DS will not eat in highchair or sitting down

[Theywereonabreak]

He has recently found his feet and so is always on the go- could it be because of this? He will refuse food in his high chair or anywhere else sitting down, crying to get off. But as soon as DP or myself sit down to eat, he will come for a bite, go off and play for a bit, then repeat. Does this sound familiar to anyone? The only meal we don't have this issue is breakfast..maybe because he is still waking up? Any tips would be very much appreciated

Eat with him at every meal. Even if he eats dinner ridiculously early for an adult, you can have a teeny portion just to model good behaviour. Put him in the highchair, sit down yourself, you all sit down to eat the same thing. If he doesn’t eat then fine, try again next meal. He will get it.

If it's a struggle to get him into the highchair, wait until the food is ready and then hand him some, then pick him up to put him in. Or a blueberry or something if the food isn't something he can hold. Works well for distraction.

Hi guys
Sorry I forgot to mention- he used to eat absolutely fine on the highchair until the last week or so. I always eat something with him and let him feed himself if he wants to. His milk intake has reduced quite a bit too...I wonder if it's down to teething? And maybe he only eats whilst playing so he is distracted from the discomfort? Ahhhhh babies are so stressful!!!

I don’t know how old your little one is but both mine went through phases when they were babies where they barely ate anything at all and they were both the the go constantly. It’s quite normal to have days where they don’t eat anything at all just keep offering little bits. I also have a friend whose little boy never eats says still ever and he’s nearly 4.
Our little girl (nearly 2) is terrible for her high chair as well. She hates to be held still. She does eat okay at the dinner table with us if we eat together half the time but the other half she’ll kick and scream a fuss and will only eat at the table if I’m holding her - which makes it a pain for me to eat of course. Also she NEVER sits in a high chair in restaurants which is very annoying but I suppose it’s not forever. 🙈

I always made my son sit to eat, I was told walking around could be a choking hazard.

In the end if he saw food he would immediately drop to the ground

If he hates the high chair, that's fine, leave it for a while and do picnic on the floor, ask him to sit, let him walk around when he finishes what he has, then back sitting for the next piece.

It might take a few meals but he will get the idea.

My son went through this stage and I refused to let him out.

We sit down for meals together. He'd want to get out and I said no, you have to eat. He stopped trying until I knew he'd eaten and was full. I wouldn't let him get down and play.