12 Genius, Mess-Free Mealtime Gadgets For Toddlers…

Babies have adorably terrible hand-eye coordination, so a fair amount of the food you diligently chop into 30,000 pieces will end up on the floor. Instead of making repeated trips back to the cutting board, invest in a silicone bib with a scooped pocket to catch all those stray pieces of food that don't quite make it into your baby's mouth. Wash the bib by hand after mealtime is done, or after a particularly messy dining experience, just toss it in the dishwasher.

There are so many cute baby plates on the market, but what no one really tells you is that some babies (like, for instance, my darling second child) think it's hilarious to throw them over the edge of the high chair. If that's not really your idea of funny joke, you need a silicone placemat with a built-in plate. The suctioned bottom makes it hard for littles to throw their plates and bowls on the ground, sparing your floors from the indignity of being splattered with peas once again and, more importantly, sparing you from having to clean those peas up.

Ah, independence. It's the kind of thing parents want for their children, but the process of actually becoming independent can be long, frustrating, and in the case of meals, messy. Let your little one practice spoon-feeding with these bowls with extended spill-catchers to keep things as neat as possible. The bowls suction to the eating surface to help avoid mishaps, and the long, flexible spill-catcher helps funnel dropped food back into the bowl for take two. (Or take three, or four, or five...)

Making a mess at home is one thing, but making a mess on-the-go is a whole other story. Stick-on, disposable placemats serve two purposes: One, to protect your child when from the who-knows-what that's breeding on the table, and two, to protect the table from the who-knows-what your little one is sure to spill on it. Once mealtime is done, simply peel the placemat off, disposing of it and the giant mess at once.

All those little, bite-sized snacks that are safe for new eaters have a pesky way of taking over your entire home. (Seriously, I'm sure I have a whole school of tiny orange fish swimming around my house somewhere.) Keep snacks contained with the Munchkin snack catcher, which features a flexible lid with flaps that keep food in, while still providing easy access for tiny hands.

Sometimes, a regular bib just doesn't cut it, especially for babies determined to smear food on every unprotected surface within their reach. If that sounds like your little one, check out a waterproof, long-sleeved bib to keep the messes to a minimum and save you money on laundry detergent, to boot. This machine-washable bib also works well for arts and crafts time with your little Picasso.

This 4moms high chair is 'attractive' in more ways than one. It's made with magnets, which has parents gravitating towards it for their messy little munchers. When used with the 4moms magnetic bowls and plates (sold separately), this high chair cleverly helps prevent little hands from throwing their dinnerware on the floor — a big 'positive' for moms tired of scrubbing their hardwoods. (Should I stop with the magnet puns? Sorry, I'm just so drawn to them. Sigh...)

Sure, you know to put a bib on your child, but have you considered putting a bib on your floor? For the messiest of eaters, a waterproof high-chair mat may be your floor's only hope. This one from Bumkins comes in a variety of fun patterns, is machine-washable, and can even be placed over a table as a kid-friendly tablecloth for meals or craft time.

Bibs, mats, and specialized feeding gadgets can make a big difference, but it's virtually impossible to get through a meal without some mushed-up, gunky food getting on your little one's face or hands (or both). I've found that you can literally never have too many gentle wipes on hand to deal with the aftermath. (Psst...if you use Amazon's Subscribe & Save service, add this to your order, so you can be sure to never run out.)

It's not just the self-feeders who can make a mess of your kitchen. Even the littlest of eaters have been known to help refinish your floors thanks to tipped-over bowls of puréed baby food. In case that new shade of 'pureed prunes' isn't your thing, you may need a food-dispensing spoon. Simply fill the three-ounce container with a purée of your choice, screw on the cap, and then squeeze out one bite at a time, ensuring food goes in the mouth, not on the floor.

Need a spoon for your early self-feeder? Look no further than the ingenious NumNum 'pre-spoon' – a tool perfect for little ones first attempting to transport food into their mouths. Because babies haven't quite mastered the art of scooping food, the innovative NumNum comes with two heads (one for thinner foods, one for thicker) that functions like dipper sticks, meaning there's less food to be flung about your kitchen.

When all else fails, you may just have to resign yourself to accepting the mess that comes with mealtime, and focus your energy on the post-meal cleanup. Use a spray mop to easily clean what used to be dinner off of your floors, saving you time and your poor back. Note: This product is for sealed floors only. For all other flooring, check out a lightweight stick vacuum.

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