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Original poster

3yo using high chair in restaurant?

34 replies

notebooklife · 19/12/2023 12:59

My son is 3.5. He's always been a "bolter" and whenever we go to restaurants (quite often) we make use of their high chair. Not the tray part but the higher seat with a bar in front of him. (We are talking high street chains like Cote / Pizza Express etc). Once he's at the table he's good company and happy to chat, read books, colour etc at the table whilst waiting for the food to arrive. The higher level keeps him engaged with us. But without the high chair containing him he'd be liable to keep getting down, running off, going up to other people etc. (at home he sits on a Stokke chair which he can get down from and often gets down as soon as he's had enough).

He is now 3.5 and I guess we shouldn't be using the high chairs in restaurants anymore. But we have a family meal out this Xmas and I'm a bit nervous about it. One of the family members can be a bit disapproving of anything other than impeccable behaviour. Would it be terrible of us to use a high chair that day?

If not do people bring their own booster seats?

OP posts:
Balloonhearts · 19/12/2023 13:04

We got round this by teaching them practically before they could talk to ask to be excused. No leaving the table without an adult saying you were excused.

I don't think a highchair would be so weird though. Just if anyone says anything just say Well he's too little to really reach the table properly otherwise.

SnowsFalling · 19/12/2023 13:04

If you sit a 3 year old on a standard chair, aren't you just going to see the top of their head?
So, yes, I'd say you definitely need a high chair or booster.

2dogsandabudgie · 19/12/2023 13:05

Some restaurants have seats with arms so if you took a booster seat would that work? If not I'd use the high chair.

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TheBirdintheCave · 19/12/2023 13:05

Our three year old had to sit in a high chair this weekend at a restaurant as there was no room for an extra chair. No one said anything about it. I don't think it would be a terrible thing to do :)

LBFseBrom · 19/12/2023 13:05

I think a high chair or booster is fine for your son, op, don't worry about it.

Hopingforbetterluck · 19/12/2023 13:08

My DS is exactly the same, he is now almost 4 and has been sitting at a table in a restaurant from about 3.5. I used to get a high chair at the table but not put him in it. He was allowed to sit on a normal chair as long as he stayed there and behaved and I sort of just used the high chair to threaten him that he’d have to go in that if he didn’t stay in his seat. I never once had to put him in the high chair lol! Could you try that?

If you don’t want the hassle then for just one meal put him in the high chair if it makes life easier. It’s Christmas and you want to be able to relax and enjoy your meal so whatever works is fine. Good luck!

TinselTitts · 19/12/2023 13:11

As long as he can fit and as long as the restaurant allow it, I don't see why not.

I work somewhere that has a public tearoom attached and they wouldn't allow a 3.5 year old to sit in the highchairs, as they have to stick to the maximum size/weight for safety reasons.

Pinky2023 · 19/12/2023 13:36

i’d go with a booster seat . it does depend on body weight and size for a high chair . I hope you have a lovely time

LadyDanburysHat · 19/12/2023 13:42

I'm surprised at 3.5 that he fits in a highchair, he must be pretty slim. We probably didn't use anything at that age, but if he's a bolter then a fold up booster seat would be a good plan. WE used these when the DC were a bit younger.

booster

Brackhurst · 19/12/2023 13:46

Came to recommend the same as @LadyDanburysHat. That one worked well for us.

We had similar experiences, OP, and I 100% remember how you’re feeling. Hold fast - you know better, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed you have a lovely time.

Startyabastard · 19/12/2023 13:54

It's nobody else's business what works for you.

LolaSmiles · 19/12/2023 13:56

If it works for you and they still fit in a high chair then do it.
You're on borrowed time with the high chair though so it might be a good idea to also start practically teaching expectations for sitting at a table when out so they're established before they no longer fit in the high chair.

BakedPotatoAndButter · 19/12/2023 14:00

DS used a high chair until he was a lot older than 3.5. He liked being up high and part of things. He still uses a Stokke at home at 10yrs. As long as he fits and is within the weight limit what is the problem? I think we always want children to grow up fast. If a high chair is still useful, use it! Three years old is still a really small child.

DanceMumTaxi · 19/12/2023 14:05

We used to use a travel booster seat around this age. They fold down into a bag so are really easy to take along. Ours had a compartment underneath the seat part where we used to put small toys, colouring book etc.

skippy67 · 19/12/2023 14:09

We got round this by teaching them practically before they could talk to ask to be excused. No leaving the table without an adult saying you were excused.

Good for you, but how does this help the OP?

Niallig32839 · 19/12/2023 14:51

Do whatever works for you and your child to have as least stressful a dinner as you can. Ignore any disapproval as regardless of what you do someone will have a negative opinion about something.

GMsAWinner · 19/12/2023 15:07

Do what works for you, but might be worth trying a booster. Just thinking he'll be starting school in eight months time and it'll be expected that he sits still.

shivawn · 19/12/2023 15:17

What's wrong with using a high chair? My son is 2 but very tall for his age, off the percentile charts for height and people always assume he's older. No one has ever batted an eyelid at us using a high chair in a restaurant.

Do what makes life easier for you and don't worry about the disapproving family member!

ElevenSeven · 19/12/2023 15:19

I have a 3.5yo. People still regularly ask if we need a highchair when they’re seating us, so it’s clearly quite regular.

Maybe work towards phasing it out, but I wouldn’t do this at Christmas, enjoy the day and sort it later

mumtumok · 19/12/2023 15:29

I too use a high chair & my son is nearly 4 x

Dynamoat · 19/12/2023 15:31

As long as its safe. My 4yo was toppling the wooden ones in restaurants at 2 because he'd try and get out, half succeed and go over on it (we caught him before he hit the floor...usually).

Goldbar · 19/12/2023 15:48

Just put him in the high chair and enjoy your meal.

If he's running amok in restaurants at age 10, you've got a problem. But a family meal out in a wider group at Christmas that is intended to be festive and enjoyable is not the time to start laying down the law and getting tough.

gotomomo · 19/12/2023 15:58

Totally normal to use a high chair until 5 or 6, mine weren't tall enough to sit without one until then. Occasionally restaurants had booster seats but they were rare

jannier · 19/12/2023 16:16

All the children I care for sit at low tables and chairs from 18months to 2 years depending on size a few days of returning to table and they understand if you don't do it at some point they never understand table manners ...take a bag of bits like colouring or travel games 40 month olds are perfectly capable of sitting at a normal table with something to do.

brickastley · 19/12/2023 16:18

Balloonhearts · 19/12/2023 13:04

We got round this by teaching them practically before they could talk to ask to be excused. No leaving the table without an adult saying you were excused.

I don't think a highchair would be so weird though. Just if anyone says anything just say Well he's too little to really reach the table properly otherwise.

Christ my eyes rolled so hard they did a 360

Honestly OP if a high chair suits ypur family needs then use one.