What do you do when there isn't a high chair to use?

[kjoyce]

Hi

I am a final year student currently studying design.

As part of my final year project I am concentrating on the problem of high chairs within restaurants and the fact that there sometimes isn't a high chair available or the high chair may be too dirty for use. I am looking at children 6 months - 3 years who would be old enough to be in a high chair and would be using a buggy / stroller.

I am currently trying to gather as much information as possible about the challenges parents face when this happens and what their preferred option may be to over come this problem.

So I would be very grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to explain what experiences you may have encountered and how you cope with this type of situation.

• How do you feel about using high chairs in restaurants?
  
• Would you put your child into the high chairs in restaurants?
  
• Do you have a travel high chair or booster seat to take and use?
  

• What style of seat do you prefer to seat your child in when eating at a restaurant or 'out and about'? (Booster seat, high chair, fabric harness etc.)
  

• If there was a buggy / stroller which allowed you to easily convert into a high chair when in a restaurant or public place would this appeal to you? (Stroller increases in height and as a high chair it pushes under the main dining table - no plastic tray)
  

If you have any other comments or suggestions on this topic or area I would also appreciate these.

Many thanks,

Katie

[CaurnieBred]

We used one of these. www.amazon.co.uk/The-First-Years-Inflatable-Booster/dp/B002K174EW?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[CaurnieBred]

Though much easier if the restaurant had its own. Much easier to have DD at table height than down in the buggy but I suppose the Stokke buggies which come up high could do. We preferred DD to be at the table rather than have high chair with tray.

[Artandco]

Tbh we have never really use highchairs out. When small we just sat them on our laps, and then they have say on regular chairs out ( kneeling if needed) from about 18 months.

We also rarely used a pram as found sling easier, especially in restaurant as then no pram in the way, so wouldn't by a pram based on that feature

[TeenageMutantNinjaTurtle]

We sat her on our knee when she was really little and now she's older she kneels on a chair. To be honest though, it's probably only happened 2 or 3 times in her three years.

I probably wouldn't buy a buggy specifically for that reason but if the buggy I wanted had that feature then it wouldn't put me off.

Id be much more interested in a device that emulated forward motion for my buggy so that the baby stays asleep when stationary!

[kjoyce]

I would also like to know what people do when they go on holiday or go abroad, what do they do to resolve this issue / what do they take with them?

[Artandco]

Same abroad as here. Baby in sling, walk on plane. Other end baby in sling, on lap in restaurants. Would never take extra stuff like potable high chairs etc

Tiny baby stays in sling or lay down next to us if padded bench style seating. Usually asleep.

[Squtternutbaush]

Ours sat on laps until 18 months and on a normal chair from then on.

Tbh I prefer to do that than use the highchairs when out which are generally manky.

[NotCitrus]

Gro make portable high chairs which are just cloth with harness clips - loop over chair back, up through toddler's legs, pull snug. A godsend for hotels and places when dd was an escapologist toddler.

I use high chairs when available but otherwise laps, chairs, or if necessary just keep child in the pushchair.

Might be a useful feature for people who buy those Stokke buggies where the child is really high up, but I'd always worry about them falling over.

[amy83firsttimer]

There's a fabric product available that you tie round a normal chair and the child. It folds up tiny and can be brought with you.

[amy83firsttimer]

www.preciouslittleone.com/product-information/61/23441/grobag-chair-harness-(aqua)/?gclid=CLjR7fOGucECFZQZtAodqhQAlQ

[Pico2]

I wouldn't use a buggy like that as it would get filthy. We either use the restaurants high chair or put DD on a lap.

[kjoyce]

Thank you for all the responses! Very much appreciated.

The development of the high chair / stroller would take into consideration of the cleaning as I know this would be a big issue.

[BertieBotts]

I like a pushchair which is high up, would you be able to use it high up all the time? I think it's better for talking to your child and they don't get a face full of fumes when walking near roads.

For holidays, consider the fact that parents generally (1) tend to take a lightweight buggy on holiday for practicality, fitting in the car and luggage allowance, and (b) tend to take a cheap or older buggy because the possibility of it getting lost, damaged or stolen is higher.

