Grumpy in the Highchair

In my opinion, don't be a traditional mom rather a modern one. Try a Bumbo Chair, car seat, bouncer, even a swing that is not moving. You want feeding time to be a positive experience. A baby will let you know what works for them. Every season their wants and needs will change. Hang in there and good luck.

One thing that you want to be sure to avoid is too much force feeding around meal time. Fighting a child to eat can cause eating problems throughout his/her childhood. Do you have a "Bumbo". My now 14 month old daughter has loved her bumbo and it comes with a tray -- she is more likely to eat sitting it that than in her high chair. I would just take it slow and allow her to move at her own pace into the high chair. Try it at each meal time, but if she resists too much, put her in your lap and feed her. Don't worry too much about the long term conseqences, she will not be eating in your lap forever :)

My daughter hated the highchair as well. I used a booster seat that could be attatched to a kitchen table chair. I think she liked being more part of the family that way.

Maybe it's just not comfortable for her. Try adding a few small pillows and cover with a dish towel and see if that helps.

The booster seats sound worth a try and you could use it later on if she doesn't like it now. Just wanted to reinforce your choice to stay at home! I too worked full time and then quit to be a SAHM. Felt the same feelings you did also, I know we all feel the same way. That mama thing is HARD! The kids are hard on us when we don't know what they want and we don't know the limits on how hard we let them push us. There is no set way, somehow they all grow up and struggle through. My oldest is 18 and going to college on Saturday, my youngest is 14. I can't believe what good kids they turned out to be..just like I dreamed of when I made that decision to quit work. We never had a boat or "dream vacations" or a host of other things but I can't imagine doing it any other way! I am just saying, you did right girl, just hang in there:)

She should be sitting well enough now that you can get a booster seat/ small chair that straps onto the regular kitchen chair and pull her right up to the table. It will be so new and interesting that she is sitting at the table that she will be happy to sit there. They make them with 3 point harness. I would never leave her in it unless you are sitting right there to watch her and stop her from leaning over it. As long as you are right there, that should work fine!

Awe, she loves her mommy and is very used to eating like this. You may have to retrain her or live with it which is not a bad thing. Why not start with having a fun snack in the high chair then make the transition to lunch b/c she would have spent the entire morning with you so may not need you as much at lunch. Then do the lap thing in the morning and at night. You could also just go cold turkey; however, if she is a screamer it won't be pleasant for anyone. Good luck!

I have NO idea, but maybe it's something simple like the tray is too close and it's uncomfortable. Or maybe she's sitting on something. Or maybe her diaper is bunched up in her hiney crack. I just always think that babies cry because that's the only way they can communicate and it can mean anything from "I'm hungry" to "that hurts" to "I have an annoying itch and I can't reach it".

Hope you can figure it out!

My son was the same way. I bought a booster chair high chair that attached to the dining room chairs and he was still unhappy. When I unhooked the tray and pushed him to the table...he was happy as a lark. We did this around nine months of age. There are good booster chairs that will hold her safely.