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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

At what age did you stop strapping your child in at the table?

31 replies

franch · 27/01/2006 16:02

DD2 needs the highchair, DD1 has just turned 2. I find friends' children who go to nursery are very good at staying at the table to eat - DD2 stays for about 2 seconds. Do I need to just go cold turkey on the straps and trust she'll gradually learn, or shall I save my sanity and use the booster seat (with straps) till she's old enough to reason with?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

kalex · 27/01/2006 16:04

Save your sanity,

NatalieJane · 27/01/2006 16:06

We had one of those wooden cube 3 in 1 highchair things, my sister bought it for us when our son was born, he only used the seat with the tray until he was about 18 months, the seat broke in two whilst he was sat in it, and he just seemed to understand that it was broken, so he couldn't use it anymore. He is now nearly four and will sit down for dinner no problem - getting him to eat it is perhaps another story....!

Original poster

franch · 27/01/2006 16:07

When will I be able to set her free do you think kalex?

OP posts:

nailpolish · 27/01/2006 16:12

dd1 was out of her highchair by 2. i wouldnt buy another if i was you. we bought a similar chair to thisfrom ikea (it says from age 3 but dd was fine) its like a normal kitchen chair but with a smaller seat and higher up so they sit correctly at the table, and not resting their chin on it

here

QE2 · 27/01/2006 16:13

When ds3 got a bit big for his highchair we used one of those little chairs that sits on top of a normal chair til he got into the habit of staying at the table. I think we discarded it when he was nearly 3. He now sits lovely on a normal chair.

kalex · 27/01/2006 16:51

or then maybe not

Hulababy · 27/01/2006 16:54

We have never really used straps ont he high chair, but then as we were open plan we never left her in it either.

Took the baby kit off when she was about 16-18 months IIRR.

Original poster

franch · 27/01/2006 18:38

oh gawd it IS just me then whose child runs wild at the dinner table

OP posts:

HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 27/01/2006 18:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

hunkermunker · 27/01/2006 18:46

DS1's in a Tripp Trapp with baby set at home - not strapped in though. Can't take the baby set off because he'd fall off it. He has an ordinary highchair at his grandparents' though - and asks to be strapped in!

harpsichordenvy · 27/01/2006 18:47

somewhere around 2 IIRC
but that was really for safety
I don't care too much if she gets down
once she understood I got her to ask, but I am not one from bringing battles to the dinner table
ruins the appetite

hunkermunker · 27/01/2006 18:51

Might help if I mentioned that DS1 is 21mo...

HE, why the namechange?

harpsichordenvy · 27/01/2006 19:00

MarsOnLife · 27/01/2006 19:03

yeah just you Franch. lol

Is it that she always runs wild when at the table or was it the last time you left the straps off?

Can't believe DD2 is old enough for a highchair

Hope you all had a lovely time on Tuesday. Gutted we couldn't make it. DT2 only out of guarantine today.

Aero · 27/01/2006 19:11

No - not just you Franch! Ds2 is perfectly ok at the table while he is strapped, but unleash him and you have a total nightmare on your hands - same with the buggy. Sat through dd's whole school nativity perfectly content in his buggy, then shool decided to ban pushchairs etc from the hall for ds1's the following week - total disaster.
If it saves your sanity, I'd use the booster - no question!

Aero · 27/01/2006 19:12

oops - meant school!

Original poster

franch · 27/01/2006 19:17

DD2 not quite ready for highchair yet mars but thinking ahead slightly! She doesnt get the chance to run wild much as so far I'm still using the straps - I suppose I'm mainly thinking of other people's houses when they don't have highchairs and she eats nothing, but I guess that's distraction as well as lack of physical restraint

Maybe I'll give it a go and resort to the booster seat if I find I'm going crazy

Glad to hear DT2's better mars

OP posts:

colditz · 27/01/2006 21:30

Ds was 2.3 when I took him out of the highchair, as he is the sort of child who just will NOT sit/stand still. I am thinking about a star chart for keeping his feet still when we are standing waiting for something.

colditz · 27/01/2006 21:31

and he is 2.9 now and has a booster seat with no straps, otherwise he can't reach properly.

poppiesinaline · 27/01/2006 21:43

started a thread on here a week or so ago about my 9 year old who just does not sit still at mealtimes! and I mean does not sit still, and he has always been the same!

I would save your sanity and use a booster seat with straps for as long as you can!

nulnulcat · 27/01/2006 21:55

glad im not the only one whose child wont sit still, she exactly two could escape from straps on high chair at 18 months tried booster seat but she learnt to escape from that to wont sit still for longer than 2 seconds has her own little table and chair but within minutes she is off and just keeps coming back every few minutes to eat more food! has a healthy appetite and eats all her food no problem so given up with the battles til she is old enough to reason with

Dottydot · 28/01/2006 13:57

you could get a handysitt - fantastic things and you can transport them easily when you're going out. We've got 2 and ds1 aged 4 still uses it to sit at the table - although not strapped in! Ds2 is 21 months uses one and is still strapped in. They really are brilliant and don't feel like highchairs so the kids don't feel they're being babyish as they're sat right to the table.

Original poster

franch · 28/01/2006 17:51

Well, glad I'm not quite the only one. Don't want to shell out for any new chairs or anything - DD1's highchair pulls right up to the table so she's already sitting with us, and would also be in her booster seat, it's just straps or no straps that are the issue now really. Will move her to booster seat asap and see how we go.

Mars, what do your DTs do?

OP posts:

jac34 · 28/01/2006 17:59

I can't remember but I think I should still be strapping my 7 year olds in. When telling me something, they frequently get up and start jumping about or waving their arms.
I spend most of my time saying,"Sit down and eat your breakfast/lunch/dinner." Or I try not to get them talking too much.

MarsOnLife · 28/01/2006 17:59

they sit in their highchairs... eat... then climb all over the table.

DT2 likes to hurl his plate across the room when he's finished... how lovely.

DT1 pushes her plate away and says "all dun....geddown now?"

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