Should I just forgo the highchair?

[Samantha's pet]

I know Chloe isnt even 3mo yet and we arent rushing solids. I am going to wait til she shows the sign that SHE is ready but in the mean time she could be ready in a month (She will be 4 mos in Feb.) so I am going to take that time to look out for a good deal on a highchair. I am actually considering this instead. What do you experienced parents think?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5192166

Could you have gotten by w/ that rather than an actual highchair? Its great in theory as it saves space and is more portable (ie I could feed her in the living room and watch tv, lol) It's also economically smarter since I wont have to purchase anything else when she is ready for just a booster.

Is there something I am overlooking? A reason it wouldnt be so great?

 

[sparks19]

I think it's fine. Hannah's high chair is a wooden one that is over 30 years old and she does fine without the bells and whistles.

 

[Squishy22]

Looks fine to me. If you dont mind having one that doesn't have much height to it, then I say go for it!

 

[Miakoda]

Cole uses a very similar booster and I tried Carson in it. IMO it's not that it's missing any bells & whistles (my hair chair is very plain), but he seemed to move around an awful lot and would try to tip over the sides. At least with the high chair I can use shoulder straps to help keep him upright.

With that said, they actually do make a "highchair" type seat that is actually one you install in a normal dining room chair. Now I DO wish I had bought that instead, but I don't remember them having anything like that when Cole was born.

I wish I had bought this instead:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2508005

My neighbor bought it a few months back for her son and it rocks! (IMO anyways)

 

[darkchild16]

Bev is actually fed in her bumbo with the tray and we LOVE it. She also has a booster seat for when we have a sit down dinner as a family and that one she likes as well because she can touch EVERYTHING on the table *headpalm*

But I have never had a highchair and shes almost a year old.

 

[zoe08]

We have used Trey's high chair A LOT. But he just now got one of those things like you posted that is portable and straps in a chair. It is the rainforest one. It works pretty good now, but I think at 5-6 months it wouldn't have worked as well because he was smaller and needed the better fitting high chair and the shoulder straps to help him sit up straighter without sliding down.

I already have a high chair I bought so that when Trey came over he would have one. I personally like to have it, but it is not a necessity. So it is completely up to you.

But I do think it is good to go ahead and have a seat like that just for going out and on trips and such, even if you have a high chair at home.

 

[Samantha's pet]

Bev is actually fed in her bumbo with the tray and we LOVE it. She also has a booster seat for when we have a sit down dinner as a family and that one she likes as well because she can touch EVERYTHING on the table *headpalm*

But I have never had a highchair and shes almost a year old.

Yeah we have a bebe pod w/ a tray but the tray is kinda small. I think I want something that can strap onto a chair.

 

[darkchild16]

yea thats why I didnt like the Bebe pod. Because it was bought for that purpose.

 

[Southpaw]

I obviously have no children... lol.

But my sister uses this with her kids:
http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-N...e=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1231832032&sr=1-22

She had a highchair, but swears up and down that this thing is much better, for the same reasons you're interested--it doesn't take up half the kitchen and she can plop it in a different room to use if she needs to, or when we spend weekends at our cabin, she can easily bring it along. It's just a more practical highchair, I guess. Her kids are a little older now so they just use regular booster seats... but when baby#3 is born, she has no intention of buying a highchair.

 

[ACooper]

My kids are all way past using highchairs, LOL, but I will throw in my opinion from experience

I really like the one that Mia posted, for the reasons she posted it (the shoulder straps and more stability) Keep in mind that once you start using it, you will be using it for a few years at least.

 

[Puckstop31]

My advice here? High chairs... Whatever floats your boat. When it comes to introducing solid foods, I would wait till 6 months. And then only ONE new food a week. Helps you if she develops an alergic reaction, you will know what it is.

