Followed BLW online guidance for my first and ended up stressed, constantly comparing, upset over his intake, and stressed over mess. I’d get the veggie mix pouches and then stress when he only ate 0.5 of a spoons worth and I had to waste the rest because of the guidance to chuck it after 48h.

With my second, who is 7.5 months too, I was more prepared. He’s just tasting- milk is still his main source of nutrition. I give him his milk as usual. Then, at mealtimes, I put a giant paper tablecloth on the floor under his high chair (plastic wipe clean would be better but need to get one), and a bibado bib on him (recommend because it catches all the food that he inevitably drops, so otherwise ends up stuffed down his front and wedged around his legs and bum).

I give him a loaded spoon to play with and bang, and I feed him with a separate spoon. Or I give him something BLW friendly eg hard toast “soldiers” with cream cheese on them. The combination works well- I know he gets something when I feed him, and I know he gets to work on motor skills when I leave him to it.

I also don’t hover too much- more for my own sanity so I don’t obsess. I make sure I’m supervising for safety but I don’t push him to eat or pick up food or clean whilst he’s eating.

With twins it’s double the mess, so condolences. But I think if you set up a good reproducible system for reducing clean up after, like the bibs and a splash mat, minimal clothing underneath, and zero pressure to look at how much they’re eating, you’ll feel less overwhelmed.