How Can I Get My Baby To Sit On A High Chair? 4 Things You Can Do

Parenting is not easy. One of its challenges is dealing with a baby who refuses to sit in his highchair!

Do your little one cry at the sight of his highchair? Does he spend all of the time in his highchair trying to get out?

Sadly, you’ve resorted to following him around with a spoon so you can sneak in the odd mouthful of food at every chance you get. If you’re going through this sad experience, this article is for you!

One of the best ways to fix this problem of your baby refusing to sit in his highchair is to identify the cause of his distress.

In this article, we discuss how can I get my baby to sit on a high chair, possible reasons why your baby may be resisting the high chair, and how to choose the best high chair for your baby.

When Is Baby Ready To Use A High Chair?

A baby is ready to use a high chair once he can sit upright without support. The child should be able to hold his head up and show fairly good stability and control when seated, with only a slight bobbing about.

Usually, all high chair manufacturers have their age recommendations for each chair. Most brands recommend waiting until the baby clocks six months old before using a high chair.

This is a good recommendation period for concerned parents because you’ll want to make sure your baby is ready since each baby develops at a different rate. And most importantly, you don’t have to rush it for safety reasons. Both parents and babies can benefit once this milestone is achieved.

By putting your baby in a high chair, you can be hands-free to do other things like home chores, prepare and eat your food, or assist other kids. Your baby can learn about socialization and family interaction around the table.

Possible Reasons Why Baby Is Resisting The Highchair

1. Baby Maybe Uncomfortable

Although this is likely not to be a reason for older babies who can sit well and seem to be comfortable just about anywhere, this could be a possible cause for younger babies.

If you are introducing solid foods to a baby between 4 to 6 months of age, your child may not be sitting properly, and he will require additional support. Some brand of high chairs reclines to accommodate younger babies; some other brands are only suited for babies who can support themselves.

If you notice that your baby is uncomfortable in his high chair, or if you’re always repositioning your baby when he’s always sliding into an uncomfortable position, then it’s advised to buy a new one or borrow one that is more suitable for your baby.

I love using a Bumbo Baby Seat when feeding my baby because it provides a lot of support.

2. Baby Maybe Lonely

If your baby’s feeding hour is different from the rest of the family, your baby may see his mealtimes as somewhat lonely and may resist the high chair.

My baby readily sits in his highchair during our family mealtime. Although it may not be easy to coordinate your baby’s mealtimes with everyone else’s, at least try spending time with him and having a light snack or even a cup of coffee!

3. Baby May Not Be Hungry

This sounds obvious; being around an unhappy, crying baby, we sometimes overlook the obvious!

If you’re trying to impose a feeding routine on your baby that doesn’t suit him, we suggest you learn how to spot the signals that indicate he’s hungry and allow those signals to dictate mealtimes.

Do not force your baby to eat if you don’t want to turn mealtimes into a battleground. Of course, we both know that can’t be fun!

4. Baby Maybe Impatient

This reminds me of our first son, he wants his food, and he wants it NOW; otherwise, he’ll cry in his highchair and bangs the table repeatedly!

If your baby is like this, what you can do is always prepare and have the food ready before you put him in the highchair.

If that’s not always possible, and your baby is eating finger foods, ensure you have a non-filling snack to offer him. This will keep him busy until his meal arrives. I usually use crisped rice cereal on my son for this purpose.

5. Baby May Want To Be Independent

Try to offer finger foods if you are spoon-feeding your baby. You may notice that your baby may find feeding himself far more enjoyable, and subsequently, he’ll be far less likely to scream at the sight of his highchair.

6. Baby May Be Going Through a ‘Clingy’ Phase

If your baby is going through this phase, even the separation caused by putting him in a highchair may be too much to handle.

You should sit with your baby and interact with him to reassure him that you’re going nowhere. Try and resist the urge to do your usual house chores when the baby is in his highchair.

Afterward, when your baby is more comfortable with using his highchair, you may find that he’s happy to sit there with finger foods while you get on with your usual activities in the house. Do not leave your baby alone to eat; always make sure he’s always in your line of sight.

