Being messy is part of the learning experience and is a good thing! Constantly cleaning around your child or using wipes to clean them as they eat can disrupt them and put them off their food, so it is better to setup the environment to make it easier to clean afterwards.

Get a bowl that sticks down if you are concerned that the child will pick it up. Put a mat under the high chair that will wipe clean, you do not need to sterilise once they are 6 months old.