4-month old in a highchair - is that ok??

[oysterpots]

I've got my Tripp Trapp highchair from when I was a wee one, and put it together the other day. Thought I'd see if my dS liked it so tried him in it a few times. He seems to absolutely love being up at the table with us and is generally much better being upright (he's v reflux-y), but my SIL came round yesterday and said babies shouldn't be in highchairs until 6 months.

Is that true or is she scare-mongering? Why would he not be able to sit in the highchair when his head control is great and he's happy in bouncy chair/bumbo/anything else really??

I don't see a problem with it as long as he can hold his head up and it strapped in well, etc. We didn't wean our DS until six months but we sat him in the high chair before that so he could see what was going on (he didn't like only being able to see our legs!)

As long as he can support himself, then there's nothing wrong with him sitting in the highchair. He shouldn't be weaning before 6 months though, so I'm not clear whether you've put this in this topic because you are giving him food in it or not? If you are, then that is probably what your SIL was referring to.

6 months is just a guideline as most babies can sit with support at that age. If your baby can sit in it comfortably then go ahead.

Mine was in a high-chair at four months (nearly five). This coincided with my weaning him, but if you just want to use it to get him used to sitting around the table with you, then go for it.

Do whatever you feel like, as long as it's safe.

I put ds in his at that age. he liked being up high to see what was going on.

Guidelines for using a sit-up pushchair are to start at a minimum of 3 months or when the baby has good head control so I don't see a problem with using a high chair either. Half the mealtime experience is the social interaction so no harm in letting him join in with you just without the food. We did the same with DS before he started actually eating & he loved it, especially as we gave him come cutlery, bowl etc to play with as well.

Maybe your sister was thinking you were actually feeding your DS solids & that's why she said what she did?