Is it ok to feed my child on my lap instead of on her high chair?

Kristie - posted on 06/14/2011

it's ok occassionally, but dont make too much of a habbit out of it as she will never sit at the table for meals and will prefer to roam about.There must be strong sturdy rules whn coming to meal time if you want your baby to understand that we must sit at the table to eat, but it is totally your decision. Children need to be shown the right things or they grow up with all sorts of issues and bad habits that you would not want for your child. best thing is to stay as close to a routine as possible and try never to give in when they want you too. habits can be hard to break and can become an issue for you later on, so best thing is to sit down and allow a tantrum instead of giving in. kids usually learn from us, best thing is to perservere and allow the fight but never give in and they will learn that they need to sit and eat at the table as meals are for the table and not for them to deside where to serve it. I do hope this helps you with your little problem.

Stifler's - posted on 06/13/2011

I got mine a little table and chairs to eat at. He loves it.

Rachael - posted on 06/13/2011

well i wouldn't follow her around, but my son also hates his high chair and knows how to undo the clip and climb out. we got his his own little chair and so he sits in that beside me and i feed him there.

Danielle - posted on 06/13/2011

my little girl was like that i just took the table of that she would eat of and put her at the table good luck

Michelle - posted on 06/12/2011

My daughter did the same thing we just went out and got her a booster seat that straps to a normal kitchen chair which has a seat belt and she sits in it and eats with everyone else at the table.

Sherry - posted on 06/12/2011

I would do one of the following: 1) Adjust highchair so it can pull right up to the regular dining table (NO tray). It works like a booster. 2) Get a booster chair for the regular table. OR 3) Get a little kids table and let her eat at that. I have a 14 month old and we do a combination of the above 3. It depends on how messy it is and his mood for the day. My DD, who's 3, either eats at the little kids table or sits in a regular adult chair with no booster (she doesn't want one).

Good Luck! Your LO is just trying to exert some independence.

Iysha - posted on 06/03/2011

My daughter went through that too. she started eating at the couch like my father does and like we do when we're just having a snack. lol. She eats anywhere now; in her high chair that connects to the counter, at the dinner table, on our couch with a blanket or on her little foldable couch. I figure it doesnt matter where she eats as long as she sits and eats =] i'm not a big fan of running after her...if she goes astray, she'll come back to her food when she's ready to eat again.

Ashley - posted on 06/03/2011

My son didn't use his highchair very long, so we got him one of those booster seat highchairs that strap to a regular dining room chair. It can be a high booster, a low booster, and you can use the tray, or not use the tray & just push the child up to the table. I personally, wouldn't feed my son while he was running around the house. He's now 2 and KNOWS he's supposed to eat in the kitchen, I wouldn't want him thinking it's ok to eat food around the house and leave food/crumbs all over the place. Just my opinion. Good luck!! :)

Jennifer - posted on 06/03/2011

All of my kids fought the high chair. They wanted to sit in a regular chair like everyone else. I I never could let them sit in my lap because I have to be able to get up to serve the twins or get something if needed.

Sarah - posted on 06/03/2011

My son went through this as well at around 2. We discovered that he wanted two thins: to sit at the table with us (no tray) and to be able to get in and out of his seat on his own. If your other ideas don't work, I would suggest trying a booster seat that pulls right up to the table, let her climb up on her own (with someone standing nearby in case she slips of course), and maybe even consider leaving her unbuckled as long as she sits still.

Deepti - posted on 06/03/2011

its okay.. its part of growing up. kids have mood swings. also there is no best place other than a mothers lap, we know it.
visit this link on parenting:http://perspectiveofdeepti.blogspot.com/...

GLENDA - posted on 06/02/2011

Thanks so much ladies for your help. My fear is that she will wonder off to play if I get her a small table and chair set. I think I'll try giving her toys in her high chair first and see how that goes. Thanks again. I'm new to circle of moms and I'm actually surprised I got responses. It's comforting to find a place to network with moms that have similar issues. As a first time mom it reassures me I'm not doing anything wrong.

Vicki - posted on 06/02/2011

My little man often sits on my lap for meals. It's a pain but when he doesn't want to sit in his booster (we got rid of the high chair ages ago) then nothing will entice him. I do the same when we eat out.

Louise - posted on 06/01/2011

My daughter decided at the same age she was to big for her high chair so I bought her a childs out door patio chair and table. It is plastic so easy to keep clean and she loves it. She eats there and draws and pants. Look for a little table today because you want her to sit still when she eats or it is going to be impossible to go out for a meal with her when she is older.

Sharon - posted on 06/01/2011

oh yeah, we started this when he was around 14mths....he's 19mths now.

Sharon - posted on 06/01/2011

We only use a highchair when we are out, other than that our little man has his own table & chair and eats his meals there. He loves it, and helps clean it after every meal, and 'set' it before his meal. For breakfast + morning & afternoon tea I'll sit down there with him too and have something. Dinner time, his table is at the end of the dining table & he chatters to us the whole meal.
I prefer it this way, easier to clean :-D and he knows he's not allowed to just wander off (which is whay I was afraid of when I first did it).

Bethan - posted on 06/01/2011

Hi my 20 month old went through a little phase like this, do u have any lttle toys like little buliding bricks or figures that wouldnt interfere with meal times but might make things more fun, I no its hard but try to make mealtime an enjoable thing so she looks forward to it. My daughter now points to her high chair when shes hungry and gets excited when I get it out but it did take some time. also now I no 9 times out of 10 she will eat in her high chair I am more relaxed at other times when she might only have sandwhiches or finger food I let her sit on my lap or on her play mat on the floor, good luck I hope this helps x