A few things about meal time with a baby make life a little stressful if you are not prepared. For one, babies are very impatient when they are hungry, so if you are running around the kitchen trying to fill sippy cups and steam carrots, you can count on a big commotion coming from the high chair. Two, babies make big messes. It takes them two seconds and a flick of the wrist (which is likely covered in some type of mush) to turn a clean dining room into a disaster. What can you do to make meal time easier on yourself?
One of the best ways to be prepared is to do all of your cooking the night before. Make all of your purees if your baby is eating baby food. Cut up foods into bite sized pieces if your baby is eating finger food. Then, divide everything into single portions to place in the fridge for the next day. I really like using small storage containers or travel bowls with lids because they are the perfect size. Sometimes for lunches I will put leftovers from dinner into a couple take-along bowls . They are easy to take out of the fridge and zap in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up and give to my toddler. They also fit well into a small insulated tote bag which I use to pack his food when we visit family or friends. I also like to fill up several sippy cups with water and pop them in the fridge so they are easy to grab when my little one is thirsty.
Preventing messes is sometimes easier than cleaning them up. Since babies like to throw food, make sure you cover any carpeted areas or rugs with any type of plastic before serving your baby. If you have any type of hard floor, keep a wet rag handy to quickly wipe up spills before they dry and become hard to remove. Sometimes babies are more likely to toss their grub if there is too much in front of them. Try giving them a little bit at a time, instead of giving them all of their food at once. Finally, use a vinyl or plastic bib with sleeves to protect your babies clothes. My favorite bib has short sleeves and a pocket to catch food that doesn’t quite make it to my son’s mouth. It is so easy to wipe off or rinse under the sink after a messy meal. It simply air dries by the sink so its ready for the next meal.