How to Have Less Mess at Baby Mealtimes

Starting solids is a Big Step™ – and it comes around fast. No sooner have you just gotten the hang of whipping out a boob, or bottle when suddenly you have to work out things like how to not freak out when they want to shove an entire broccoli floret in their mouth. And then, just when you start to exhale about that, the independent eating begins, which means every dinnertime looks like a casual hurricane has swept through the place. Sure, this independence is essential, but does it have to be so… messy?

Well no, it doesn’t. Because there are a bunch of very excellent products that are designed to give the Dyson — and you — a night off and make the whole process a little more streamlined. Yes, there will still be mess, because that goes with the territory, but these starting-solids superheroes will definitely help, and prevent you from spending a bomb on a dog (either from buying one, or at the vets because they're now obese).

Catchy

Compatible with over 20 high chairs this world-first, why-hasn’t-anyone-thought-of-this product fits around your high chair to literally catch the food. And, because it’s made from non-toxic, BPA-Free material you can scoop up the food it catches and save it for later, so there’s no crying over spilt zucchini fritters.

Mushie Silicone Divided Suction Plate

This will straight up avoid the whole plate being swiped onto the floor (something, pre-kids you don’t realise happens with alarming regularity in this process). The suction of this food-grade silicone plate means it sticks to their tray, and it also means you can re-heat their food without worrying about the dish getting too hot and burning tiny fingers.

Subo: The Food Bottle

Sure, it looks like an unassuming water bottle, but average this girl ain’t! Designed to be an eco-alternative to yoghurt pouches you can pop in any purees or smoothies, and your baby can have their feeding independence by drinking without any spillage. Plus, the non-squeeze design means no yoghurt explosion from small-but-mighty hands that have learned how to squeeze.

Mushie Snack Cup

If there’s one universal truth about kids, it is that they like to throw food around, and leave a trail of (literal) crumbs behind them. These silicone snack cups have a genius soft opening design which makes them spill proof, but soft enough for a little hand to get in and out, so perfect for one-the-go snacks.

Rommer Catcher Bib

Once you’ve used one of these, you’ll genuinely wonder how “normal” bibs still exist. Firstly, there’s no constant washing/ soaking because with these guys, you just have to wipe the non-toxic silicone down, or you can chuck it in the dishwasher. And secondly, it catches all the food that misses their mouths, so they can just scoop it up from their bib and eat from there.

Mushie Silicone Place Mat

If your child eats at a high chair that’s pushed to the dining table, you need this in your life. Save the table, and your aesthetics, with a food-grade silicone place mat that’s 100% BPA and phthalate free, doesn’t absorb water, and just wipes down clean. We’d be lying if we didn’t say we use it straight up as a snack plate too.

And lastly, a little real talk (because you know we’re always here for that). Meal times will get messy, just like play time, bath time, and pretty much all the time with kids. The Instagram pics you see of perfectly, clean and ordered, design-mag homes? They are not the reality of this season of life. So embrace the mess, and trust us when we say there will be a time for order again (promise!).