Yes, baby-led weaning (BLW) is messy however, it’s also tons of fun! Few things are more delightful than watching your little one explore new flavors and textures and personally, I think it’s worth the clean up. Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests that baby-led weaning may help promote infant development. (Read more about the benefits of baby-led weaning (BLW) here).
Tips for minimizing baby-led weaning (BLW) mess
There are various things you can do to minimize the mess associated with baby-led weaning. Here are a few ideas:
- Use silicone bibs or aprons with a pouch at the front to catch stray food. I’m a big fan of this full coverage option for really messy foods like yogurt and these bibs for everything else.
- Install a catchy underneath your high chair.
- Invest in a splat may like this one.
- Buy infant utensils specifically designed for little hands instead of repurposing adult utensils. We love the tiny spoon from ezpz.
- Invest in silicone plates and bowls that suction to the high chair to stop your little one from dumping extra food on the floor. The ezpz mats are great!
- Pay attention to hunger and satiety cues. Remove your child’s plate when they are finished eating and just playing with their food.
- Finally, remember this stage is temporary. Your child will get better at eating over time and should naturally make less mess as they refine their eating skills.
Need help with baby-led weaning? Get the Ultimate Guide to Baby Led Weaning HERE.
