5 Ways to Make Mealtime with a Toddler Less Messy

If you have a toddler at home, then you probably already know just how frustrating mealtime with them can be. When your child is first learning to eat on their own, it often seems like more food ends up on the floor than in their mouths. Feeding toddlers is hard my friends, and I’m the first to admit that it’s easy to feel flustered when your child prefers to use their dinner as finger paint, rather than actually eating it. I know that I’m not the first person to struggle through a mealtime disaster of epic proportions, and I certainly won’t be the last, so I thought I’d share a few tips on how to make meals with a toddler a little less messy.

1. The mat under the high chair trick– This is probably one of the easiest ways to alleviate the mess on the floor that is destined to occur when a toddler eats. Save yourself the trouble of scrubbing your floors on your hands and knees, and invest in a washable mat to put under your child’s high chair. When they’re done eating, simply pick up the mat, dump the mess into the trash, and wipe it clean.
2. Leak-proof cups– Finding a sippy cup that doesn’t leak is essential. On top of food messes, you definitely don’t to be dealing with juice or milk leaking and spilling all over the place too.
3. Choose foods that allow them to eat independently without the mess– Sometimes you have to just give in and allow your toddler to eat on their own. After all, how else are they going to learn? Food pouches are a favorite of ours, but because they are fun to squeeze, they are often a really messy choice. Enter Gerber Grabbers® and their Smart Flow™ spout… Gerber clearly gets it you guys, and this new spout design is evidence of that. Thanks to the Smart Flow™ spout, your toddler will have more control as they learn to eat on their own. I literally watched in awe when I gave my son one of these pouches for the first time… Theo is almost 13 months old, and managed to get all but a few drops in his mouth, which means that he enjoyed all of the nutritious goodness inside the pouch, and I was left with zero mess. I was expecting a total #PouchFail, and was elated when it turned out to be a #PouchWin.
4. Offer your toddler smaller portions- What does every toddler do when they don’t like something that you’ve offered them, or when they decide that they’ve had enough? The food starts to hit the floor. Every single time. I’m not sure why kids think it is so funny to begin tossing their meals, but much to our dismay, they do. If you offer them smaller amounts of food, instead of everything at once, at least there will be less for you to pick up.
5. Invest in a good stain remover- Let’s be honest, when it comes to toddlers, some mess is inevitable. Just learn to accept it (this too shall pass), and be sure to stock up on a stain remover that works!

Want to learn more about how Gerber Grabbers® and how their Smart Flow™ spouts work? Watch this clip to see how they work, and while you’re at it, grab yourself a coupon so that you can try them and save. You can find Grabbers pouches at any Kroger or Ahold affiliate. If you’re located in the Northeast like me, that means Hannaford, Food Lion, Stop & Shop New England, and Stop & Shop New York!