Why won't he sit in his high chair?

[Whirliwig72]

Ds2 9 months is going through a bit of a clingy phase and wants to be picked a lot. So far so normal for this age, but what is driving me a bit mental is his stamina for staying in his high chair is pitiful - often as little as 5 minutes at a time. This means meal times are a joke and I'm having to wolf down my meal/ look after ds1 as quickly as possible otherwise we eat with a torrent of hysterics from the high chair which only stop when the child is removed and breast fed. I've tried feeding ds2 before putting him in the chair but this isn't optimal as I'm trying to prepare the meal and also he then eats even less as hes full of milk. I'm sad to say I just lost it and bellowed at ds2 which makes me feel extra crappy but I'm do frustrated. I'm not asking for him to sit for an hour - even 20 mins would be nice!

Can you feed an hour or so before the meal so he isn't really hungry and if you have to get him out don't "reward" him with a breastfeed? Dd started to want to feed herself more at that age and would refuse a spoon but was happy to pick at some chunks of potato or carrot or whatever.

Sit on the floor with him? I wouldn't want to be trapped in a chair away from my mum either if I were him.

And there's nothing wrong with him eating less solid food, they know what they need, if he prefers milk why refuse?

Thanks guys - I hadn't thought of the floor idea could be the answer

have you any high chair toys (they attach to the tray with suction pads)?

He could play with that after he's had his food - could be his reward for sitting nicely while he has his meal with you, then he gets the toy to play with after he's eaten and while you're still eating?

Neither of mine would. Forget strapping in.