I purchased two of these at the recommendation of a friend, almost 3 years ago for my 1st child and now use them for my second child too. This is wonderful when they started eating finger foods and we would go out for dinner. I didn't have to worry about her (like all kids, licking, biting or as kids always end up doing) eating food off the dirty table tops! The suction cups are strong enough to hold it in place, during a lot of rigerous pulling and tugging which was awesome because my youngest is always trying to yank it off. So far she hasn't had much success and she's a strong little one!
We just attach it to the table, sit her in the high chair and she can feed herself finger foods and I don't have to stress out trying to keep her clean! When she's done eating, I just roll it up, (it's designed to fold into itself and stay that way, until we get home. I wash it, roll it up and it goes back in the diaper bag for the next time. This is also great, because she's always done eating before us, you can roll it up leaving a clean "play" area on the table. I would definitly recommend them!!!
When attaching to the table tops, make sure you dampen the suction cups with a little moisture from the outside of your drink glass and it will stay in place even better!
Buy this! You won't regret it!
We used this with our first daughter, and now we use it with the second. It's very durable. We've had it for two years and still no tears, rips, cracks, etc. I normally wash it in the sink, but occasionally, I throw it in the washer. We love this mat because it keeps her from eating off of a nasty table while we're out it public.
So, why only three stars? The bad part is that the suction cups normally don't work well. It really all depends on the finish of the table. However, most every meal, I have to fight with her (just like I did with my first daughter), so that she won't rip it off. She's 15-months old, and it really is no big deal for her to rip it off the table. If we're not watching, the food will go flying (along with the mat). But it's better if this mat goes flying as opposed to a dish shattering on the floor.
It definitely isn't a sit at the table and forget about it proposition at all. So if that's what you're looking for, this product isn't for you. But if you just want a clean place to put their food while they eat, and you don't mind having to keep one hand close, it does the job.
Buy Summer Infant Tiny Diner, 5 Years Now
This place-mat is good in theory. In fact, it does a great job protecting my son from icky table germs when he is eating finger foods. Unfortunately, like most toddlers he seeks out challenges, and is able rip the entire mat of the table within seconds now. He thinks it's a game and laughs every time. With that said, at least it does a good job at staying put. Don't think anything without a suction cup would work at all for us. Another downside is that this mat is a little on the bulky side. Definitely not something you can just keep in your diaper bag. I keep mine stashed in my car for when we eat out. Not a perfect product, but glad I have it!
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I had one of these with my first child a couple years ago and it was fantastic. The rubber was thick and the suction cups worked well. I routinely washed it in the washing machine with towels to get it really clean-that worked much better than trying to hand wash.
I bought a new one for my daughter last week because I really wanted something pink. After taking it out of the box I noticed how much thinner and flimsy it is compared to the one I had (same brand, even had the same nursery rhyme on it). The suction cups didn't work well, and after washing it in the machine one time it has several large tears in it.
I realize machine washing is not the recommended way to clean it, but it worked so well in the past that I assumed it would be okay. I think that the fact that it tore on it's first wash shows how much the quality of this product has deteriorated over the last couple of years. I'm disappointed.
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I thought I would love this product based on the reviews I read and the need I had for a product like this! But it was a waste of money for me. I have twins and I always try a product out before I commit to buying a 2nd one...I will not be buying a 2nd one! I have Inglesina Hook on high chairs and figured the fact that many reviewers had problems with the suction cups wouldn't pertain to us because the hook on high chairs have arms that would hold it down. The suction cups did not stick to my table and I tried wetting them down like you do if a suction cup won't stick, it didn't help. When I put the hook on high chair arms over the placemat, I couldn't find a good place to clamp the arms down as the suction cups were in the way and it made me a little nervous that the arms weren't clamped down as tight as they should be. The suction cups make the place mat stick up rather than laying flat on the table. The top edge, since it wasn't being held down by the suction cups, curled up and it looked tacky. It ended up being kind of awkward and just wasn't a good fit.
I also didn't care for the catch tray. That was my main reason for buying it, I was tired of the finger foods going to the dogs and thought the catch tray would solve this problem. Since the whole thing is made of rubber, the tray wasn't very sturdy and that made it easy to spill. It also didn't fit well between the table's edge and the hook on high chair. I think if it was a more sturdy material, laid flat with suction cups that really worked, and not this rubbery type material, it could be an even better product. It also would be nice if it was made with hook on high chairs in mind so that their aren't suction cups in the place where the arms would be and room for the catch rtray. Wish I had saved my money, as I have no use for it.
The only plus, it does wipe down very easy!
i have kids and obviously it dented in the first time my almost 18 month old dropped it on a ceramic floor, the sip top kind of lets more air in then waterit's tricky to drink out of. i didn't realize the design on the bottle is painted on??? i'm not sure what it is, but it has started "melting" and attracts dirt and makes it sticky to hold. it keeps your drink at temperature though and it is a "green" bottle. i'm still in search of the perfect bottle
