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Baby food drop cloth


7 Best Baby Splash Mats (2023 Reviews)

Splash mats help contain floor messes during meals and craft times with your little ones.

But you want one that’s the right size for your space and won’t become a tripping hazard. You also want to ensure it does a good job of protecting surfaces and is durable enough to last throughout your child’s messiest days.

To save you time and effort, we’ve tested and compared all the top brands to find the best splash mats for every purpose, price point, and decor style. So, stash that mop, lay down one of these mats, and enjoy the sight of your sparkling clean floors — finally.

Our Top Picks

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Model

Product Comparison Table

Features

Best Design

Bumkins Waterproof

  • Thin and portable
  • Machine washable
  • BPA-, PVC-, vinyl-, and lead-free

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Best Multipurpose Mat

Wo Baby Waterproof

  • Use on almost any surface
  • Non-slip spill mat
  • Waterproof

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Chic Chevrons

Prince Lionheart

  • Fits smaller spaces
  • Machine washable
  • Non-skid backing

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Best for Big Messes

Children’s Factory

  • Can be trimmed for custom fit
  • Large and durable
  • Can be wiped clean

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Kitchen Chameleon

Loodial Floor Protector

  • Will match any decor
  • Waterproof
  • Great for small spaces

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Best Disposable Mats

Theo's Splat Mat

  • Disposable
  • Sustainable sourced material
  • Includes 60 mats

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Fold It To Fit

Bumkins Splat Mat

  • Versatile
  • Lab-tested, safe materials
  • Can be wiped clean

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Table of Contents

  • Our Top Picks
  • The Best Baby Splash Mats of 2023
  • Do I Need a Splash Mat?
  • How to Choose a Splash Mat
  • How Do I Clean My Splash Mat?

The Best Baby Splash Mats of 2023

Splash mats are perfect for keeping your baby’s messes contained while protecting your carpet or floor. At the end of the day, your little one might still need a bath, but at least you won’t have to mop the floor!

Here are seven great splash mats to consider.

1. Bumkins Waterproof Splat Mat

Best Splash Mat Design

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View on Bumkins

This 42-inch square mat is thin and portable, making it easy to use at home or on the go. We love taking this mat with us to protect embarrassing floor messes at the homes of our friends and family.

The design is cute, modern, and completely waterproof.

While the size will not protect your floors if your child tends to throw food, it is more than big enough to catch the typical spills that are the hallmark of toddler mealtimes. It is machine washable for easy cleanup, or you can wipe it off with a rag.

We appreciate that the material is free of BPA, PVC, vinyl, phthalates, and lead, which gives us peace of mind when our little one uses it as a play surface.

Pros
  • Square design fits more spaces.
  • It’s thin and portable.
  • It is machine washable.
  • It’s free of BPA, PVC, vinyl, phthalates, and lead.
Cons
  • It cannot be machine dried.
  • It’s not very large.

2. Wo Baby Splat Mat

Best Multipurpose Splash Mat

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This mat has multiple uses, so you can protect floors, tabletops, and more.

The mat is made of 100 percent polyester and measures 51 × 51 inches. It’s free of lead, phthalates, and BPA. The back fabric has anti-slip silicone dots to prevent slipping on any surface. The water-resistant material is easy to clean.

We love this mat’s multipurpose design, which allows you to use it anywhere and for any activity. Put it on the floor underneath a highchair during meals, or spread it over a table for crafts. You can even use it outdoors at parks or playgrounds.

Your children will also love the bright and colorful sea creature designs.

Pros
  • You can use it on almost any surface, including floors and tables.
  • Anti-slip backing keeps the mat firmly in place.
  • Fun design will delight kids.
Cons
  • It’s water-resistant but not waterproof, so big spills may go through.

3. Prince Lionheart Multi-purpose Catchall

Chic Chevrons

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This cute mat is petite and fits small spaces. It can be wiped off with a sponge or tossed in the washing machine for easy cleanup, which is something every busy mom should appreciate.

While it can’t be machine dried, it air-dries quickly, so you won’t be waiting on the mat when your toddler wants to eat.

It has a non-stick backing to prevent the mat from sliding all over the floor, and it’s made of laminated cotton, meaning it is not as thick and bulky as plastic mats. We found it great to bring along grandparents’ houses and restaurants.