TBH, I had my baby six years ago and it wasn't a problem then. I don't think I ever went anywhere which didn't have a highchair. I notice nowadays lots of places use the cheap ikea highchairs, too, so even easier for companies to work something out. I often fed DS in the pushchair but that was where there wasn't a table, so a tray to add on might have been a good idea (of course with disclaimer saying don't let your child eat without supervision etc).

[ProveMeWrong]

To be honest I hate my little one eating in his pushchair although he regularly eats a piece of bread or whatever as a mid morning snack when we're out in the park.

I usually use the restaurant high chair and bring along anti bac wipes to give it a wipe down so I know it's clean enough. Same works for the ones that push up to the table. Much less stuff to carry. I try not to take the pushchair or a travel booster seat with me as I feel so frumpy carrying a load of stuff into a restaurant and there isn't always the space for the pram.

One really cool thing I saw was those cheap white outdoor plastic chairs can be double stacked to the height of a high chair so even restaurants don't need so many high chairs!

Better would be to design something space saving and hygienic for restaurants to use.

[jacks365]

I use a Jane Rider and one of the reasons I chose it was the height of the seat, it is high enough to use as a high chair and I have done so, it's also easy enough to clean

[TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos]

Like Prove, I carry anti-back wipes in case the provided high chair needs the once over and I also have a chair harness, similar to the link Amy posted, which folds up small, works with virtually every chair and has been invaluable.

[TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos]

Perfectly Happy People Tamsit chair harness - Booster seats & travel highchairs Reviews- Feeding - MadeForMums
www.madeformums.com/reviews/feeding/booster-seats-and-travel-highchairs/perfectly-happy-people-tamsit-chair-harness/218.html

[Siennasun]

I hate it when you restaurant high chairs are dirty - sometimes they are really filthy! Imagine if the chairs were like that - no one would eat in a restaurant with filthy seats (I hope) so why's it ok for child seats?

If a high chair is dirty I ask the restaurant to clean it. I wouldn't want baby eating in the buggy as it'd be too messy, however easy to clean it was.

[flingingmelon]

We had a stokke buggy that pushed under the table like a high chair but we gave up with it as DS (15m) just got food everywhere and it wasn't really designed to be repeatedly hosed down. Also it was a pretty clunky thing compared to the fold up Maclaren we have now.

Now I tend to use the restaurant high chairs (we probably eat out at least twice a week at the moment) and give them a good wipe down first.

However if there isn't one or the chair is really gross we have a Totseat, which I love. It folds up really small and gets slung in the washer after we've been out. I'm constantly being asked about it, surprised they're not more popular.

One downside though, DS is a bit short and now he feeds himself the Totseat leaves him a bit low down. Sometimes we use coats or a cushion and hope not too much mess gets on them??

I have seen the booster versions of the Totseat but they're a bit big to sling in your bag.

When in doubt, we use DHs knee

[MakkaPakkastolemystone]

Phil and ted's lobster solved this issue for us. Sits in the bottom of the pram for just this problem.

[Nevercan]

I went to a restaurant over the weekend that used booster seats that were material and looked like they might be car booster seats. They looked grim and had food stuck to them :-(

[wheresthelight]

I have a travel booster thing (munchkin made I think) that was given to me by a friend.

I would use anything to do with the pushchair as they are too bulky to get round the tables in most restaurants and are a pain in the butt to clean mushed up food out of.

[notasausage]

I would us a high chair when available up to about 2 years when the could sit on a chair" never had an issue with them not being clean enough but would give the tray a quick wipe if it looked like it needed it. Prefer chairs with a tray as the lo can't reach to swipe dishes off the table! Have also used a fabric thing that you tie to a chair and the pushchair but that would be the least preferred option as so much food ends up in it.

[Wotsitsareafterme]

Dd1 had a first years booster seat which inflates and folds up small I just chucked it under the buggy. Dd2 is sling carried but I keep a phil and teds me too in the car. They are the business except in places where the tables are too flimsy. That's what I take on holiday too.

I use restaurant high chairs though if they are v dirty I ask for them to be cleaned I've never been declined!

I wouldn't feed a kid in a restaurant in a pushchair and I won't have them on my lap either.