Picky Eater in Highchair

Yep, I have this problem sometimes too, though I haven't associated it to any particular foods. sometimes he just wants to be on the go and eating is 'boring' i guess. I also think my son may be slightly claustrophobic (Dad has a case of it too) :) even inutero he seemed a little anxious to get out... he HATED being swaddled and doesn't like being confined in his chair... he isn't terribly fond of his car seat either so I really think he just doesn't like the confinement sometimes :)

At 18 months I feel it's a bit early to move him to a regular chair, but we're leaning that way soon.

Maybe your daughter is just more content to be confined in the chair, when what she's doing keeps her distracted. baby corn is, after all, fun for the whole family... :) my older kids (10 & 12) still seem fascinated by them! hahaha

Just a couple of things that may help. My daughter was the same way and still would rather walk around and snack than eat at the table. First thing we did was get rid of the highchair in place we use a booster seat on a regular chair (eveyone I know with toddlers had their kids out of highchairs before 2).

Also, at 2 kids don't need to have a drink with them all the time. Just because a sippy is safe (as far as spills) doens't mean they need on at all times. 2 cups of milk is what is recommended for a 2 year old. We drink milk with meals only. If your daughter is drinking too much, she is filling her belly with liquid and won't be hungry, making sitting at the table even less desireable.

The final thing we have done is require eating to be done at the table. We eat our meals together at the table period. Sometimes we just have to be firm. Food is for the kitchen or dining room. We establised the rule and she is pretty good at following it. Sometimes she will try to sneak crackers or dry cereal in the family room or something but we try to catch that too.

I hope some of this helps, toddlers can be so stubborn!

I was so happy to see your post because I am going through the same issue with my 17 mth old. She will eat so much better if she is walking/playing while I feed her, plus she will try new foods that way. One of her problems is that she still drinks milk from a bottle (loves milk) and I think she was getting full off of that so I have been watering her bottles down during the day only and I found that if she is really hunger that she will sit in the chair and eat so much better. Does she drink alot of milk/ juice? Try waiting a little longer to feed her and she what she does. Yesterday I fed her dinner an hour later then normal and I could not believe how she sat in her chair and ate it all!I think we might be trying to feed them when their not that hunger and they will not sit still in the chair. Good luck!

Here's an idea. I was having the same problem with my son who is almost 2. I started putting him in his booster seat at the kitchen table and now he eats very well sitting. He seems to feel like a big boy and part of the family eating at the table . Just an idea!