Filling the IKEA high chair gap??

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Anyone got a novel way to fill this massive chasm where all food ends up??

Doing same for DS2 as I did with DS1: small towel in lap, IKEA overall bib & kangaroo bib, but I'm realising that it's not really a satisfactory way of doing it. Still ends up needing a change of clothes most times.

I know there is some circular contraption on the market but don't rate what the practicality of it would be in real life.

Strip baby to vest or nappy, use the blowup cushion whilst small enough to need it, use a crumb catcher bib? Put a wipedown mat on the floor and buy plenty of flannels. They're not in a high chair for long ime, this bit will be done with soon enough.

In nappy in garden. Hose down after

Is the IKEA one particularly bad for this? I was planning to buy one for DS2.

I have it and I don't think it's worse for this than any other.

I have a plastic baby bjorn overall bib that seems long enough to catch most stuff. We can't use pelican bib as DS then spends whole meal time trying to eat that.

Nappy idea best. I'm dreading winter!

I hated using the inflatable cushion thing as it was just one more thing that needed wiping clean. I bought a load of cheap cushions from ikea and would use those to wedge my DS as close to the tray as possible. They would obviously end up covered in food in the early weaning days but could go in the washing machine.

I also used silly billyz (?) sleeved bibs (again machine washable rather than plastic wipe down bibs) and a muslin or two on the lap of my DS before wedging him in.

The muslins would sometimes get pulled off but (usually) at the end of a meal I wouldn't have to change all his clothes - just wipe his face clean, then his hands, then the tray, then remove the muslins, cushions and bib, then wipe his hands clean again, then stand him up and check for any stray bits of food, then remove DS and wipe down the tray again, followed by the rest of the highchair...

I've just remembered that we got so fed up with wiping off the plastic thing we used to put under the highchair we swapped to using cheap fleece blankets from ikea! That way they could just be shaken out in the garden then bunged in the washing machine with the bibs. I'd forgotten how messy weaning is! Saying that, neither of my DSs is much tidier at eating now, however they are both big enough to clean up (albeit badly) after themselves!

How about this www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+tidy-tot-bib-and-tray-kit-in-weaning-and-mealtimes+d6007

I don't use a bib with ds2 as they are all too small. I bought a ten pack of dish towels and use them instead, clipping twi corners together at the back. I've found it very effective as it's long enough to cover his lap and catch any falling food.

sleepy ean I had to look up pelican bib but we have just the same problem, chewing the bib beats and food we can put near DD.

Like the dish towel idea kitchenwitch we use them for changing mat covers so have loads, great to have a further use.

I've made a spraydeck for our Antilop out if an old shower curtain. I put some elastic through the seam of the curtain to go round ds2's waist, then a popper to secure it. The curtain is then cut so that it it big enough to cover the gap. The material is thin enough though to allow the tray to just clip on as usual. I can take pics if anyone wants them. Was probably the work of about 20 minutes and has made a massive difference as no longer picking out bits of squashed avocado etc from under his legs. It's not completely waterproof, is the only problem, so we still do get slightly wet clothes but at least they're not filthy. I've thought about spraying some waterproofing on it but haven't quite got round to it!

DH was extremely sceptical of my idea but is a convert now

Should say the curtain can also be washed easily and dries very quickly. Saves having to hose down the high chair after every meal too

Can u share a pic please Mandalay? Sounds clever

Not sure if these pics help - it's a bit hard to photograph very well. But you get the general idea I hope. Baby obviously replaces the kitchen roll!!

And apologies as it looks filthy in the first picture - think it's the light in my kitchen!!

Bib over the top of spraydeck. Job's a good 'un

Feed child.
Let dog in....

Mandalay! that is a brilliant idea and exactly what I was thinking about fashioning myself recently but didn't have anything thin enough for the tray to clip back over.

Got a few sewing projects pending so will give that a go thanks!

The tidy tot! Has been bloody amazing

www.tidytot.co.uk

Rather than a bib we have used plastic washable play aprons we got on eBay. They are longer than normal bibs and have long sleeves as well. I'm not sure about what to do regarding the ikea high chair as we don't have an IKEA one but still normally have a bib full of bits of food and the play aprons catch it all quite well

Mandalay sorry I never came back to thank u, have seen photos now and reckon I can make it - dd2's weaning will be much easier now!! Thanks

Folded up towel (hand towel size) is quite good to wedge the baby in and easily washable.
The spraydeck is genius.