Disclosure: This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Dreft. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Babies are so cute and just adorable but they can also be very messy at times. Well thanks to Dreft Laundry Detergent they know exactly how to clean up those nasty little food stains. Like most babies once they start to east their food it ends up everywhere. Do you know that studies show that smashing, throwing and playing with food actually helps babies learn? And it is noted that science has confirmed that kids enjoy playing in their food, dirt and mud because it actually helps our children relax and stay calm. It even makes them very happy.

Do you allow messy play in your home? If you have a messy baby, be sure to enter the #MessiestBabyContest hosted by Dreft and Parents magazine. Just click here and upload a picture of your baby at their messiest or post on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #messiestbabycontest.

If you win, you get awesome prizes, like a change to be on the cover of Parent’s magazine. The contest is already off to a great start with Molly Sims making an appearance on October 25th to help start the hunt for the messiest tot. With two, soon to be three children, she probably knows a thing or two about messes.

Dreft has partnered with Dr. Hes who is a huge advocate of messy baby play. Here are a couple of messy play tips from Dr. Hes:

.

Throwing practice: Throwing food can definitely be messy, but did you know it helps with their development. Little ones are also still developing object permanence, which means that they don’t know that when they throw things, they won’t come back to them. So throwing food or dropping it on floor can actually help them learn this basic lesson in physics. Maybe just have a mat on the floor to protect carpet or allow for easy clean up.

Dress baby right and care for fabrics. When you expect a mess, dress baby with a fabric, such as cotton, that can easily be cleaned up effortlessly. When it comes to fabrics, it’s also extremely important to seek out a gentle and hypoallergenic detergent to care for the items that touch baby’s sensitive skin. Wash baby’s items with a specially-formulated product such as Dreft, the #1 baby laundry detergent choice of pediatricians to be gentle and hypoallergenic on baby’s skin that has been trusted by parents for over 80 years.

Dreft specializes in creating quality detergents that are safe for your little ones. Dreft Stage One Newborn’s formula is gentle on tiny baby clothes and skin while Dreft Active Baby is formulated to remove 99% of those baby food and outdoor stains. The have you covered. You will also love the Dreft Blissfuls, boosting beads that make laundry smell wonderful.

Be sure to RSVP for Dreft’s Twittter Pary on Monday, November 14th from 9pm-10pm EST. They are giving away some cool stuff, including an iRobot Roomba. RSVP here .

You can check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I am also giving you an opportunity to enter my giveaway below for a $50 AMEX gift card and Dreft products. All you have to do is the following:

1. Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/Nico2317

2. Visit my Facebook page and leave a comment https://www.facebook.com/savingswithdenise

3. Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/denisenico23/ and leave a comment

4. Follow me on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/nico2317/ and leave a comment

5. Follow me on Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DeniseSeegobin and leave a comment

You must leave a separate comment in the comments fields for each entry that you make to be entered. This contest will run until November 15, 2016.