When Did You Stop Using a High Chair and Bibs?

Well, as you said, it's all personal preference. I stopped using the bibs when my kids became neater eaters---somewhere in their late two's or early three's, if I remember correctly! They make bibs designed just for toddlers---like towels with a hole for the head. The high chair? I think when we got tired of the space it took up in the kitchen.

My daughter is 14 months old and we stopped using bibs a few months ago because she could take them off herself. She wouldn't keep them on, she'd rip them off every time we tried to put one on. If your son is tolerating them, I'd say use them as long as possible to preserve his clothes! My sitter suggested using an old, oversized child's t-shirt instead of a bib. I went to Ross and bought the cheapest toddler size 4 and 5 t-shirts I can find, and we've been using those as bibs. My daughter can't take them off by herself, and sometimes she even likes to run around the house with them still on over her clothes.

We have both the booster seat and the high chair, and we've been using the high chair because my daughter seems to prefer it, although she won't keep the tray on. She pushes it off with her feet. So we've been talking about switching to the booster seat soon. I think for right now, she prefers being up higher in the high chair. My cousin never used a high chair, they always used the portable booster seat with their daughter. Good luck!

my 21 month old still uses her high chair (we have a fisher price space saver high chair/booster). she will sit in the high chair just fine or sometimes she sits on a chair at the table. as far as bibs go we rarely use them because she does pretty good self feeding (we sometimes use them for messy foods). just do what you think is right. if you want a booster seat get one. good luck!

My boys are almost 4 and 2-1/2 and they still wear bibs. They are pretty neat eaters for their ages, but I like to keep their shirts clean and stain-free, so they still wear a bib for most meals. They have these great bibs that are almost like the front of a shirt with no sleeves and a hole for the head/neck. Gives great coverage and they can take it on and off themselves.

We never used a highchair (didn't have the room for it) but used one of those chairs that attach to the side of the table. I don't remember exactly when we switched from that to booster seats, but I think it was around 18 months for my first, and about a year (or earlier) for my second, I just had to be careful to always strap him in so he didn't fall out. I think it is really up to you - what you think your baby is ready for and what is most convenient. We had such a tiny dining area at that time that it was really nice to get rid of the extra attachement on the side of the table.

Good luck!

C.,

Totally depends on your kiddo...

My son started tearing his bib off at around 15 months, and I gave up. He became a 'neat' eater at around 18 months, and I just made sure he was wearing 'at home' clothes and we'd change to go out.

Also, at around a year old my son refused to sit in his high chair so, I got him a booster type seat that had a removable back...worked great for us.

Good Luck.

We stopped around age 2, but the bib probably longer. My kids are a teen and pre-teen now and sometimes if they're wearing nice clothes I tuck a paper towel in their shirt in case they spill! (But not in public of course)

Hi C.-

My youngest is 9 now but I think I used a bib on him until at least 3. We moved him to the booster seat around 2. they are still pretty messy eaters at 3.

Good luck!

We moved him from the high chair to a booster seat around 2 or 2 1/2 but that was also because we had twins and I needed the high chair for them. He still occasionally wants to sit in the high chair and he is three now. My friend had her daughter in the high chair until 4. That was one way for her to make sure her daughter sat there (trust me my son is all over the place and I have to keep telling him to sit on his butt!).

As for a bib, he still uses one at home and he is three. I see no real reason except those times he gets super messy (which is few and far between) but I'm happy he was wearing a bib and I don't have to change his close. Good luck!

yes it depends on the kid. My daughter is 22 mos. and uses a booster seat w/ a belt. (and has been for a long time) I dont want her getting out of her chair when ever she wants to. Plus, I can belt her in w/ some paper and crayons while I am making dinner and I don't have to worry about where she might be. As far as bibs go- She rarely uses one-unless she is eating something messy, and it's the start oif the day-like yougart or oatmeal for breakfast. But, she is really good at using silverware-I think better than her 7 yr old brother, he'd rather use his fingers.

Honestly, we didn't take the highchair out until my son was three. We took the tray off when he was around two and just pulled the seat up to the table. It was so easy and he liked it. Bibs went when he refused to wear them anymore...I think that was a little before two.

-M

Hi C.-
I know you have got alot of respenses.. We still use the high chair at times when my son (who will be 3 in April) wants to play and wonder during meal times. We tell him if he gets up one more time he will sit in the high chair. Sometimes this works and he wont get up anymore, but sometimes he will keep getting up, so in the chair he goes.. I dont want him to think its ok to play during meal time.. its all up to the littles ones and how they respond to the booster seats..

Good Luck!

my 5 year-old was in his high chair until a few months ago when his baby brother displaced him. Up until that point and even today, he still fits in it - we used it because unfortunately, we don't have an eating area in our kitchen and we have to use our formal dining set in our dining room for all meals, and I didn't want him getting the upholstered chairs dirty, not to mention he's still sitting very low in the adult chairs.

He used it without the tray and safety straps though, of course.

I think we retired the bibs somewhere between 18 months and 2 years old.

Hi C.,

We used a high chair for my daughter and we stopped using it when she was somewhere close to 2. Once she became big enough to start climbing out, we nixed it and got her a booster seat. Plus, she was old enough by then that she could climb into the chair at the table by herself pretty well. For our son, who is 15 months as well, we have always used a Space Saver seat for him. We'll probably use it maybe 6 more months, he'll outgrow it pretty soon I'm sure.

As for bibs, my daughter is 3 1/2 now and we use one on her occasionally. Same with my son. Occasionally to rarely ever. Unless it's something that I know will be really messy.

Just go with the flow and like you said, it's all personal preference. I'm sure your son will clue you in soon enough when he's ready to move on from the high chair too.

-Char

My kids never liked high-chairs. Just for a short period of time, did they comply. Then by this age, they were just at the table, on a booster.

As for bibs... well, I would always try and put a bib on for as long as my kids would not mind. But for my friend, even at 2+ years old, she kept a bib on her boys for meal times...she just made it a "routine" for them to eat.. .her boys were REAL messy and rascal at meal-times. She used those bibs with the pockets on them.

there is also the option of using an "art apron" type of bib... if you are concerned about your child getting messy and the floors. Or use a floor mat.

everyone is different. Just go with the flow, and see. If your child eats fine in the high-chair and with a bib... then no need to "stop." Unless he then outgrows the high-chair or it turns into a battle to get him into it.

All the best,
Susan

I think you could actually wait until 18 months. He will be very different in three months time and that is typically the time of preschool. Then, I would just switch to a booster seat or you could do that now. They come with the front tray attachments which you could use or not use. My three year old sits at the table in her booster without the tray now and it works great. Keeps her the right height to eat at. My 6 year old still uses the booster as well. She is probably 6 inches shy of being able to sit on her tush and eat comfortably. I just go by height. Once my daughter(s) were potty trained I brought in the outside picnic table (small plastic one) and they now sit for breakfast there because they are able to get in and out easily, run to the bathroom, or just get their own water from the fridge. Gives me free time to do the rest of the morning stuff or even lunch time stuff...Oh, bibs. Well, both my girls LOVE oatmeal. Soooo, up until 2 months ago, they both wore bibs just for that. I found that it was much easier to rinse the bib then try to rub out food from their shirts. They like being clean. I think bibs are up to you. If you want him looking clean and making your life easier, then use one.