Weaning should be an exciting time, both for you as a parent and for your baby. Yet many parents dread this stage in their baby’s development because of the associated mess.
However, it doesn’t have to be all-out chaos when you give your baby food for the first time.
There are steps that you can take to minimise the mess and still allow your baby the freedom to explore new tastes and textures.
From choosing the right foods to kick start their eating journey to letting your baby eat in the nude to utilising the latest designs in baby food trays, keep reading to discover five secrets that guarantee less mess when weaning.
- Choose the right foods
Although you don’t want to limit your baby to only mess-free foods, there are some dishes that are much messier than others. These include ones like spaghetti bolognese and lasagne, both of which will leave an orange stain on everything they come into contact with.
Instead, for less mess, opt for foods that your baby can easily pick up with their hands, such as toast, apple and cooked carrot slices and potato wedges. You may also want to avoid too many sauces in the early days and focus on simple dishes such as pasta or rice and veg.
- Pick the right dining ware
Some parents swear by simply placing the food directly on the highchair, but if you are keen to get your baby used to using plates and bowls, it can be a good idea to invest in a food tray for babies. These are specifically designed to stay stuck to the surface they are placed on and can dramatically reduce the amount of mess your baby creates. Easy Tots offer food tray for babies that double up as portable lunch boxes so you can enjoy mess-free weaning at home and when out and about.
- Strip your baby
Even if you manage to keep the surrounding area mess-free, it is near impossible to keep a weaning baby clean during a feeding session. Therefore, if you want to avoid even more washing, you are best off letting your baby eat in just their nappy.
Then, when they are done, simply give them a bath or a wipe down, and everyone is happy.
- Cover the floor
Ideally, you should feed your baby in a room where there is no carpet so you can easily wipe up any spills and stray foods. However, if this is not possible or you don’t want to be endlessly cleaning the floor, you could choose to lay a cover down before you feed your baby. While carpets can be great choices here, you need to understand that even those get dirty. Such coverings can bring more harm than good, in the form of allergies and breathing troubles. Carpet Cleaning, therefore, becomes an important consideration when it comes to maintaining a clean and hygienic environment for your baby. Get the carpets restored to their former glory by a professional cleaning service. They would have the right knowledge and the tools to finish the task without leaving any room for mistakes.
Alternatively, opting for a cover or mat ensures that any spills or food particles are contained and can be easily cleaned up, saving you the hassle of frequent and intensive carpet cleaning. You can buy splash mats online, or you can simply use any plastic covering that you have to hand, such as an old shower curtain.
- Don’t clean until your baby is finished
There is no point in hovering around your baby whilst they eat, picking up every stray crumb and wiping up every spill. This is just a waste of your time and could make your baby feel anxious about the weaning process. Instead, wait until they have completely finished eating to clean up and spend time talking to them about what they are eating and how it tastes.