about hygiene/mess too -

DS is 8 and a half months. We started offering food at just before 6 mos, and weren't strictly BLW (e.g. have spoonfed some mashed fruit), but never bothered with purees, and gave him lots of finger foods to play with. He mainly feeds himself now and really enjoys it, weight is fine, all going well etc.

Of course, it's all pretty messy. At home, this is fine, we have an IKEA highchair on a vinyl tablecloth.

We've eaten out with him several times now, and each restaurant has had those wooden highchairs that pull right up to the table, so he can eat off the table. I really like them, he clearly enjoys being at the same height as everyone else and joining in a meal. But each time, it's been a wooden table, and he's eaten directly off it.

There's no point using plastic bowls, they just get upended and thrown around, so are messier than no bowls. From a hygiene POV, I've given the table in front of him a good scrub with some Milton wipes, which I worry isn't doing enough, but it's also the mess which concerns me. There's a lot of it, and I don't think wooden tables like being smeared in lots of tomato sauce.

Atm, I'm letting staff know we're going to be feeding him, that food will go on the floor, but if they give me a dustpan and brush and a cloth afterwards, I'll do a quick tidy up before we leave. I do the same thing in cafes, where I'll have a coffee and let DS shred some fruit bread or something. Staff seem very appreciative, and tbh, I can't stand seeing people, not just parents, walk out and leave the place looking like a food fight broke out. Yes, staff are supposed to clean up, but there are limits, IMO. Mostly they tell me not to bother and they are happy to do it themselves, or come and clean up with me.

So that's the floor problem covered. But the table.... I'd rather he didn't eat directly off it, tbh - even with Milton wipes, I'm not convinced it's hugely hygienic, and feel a placemat would be better. And leave the table cleaner, with no staining.

What do other people do? A placemat would have to stick to the table - I've looked at the TinyDiners on amazon, and reviews say it doesn't stick to wood well - is there anything else I can use? And how do you all cope with the mess factor when eating out?

TIA.

I had a rubber placemat thingy which had suckers on and stuck to the table.Pretty sure it worked on the wood. Can't remember what it was called though sorry

this sort of thing

Aha - that was the mat I was looking at, but amazon comments said it didn't stick on wood well! Ta - I also wondered if the tray/pouch thing would get in the way.... could always trim it off, I spose.

Boots do disposable placemats with sticky bits on the back. Or get one of those flexible plastic kids placemats and blue-tac it to the table!

I thought that maybe a smooth plastic mat, which can come home and go through dishwasher as well as having a good wipe, might be more hygienic than a wooden table in a restaurant (and I know who's used it and how...).

If a Milton wipe will really do the job, then fine. I admit, it's as much a concern about getting food smooshed all over a table in a restaurant, and staining it, etc.

Will check out disposable placemats as long as they stick - I can't see blu tacking working, my DS loves a challenge!

Hi strawberries, yes, I do (I didn't think you were being antagonistic) -

I would prefer a plastic place mat from a hygiene POV - I do believe in the magical power of Milton wipes, but with very wet, messy food which is liable to soak/stain a wooden table top, I'd rather have a hygienic option which didn't leave waiting staff cursing me afterwards!

On the other hand, I don't want too much 'kit' to carry around. I've got a BF largely self feeding baby who'll give any food a go, and a big advantage is that we can 'travel light' without bowls, bottles, jars etc.

I'm going to have a look at these as well as the TinyDiners - www.boots.com/en/Boots-Disposable-Place-Mats_862522/ and see if they help.

We used a Tiny Diner until DD was reliable-ish with a plate.

They do stick to most surfaces, including varnished wood tables...but not to untreated wood, or table cloths etc.

But I'd say 90% of the time, it's fine.