12 month old rocks violently in high chair during meals

[Katiebairdy]

Help! My 12 mo baby is a nightmare in her high chair. The second she gets sat in there she begins rocking (at times pretty violently) back and forth. She’ll continue the entire time she’s in there unless I can distract her with something very exciting. It’s really miserable, she’s had a lot of health issues including reflux and has had a few odd repetitive behaviours over the last few months that have fizzled out so I had hoped this would too, but so far it hasn’t. I’m concerned that eating is still causing her discomfort and that’s why she does it. She doesn’t get otherwise distressed in the chair and eats very well, but I’m seriously triggered by it and just want to help her. Any ideas? Eating on my lap is as difficult as you can imagine with a very active baby and more children to consider!

If she doesn't do the rocking anywhere else is it that she dislikes the chair? Or does she seem to be enjoying the fact that it rocks? Will she sit at a toddler table and chair instead? Can you get one of those booster seats that attach to a dining chair? Maybe she wants to be at the table with you?

Sit her on a blanket on the floor and give her a picnic
see if she still rocks
you can sit with her and supervise
like many things it’s likely a phase

Thanks everyone. It doesn’t seem like the rocking upsets her, I think it is an unusual self sooth thing like has been suggested. She’s not quite stable enough for a toddler chair and her high chair does push right in so she’s sitting at the table with everyone else. I do try and picnic when we can! Fingers crossed it just fades away as she gets bigger!