There are benefits to messy play for babies anyway. It's good for them to be given the chance to handle textures and different objects. BLW for me sort of killed 2 birds with one stone, as he had to learn how to eat, and it gave him an opportunity to get messy. I'll see if I can find some 'benefits of mess' info...
This one is quite a sweet post
https://www.babylondon.co.uk/articles/parenting/family-life/item/577-a-little-mess-conversation
Basically it's important for children to be allowed to 'explore' their world, and there is no finer messy play IMO than spaghetti bolognaise or yogurt!!
Totally agree with you, Patch. I don't want insecurities passed on to my wee man.
I have no problem with messy play at all, I just don't want it in my dining room! In the same way that I wouldn't give DS an ice cream to eat on our cream sofa, I don't want him throwing spaghetti bolognese around in my dining room!
It has zero to do with insecurities, it's purely because I spend money on putting nice things in my house and where possible I want them to stay nice!
Messy play is fine outside/in the kitchen (no carpets)/at playgroups etc - I don't have a problem with mess as a whole, only when it's in my house. Obviously I'm realistic and a house with a baby and a toddler in it is always going to be messy at times - I'm not obsessive about it, I just don't want to add to the mess. He can get food all over the place if we are eating in the garden, that's no problem.
As I've said, I'm not totally against BLW by any means and I definitely see many advantages in it. DD had an entirely "BLW style" dinner last night - but nothing that came in sauce!