Cleaner Self Feeding for Babies and Toddlers

I must look like I know what I'm doing.  A very pregnant woman pulled me aside while I was rifling through the baby clearance racks at Target to ask my advice on the best highchair design.  I glance from my baby, with oatmeal whistling through one nostril, to my four year old, sporting a large purple spot on his shirt thanks to the irresistible squeezability of his juice pouch, then down the aisle of fourteen highchairs with frilly covers, dishwasher safe this, detachable that.  "Get the one with the least nooks and crannies" is the best I can offer this sweet mom-to-be.

If you've got a self-feeder your life probably revolves around spot mopping and laundry these days.  While making a mess is part of the learning curve there are tips and products you can use to make cleanup a little easier, giving you a few extra seconds you can use to snap a photo of your little piglet in all her spaghetti-hair glory.

• Flat bibs are for babies.  They catch spitup and drool and you have one to match every outfit but it's time to move up to a big league catcher's mitt.  Molded plastic scoop bibs are the way to go.  Baby Bjorn is the standard, but Bibbity's Rinse and Roll bibs are portable, rugged, and cheaper by half. $9.87 for two with free site to store shipping from Walmart.
• Move the ruffled high chair cover into storage the first time baby snatches his spoon of pureed sweet potatoes.  Unless you have the time to launder it daily. The plain vinyl highchair back is easy to wipe down and should still be cushy enough for little ones big enough to sit up on their own.
• If your baby gets more on him than in him, let him play with his food wearing only his diaper. If you desire a little more decorum at the dinner table check out these adorable bib coveralls by Chic & Clean.  $32 at lalababyboutique.com.
• Keep your toddler from throwing her bowl of pasta on the floor–hey, it does make a satisfying crash–with a suction base bowl. One handful at a time is more than enough to keep up with.  Sugar Booger covered bowl set, $16.99 at rightstart.com
• To keep the floor beneath the highchair clean spread a bath towel under it. A quick shake outside and you're ready for round two–er, lunch.  Prettier, but perhaps a negligible difference between cleaning the floor and cleaning the mat:  oversized spill mat from One Step Ahead, $10.95
• Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean the highchair tray and seat–if yo
  u wouldn't let your baby suck on the nozzle of the spray bottle you probably don't want him eating food off the residue.  Rub with a clean wet rag and a little dishwashing liquid; rinse.  Swipe away residue with white vinegar.

Got a great tip to keep toddlers clean(er) at mealtime?  Join us in the forum!

(photo source: Parenting.com)

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