Pros
  • It will fit in smaller spaces.
  • It’s machine washable.
  • It is portable.
  • It has a non-skid backing.
Cons
  • It will not cover the whole floor.
  • It cannot be machine dried.
  • It doesn’t dry as quickly as plastic mats.

4. Children’s Factory Rectangular Splash Mat

Best Splash Mat for Big Messes

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At 50 inches by 72 inches, this large splash mat will cover much of your floor. The large size may not fit all spaces, but you can fold the edges under or trim them to fit.

It’s thick and durable and doesn’t slip on hardwood floors. It’s versatile as you can use it as a tablecloth, under a high chair, or on a craft area floor.

To clean it, simply wipe it with a rag. That’s a big time saver for moms who don’t have the will or desire to deal with extra cleaning.

Pros
  • It is large.
  • You can trim it for a custom fit.
  • It’s durable.
  • It can be wiped clean.
Cons
  • It’s not very portable.
  • The material is not specified.

5.

Loodial High Chair Floor Protector
Kitchen Chameleon

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This circular splash mat will match any decor because it’s transparent. It’s made of 100 percent vinyl plastic, so it wipes off easily, and its smaller 47-inch profile will fit more spaces than some of the larger mats.

The circular shape makes sense to use under high chairs as kids tend to throw food in a radius, but at the same time, this design limits its use to feeding. It may not be the best for messy play or arts and crafts.

It is made of thick plastic to avoid tears and is completely waterproof to protect flooring or carpets from spills. That’s a benefit for moms who have babies who think dropping their cups from their high chairs is the best game ever.

Pros
  • It will match any decor.
  • It’s waterproof.
  • It fits in smaller spaces.
Cons
  • The plastic may crease if folded frequently.
  • It may be too small to catch all the messes.
  • It may not be the best option for arts and crafts.

6. Theo's Disposable Floor Topper

Best Disposable Splash Mats

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If you and your family love to travel, these adorable disposable mats will keep messes to a minimum. Whether you’re trekking across the country or spending a weekend with relatives, bring these mats along to make cleanup easy. When you’re done, simply throw them away.

Each one is generously sized at 47 × 29 inches and is light and thin for transport. All of the mats are made from sustainable-sourced materials.

You get 60 mats in each set. Outside of travel, they’re also great for group functions and parties. Simply place them under high chairs or an activity station. You can also use them as table covers.

If you’re a busy mom with busy kids, these mats can help simplify your life and keep you focused on what matters most.

Pros
  • Disposable mats drastically cut down on cleaning time.
  • Sustainable sourced materials.
  • Each pack includes 60 mats.
Cons
  • A bit thin.

7. Bumkins Waterproof Splat Mat

Fold it to Fit

View on Amazon

View on Bumkins

This mat is a 42-inch square, which means it’s small enough to fit into a variety of spaces, and you can fold the edges under to fit an even tighter space if needed. The ability to convert its size makes it a good fit for apartments or smaller homes.

It’s thin and portable, and you can take it on the go. And the cute Super Mario design is entertaining for kids!

It’s made of polyester, which means it’s not easily wrinkled and it dries fast. It’s easier to fold than other 100 percent plastic mats, which is another reason it’s good to take with you when you’re traveling.

It’s also free of lead, PVC, BPA, and phthalates.

Pros
  • Versatile square shape.
  • Fun Super Mario design.
  • It can be wiped clean.
  • It has no PVC, BPA, phthalates, or lead.
Cons
  • Smaller size isn’t great for big messes.
  • The design probably doesn’t match your home decor.
  • It doesn’t have a non-slip bottom.

Do I Need a Splash Mat?

A splash mat (also known as a feeding mat or drop cloth) is a piece of waterproof fabric or other waterproof material that goes under a baby’s high chair or play area. It protects the floor from food, stains, and other messes.

A splash mat can help you save time, energy, and sanity by reducing the need to clean after mealtime spills or play sessions (1). It allows your child to experience the joy of eating messy foods like spaghetti without you worrying. You can sit back and enjoy the cuteness overload.

It can also help protect your floors and carpets from permanent damage, including stains and water.

Splash mats are helpful:

  • Under high chairs at mealtimes.
  • Under art easels.
  • As tablecloths or underneath the table during play dough sessions.
  • Beneath sensory bins.
  • Under indoor water tables.
  • As a clean surface for a baby to play on a dirty floor.
  • Under your child’s seat at a restaurant to avoid leaving a large mess.
  • When traveling, it can help your child identify their designated play space.

