When will DS need a high chair?

[snowmoon]

Hi. As a first time mum I have no idea when DS would need a high chair but I'd like to know roughly when I need to buy one. I guess it won't be before he can hold his head up? He is 12 weeks old.

[Hulababy]

When he can sit up unaided (or easily with some, but limited, support), and is being weaned. This varies with all children though.

[Yorkiegirl]

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[Skate]

Snowmoon - I used a proper highchair for ds1 but when i got to ds2 I used the bouncy chair to start off with and used that until he could sit up properly and then just used the booster seat that straps to the dining chair. I hardly used the highchair for him so probably won't for ds3 either - it's so bloody bulky and I can't get it right up to the table so they can't eat with the family properly.

Suppose it depends which one you get but I got a chicco mama one - it's fab and sturdy and reclines back but I found the tray was always too high for the boys so I'd have to put them on cushions. Plus, the way the legs are angled makes it v. difficult to get right up to the table. They are v. expensive and once your child gets to about 18 months they seem a bit big for them I think and you move on to a booster seat anyway.

Well I did, but others might have a different view for you!

[bonniej]

Needs to hold his head up and sit pretty straight. I put dd in hers a bit early and she just slumped and was quite uncomfortable. You can get away with feeding in a car seat for quite a while.

[snowmoon]

Thanks. Yorkiegirl which type do you have? A reclining type sounds ideal.

[Hulababy]

We have a Tripp Trapp so being able to sit unaided was important. DD sat pretty early though so we used it from 5 months. Like others have said, we also used the bouncer chair when we first started weaning.

[Skate]

Snowmoon - the chicco mama is good if you want a recliner as it reclines to about 5 different positions.

[hazlinh]

u can use a bumbo seat at 4 months or once his neck is strong. your ds doesnt need to be able to sit up straight with a bumbo cos it helps support the back. still using it and dd now 8 months. havent had to buy a highchair yet! it also keeps her in one spot safe and sound, if i want to do my housework (she hates being in playpen, and i've had to pack it away, it's that bad!)

this is what it looks like:

the bumbo

[smellymelly]

We used a bumbo too, from 4 months till about 14 months. Obviously dd could get out by then, but it was much easier than a highchair. Than at 15 mths she started feeding herself so the highchair was needed as it has a tray.

Be aware that the bumbo is not as safe as they make out though, dd got out at about 8 months, she went rigid when crying and managed to roll out. She was unharmed but that's because I'm very careful about never putting baby chairs on raised surfaces. 2 other people I know who had bumbos, also had babies who fell, or got out.

[Hectic]

My ds (9m) fell out of his Bumbo yesterday while trying to stretch and reach a toy. I was in the room with him so got to him quickly, but it gave him a bit of a fright, tumbling head first out of it . So I think they have a limited life span.

[fruitful]

We used one of these from about 5 months. It reclines. You can't use the tray when its reclining but you're still spoon-feeding so you don't need to. Then its a booster seat later on - dd stopped using it a couple of weeks ago at 2.5yo. It still fits her fine but I want her to forget that it was hers before no.2 needs it!

[snowmoon]

Thanks fruitful, that looks like a good one. The bumbo seat also looks good. Now I know what options I have. Thanks very much everyone!

[Yorkiegirl]

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[Moomin]

i'd 2nd the first years one that fruitful recommended. We used it in the reclining position when she was 15/16 wks (back in the days it was recommended that you weaned at this age!) altho she didn't sit up on her own until 6/7 months, so it was ideal. It's then been used for the last 2 years and because it's so portable it's been to MIL's for when dd eats up there and it came on weekends away.