3 Tips To Make Mealtime Transitions Easier For Kids

Some of the craziest moments in our household happen around mealtime each day. There’s something so stressful about getting meals on the table, wrangling the kids, encouraging them to eat, AND getting cleaned up when it’s all over. (Please, tell me I’m not the only mama that feels this way!) Today, I’m sharing a few simple, quick tips we’ve implemented for smoother mealtime transitions in our house. Read on to see how we’re making family meals a little easier!

This post was sponsored by GOJO, the makers of PURELL® Multi Surface Disinfectant, as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

IDEAS FOR EASIER MEALTIME TRANSITIONS

Make Basics Accessible For Little Hands

Encouraging independence in setting the table goes a long way towards smoother pre-mealtime transitions. I found that when #thebigone was older, he was more successful with this chore when I kept what he needed easily accessible. In our home, this meant pulling silverware out of a drawer, and keeping it in a caddy instead. Later, we put together a second smaller caddy to hold #thelittleone’s ‘baby’ utensils as well. Additionally, we began storing our plates and bowls on lower open shelving in the Christmas. This way is much easier for the kids to grab what they need when they’re setting the table or getting a snack.

Keep Clean-Up Items Handy

When a meal is finished, it’s inevitable that there will be at least a bit of clean up- especially when kids are involved! To make the after mealtime transitions a bit simpler, I like to keep the clean up necessities on hand near the dining table. We keep a small, inexpensive plastic bin near #thelittleone’s seat filled with baby wipes, paper towels, cleaning spray, and a bib. I use an adhesive hook to hang a small whisk broom and dustpan to the back of #thelittleone’s high chair. We placed #thelittleone’s high chair directly in a drain pan that would normally sit under a washing machine. Spills are easily contained there and it saves my carpets some wear, which I love! It’s also a great place to store a small waste basket, to conveniently dispose of his crumbs and used baby wipes after meals.

Use Worry-free Products

I worry a lot about the safety of the disinfecting and cleaning products I use around my children. Both of my boys have a history of allergies ranging from reactive airway issues (basically, asthma) to rashes and eczema. As a result, I’ve always been very cautious with products near them. Recently, I discovered PURELL® Multi Surface Disinfectant Spray on Walmart.com. Ordering online means I always get the current rollback price– and who doesn’t want to save as much as they can?! (Currently, $3.65- you can’t beat that!) You can also grab it online through Amazon.com or Jet.com, and in store at H-E-B and Publix.

I’ve been loving the spray for disinfecting and cleaning both before and after meals. There’s no need to rinse after using it, and it can be used on hard and soft surfaces. Seriously, mealtime transitions can’t get simpler as far as disinfecting and cleaning goes thanks to this spray! There’s no harsh fumes, chemicals, or residue, so I’m never panicking about rashes or asthma attacks when I’m disinfecting and cleaning near my kiddos. (And for those of you with pets, PURELL® Multi Surface Disinfectant Spray is worry free around pets too!)

How do you keep mealtime transitions smooth for your family? Share your tricks and tips in the comments below!