How to Choose a Splash Mat

When purchasing a splash mat for your baby, you should consider these points:

Use

How will you use your splash mat? Will it be used in the playroom under the art easel or the kitchen under the high chair? This will influence both the size and aesthetics of the splash mat you need.

Size

Measure the space you’d like to cover. Splash mats come in all different sizes, so you’re bound to find one that will work for you.

Decor

If you will use your splash mat most of the time, it’s going to become part of your decor. Choose a style that suits your tastes to keep it consistent.

Cleaning Instructions

Do you want to be able to hose your splash mat off in the backyard, toss it in the washing machine, or wipe it off with a sponge? Make sure the cleaning instructions align with your desires.

Weight and Thickness

If you’re using your splash mat at home, the weight may not matter much. But if you’re planning to use it on the go, pay attention to its storage size, weight, and material thickness, so you don’t end up with a splash mat that takes up your entire diaper bag.

How Do I Clean My Splash Mat?

Splash mats are made to resist water and spills and can usually be wiped clean. However, for an occasional deep clean — or for serious messes you don’t want to deal with — many mats are machine washable. If you do this, it’s best to wash it on cold to prevent damage to the waterproof plastic.

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Decoupage of metal cans from baby food.

When a small child appears, a lot of additional items appear in the house with him, which you did not have before. This is also about metal cans from baby food. Men have long appreciated these strong and durable containers and use them for their needs: for screws, nails and various repair items. Isn't it time to adapt them in the kitchen too? After all, they are well suited for storing bulk products. Now these jars are covered with convenient soft plastic lids and therefore will be quite convenient to use. But with them you need to work a little, so that they acquire an elegant look. You will see, you will no longer put the jars of cereals away into the closet, but just the opposite: put them in plain sight and tell everyone how you did it so beautifully. And I suggest you do decoupage metal baby food cans.

I must say right away that I am not a decoupage master and did it on metal cans for the first time. I'm not going to teach anyone, but I just want to tell you how I managed to cope with this task. I had six cans of baby food, five types of regular two- and three-layer napkins, and the desire to put it all together.

For work I used:

  • an old table, which is not a pity to drip with glue or paint
  • cans 6 pieces
  • 3-ply floral print napkins
  • PVA glue
  • plastic cup for diluting glue
  • scissors
  • white gouache
  • brush
  • acrylic lacquer (glossy)
  • soft microfiber cloth (for timely removal of dirt)

By the way, for decoupage it is better to choose dense and even harsh napkins. They lie better on the surface and do not tear under the brush.

  • I prepared jars : I washed them inside and out. I read on the Internet that someone uses a regular hair dryer to speed up drying. My jars dried naturally. If there is a paper label on the jar, it must be washed off and the remaining glue removed with a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover or acetone. If the labels are sticky, they must be completely removed from the surface of the jar. My jars have letters and symbols printed directly on the metal by the manufacturer, so I didn’t have to wash anything. And I removed the sticky stickers from the lids.

  • In order for what is drawn on the can not to show through a thin layer of the napkin, it must be primed . Usually acrylic primer or paint is used. I didn't have either. I decided to use plain white gouache. Diluted it with water not too liquid.

  • Started painting cans with gouache. But I took a rather thin brush, it would be possible to take a normal one, which is used to paint windows, for example.

Gouache fits well on the metal, it is almost impossible to see through it what was drawn on the cans. I covered the jars in one layer. But the second coat would hardly be needed, as there is a concern that the paint may peel off due to the fact that there will be a thick layer.

Pretty quickly I painted all the jars and let them dry again.

  • While the jars were drying, I diluted PVA glue with water in a glass, approximately one to one. Mix well and leave for a few minutes for the glue to combine with the water.

  • In the meantime, took care of napkins. I separated the top paint layer from the bottom white ones. I used napkins with a size of 33 * 33 cm. And the length of the napkin turned out to be just such as to completely wrap the jar.

Separate several fragments from the napkin without using scissors.

