Summer Infant Tiny Diner
Baby loves weaning, mummy hates cleaning.  The tiny diner hasn't helped on either of these! - Summer Infant Tiny Diner Nursing

Product Type: Summer Infant kids equipment

Newest Review: ... but by no means all. My perspective is that if you have to sweep the floor once (or three plus times a day as the case may be), then, th... more

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Baby loves weaning, mummy hates cleaning. The tiny diner hasn't helped on either of these!
Summer Infant Tiny Diner

ariom

Member Name: ariom

Product:

Summer Infant Tiny Diner

Date: 07/10/12

Rating:

Advantages: Clever idea

Disadvantages: Doesn't reduce cleaning, doesn't make it easier for little one to eat.

What is it?
This is a shaped piece of rubber that suckers onto a table for children to eat off when on high hairs without a tray that push directly up to the table. It also has a rubber tray to 'catch' dropped food in. Clearing up after a baby-led weaned baby is the bane of my life, and it was hoped that this would make my life easier. It is supposedly designed to roll-up for portability out and about.

How much less cleaning does mummy have to do?
The catching tray certainly does catch some of the food, but by no means all. My perspective is that if you have to sweep the floor once (or three plus times a day as the case may be), then, the product doesn't have a big enough impact. My floor was never clear after using this product. It did nothing to prevent the side sweeps that little T often engages in towards the end of a meal hitting the floor. Even the high chair still had chunks of items wedged down the sides when little T was pushed up to the catcher tray. In my opinion this in part comes down to the wrong material. The rubber is flexible and gives when it has to contain a weight. The 'lip' at the edge purportedly to contain food is far too shallow, only a few millimetres thick, and is completely useless in preventing mess.

Can little T eat easier with the tiny diner?

In short no. The unreliable suckers, combined with the flexible rubbery material mean that the eating surface is bobbly to start. The 'lip' round the edge is too shallow for him to push the food up to get a better grasp. The suckers come unstuck while he's eating, providing distraction and further making the food difficult to grasp. He has enjoyed some second time firsts, when he's got hold of food that has fallen into the tray for a second attempt. The folds where it is designed to be folded up, never really flatten, especially as it comes already folded up.

Out and about?
I know some people will contest this, but I don't see the point to this, most places I eat out tend to have highchairs with trays fitted. I think this product is a good concept, and well implemented, it would be welcome in my house, but, to do this I think it would need to be made of rigid material and sacrifice this portability aspect.

Overall, a clever idea whose material means it doesn't work.

Summary: Doesn't work, would be wonderful if it did!