High Chair - bad for back @ 16 weeks?

[Thaleia]

Hi,

What's the appropriate age to use a high chair? Someone told me that babies backs are not strong enough to support and I should only start using one when DC is able to sit. Is that right?

Thanks, Thali

Can I ask why you need to use one at 16 weeks?

Why would you put a child in a seat like that when they can't even sit up? An accident waitign to happen. Please don't say you're weaning a 16 week old.

The OP was asking for advice about SITTING in a high chair... Not for people to jump on the weaning band wagon!! Even if she is weaning now that's up to her!
Why don't people either answer the question asked or ignore the post!!

I think all you can do is try sitting them in it and see how it is, you will soon see if the DC can sit up or not, personally I would imagine 4 months is a bit young to sit comfortably.. But then you can get highchairs that lean back so that would probably be ok.

The chico magic polly (I think that's what it's called) can be used from birth or at least three months but I warn you it's massive and a pita to clean when you actually start using it as a highchair.

I gave up when ds was 9 months old and bought a booster seat for our dining chairs, much easier to keep clean.

I used a booster chair with a back that reclined which attached to a normal chair. It was about 35 quid 3 years ago.

It was a god send when cooking, washing up and eating as ds would scream when popped on the floor and wanted to be at eye level with everyone else. It had a table too so I popped toys on there for him. You could alter the angle it reclined and we never bothered with a regular high chair in the end.

How does a booster seat work - sorry, haven't seen one before (I think) and can you please recommend one?

I had a fisher Price booster - healthy care I think it was called. It just straps to a normal chair and has a tray you can clip on, or not.

Once they can sit up with support, if the chair is properly supporting them and they aren't slumping over I would have thought it would be fine. Some babies don't sit up unaided until they're 9 months old!

The booster we had had a play tray and ds liked sitting in it to watch me in the kitchen or "join in" with mealtimes before he was eating, by sitting up at the table.

What about just using a bouncy chair if you're just looking for somewhere to sit your DC while you're doing things around the kitchen?