Feeding babies and young toddlers can be a lesson in patience and understanding. It can also be an all out food fight. Littles ones are made to be messy, especially when it comes to their food.

However, as a parent, you may not have the energy to always be cleaning up a huge mess after mealtime. Thankfully, there are products out there that can cut your cleaning time way down which leaves time for other fun activities with your children.

Here are ideas for 15 Must-Have Products for Mess-Free Meal Times.

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1. Silicone placemat
A silicone placemat that sticks to the table. Placemat suctions to the table to reduce tipped bowls / plates and it’s easy to clean with warm soapy water or in the dishwasher. Comes in three colors here.

2. Disposable placemats
For when you’re eating out. It also helps protects children from germy tables when eating at a restaurant. Simply throw it out once you’re done. Your server will thank you. Get a 60-pack here.

3. Protective high chair floor mat
Set it down beneath your child’s high chair. It protects floors during mealtime from mess and stains under highchair or chair with booster seat, wipes clean, and folds for easy storage. This one is neutral-colored and goes with lots of flooring styles.

4. Wipes
We have wipes stocked throughout the house. Kitchen, play room, living room. Easy access for quick clean-up.

5. Food Dispensing spoon
Great for on the go feeding. There’s no need to juggle a spoon and bowl. This one comes with a cap to save food for later.

6. Pre-Spoon
It’s for babies when they want start to feeding themselves with utensils. Great for picking up purees and soft for baby’s gums. Much better than having baby’s hands in their purees.

7. Stay put suction bowl
When they start waving their arms out of nowhere, their food will at least have a better chance of staying put. This brand comes highly rated and sticks to most surfaces.

8. Sippy cup
I prefer one with handles for babies and younger toddlers.They hold on to it more in my opinion. Then you can graduate to ones that just have the spout.

9. Cup Holder Leash Tether
For when you’re in the car or on the go, this will keep your kid’s sippy cup tethered so it doesn’t create a big spill when they drop (or throw) it.

10. Portable food scissors
Use these at home or at a restaurant to chop up or mash up your toddler’s food.There’s no metal or sharp edges. They quickly create safe bite size pieces of food for your baby to enjoy as you eat together as a family – no additional prep time needed! This one cleans up easily because they are dishwasher safe and BPA free.

11. Kiinde Foodii Starter Kit
For those that make their baby food, this is a system that keeps clean-up to a minimum. There are spouts or soft silicone Squeeze Spoons for quick, mess-free feeding on the go. Less dirty dishes – pouches can be discarded (recycled) after use. Snack Spouts and Squeeze Spoons are dishwasher, steam, and microwave safe. The Filler can be used to store pureed food in your fridge as well.

12. Training Spoon
You can try out these spoons as they also act as a teether. They stand up vertically by themselves so you don’t have to worry about making a mess on the table or getting germy.
Throw them in the dishwasher for quick, easy cleaning.

13. Silicone Bib with pocket
A bib made of silicone that catches spills. Just use warm, soapy water to clean it off. Multiple colors offered here.

14. Bib clip
Create a bib from any napkin. This way, you don’t have to carry around a dirty bib during meal time. This bib clip has cute little bears that fasten for a good grip.

15. Sippy lids
You can add these to the tops of your cups at home to make any cup a sippy cup. That way you’ll clear up some room in your cupboard. According to the company, “Snug silicone sippy lids fit over any regular cup with a 2.5–3.75 inches diameter and instantly prevent that cup from spewing its contents when knocked over or tossed off a high chair.”

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Baby, Toddler, Feeding, Eating, Tips, Advice, Messy, Clean, Food