BLW when out and about - what about the mess?

[SpongebobControlpants]

DD is now 6 months, and I have already tried purees and spoon feeding, which she seemed ok with at first, but progressively disenchanted with (her and me!)

So, am giving it all a break and will try the BLW approach instead. I've had a look at Aitch's site, and read a bit on here, and am ok with the notion of lots of mess (she tells herself....)

But I'm wondering what to do when out and about. Obviously, sppons and purees are far easier, as you're in control and baby only makes a mess in a limited area (ish) but if I leave dd to help herself to random chunks of food, it's going to make an almighty mess, isn't it?

Does anyone do spoons and pureed mush whilst out, but hunks of chicken/fistfuls of spag bol etc at home?

I'm not the most confident when confronted with other people's attention at the best of times (bf in public is a no-no for me unless I could semi-hide in the corner), so the thought of dd smearing a spud-u-like special all over herself, chairs, tables etc whilst I sit calming eating my lunch is a daunting one.

Ideas, anyone?

in the early days i kept in simple when out and about. i wouldn't order something messy and saucy like spag bol. i'd get a sandwich or a side order of veg. also, i got to know which places are ok for making a mess, ie not carpeted floors. ikea is a favourite, also supermarket cafes are usually ok. failing that, i'd eat outdoors, on a park bench etc.

Didn't specifically do blw (didn't know about it!) with ds but he didn't like purees or jarred food or being fed so finger food was where it was at!!!
So I would suggest just take non-messy finger-foods out with you in a pot if worried about the mess? Presumably at 6mo she's not really eating a huge amount anyway and mostly on milk?

I actually prefer letting DS feed himself when we're out - then I can eat my own dinner without having to spoonfeed as well, and I don't have to be the one to clean it up! I understand what you're saying though, and it does depend where you're eating - most places I've been to have been really good about the mess though, and anywhere that provides a high chair will expect mess. I tend to give slightly less messy food like sandwiches or vegetable fingers rather than spag bol when we're out.

We went out at the weekend at quite a nice restaurant and my DS ate an olive and did a projectile vomit over the table and floor. The staff were really nice and refused to let me clear it up. They'll be used to mess.

No, she's really only sucking on things at the moment, but I'm planing ahead!

I was primarily thinking of my NCT baby cafe (in a carpeted, soft chairs church hall-type place) where everyone else pins baby to buggy/bouncy chair/bumbo seat and spoon feeds.

I don't really want to feed her in the buggy unless absolutely necessary (I just think it's nicer somehow not to), so I suppose the more solid/dry finger foods will be the way forward.

With a dustpan and brush on hand...

Planning, even.

If I'm out and there's no highchair, I hand bits of stuff (sandwiches, rice cakes, apple etc) to DS3 while he's in the pushchair. Just take a big packet of wipes with you!

plonk her on the carpet with a muslin underneath her as a picnic rug. hey presto NCT indoor picnic. the others will join in am sure

Agree about the wipes - I let DS make as much mess as he likes but always clean up after him. Having been a holiday-waitress once myself I have too much sympathy to leave mush for others to scrape up (esp if I want to go back). And tip if the staff are particularly helpful (again, esp if you want to go back).

I've been blw dd2 for a few weeks now. When we're out and about I try and give her fairly clean food (ie no sauces!), try to eat outside wherever poss and only give one piece of food at a time, that way she concentrates on it and I can track where it's gone fairly easily. Today she ate cucumber sticks and some of dd1's cheese sandwich in Starbucks while she sat in her pushchair. We only left a handful of crumbs

Not BLW, but ds has mostly fed himself since I began weaning. He eats everything that I plonk on the high chair tray. I use wipes to clear up the mess. Haven't dared give him spag bol in public though!