What goes under your high chair?

[shelbyann]

Our floors are taking a beating. We need to have them refinished anyway so right now it's NBD, but once we get them done (hopefully soon) I need something under the high chair, I think.

Recommend your splat mat? I am hoping to find something a little more durable than this, which reviewers say is basically a vinyl shower curtain:

www.target.com/p/prince-lionheart-catchall-baby-splat-mat-white-gray-orange/-/A-13817649

…but don't really want to spend $100 on something like this:

www.modernnursery.com/catalog/product/view/id/43279/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=MSM-DZ-CFG&gclid=CMXY2pTEm8MCFVI6gQodkG4AEg

There has to be something in between? Decent quality and not covered in kid prints or cartoons?

[shelbyann]

Jan 17, 2015 12:21:08 GMT -5 @pnkybrwstr said:

I just put those little sticky furniture pads (circular, anti scratch things?) under each leg.
Wait, is this to protect from scratching the wood? Or from food mess?

Sorry, from food mess! SHould have been more clear!

[noodleskooze]

We just sweep and swifter after every meal.

ETA: we had a clear plastic thing under, but that was even more of a hassle.

[shelbyann]

Jan 17, 2015 12:23:51 GMT -5 noodleskooze said:

We just sweep and swifter after every meal.

ETA: we had a clear plastic thing under, but that was even more of a hassle.

This is what I do now, but sometimes it might be a few hours later by the time I get her down for a nap and have time to clean up. Anything that's wet/sticky is a huge pain to clean off the wood at that point and I'm starting to see damage.  

[Velar Fricative]

We used this one when we didn't have a dining room and wanted to shield our rug from the mess. It worked well:

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001IYQ7QS/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?pc_redir=T1

[shelbyann]

Hmm, I guess I just have a super messy kid! Par for the course

[CloudBee]

Nothing.

Just throw down a towel?

[MamaMaui24]

Towels.

[shelbyann]

Jan 17, 2015 12:30:26 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Nothing.

Just throw down a towel?

Because three towels a day adds up to more extra laundry than I want to do! I don't even think I have enough extra towels laying around.

Seriously does no one else's kid fling a substantial amount of food onto the floor? How do I teach her not to do this?

[timorousbeastie]

DD is very messy. I just leave a towel down there. I shake it off in the sink ~1/day, and wash every few days.

[water*drop]

We used a shower curtain liner if it was a particularly messy meal (things with sauces, etc) since we have carpet and wanted to protect it from stuff that stains; otherwise we just picked up food as it was dropped.

[Brie]

A dog. He's finally earning his keep around here.

[cricketwife]

We also have wood floors. We have the prince lionheart one you linked after using towels for a while and getting sick of all the laundry. I read the bad reviews too, but I've been perfectly happy with it. I would try it fo 10 bucks and then look for something better if you don't like it.

[redheadbaker]

Jan 17, 2015 12:39:33 GMT -5 Brie said:

A dog. He's finally earning his keep around here.

Same. 

[redheadk]

Ime, the mess is much less as they get older.

I would just go to the fabric store and buy a yard of laminated cotton, like this. You can, but don't need to, finish the edges. You can wipe it off as needed and throw it in the wash.

www.fabric.com/SearchResults2.aspx?Source=Header&SearchText=Laminated+cotton&CategoryID=1d5f47dc-9991-4088-93f3-26a376046a5e

[shelbyann]

Jan 17, 2015 12:39:33 GMT -5 Brie said:

A dog. He's finally earning his keep around here.

I had high hopes that our food-obsessed, fatty-pants cat would get on board for cleanup duty, but sadly he is largely useless. He's there in a hot second if we're having salmon but otherwise just sit there and stares impassively, waiting for his cat food. We do need a dog!

[july]

I would just do a towel or washable rug.

[july]

We never had a problem because we had a dog,

[Deleted]

I thought the splat mat options were lousy IMHO, and a tarp was too big. So I went to the clearance section at target and bought super cheap plain sheets. 1 sheet lasted 3-4 days. I'd shake it out into the yard after each meal, and wash when it got really dirty or sticky. 3 sheets was plenty. They also double as painting drop cloths!

[greencrayon]

Jan 17, 2015 12:39:33 GMT -5 Brie said:

A dog. He's finally earning his keep around here.

Yep. I came here to say dogs. Lol.

[thebreakfastclub]

I just clean it up. The mess goes down as they get older.

[iheartbanjos]

2 dogs.

[iheartbanjos]

Jan 17, 2015 13:17:27 GMT -5 iheartbanjos said:

2 dogs.

Guess I wasn't very original, lol.

[CloudBee]

Jan 17, 2015 12:36:14 GMT -5 shelbyann said:

Jan 17, 2015 12:30:26 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Nothing.

Just throw down a towel?

Because three towels a day adds up to more extra laundry than I want to do! I don't even think I have enough extra towels laying around.

Seriously does no one else's kid fling a substantial amount of food onto the floor? How do I teach her not to do this?

Nah, I would just use the same towel all day, if I were you. Grab large pieces of food at each meal and toss. Let the towel catch the rest. You said in your OP that you often don't have time to wipe/remove what he's dropped at each meal, so it wouldn't even be 3 towels.

[kaycee]

Jan 17, 2015 12:39:33 GMT -5 Brie said:

A dog. He's finally earning his keep around here.

This is our solution. Whenever we eat somewhere other than home I'm shocked at how much ends up on the floor. At home our dog gets it before it hits the floor and it is always clean under her seat.

[Deleted]

Another person with a dog under her kiddos seat.

[lindyanne]

Jan 17, 2015 12:26:17 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

We used this one when we didn't have a dining room and wanted to shield our rug from the mess. It worked well:

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001IYQ7QS/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?pc_redir=T1

We have this and use it as a playmat for playdough and sand. Works great!

[spk926]

Two pugs. They do the trick.

Sent from my SM-G900P using proboards

[sh10]

We use a sheet and use the hand vac to clean the big crumbs off it. We wash it every few days.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Indestructible tile kitchen floor plus a dog :-)

Sorry, not much help unless you feel like remodeling and adding to your family!