  • And finally, the jars dried up and I started gluing the top layer of napkin onto the surface. I first washed the brush from gouache, and then dipped it in glue and carefully smeared the napkin. Some rules should be followed: attach the napkin to the jar as evenly as possible and start smearing glue on its edge, gradually moving on. You can not do this too quickly, sweepingly, in a hurry. Otherwise, the napkin will stretch, wrinkle, and by the end of the work it may not even lie flat.

The first jar is ready. It turned out for me with frank flaws. But I already said that this is my first work on decoupage of metal cans. I was not upset, because there are still five cans ahead and I hope for “rehabilitation”. And the fact that the jar turned out with a white coating is PVA glue, when it dries, the coating will pass a little.

  • Started work with the second can . Here I already cut the napkin to size with scissors and began to carefully stick it on.

Now the second can is ready.

  • I did everything the same on all jars. This is a photo of raw cans. Here is the third one. Of course, wrinkles are inevitable. They straighten out a little when the jar dries out. Yes, and these wrinkles are visible only up close.

  • The fourth jar was sealed quickly and now it is drying.

  • I made the fifth and sixth cans the same, since there was no sixth type of napkins.

  • While the jars are drying, took care of the lids.

  • To make the edge uneven, tore out fragments of from the napkins and pasted them on the surface of the lids using the same technique.

  • And now each jar has a lid with the same pattern.

All this I did in one evening, sitting at the TV. I left the jars and lids to dry until morning.

And in the morning I took acrylic varnish and covered all the surfaces.

And here are the jars.

Maybe someone doesn't like flowers. So after all, you can even use newspapers for decoupage! If you want, try and you will definitely get something .

Using the decoupage technique, you can decorate not only metal cans, but also glass ones. And much more. For example, flower pots.

These are the pots I got. I was engaged in decoupage of flower pots the same evening and the next morning, when I designed these jars.

The great thing is that it's easy to find napkins that you like.

And it will take very little time to work. But there is an obligatory condition: the desire to do something for the house with one's own hands and at the same time in a good mood. I wish you all good luck!

More ways to use baby food jars:

Why can baby wipes be dangerous? | Motherhood

Testing was carried out as part of the Healthy Baby project


The first baby wipes appeared in our country in the 90s. Then they resembled wet paper, were tough, dried out quickly and did not clean the skin well enough. Since then, new impregnating materials, solutions and lotions have been developed, and wipes have become soft and pleasant to the touch. The labels on the packaging promise "unique soft texture", "pH neutral" and "gentle skin hydration". The consumer rights protection society Roskontrol sent the most popular brands for examination to find out what is actually included in the impregnation for wet wipes, and how safe these hygiene products are for children.

Photo - photo bank Lori

Opinion of a star mother. Polina Voronina, singer, soloist of the Assorti group, mother of three-year-old daughter Eva:

“We buy wet wipes all the time, they help a lot both on the road and on the street. If I go somewhere with a child, I always have a pack of wet wipes with me. Before eating, I wipe my daughter's hands with antibacterial wipes, sometimes I additionally use an antibacterial spray. Small children put everything in their mouths, and I try my best to protect the child from all possible infections.”

Wet wipes from five brands were purchased for examination in children's stores in Moscow: Pampers, Huggies, GOO.N, Merries and Johnson's Baby.

Safety or quality?


Wet wipes intended for children from the first days of life, as a rule, do not contain alcohol, salicylic acid and other aggressive disinfectants. However, as it turned out, even permitted components can cause skin irritation in a child. According to the results of clinical trials, it turned out that two types of wipes - Japanese Merries and Russian Johnson's Baby cause a vascular reaction on the skin.

Natalya Fedorova, dermatologist, expert of ZAO Rostest:
“According to studies conducted using hardware techniques, the use of two samples of wet wipes causes a side effect - erythema (severe reddening of the skin) caused by vascular spasm and subsequent vasodilation. This is due to the presence of anisic acid and succinic acid in the wipes. These substances have a strong bactericidal effect, cleanse and kill microbes well, but, unfortunately, can cause a similar skin reaction.

For reference: Surfactants are surfactants. The main active ingredient in synthetic detergents. Anionic surfactants are known to cause irritation and flaking of the skin, to provoke dermatitis. Non-ionic surfactants are generally safe for the skin and do not harm the environment. Their characteristic feature is low foaming ability, therefore, anionic surfactants are often added to the composition of detergents with nonionic agents.