7. Baby May Be Bored

This is usually the case with older babies who’d prefer playing and crawling to being strapped to a chair!

If so, plan your baby mealtimes to be as much fun as possible, with lots of praise and smiles. You may notice that a good highchair toy will come in handy. And avoid keeping your baby in his seat for an unreasonably long time. Allow him to eat, then at some point, set him free!

8. Baby May Not Want To Feel like A Baby AnyMore

This can happen around 12 months or so, particularly if older siblings are around.

You may notice that removing the highchair tray, adjusting the seat, and pushing your baby up to the table with everyone else works wonders.

On the other hand, you might purchase a low table and chair. We recommend buying one with arms to keep your baby contained or using a booster seat with a regular dining chair.

How Can I Get My Baby To Sit On A High Chair? 4 Things You Can Do

1. Limit Your Expectations

Parents shouldn’t get their hopes high on how long kids this age can stay at the table. “It’s quite normal if Five minutes is all you get,” says Jay Baum, a registered dietitian and family nutritionist in Toronto.

Judy Delaware, an occupational therapist, also says if your experiencing mealtime resistance, mostly at dinner, the daily schedule and toddler fatigue could be a factor.

This period is arguably the roughest part of the day for both the kids and parents. Usually, we rush home hungry and try to be the perfect parent in just a few hours a day.

According to Jay Baum, she suggests transitioning to easier baby meals, like a rainbow of veggies, fruits, cheese, and protein, or just reheating last night’s leftovers.

2. Make Sure Baby Seat Is Comfortable

High chairs and booster seats that don’t have footrests are detrimental to mealtime success because they leave a toddler’s feet dangling, says Delaware.

Have you ever sat on a barstool, and your legs are hanging? If you have, you know it’s hard to be there for a long time without stability,” she says.

A footrest provides great stability in a baby’s postural muscles, from their hips up through their neck and jaw. This simple act will make it easier for your baby to scoop, grasp his food, and use utensils.

My sons loved the transitional, adjustable chair they could climb on, like the wooden Stokke Tripp Trapp that looks almost like a stepstool, with a footrest and no tray.

If you’re thinking of an affordable option, we recommend the INFANS high chair. This chair can transition between a high chair and a toddler chair, includes a footrest, and costs about $100 on Amazon.

3. Create a Mealtime Routine

Usually, most babies don’t like transitions, especially if you lift them from playing and plop them into the high chair, says Baum.

Instead, Baum recommends creating a practical routine before meals, such as washing hands, arranging the plate on the table, tidying up the table, getting in their high chair, and eating.

A visual routine that includes images of the steps can be helpful. Delaware also suggests using a timer or playing a lovely song or noise (on your phone or a countertop device like Alexa or Google Home) to indicate dinnertime.

4. Use Distraction or Incentive

Putting on a Peppa Pig video helped us get a few extra bites into those toddlers’ bellies. I equally discovered that reading picture storybooks at the table was equally effective.

I made a deal to turn the page; they needed it if he’ll take a bite. Though, dietitians don’t generally recommend incentivizing every bite. Parents should not create a situation “where the only way their baby will eat is with Elmo or Peppa Pig on.” Warns Delaware

Delaware also suggests that if you are in a situation where you need to wean off a bad habit like tablets or phones in the high chair, a book is the best option. Getting a puppet or a special stuffed animal “guest” to the table would equally serve.

Read Also: Best High Chair For Small Spaces

How To Choose The Best High Chair For Baby

The best high chairs come in different shapes and sizes. To know if your baby is ready or not to use one in this early transition, we will look at two different types, which are reclining and upright high chairs.

Reclining High Chairs

This type of high chair can be used when babies are as early as a few weeks old. However, these chairs are not meant to feed infants solid foods.

Instead, they are meant more for just hanging out or bottle-feeding, and the baby must be ready to sit in a more upright position to begin taking baby food.

Upright High Chairs

If you are ready to start with the upright position and your baby can sit up properly, you can use any traditional or space-saving high chair. Look for a high chair with a broad base that is durable, stable, and easy to clean.

