Tips for Feeding Toddlers Messy Foods
(400 Words)
Feeding a toddler a messy food may be all but physically painful for someone who values order and cleanliness. Yet many foods for toddlers are messy, and short of cutting out entire types of food, you may need to feed these to your child. Certain strategies can relieve some of the pain you may anticipate.
Pick a good time
You do not want to feed a toddler messy food right before a special event or when they are going to bed if you will not have a good amount of time to clean them. A great time for feeding them messy food is right before they need to take a shower.
Feed them carefully
If you are feeding your child the messy food, then try to be as careful as possible when doing so. If he or she is learning to feed themselves, then you can try to show them how to do it so that hopefully there will be less mess.
Use a bib (if you can)
A bib can help avoid a mess on the clothing. Many toddlers will remove one right away, but if you can get your child to wear one, it may be worthwhile.
Do not have them wear nice clothing when you will be feeding them messy food, with or without a bib. Of course you also want to be careful with your own clothing.
Have wipes nearby
Wipes are a must have for the purse or diaper bag of the parent of a toddler. You want to have them poised and ready. You can clean as your child goes, but it may make sense to just wait until he or she is done. If there is a bathroom or sink nearby, then you can clean them in that.
Do not give them too much at once
Some toddlers have a delightful habit of letting you know that they are done. They simply take all of the remaining food and dump it all over the floor. Effective at getting their point across, this strategy is a little less fun for the adult who has to clean it up. If your toddler practices such an activity, you may want to give him or her just a little at a time so there will be less to spill.
Feeding a toddler messy food can be an adventure. The above tips can help you emerge relatively unscathed.