We used to use cloth napkins before kids and have gotten away from it. Probably because we only have a set of like six. I've found beautiful colors at World Market - putting it on my list to grab some more. I loved setting the table nicely as a kid and I will be checking out your longer post!
Maybe my little ones are just too little (6, 3, and 1), but I feel like most meals are very messy. I am frequently grabbing a handful of napkins to mop something up. I would love to switch to something reusable, but I can’t see how to make it practical. Maybe finding some in a dark color? Bringing a kitchen towel to the table for larger messes?
The one-year-old is too little! He needs a bib and a dish cloth at the ready (see below).
You need a whole host of carefully calibrated textiles in your kitchen!
I think I have a post about this on LMLD.
But for spills, you need very clean towel rags (demoted towels, cut in half or quarters or what have you) and a place to put the dirty ones to dry before putting in a hamper. I installed a drying rack on the wall.
You need clean dishcloths to clean off surfaces that have been triaged, including the high chair tray. Then they go back to the sink to be rinsed out and then when deemed too dirty, off to dry and then into the hamper.
Don't use napkins to clean up spills. The 3yo might just need a dishcloth for now.
Thank you for this! Dish cloths sound like the perfect solution. Sometimes the big mess is just a clumsy hand that gets shoved into the jelly covered biscuit. I have been using just dish towels or paper (napkins or towels), but I can see that some other textiles would help so much!
I hadn't thought of this! I tend to be jumping up and down. It would be much better to be "prepared at my place." I don't know why this never occurred to me. Thank you!
I second the dishcloth for the youngest eaters! I put a damp cloth on an out-of-reach dish, trivet or melamine plate to keep it off the wood table, then use it as needed during the meal and for our 15 month olds face and hands at the end of the meal before he is carried to the sink to be washed.
I tried to introduce this a few months ago because I saw another mom and homemaker do a lovely job of it. I found myself having to treat stains for chocolate ice cream and tomato sauce. I just can’t add that much more to my laundry work right now because we are still potty training our two year old. Is a disposable and cloth napkin hybrid system the best way to go for us right now? Or how did you handle heavy staining?
Alternatively, we have cloth napkins in a variety of colors, so each person gets their own color. Napkin rings would help to corral them after meals, though.
I recently purchased an inexpensive set of cloth napkins or our family of 6, as well as napkin rings and the Duralex water glasses you recommended (water bottles at the table was driving me crazy, especially because they are tall and thin and would regularly fall over during dinner). These simple changes are making me feel just a bit more hopeful as we attempt civility at dinners with our brood. It's still not usually pretty but my husband thanked me at the table the other night for the cloth napkins in particular. Maybe civility is within reach. Thank you!!
I recommend also enameled tin cups for the little kiddos. Practical, sturdy, and unbreakable. You can find really darling ones if you keep an eye out/do a search!
Personalized napkin rings! So smart. I usually put the napkins in the seat of chairs and haven't been loving that technique.
We used to use cloth napkins before kids and have gotten away from it. Probably because we only have a set of like six. I've found beautiful colors at World Market - putting it on my list to grab some more. I loved setting the table nicely as a kid and I will be checking out your longer post!
Is quilters cotton okay for this? Is it absorbent enough?
It depends on the substrate (the type of fabric it's printed on). But often, yes! it's great! You'll find your favorite cloth after some trial.
Maybe my little ones are just too little (6, 3, and 1), but I feel like most meals are very messy. I am frequently grabbing a handful of napkins to mop something up. I would love to switch to something reusable, but I can’t see how to make it practical. Maybe finding some in a dark color? Bringing a kitchen towel to the table for larger messes?
The one-year-old is too little! He needs a bib and a dish cloth at the ready (see below).
You need a whole host of carefully calibrated textiles in your kitchen!
I think I have a post about this on LMLD.
But for spills, you need very clean towel rags (demoted towels, cut in half or quarters or what have you) and a place to put the dirty ones to dry before putting in a hamper. I installed a drying rack on the wall.
You need clean dishcloths to clean off surfaces that have been triaged, including the high chair tray. Then they go back to the sink to be rinsed out and then when deemed too dirty, off to dry and then into the hamper.
Don't use napkins to clean up spills. The 3yo might just need a dishcloth for now.
Thank you for this! Dish cloths sound like the perfect solution. Sometimes the big mess is just a clumsy hand that gets shoved into the jelly covered biscuit. I have been using just dish towels or paper (napkins or towels), but I can see that some other textiles would help so much!
I eventually learned that I needed to be prepared at my place, rather than jumping up or being caught without.
Perhaps there's a handy sideboard on which to put a discreet bowl with a damp dish towel... or even a roll of paper towels.
The dishcloth sure comes in handy!
I will definitely give that some thought. It is so easy to get caught jumping up and down to grab things through the whole meal!
I hadn't thought of this! I tend to be jumping up and down. It would be much better to be "prepared at my place." I don't know why this never occurred to me. Thank you!
I second the dishcloth for the youngest eaters! I put a damp cloth on an out-of-reach dish, trivet or melamine plate to keep it off the wood table, then use it as needed during the meal and for our 15 month olds face and hands at the end of the meal before he is carried to the sink to be washed.
I should clarify that the cloth is out of reach of the toddler and next to whoever is helping him eat.
I tried to introduce this a few months ago because I saw another mom and homemaker do a lovely job of it. I found myself having to treat stains for chocolate ice cream and tomato sauce. I just can’t add that much more to my laundry work right now because we are still potty training our two year old. Is a disposable and cloth napkin hybrid system the best way to go for us right now? Or how did you handle heavy staining?
Sounds reasonable! You can gradually introduce it, don’t worry!
We use very colorful cloth napkins, so the stains just blend into the print!
Alternatively, we have cloth napkins in a variety of colors, so each person gets their own color. Napkin rings would help to corral them after meals, though.
The year I got married, I got us 100% cotton napkins. Yes, they wrinkle, but that just adds to their charm. I Iron them for guests. 😉
Totally! I have a whole bunch that are wrinkly nice old soft (some are new) everyday ones, and then a couple of sets that are for company!
Whenever you are out, you can just keep your eye out for them, and eventually you end up with a good supply, which is really how the system will work!
I recently purchased an inexpensive set of cloth napkins or our family of 6, as well as napkin rings and the Duralex water glasses you recommended (water bottles at the table was driving me crazy, especially because they are tall and thin and would regularly fall over during dinner). These simple changes are making me feel just a bit more hopeful as we attempt civility at dinners with our brood. It's still not usually pretty but my husband thanked me at the table the other night for the cloth napkins in particular. Maybe civility is within reach. Thank you!!
So happy to hear all this!
I recommend also enameled tin cups for the little kiddos. Practical, sturdy, and unbreakable. You can find really darling ones if you keep an eye out/do a search!