2.5 year old won't stop kicking the highchair

[sunnyfields25]

Hi

This seems like such a trivial problem but I'm at my wits' end!

For the past few months 2.5 year old DS has been kicking his feet against the high chair foot support at every meal and snack time. It's not gentle tapping, it's full-on hammering that sounds like someone's playing a drum kit in the same room. DS is completely happy while doing it.

We've tried removing the foot support but it won't come off. Tried bring positive and praising him if he manages to stop. Tried ignoring it. Neither approach worked. The only other thing I can think to try is removing his food if he continues after being asked to stop, but he's already a fussy eater and I'm worried this would reduce his food intake even further (as well as causing epic tantrums).

We could move him to a booster seat but this will bring its own set of problems so would prefer to keep using high chair a bit longer if possible, especially as DS is otherwise happy in it.

If anyone has any suggestions for making the relentless kicking stop I would be so grateful.

Gaffer tape a cushion to the foot rest. Won't stop him doing it but it might muffle the noise.

Surely 2 and a half is way too big to be in a high chair? At that age he doesn't need to be strapped down to eat his food, no wonder he's playing up! You need to give him some independence and freedom at mealtimes. A normal chair with a booster cushion is absolutely fine. Yes he might annoy you by fidgeting or getting up and down, but you'll have to deal with this at some time anyway. He might even be less fussy about food if he's not strapped down and feels he has some choice in the matter.

I agree with pp. I wouldn't have 2.5 year old in a high chair.

If you must, then the cushion suggestion is a good one. Just muffle the noise & carry on.

2.5 is too old for a high chair!

Both my dds were on booster seats at the table at 2. You say doing that will bring its isn set of problems. What problems will it create?

Let him sit at the table on a normal chair (with booster if needed). He might surprise you behaviour wise. They want to be treated like big boys at this age not babies

Thanks everyone for the advice. I feel bad now as I didn't realise that 2.5 was too old for the high chair! When I mentioned the problem to the health visitor recently she just suggested ignoring it (didn't say anything about moving to a bigger chair).

So I think at the weekend we'll try booster seat at the big table and see how that goes. The bit I've been dreading is the potential for food getting spread over every surface once DS is free to hop up and down as he pleases (he's a very messy eater!). But as someone has said he might surprise us if we give him more responsibility.

Bare feet? He might not be so keen on the kicking if it hurts!