PARENTS may shudder at the sight of their darling little ones throwing their baked beans all round the kitchen, but according to children's food expert Dr Gillian Harris, letting a baby make a mess at mealtimes means they're less likely to be a fussy eater.

A recent survey, by WaterWipes, found that 40 per cent of parents don't let their baby play with their food and over a third feel stressed or anxious about it.

But Dr Harris says that parents should let their little ones play with their food.

"It's very important for your baby to interact with food, either when they're being fed or feeding themselves, or when playing away from mealtimes," she says. "This is because babies are born sensitive to taste, touch and smell, so they'll often overreact to new food tastes and the feel of sticky foods on their hands and faces.

"This sensitivity is dampened down (desensitised) if they get used to the experience of smells, tastes and the feel of foods in the first months, as you introduce new foods to them.

"Babies who haven't had sensory food play experiences are more likely to be fussy eaters and to be worried about different food tastes and the feel and look of different textured foods. This reluctance to touch and taste will carry on through childhood – it's easier to desensitise a baby than it is to desensitise an older toddler or child."

Ianthe and Kevin Brown from Totton certainly agree.

They have used baby led weaning with both their children, India, now two and a half, and Savannah, now eight months old.

"They had 100 per cent food in it's 'natural' form, as in the same way as we would eat it, from six months," says Ianthe.

"We're strong believers in children experiencing food in its normal state, so we've never used any purees or blended it up. I've tried purees myself and I didn't want to eat them!

"It's about them experiencing food and making it a learning experience too, with different tastes, smells and textures.

"It is messy, but no messier than what I've seen from friends using the more traditional spoon fed method. You have to invest in some all-in-one bibs and embrace the mess."

She adds: "Some foods we just have at home, like curries and spaghetti bolognaise. We tend to go for drier options when we're out and about!"

And Ianthe says that her girls are far from being fussy eaters.

"They eat anything and everything. My youngest has multiple food allergies but she's still able to do baby led weaning, and eat a wide range of food.

"Both of them were eating full roast dinners from six months, and corn on the cob, even without teeth.

"They both use cutlery. It's nice because if we're out to dinner, we can all fully engage. One of us doesn't have to sit there feeding one of them with a spoon. We've always eaten as a family."

Dr Harris adds that even if you're not using baby led weaning, it is possible to give your children a more sensory experience when eating.

"If you're spoon-feeding your baby, give them a spoon of their own to hold and play with and dip in the bowl, let them put their fingers in the yoghurt, give them some soft cooked vegetables to hold and mush, or some nice squashy fruit pieces," she says.

"And don't be too quick to wipe their faces and hands clean, even if they're a little worried about them being messy – distract them for a little while and then wipe later. There are also plenty of fun, simple and stress-free sensory food games that you and your little one can try out."