This week, Jennie’s Messy Play for Matilda Mae is being hosted by yours truly. I do hope you will link up!
We did this trifle smash a while ago, I just haven’t had the chance to blog it. But since I have been given the honour of hosting Jennie’s linky this week, I thought I finally blog it. So here it is. The Trifle Smash!
As always, I try to keep the baby’s sensory/ messy play as edible as possible and so to make the trifle smash I doctored the dish a little. I didn’t want to actually spend time making a trifle (although the photos would’ve been amazing!) so I took the main elements and made them baby friendly. And budget friendly!
- I made the jelly with slightly less water than normal because I wanted a more rubbery texture that the baby could easily pick up and hold.
- I poured the jelly into different sized/ shaped containers so that there was a variety of shapes.
- I bought a tin of Smart Price custard (17p!).
- I broke up a disastrous batch of flapjacks that I baked earlier that day and used them instead of sponge cake.
- I purposefully left each element of the ‘trifle’ separate so that the baby could explore them all individually.
Before I set the Tuff Spot up, I sprinkled it with icing sugar for an extra sensory experience- it looked pretty, smelled lovely and felt divine!
The baby didn’t waste much time in getting stuck in! She:
- traced patterns in the oats and icing sugar with her finger tips
- sat inside the tray and dug her toes into the oats and sugar
- used her toes to make patterns
- dipped her fingers into the custard and tipped it onto her legs
- picked up the jelly, giggling because it was cold, and smearing it onto her leg
- studied her oat covered her hand before licking her fingers!
The sensory element of the trifle smash was amazing! Sometimes I’m not sure whether the baby sees messy play as one big meal, but she certainly does get her money’s worth! She explores all the textures, smells and of course tastes!
The reason why we loved this messy play session so much is simple. It was messy. There was no worrying about bibs, or sticky fingers, or messy floors. The baby had full permission to make a mess and she loved it! For me, it was a chance to sit back and watch her play, admire her curious nature and marvel at her determination to chase rolls of jelly around the tray. Now, more than ever, I know I am blessed to have her in my life and I hope that this is just the start of many more trifle smashes to come!
Please come and link up your Messy Play for Matilda Mae posts. I know that Jennie is looking forward to reading them and I know that it means so much to her to see so many joining in to remember her beautiful baby girl. Please grab the badge code!
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What fab idea! Can’t wait to try this, great inspiration xx
SO easy and cheap to do! Bella loved it!
xx
Tasty and tactile – great!
Yep- tasty and tactile are too of our favourite things!
xx
This is fab! My tuff spot finally arrived, so I am definitely trying this one with the wee girl 🙂
Oh yay!
xx
I love this, we’ve played with jelly before but never trifle – brilliant. Also note to self must get a builders tray.
Yes, get a builder’s tray. Keeps all the mess contained, we use it all the time!
xx
What a great idea! My little lady would love this!
You have to try it. So easy!
xx
Lots of foodie fun 🙂
Yep, it HAS to be edible for my little foody!
xx
What a fab idea, trifle smash – we love it!!
haha yep Bella loved it too!
xx
That looks amazing! Hope my Tuff Spot hurries up! 🙂 xxx
Oooh there is no turning back once you get a Tuff Spot!
xx
You always have such inspiring ideas! Looks like Bella loved it xxx
Oh yes, she loved it. I knew she would, custard is one of her favourite treats!
xx
Love this idea, we were going to use jelly today now I really have to!
Yes you do! Hope you have fun!
xx
So many great ideas! So pleased to have linked up!
Oh yay! I am just about to read yours now
xxx
Trifle Smash – that looks so wonderfully messy I’d be tempted to join in myself! Nice one 🙂
Sorry I haven’t linked up; I’ve been meaning to, & I didn’t realise I’d actually missed 2. This last, bank holiday, weekend I was unusually tired, & we were out a lot, & I’m not sure what happened the weekend before that (this one).
No need to apologise! I have missed your posts though! Maybe you could do a trifle smash yourself?!
xxx