I like to think of these disposable table toppers as my best kept baby product secret. I started buying these as soon as we started dining out with our little guy (at around 6 months or so). At first, I really just liked that it provided a nice, clean, protective barrier between him and the table. We'd put his toys on there, and he could frub his little hands and arms all over the top of the table, and I didn't have to worry about the germs and the general stickiness that seems to plague many table tops. Then the little guy started self feeding, and I fell in love with them even more. We could put little crackers, puffs, etc, right on the surface of the toppers, and he'd happily grab the munchies and pop them in his mouth. He could be occupied for hours this way, and we could actually enjoy a dinner out together. After awhile, my son started eating actual meals out at restaurants, complete with a plate and utensils, and I still continued to use the table toppers. For even though the food starts on the plate, it often ends up getting pushed off the side when he's trying to scoop it up. And if the food falls off of the plate and onto the table, my son still thinks it's fair game to eat. In these cases, I am grateful for the clean surface because nobody wants to forgo the last bite of macaroni and cheese just because it happened to fall off the plate. And who wants to start a war with their kid in the middle of a crowded restaurant over a dropped bite of mac and cheese? Certainly not me. How they work: There are four pieces of adhesive on the back of the toppers. You just tear off each piece and smooth the topper down onto the table. I've found that the best way to do it is to remove the top strip and then place the topper on the table. Then do the bottom one, followed by the two sides. I like that they put adhesive strips on each of the four sides because it prevents babies from pulling the whole thing off of the table. I'd really like to see them keep the adhesive on all four sides but use only one continuous backing strip. I only say this because after I put the topper on, I'm left with these four little strips of plastic that are kind of a nuisance to deal with. I usually tie them all together and then roll them into a ball and stuff them under a salad plate just so I don't have to see them during my meal, but I suppose you can do whatever you want with them. The other thing I really like about them is that they are (allegedly) biodegradable. I obviously have no way of knowing if they really are, but assuming their claims are accurate, it makes me feel better about throwing them away after each meal. We also have reusable mats that we occasionally use, but I find them to be bulky to carry around, and I even though I wipe them clean after each meal, I don't feel like they're really "your kid can eat off this" clean unless you actually wash it at home with soap and water. So the Table Toppers are our go to for vacations when we will will be eating consecutive meals out in a row, and I'm unable to get home to give the place mat a thorough wash between meals. Overall, this is a really great little product. The toppers are easy to use, convenient to carry, and they give your child a clean surface to play and eat on.
