My daughters were about 2 and 3 when I got them a little toddler size table to eat their meals at and color and stuff. They did really well with it. My son turns 2 four days before Christmas, and I was thinking of getting him one. My husband thinks it's a stupid idea because it's not 'a toy'. I say heck, he'll need it eventually, I'd rather give it as a gift than 'just because' (then I can justify spending the $ on it), AND, he's going to get spoiled come Christmas, so why does it matter if he gets a toy from us on his birthday?
My son has also started boycotting his highchair, saying it's for babies. He's ready ;)
So how old were your kiddos when you nixed the high chair and got them their own table?
We do not have a dining room table because my house is the size of a tree fort. I'd love to ditch the high chair and replace it with a child table. What do you think?
@Rebecca B, that's our situation exactly. The girls sit at the bar, husband and I sit at the coffee table on the couch, it sucks! But I think it's really important that we all still eat at the same time, and preferably NOT in front of the t.v [raises eyebrows @ my husband]... so I'd like to put a table for my son by where his sister's eat :)
At about a year old when they could climb up to the big table we moved them out of the highchair. Then they graduated to a booster seat with a strap on the chair. By the time they were two, we'd gotten rid of that too.
#1 We transitioned our kids slowly. We'd try sitting them at the big table from about 18 mos on. We too bought a little kids table and would use that occassionally too for snacks while watching a movie or when friends were visiting.
#2 Our kids had a high chair, booster AND little table and "practiced" at each well into being 3.
#3 I think his own table as a Christmas present is a great idea. No it may not have the WOW factor of a ride on electric car, but so what? It's all about in how you react. As long as he understands that it's "cool" and a "big boy table" for him, that might be enough.
#4 Have you considered getting a picnic table style instead? My kids STILL love their picnic table because we didn't get a "baby one". We got a 6 person table that has low sides so the kids can slide in and out instead of tripping over the side bar. That might have more WOW factor and you can get him a used table for in the house at Goodwill since those can definitely be reused. Our kids LOVE having their own table to sit at all summer long and it's great when we have friends over because I don't have to worry about cleaning up after other kids' messes!
When we moved into our new house, DD was about 20 months, and we didn't keep the high chair but we did have a booster seat and she sat at the dinner table with us with the booster seat. She decided to give up the booster seat at the beginning of this summer, just before turning 4. She will sit up on her knees so she can sit in a "big girl chair". She does have a little table that she mostly used for drawing and playing and it's only been within the past couple of months that she's decided to sometimes eat there too. Sometimes she chooses her little table, and sometimes she decides to sit at the big table.
I'd get him the table, sounds like he doesn't want the high chair any longer, and the little table can be used for a lot more than just eating. My daughter has sat at hers to draw and color, play with Play-Doh, and build with her blocks. He'll probably get some good use out of it for a long time!
around 18 months mine changed from high chair to a small chair and the coffee table.
We also don't have a table because the size of our kitchen. We have a counter/ bar along one wall but it doesn't fit all of the kids to eat. We use the couch and chairs at eat in the living room together.
Hey R.,
We have a cousin that also lives in a tiny house and what they did was find a coffee table that was high enough for the kids to pull up their chairs to eat and do art on.. I think it was from the unpainted wood store.
It was perfect for their life style.. once the kids got older, They painted it white and it looks awesome. The kids are now teens..
My kids moved to boosters around 18 months. At the same time, they started using their kid picnic table when outside.
They came out when they revolted...like your son. I kept them in there as long as possible though because they were contained and focused on eating. Once they get at that table they have too many options... :)
When they didn't want to sit in it anymore...I don't remember how old they were though. My kids aren't little either - so I think by 2 they were all out of it.
I never had a high chair. I had a bumbo seat and a booster seat... that's it.
I would get a booster seat. I got rid of my daughter’s highchair when she was about 2. We had a large island in our old kitchen and we got tall chairs to go around it. I just got an inexpensive booster seat and put it on one of the chairs. This way she would sit with us and be a part of everything.
My daughter is 5 and still uses her small table and chairs, for us it is a toy and a functioning table.
He's 4 11/12 and still sits in one often. He is not tall so the height helps him to sit level with the rest of us. He is a heathen and will take off running and playing with a mouth full of food so I confine him to the high chair often. Even at McDonalds where the temptation to run with food is the highest.
I have had to hang him upside down many times and pound the food out of his throat so it's a life threatening issue. Plus all my years in child care makes kids having food in their mouths and running around a serious issue to me.
When we are not eating at the table for a big sit down family meal we pretty much sit around the little tykes table and they eat there.
My daughter was 2/3 when she started sitting at the table. My son however is 5 and yes still eats in a highchair. We currently do not have a dining room table. Hubby and I eat on the couch at the living room table and my daughter eats at the computer desk in the dining room. I say go ahead and buy him the table!
Took my son out at 15 months I think. But he went to a booster at the big table so he was still strapped down. He would not have been ready for sitting at a children table like you are describing and he still wouldn't be ready for that now :)
My son was about 2 when he wouldn't sit in his high chair any more. He would sit better on a chair at the table than in his high chair so I figured why battle it. My Grandma got my son a folding table and chair for his 3rd birthday. He loves them! He eats his breakfast and lunch there most days. We eat dinner at the kitchen table but otherwise he would probably prefer to eat at his little table. He uses his table to color, put together puzzles and even plays with legos and things like that on it. I definitely think it is a wonderful gift idea!!!
