Help me get brave about fingerpaint

[AFWife]

I have no idea if he'd like it or not...he makes me wipe his hands mid meal so he can go back to eating sometimes.

But it would be something new.

Problem: We have carpet in our dining area (where he usually sits to do sitting activities) and carpet in the living room (where the coffee table sits) Our kitchen isn't big enough to put anything in it and I doubt he would sit in his highchair (it's one that goes on another chair and we've been using it as a booster seat)

We're renting the apt so I can't have paint all over the carpet...

Would it work to put him in the tub with the paint, let him go to town, and then shower off? Should I try the highchair in the kitchen? (that leads to the problem of a 9mo pregnant mama carrying a toddler to the bathroom to get cleaned up...)

I want to try it...but I'm scared!

[kindchen]

My kids love painting in the bathtub! Also, the washable finger paint is really quite washable if it does get on something. I bet it would come out of carpet with just water.

[lonegirl]

My son was like yours...needing a wipe off mid meal...he is still very much like that.  The first finger painting he did he literally used the tip of one finger.  What I did was tape two large garbage bags together as a drop sheet and that is the work space.  I'd have him sit on it and place the paint and paper all on it too...I left him just in a pullup....

[mamamolly1]

I've done some occasional finger-painting with my boys (20-months-old). The first times we did it, it was when they were a bit younger (maybe around a year or so?), and I put them in their high chairs and we used yogurt with food coloring.  It was fun but messy.  I wish I had done it more then, because in recent months they've become MUCH more concerned about messy fingers (whereas before that didn't phase them).  We finger painted yesterday.  Max managed to really get into it (though needed the "mess" wiped off his hands a few times), Charlie was a bit dubious about the whole affair, but didn't have a bad time, I don't think.  Anyway, what I do (since though I'm pretty mellow on the mess front, I don't think I could deal with two toddlers running around with paint on their fingers when I'm by myself), is to put them in their booster seats (which are strapped on chairs-- sounds like we have the same kind) and put down a bunch of newspapers on the table and beneath it.  None of that was actually necessary, though-- they managed to get all of the paint on themselves and the paper. And I used washable paint anyway, so it wouldn't have been a big deal either way.  I think they'll enjoy the experience a little more when I get some kind of wide brushes for them.  But, I'm still glad for our little forays.   Plus now we have gifts for grandma :)

[zebra15]

When my son was little he loved those tub paints.   For fingerpainting I got a roll of butcher paper or craft paper and covered my table with it (I also used a plastic table cloth under the paper at times) and let him go to town.  He rarely dumped on the floor but since you have carpet in the dining area can you get a huge area rug anyway.  Honestly thats what I would do to avoid food messes with kids!

I never stressed over messed with my son.  Messy hands just were a way a life.  He had to learn to deal (I was and still am a single mom).  Yes your hands are dirty, here is a towel type of thing.

IDK where you are but is it possible to try this outside. Sidewalk chalk is great too.

[sapphire_chan]

My dd loves painting in the bathtub.

Finger paints were a failure because, even though she uses her fingers with regular paints, she demanded a brush and got mad when I tried to show her that we could use our fingers.

[crunchy_mommy]

I was surprised the first time we painted how NOT messy it was. I put DS in his booster seat pushed right up to the table, and all the mess stayed on the table. I held his hands while we walked to the sink when he was done. Nothing got on the floor but if you are worried you could put some newspaper or dropcloth down underneath.

DS really likes painting with a brush. He also likes those dry watercolors where you use a brush to wet the paint. Maybe start out with something like that to ease yourself into it?

[skybluepink02]

I am trying to get brave about this too. My mom said she used to do the bath tub trick and just sprayed kids and tub down afterwards and gave us our nightly bath. I think I will try it that way first because te idea of two painty toddlers runnin around scares me. It sounds like our house is set up the same way as yours.

[AFWife]

I finally just sucked it up and tried it at the table...with a cloth underneath. He ended up being very careful and only used the tips of his fingers. He did paint all over himself...but that was remedied with a bath afterwards. It was a success.

[Eresh]

We fingerpainted yesterday too. :)  We did it in the kitchen (linoleum) with DS1 in just a pullup.  He was actually being quite fastidious with it until I smeared paint on his chest.  We still didn't end up with any paint anywhere other than him and the paper.  When we were done I walked him upstairs to the bath.  He wanted to get the paint off his skin because it itched as it dried so he wasn't running around.