This saves you a lot of money, so do your research and find a durable, safe, and comfortable high chair, both for you and your baby, that will last for a few years.

Remember:

Whether purchasing a high chair, ensure you check out all your options. Considering these following qualities will help you make the right decision for your lifestyle, space, and personal preference when shopping for a high chair.

Durability: Make sure that you choose a high chair built to last; I’m sure you want to be able to use the same high chair for at least two years. A good quality high chair should be sturdy enough that it won’t easily tip over.
Cleaning: I’m sure you don’t want a high chair that you have to take apart to clean completely. Always look for high chairs with removable, washable covers and few nooks or areas where crumbs and liquids will be difficult to get to.
Safety features: To prevent injury in high chairs, you must use a well-secured safety strap for your babysitting position. A five-point safety harness is a must for young babies in the reclining position, so the high chair you buy must have these safety features. Also, always make sure that the high chair does not have easily accessible spaces where your baby little fingers may get caught or pinched.
Wheels: High chairs with wheels are effortless and efficient, especially if the mom is home alone and needs to do other things while the baby eats. But, remember to test out the locking mechanism on the wheels and the know-how to operate it on the fly.
Versatility: High chairs built with a removable tray and seat height adjustments can more easily grow with your child, so these particular features are essential to keep in mind.
Size: If you’re planning to fit a high chair into a small space, consider buying a high chair that clips onto the table or can be folded and stored when not in use. If you plan on taking your baby’s high chair to other places like to see grandparents, on vacation, or to a babysitter’s home, go for these travel high chairs that are easily transported.

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Baby High Chair Safety Guidelines

Ensure the high chair is certified and has met the required safety standards. You will be able to know this from a sticker on it the high chair from the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) showing it meets ASTM. Most experts advise against using a second-hand chair. If you must use one, get the model name and date of manufacture and check the government website for recalls, www.recalls.gov.
Fill out the registration so that you’ll be notified should in case of a safety recall.
Make sure you and any other guardian are comfortable using the high chair before putting your baby in it for the first time. Make sure you know how the locking mechanism for the legs works, how the straps adjust and lock, how the tray comes on and off, and how to fold and unfold it (if it folds, the chair folds).
Go over it before each use to check for any cracks or damage. Also, ensure that the tray is intact and the chair and straps are neat and secure.
During mealtimes, place your baby where they can be seen and where they feel like part of the party, but far away enough from the table to avoid reaching for harmful objects, tablecloths, utensils, or hot items.
Never place the chair near the wall, counter, or table. Toddlers can use this surface to push off and tip the chair over.
You should use a 3- or 5-point harness to safely strap your baby into his chair. Most injury occurs when babies try to stand up or fall through. Always use safety straps with any high chair.
Ensure the high chair has a footrest that can be adjusted to support the baby’s feet.
Do not leave your baby unattended in the high chair. Ensure you have everything you need, including drinks, wipes, and extra baby utensils nearby, but not within the baby’s reach. Remember to get the food ready ahead of time, so you don’t leave your baby unattended while moving around in the kitchen trying to get his food ready. It is an amazing feeling for your baby to learn early on that when it is time to sit at the table, it is time to eat together!

Take-Home

We hope this article has given an in-depth discussion to answer the question, how can I get my baby to sit on a high chair. As a concerned parent, having the right information will help you determine what’s best for you and your baby.

If your toddler rejects the highchair, do not let him eat while crawling or toddling around. Doing this is not only a choking hazard, but it’s also counter-productive, as the more you allow him to do it, the less likely it is that he’ll ever consent to be placed in a highchair at mealtimes!

Also, never use other equipment such as activity centers or door bouncers for feeding him. Doing this will make him think that if food can be had anywhere, why allow himself to be strapped into a highchair? The best approach is to instill in him that the highchair equals food.

Therefore you should ensure that it is more attractive and fun for your baby by waiting until he’s hungry before you use it. Feeding him in the highchair while giving him loads of praise will help make the process less stressful and eventually successful!