Also, be prepared for some serious constipation when you do this. Lets hope you don't have to have the "bulb syringe of warm water enema" thing. LOL

 

[Miakoda]

My kids are all way past using highchairs, LOL, but I will throw in my opinion from experience

I really like the one that Mia posted, for the reasons she posted it (the shoulder straps and more stability) Keep in mind that once you start using it, you will be using it for a few years at least.

It's the shoulder straps that are key for me. Carson is a GREAT eater, he believes he was born to eat, but he still is also too nosy for his own good and is all over the place. I tried feeding him in the Bumbo first as I have a tray for it but that ended in disaster as I had more food on the floor and Carson kept trying to tip the Bumbo over. Kids...............

As for feeding solids, I think we need to start a new thread because I had some questiosn, but I don't start feeding them until 6 months. Like my doctor said, it gives him more time to take in the needed formula/breastmilk, gives him more time to develop, and he's got the rest of his life to spit his peas out on the floor.

However, since we have absolutely 0 food allergies in our family and because of that the risk of a food allergy is extremely slim, I never bothered with feeding the same food twice a day for a week. Now I stick to the "1s", which is a limited variety, but I alternate. And applesauce and prunes help with the constipation while bananas can make it worse.

 

[MericoX]

My sister got my niece one of those chairs that you strap into your dining room chair (can't remember what brand). But be careful, cuz we returned it cuz Aubrey kept putting her foot on the table and pushing. And if people werent in the room with her she'd be gone flying backwards and all.

(Note: No we do not leave her unattended. =P)

 

[bubbatd]

I don't see what I used anymore ,but it was great ! Basically it was a feeding and play table . Legs with wheels could be raised or lowered .

 

[Pam111]

I have a seat like that. I bought a pack n play from someone on Craigslist and she just gave me that seat. I hadn't planned on buying a high chair

 

[Samantha's pet]

Yea, I know all about starting solids. I am thinking we may wait until 6 mos but I am just going to follow her cues and talk w/ our ped when I think she may be ready. I will watch for signs. 4-6 mos is pretty standard as far as starting solids. Esp. if you are just starting w/ rice cereal. I fully believe in assesing the individual baby. They all develope at their own pace but I am not ruching it by any means. We are definantly aiming for the higher end of the range (ie closer to 6 mo than 4) and I would never give a baby solids bafore 4 mos but we are going to see what her ped says.

I think I have decided on this one http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3312379
It doesnt have the shoulder straps but I cant find one that has shoulder straps AND a back that comes off. I want it to convert to a regular booster so I can get as much use out of it as possible. But this one definantly more secure for a young baby. I dont know what I was thinking w/ the other one that doesnt have any padding or head support.

Thanks! Now to find a pack-n-play. (I bought EVERYTHING while I was pregnant but totally forgot we'd need a playpen and highchair. I guess its b/c we didnt need those things right away).

 

[sparks19]

ooooooh I like that one.

and it's pretty cheap too. hmmmmmmm

I have a confession....

Most of the time for breakfast I feed Hannah in her exersaucer lol

 

[mojo-rizin]

I am going to use this:

http://www.amazon.com/Regalo-Diner-..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1KF8JA04M2M54M6C9HPD

I want to be able to take it with me to restaurants as those high chairs are so filthy!! Plus, it won't take up space.

 

[Samantha's pet]

I am going to use this:

http://www.amazon.com/Regalo-Diner-..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1KF8JA04M2M54M6C9HPD

I want to be able to take it with me to restaurants as those high chairs are so filthy!! Plus, it won't take up space.

Those are good when they are self-feeding but when she is spoon fed by me I want to be able to sit infront of her.

 

[Bunny82]

Hunter has a (cherry) wood high chair. I love it, very easy to clean. I would like to get him a booster for when we go out to eat but thus far none have caught my eye.

About solids, the first foods we introduced to Hunter were fruit and veggies, and we did the four day wait and see rule with each new food. I introduced solids at six months but he really did not have any real interest in solids until he was about eight months.