When used once, these wipes won't cause much harm to the baby, but if used several times a day for a long time, skin irritation is more likely, experts say.

But these wipes clean best of all. Johnson's Baby and Merries have proven to be highly effective after just one use. Such a cleansing effect is associated not only with the presence of acids.

Merries wipes feel like soap on the hands, and their foaming performance is almost on the level of classic detergents containing powerful anionic surfactants (washing powders, for example). At the same time, a harmless non-ionic surfactant, laureth-9, is declared in the composition., which does not form such foam. Experts suggested that some surfactant, not listed in the composition, was added to the impregnation, which makes the wipes foam so much.

Johnson's Baby wipes , in addition to anisic acid, which causes a vascular reaction on the skin, also contains sodium hydroxide, an alkali that destroys the protective water-lipid mantle of the skin. The wipes are labeled "so delicate that they can even be used on the sensitive eye area." Given the presence of acids and alkalis, experts recommend using them only for hand treatment, but not for the skin around the eyes.

Ekaterina Skvortsova, doctor FBUZ "Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow":
microflora. And in the future, an imbalance occurs, which leads to various diseases, in particular, candidiasis. The child must get used to the microbes that surround him, with which he comes into contact. If you are too zealous in the pursuit of sterility, the child's immunity will be unable to fight infections in the future. Already now we are noting a significant drop in immunity in children. This is precisely due to the fact that parents protect children from all possible bacteria, preventing immunity from being developed at an early age.

Do we pay for water?


Japanese wet wipes GOO.N also surprised the experts. Their cleansing effect is close... to zero. Experts compared it with the action of a napkin, similar in structure, soaked in distilled water. Even after two applications, GOO.N wipes do not cleanse the skin of impurities. The explanation is easy: they do not contain any surfactants. Only water, antiseptics, preservatives and a moisturizing component.

Experts confirmed: these wipes really moisturize the skin, the moisture level rises by almost 80%, but after 10 minutes it returns to its previous values.

Secret composition


Most manufacturers write the composition of the impregnation of wet wipes in Latin letters, apparently so that no one except specialists can guess what components it contains. We asked the experts to decipher the composition of each sample for us and comment on the advertising claims on the packages. And learned a lot of interesting things.

Most ingredients - 17 are listed in Merries wipes. Of these, 4 are preservatives, including parabens - methylparaben, ethylparaben and propylparaben. According to dermatologists, parabens can cause allergic reactions, and products with these preservatives are not suitable for sensitive skin, especially when they are part of a full set, as in this case.

Pampers wipes are in second place in terms of the number of ingredients: 16 components in total, 3 of which are preservatives and fragrance. The latter also increases the risk of allergic reactions, especially given the fact that the composition of the fragrance is unknown: the manufacturer simply wrote parfum.

GOO.N wipes containing preservatives such as sodium benzoate, polyaminopropyl biguanide, phenoxyethanol and cetylpyridinium chloride antiseptic cannot be considered hypoallergenic.

Advertising for the sake of advertising


Manufacturers of wet wipes, trying to attract the attention of buyers, come up with new marketing moves and advertising inscriptions. For example, the manufacturer of wipes Pampers saw fit to write on the packaging "Dermatologically tested" . You might think that no other napkins pass the test. In fact, dermatological testing (clinical trials on probants) is mandatory for all types of cosmetics when evaluating safety.

The manufacturer of Huggies wipes did not remain in debt, came up with his own "special" characteristic - "soaked in purified water" . And what other water can soak napkins, dirty? Requirements for the purification of water used in the production of hygiene products intended for children are mandatory and are listed in the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union on the safety of perfumery and cosmetic products TR CU 009/2011. In addition, wipes are impregnated not with water, but with an emulsion with various additives.

The same applies to "alcohol-free" - none of the samples tested contain alcohol.

Based on the results of all tests carried out, the winners were the cheapest baby wipes - Huggies. They do not leave the feeling of soap on the hands, cleanse the skin of impurities well, contain a mild non-ionic surfactant and a moisturizing component. However, there are complaints about them: in the composition, like Pampers wipes, there is an unknown fragrance, moreover, precautions for using wipes are not indicated.

Irina Konokhova, expert of NP Roskontrol, doctor:
“Wet wipes are best used only in those rare situations when there is no water at hand – on the road, in the clinic, on the street.

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