2.5, GDD suddenly anti high chair - WWYD?

[Firsttimer7259]

Our DD has suddenly turned on her high chair and often screams when put in it. Its an ikea antilop with a tray and as far as I can see she still fits into it but she is set against it at the moment. Shes just started walking and is having a bit of a spurt of having things her own way.

But I am not sure what to do - we have been feeding her on the go a bit. Snacky food she can eat standing up. (She currently aslo prefers to eat in the living room. Sigh.)

Food is a bit of an issue as she didnt gain weight for a while as she has trouble feeding herself enough (dexterity rather than pickiness for the most part). So I am a bit anxious of withholding food as she ahs only just got to a good weight again.

Our table has a bit along the bottom that means there will be trouble fitting her legs under e table top if she is propped up on some kind of booster. So she'd either be too low for the table or too far away from the table top.

So after all that: do I try to insist she eats at table (I dont really like her eating all over the house... not so much concerned about cleanliness but want to encourage good eating habits) or is it better just go with it in the hope she find her way back to the high chair/table once the novelty of being up on her feet wears off.

Any experiences? Sorry this is probably a bit of a silly post but we are having a fair number of tantrums as she cant speak/point so I wonder if this is a battle to pick or avoid.

Hello, I also still put ds in high chair as he doesn't want to feed himself except for finger foods and can't get off big chair - but can and does get on the table... But to my amazement the other day in creche ( when I go to gum) he was sitting at a little table on a small chair with other children and ate nicely.. shocking for me ;) so maybe your little one is ready to try it too?

My boys got to hate the highchair at about that age. I think it was being 'imprisoned' that did it. I did move them on to a toddler chair, higher than a normal chair but up to the table with us and they could get down on their own. I would, maybe, get a cheap table that she can fit up against.

My boys were never allowed 'food on the move' except for occasional biscuits so I know where you are coming from. But really, this may be one of those 'pick your battles' moments. What is more important, that your DD has a good relationship with food and continues to maintain her weight or mess in the living room? If you can get her to eat happily at the table, great!

Have a look in Argos.

I bought a multi coloured plastic chair that did have its own table but removable. You strapped it to a dining chair and it fits right up to the big table but she doesnt need to be strapped in. DD didnt like her highchair and so I got this and left it in the front room for a while so she freely sat in it of her own accord at first then transfered it to the table :)

Hey FirstTimer, I started struggling with ds in the Antilop, because he is quite ... hmm, big bottomed, and I think he hates the feeling of being wodged in. I also find that I can't get him in or out of lots of the highchairs they tend to have in cafes, and because it is a sruggle he then gets really upset.

Anyway, we have started using a babydan highchair this one at home, which feels more like a normal chair.

I have also just got a second hand one of these for taking away and out and about. It is basically a cheaper lighter version of the Handysitt.

The handysitt, might be good option, my frien d had one which she used at home and out, and it is supposed to last until they are 5, you can also get an extra leg for them, which means they can be used as a stand alone seat on the floor - which might be handy for your dd. I wish I had got one in the beginning, because it would have saved us getting all the different bloody seats we have now!

We had the same problem with dd. She grew too big for her booster chair and since then has not really liked sitting at the table. She is also very fussy and I decided it was more important for her to eat than where she ate at the moment. That's a battle for a later date when she is verbal.
As has been said you have to decide whether it's a battle you need to win at the moment. DD is an only child so not getting sibling example but also not setting a bad example either so we don't really worry about it!

Thanks everyone - I felt a bit silly with my post so its nice to get so much detailed feedback about other experiences - makes me realise I am not overthinking this necessarily.

I think it does have something to do with feeling imprisoned. Climbing isnt a forte so I wonder how much a toddler chair will help, but she may feel more grown up. The high chair offends her somehow. She sits really well at the mini tables at nursery for meals so maybe Ill get her painting table out and see how that works for a bit too - Id be a little sad to have us eating at different tables but screaming through dinner isnt really a 'family meal' either....

I will hvae a browse through the different types of booster chairs linked to and see what might work under our table. She used to love having dinner with us - and that made me feel good so its a shame to have to say bye to that for a while perhaps. Thanks for links and suggestions

We moved DS2 to a booster placed on an ordinary dining chair. Much less restrictive feeling and more grown up.

Perfectly ordinary booster seat bought on gumtree, works fine. Think this was just an ordinary toddler thing for once!