No Mess Mealtime with Toddlers!

No Mess? With toddlers?

Bibs or no bibs, my children were still covered in mushed peas, yogurt, or whatever was on there plate. Meal time was almost like a war zone with food flying and little bodies jumping everywhere, and once it was over baths were a necessity-for the kids and the floor...and the furniture. Eating at family events became an embarrassment, and eating out in public restaurants became out of the question. 

After a formal dinner party at my in-laws, that turned into our family looking like a wild zoo amongst royalty, I decided things needed to change...now!

 

Use the Seat-belts

Once my children reached a certain age, I decided they were big enough to not wear the seat-belts on their highchair and booster seats. Then I couldn't understand why they insisted on standing up in their chairs, getting down from the table before everyone finished, and were jumping around...oh, duh! The mess become much more controlled and the children stayed...well in their seats until mealtime ended. 

I believe in teaching self-discipline, and I allow them some time to show me they can sit on their own. As soon as they start to move around too much, stand, or crawl on top of things-that's when it's seat-belt time. Not a warning for seat-belts, but actual time to put on the seat-belts. I noticed when I gave my children the, "If you don't sit down and behave..." speech they took that as an opportunity to misbehave before mommy became serious.

 

Have Silverware in Their Size

Trying to use a spoon 3x the size of your hands and mouth can be challenging, and discouraging, for anyone. My daughter became and expert with the baby spoon by time she was 1 1/2 years old, but it took some practice. This means having extra toddler and baby utensils on you at all times-especially when going to formal dinner parties.

 

Allow Room for Independence

Allowing the control to be in an infant's hands can be terrifying...and messy. Children become more stressed out in a situation where they feel as if they have no control, so in the safety of your home give them some.This is when mommy has to sit back and watch. There is room for helpful hints and guidance, but try not to take the spoon away from the child and show them how it's done. This is the first step to successful mess free self-feeding and can get ... messy.

 For children under a year, the spoon should just be another option. Their hands and coordination may not be ready for utensils, but they can begin learning by using their hands. Once they have mastered putting the food in their own mouth, and not everywhere else, then you can beginning persuading them to switch to utensils.Sometimes our children will struggle, but when you try to help they get very angry. I found using two spoons helps this process along quite well. One spoon for mommy and one for baby, that way they are always in "control" even if mommy needs to assist them here and there.

 

Have a "Discard" Section

My children didn't understand that they had the option to simply not eat the food they didn't like. In their minds, throwing food off of their plate was the only way to ensure that stuff didn't have to make its way to their mouths. I began explaining, "I see you do not like your green beans, you do not have to eat them, but you cannot throw them on the floor." I them offered them a paper towel, section of a plate, or separate bowl, to place all of their unwanted food. 

On another note-I do encourage parents to insist that their child to try foods they "don't like" multiple times and on separate occasions. My daughter has both loved and hated asparagus, collard greens,green beans, and apples at different times.

 

Always Eat at the Table

No exceptions. If there is food involved-it should be at the table, at least for these ages. This helps them understand that when they eat they have to sit down and behave until the food is gone. I always have my children wait until everyone has gotten to the table to begin eating, and to wait until everyone finishes to leave the table. This has helped so much at restaurants and family dinners. If it is expected at home, they know it is expected everywhere.

 

Live by Example

 Children watch what we do way more than they listen to what we say. If we want them to do...anything, we need to do it ourselves.Once my children saw that daddy had to eat all his vegetables they knew they would have to eat them as well. One of their favorite times is when all of us are at the table spending time together.