highchair drama

rapaulson · January 2014

We are waging a war over the highchair at our house. More accurately, our toddler has already won the war. He started hating to sit in the high chair around early December. We even bought a new high chair geared towards older kids (no back, just lap straps) to see if it would help. It didn't help and he fought us tooth and nail whenever we tried to shove him in it. He would get stiff, scream, cry, throw his food... the meltdowns lasted a good 30 minutes if we left him in the chair against his will. I decided eventually that it was not a battle worth fighting but sometimes I regret my decision. Now LO sits happily at the table with us in a big chair, on his knees so that he can reach. And he makes a pretty big mess everywhere. I'm tempted to re-start the war. The nanny will follow what we want in the end but I know she would prefer he eat in a highchair (he still would do this for her until recently but it has gotten harder and harder now that mom and dad caved). And I'd prefer it too, but again, I'm not sure this is worth the fight. It just seems cleaner and like maybe he'll stay eating a little longer if he's trapped. So I guess I'm curious #1) is everyone else's LO still in high chairs? If not, when and how did the switch arise #2) any tips to get him back in the high chair? I know he won't starve if I just refuse him meals until he gets the picture. But again, is this a battle worth fighting? Or do I just move on?

selockar · January 2014

DS2 sits in a booster seat when we eat dinner. He likes to be at the table with everyone.

rapaulson · January 2014

We actually have a space saver as well that is really just a booster with a waist strap if you don't add the tray. We try pushing the booster up to the table but even that he refuses. And he gets so mad he tries to push off the table with is feet which is quite dangerous (he could knock the chair right over). So far he has still been willing to do high chairs at restaurants thankfully! I wonder if there's a booster he'd be more willing to sit at. I also feel like eating up on his knees is kind of dangerous. (I fell off a chair at 18 months and broke my wrist! This is always on my mind...)

bellelamb · January 2014

My May baby is in a high chair and my 3 year old in a booster with straps at the table. I guess I'm just mean but they know unless in their seats the DONT EAT snacks meals treats anything! If they throw fits they get removed to their room and the rest of us eat until they are ready to eat nicely. I agree eating on knees is dangerous, my kids have fallen off that way. Plus we all sit until EVERYONE is done calmly which is much harder if they are free.

I would try for a booster at this point ours is a hard plastic one the strapes to the chair.

Dwinalsinlove · January 2014

We ditched the highchair about a month ago but we do use a booster at the table for dinner. Maybe if you get a different booster and make a big deal about it. Maybe he will be excited to sit in it.

ebl2 · January 2014

We've been out of the highchair for a few months now. DD started sitting at the table in a big chair by herself whenever I told her it was meal time. I got her a booster seat with straps and she loves it. She'll climb up into it and strap herself in. Maybe if you took him to the store and let him pick out his own booster seat he'll like it more and want to sit in it. Tell him to pick out his new "big boy" chair. I found the mess to be the same if not better at the table than the highchair.

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