Top tips for fuss-free mealtimes with your toddler

12 February 2024 | By Shani Tsai

Things get messy when your little one starts eating solids, but we’ve found the best advice and products for feeding time.

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Mealtimes with a toddler can lead to sensory overload – for the one feeding them! If the mess that comes along with solid foods makes you lose your appetite, try these top tips for a smooth mealtime.

Time it right

Say no to double work and plan to feed your little one just before bath time; this way, you’ll worry less about them getting food all over themselves. Sticking to a daily routine as much as possible helps your little one know what to expect, and helps you manage your time better.

Dress for success

Get your little one comfortable before you feed them. If it’s hot, strip them down to their nappies for them to really feel the texture of the different foods (and to prevent staining their clothes, of course). Make sure food is always served at a suitable temperature to prevent any burns.

When it’s colder or if you’ve already bathed and dressed them, you’ll want proper cover. Bibs have really upped their game in the last few years. Basic cotton bibs and bandanas are now competing with silicone “food-catchers” and feeding vests or aprons for a spot at the table. You can never have too many bibs so try different options to find your perfect fit.

Area code

Try to keep the feeding spot in your home the same for every meal – you can prepare the area with everything you need for mealtimes: high chair, bibs, wet wipes or cloths for easy cleaning.

A high chair (or a hook-on chair that clips onto the table) is a must if your child is between the ages of four to six months (when they can sit upright unassisted, and are ready for solids) and two to three years. Pick one with a removable tray for easy cleaning.

Things will get messy so choose a spot that has a floor that’s easy to clean – carpets are a no-go; tiles would be ideal as they’re easy to wipe clean as food falls from the high chair.

Rock their crockery

Props to the people who have designed the plates, bowls, cups and cutlery our little ones use today. Leading the pack at the moment are the silicones with their handy suction abilities and their resistance to stains and odours (it makes all the difference!). It’s also fine to place them in the microwave and dishwasher.

We also like the eco-friendly bamboo crockery, and the long-lasting stainless steel (remember to check the food temperature before feeding baby as steel heats up quickly). If good old plastic is your pick, make sure it is BPA-free and non-toxic (most are these days but check the packaging for confirmation). Glass is great for heating food up; transfer it to a dish that can’t break before you feed your little one.

On the cutlery menu, spoons and forks have become bendable and rounded for easier and safer self-feeding. Characters, colours and fun prints come together to customise your little one’s cutlery set – if they’re old enough, let them choose their own.

While we’re talking tableware… Sippy cups work well from six to nine months, which is when you can transition to a cup with a straw. A special mention goes to the 360 cups that allow drinking from any side of the cup’s rim, as with a regular cup or drinking glass, and is spill-proof.

By three years, your toddler should be able to drink from an open cup without your assistance. You can start with a trainer cup with handles for them to have better grip.

Baby-led cleaning

Whether they’re self-feeding or spoon-fed, there’s bound to be a little mess when introducing solids. As they get older and are able to understand basic instruction, teach them to “wipe” their mouth or “clean” a surface. Hand them a wet wipe or a damp cleaning cloth and allow them to follow your lead. Sure, they probably won’t be of much help but it’s a start to learning a very handy skill. The key here is patience: allow them to try their best without interfering too much.