To keep DD in her highchair even though she is old enough to go into a booster seat?

[TheBossofMe]

DD aged 19 months is a wonderful child in most respects. Except when it comes to mealtimes. Getting her to stay seated is a nightmare - if she isn't strapped in with a 5 point harness (ie over the shoulders as well as round the waist) she spends the meal trying to climb out, stands up on the seat, generally behaves like a total madam.

She's now old enough to go into a booster seat (as most of her friends are beginning to do), but I want to keep her in her hichchair because it has a 5point harness and stops her doing all of the above. DH thinks I'm being unreasonable because he thinks she just needs to have a star chart etc to teach her to stay in. I think she's too young to really get the star chart /time out thing.

Opinions welcome! She's my first so really am a bit clueless when it comes to things like this (idiot mother emoticon should go here!)

[MaryBS]

I did with my two, and it never did them any harm!

[GhoulsAreLoud]

YANBU.

What age can they go in a booster seat though? I don't have that problem but the highchair takes up tons of space so wouldn't mind getting one for DD who is 14 mo.

[TheBossofMe]

When are they old enough to get "table rules". She stays in because she can't go anywhere, but otherwise mealtimes are a battle of chasing after her to return her to her seat. I counted 39 returns at her grandparents on Sunday....

[vvvodka]

i think that only you can decide. people will ocme along and give youwhat worked for them, but only you know what she is really like. personally, i prefered not to use a five point harness once theystarted treating it like a strait jacket, and if that meant my 11 month old wasnt going to use the high chair, then thats what happened. dd was happier and fed better once she had her freedom. and there are rare meals that she needs to be confined to her seat for, and when she does, she sits still, although lol, sh'es six now. soi suppose that doesnt really count.

[castille]

DS is 3.3 and still in a high chair for meals. It hasn't yet crossed his mind to ask to sit on a chair. He's my 3rd and I'm all for letting them do things when they are ready, there's no benefit in doing it just because her friends are.

Don't worry about it. If she's happy and you're happy, it's not a problem!

[nondomesticgoddess]

I'd keep her in the highchair. It makes life a lot easier for you so there's no real reason to move her.

I agree that she's too young for star charts etc. Ds is 19 months and there's no way he'd understand anything like that.

[silverfrog]

I still have dd2 in a high chair, and she is 2.7 now

she is a shocker for wandering about eating, though, and so I just side step that issue.

much easier now, imo. she is not strapped in, but cannot get up/down on her own, so now she stays put, eats a decent meal, and I don't spend half my life saying "sit up nicely dd2"

[Callisto]

Can you not just ignore her when she leaves, and not actually let her eat unless she is sitting properly at the table? 39 returns would drive me mad and after about 5 I would be ignoring mine (but then she has always been more interested in food than running away). Maybe your DD is thinking it's a good way to get your attention and a fun game?

[nondomesticgoddess]

I don't think dd understood 'table rules' until she was about 2.6. In fact, she's still in a booster seat with straps (all her friends seem to sit on regular chairs) at 3.4 because otherwise she is up and down like a kangaroo (don't take offence, Brendan ).

[Ewe]

My DD is 19 months and will be staying in her high chair for the foreseeable future. Most boosters have straps too though so I don't really see the difference?

[pigletmania]

The bossofme that sounded so much like my dd 2.8 years, she started to grwo out of her highchair and needed a booster chair. I found an excellent one from TKMaxx with a waist harness Its by Early Years, you could use it from birth just to seat the baby in till 3+ as it reclines. I only paid £15 for it, the best i have ever spent. I put her in it and the transformation is astounding, he behaviour was so much better as she was now sitting at the big table so had to be a good girl. I am pleased to say touch wood when out she now sits properly without a booster chair no running about or misbehaving(i take crayons, colouring books, books)its so nice to sit down to a meal and not worry about dd misbehaving at the table.

[TheBossofMe]

Actually, the 39 returns got used as an excuse by me to skip the gym on Sunday evening, so at least there is some benefit!

She's not happy in the highchair, shouting to be let out sometimes. What she would like is to be allowed to eat wandering around, which I don't allow. Or am I just being ridiculous and should allow her to eat as and when she wants?

[pigletmania]

I meant when we go out she sits nicely (with entertainment)as home she has the booster chair. It fastens onto a normal chair by the way

[BouncingTurtle]

DS (nearly 22mo) goes into a highchair for some meals, his booster seat with straps for others.
If there is a highchair available when we go out we use that, if I can take the tray off so he can eat at the table I do that (not always possible if it is at the same height!).
He still fits in it fine (though he is quite tiny) I don't intend to stop using it until he says he doesn't want to or he gets to big. He still eats with us anyway so can't see the problem!

[curiositykilled]

You could do either thing OP. It doesn't really matter. She'll probably want to sit on whatever her friends sit on eventually anyway. My DS has friends who still ride in their double buggy and sit in highchairs at 4 and 2. Only the 2 year old could be described as needing it really but her sis wants to join in.

[bamboobutton]

what knid of highchair has she got?

if its one with a tray attached how about getting one without a tray that can be pulled right up to the table. then she will feel like she is joining in at mealtimes a bit more.

[pigletmania]

thebossofme get a booster with a harness, my dd hated the highchair with a passion some kids just dont like it

[TheBossofMe]

She's got a trip trap thing (yes, I know some people hate them!) that pulls right up to the table, so I don't think that's the problem. She doesn't eat much, so she's OK when she's hungry, but as soon as she's not hungry any more (which takes about 10 mouthfuls), she wants out. Whereas I want her to stay at table until we have finished at least our main course (ie 15-20 mins). Is that expecting too much from her? Should I just let her go once she's finished?

[nondomesticgoddess]

I let ds (19 m) down when he's finished. If we are all sitting around having a nice meal, I'll see if he wants sone raisins and he might sit there a bit longer if he's nibbling those. Sometimes he eats loads, othet times next to nothing. I think it might be a bit too much to expect your dd to stay at the table. She will when she's older.

[TheBossofMe]

Brilliant - thanks guys! This is why I love MN!

[BigusBumus]

If being in a highchair works for you, don't change it.

I never see the point of rushing children forward with things.

Same with cots - i've never rushed to get my kids out of them, or highchairs, or Grobags, or nappies for that matter. Just do it wen you know that doing it won't cause any extra problems.

[oldraver]

DS2 IS 3.9 and still has his breakfast in his highchair in the kitchen. Its what work for US and I know if I let on to some Mums at pre-school I would be met with "oh no, x has been out of his highchair for aaaggees". You do what suits you, yes if she is playing up try the booster she if she makes less fuss, but liek you I dont like the wandering around, up down fuss at main mealtimes

DS btw is a tiny 3.7, I dont have to shoehorn him in