At What Age Did Your Child Stop Sitting in a Highchair to Eat?

Updated on February 22, 2008
A.H. asks from Bowling Green, KY
13 answers

Just wondering the average age for children to stop sitting in highchairs to eat. I have a 20 month old daughter and we still keep her in the highchair, but I'm wondering when I should maybe look into getting a booster seat or something so she can sit at the regular table with everyone else.

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M.W.

answers from Clarksville on

It really varies from child to child. I have 4, my last two (twin boys) stopped using the high chair at 18 months. I knew they were ready to eat like "big" boys, because they would kick their trays off when they were done eating. Try her at the table with a booster and see how she does. If she is unable to maneuver eating with "minimal" mess, she's probably ready. If not, gradually acclimate her until she is. Hope this helps!

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S.H.

answers from Huntsville on

Our highchair had adjustable height & you could remove the tray. I can't remember when we started doing this (it was at least 6 months ago--daughter is almost 2 yrs now), we removed the tray & set the highchair height to as high as it could go yet still able to slide under the table (I actually had to remove part of the table to give it more room haha). So she sits at the table, just higher up so that she can reach the table like everyone else. For the past month or so she's actually been able to climb in and out of the chair, she just can't scoot it up to the table! haha

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H.E.

answers from Knoxville on

I can't say I remember exactly how old my son was when he stopped eating in the high chair. I know it was before he turned two though. My parents bought him a little table and chairs set (Thomas the Train) for Christmas (he was 22 months old), and he always ate at that after. We never bought a booster seat though. My son just now sits at the "big person" table and eats most of the time ... and he's really short (he'll be 3 next week). He's been wanting to sit up at the table like a big boy for quite a long time now. That's good, because now his little sister uses his old high chair (she's 13 months old)! ;) We don't even get him a booster when we go out, but we did from about 20 months-28 months. Hope that helps!

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J.R.

answers from Knoxville on

My daughter was right at 2 years old and we gave our high chair to a cousin who is having a baby. She really didn't want to use it after about 22 months or so, but would every once in a while.

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A.W.

answers from Montgomery on

Most highchairs made I know within the past 5 years have an adjustable seat on them. So you can use the chair without the tray and pull your daughter up to the table. I don't recall at what age we set out daughters at the table but it was close to 2 years I'm thinking.

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A.H.

answers from Pine Bluff on

It varies. My oldest stayed in the highchair forever - until she was literally outgrowing it! I honestly can't remember when we moved her, but I know that she was 27 months when her sister was born, and we actually bought a new highchair for #2 and had both of them in highchairs for a little while. I think when we saw that she could get in and out of the highchair by herself, we figured it was time to get her into a booster seat! :) Ah, the first child - isn't it a delight? We had so much fun! Anyway, number 2 was much earlier, although I don't remember exactly what age. We just moved #3 to a booster a couple of weeks ago - he's 18 mos and really wanted to be with the family at the table such that he was refusing the highchair. I guess bottom line is that the booster seat isn't necessarily an age thing but a personal preference. Have fun with your precious little one!

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S.C.

answers from Little Rock on

My Sons stop sittng in high chairs when they no longer
thought they were babies around 3 yrs

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J.M.

answers from Nashville on

My daughter is 21 months old and she decided for herself a month ago that she didn't want to sit in a highchair to eat anymore. She refused to eat unless she was sitting in her brother's booster seat or on my husband's lap. We went to Walmart and got her a booster and she's doing great in it.

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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

My baby is 17 and 1/2 months old, and she faught sitting in her high chair and would try to stand up and then want to sit in our laps. So we put the booster seat in a real chair to see what happened. She loved it and we have been doing that now for about 2 weeks. So to answer your question.... mine was 17 months old when we took away the high chair.

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S.D.

answers from Nashville on

My three year old has a booster chair and a high chair. If he will sit in the booster chair and eat, then he sits in the booster. If he gets distracted, with his 3 year old short attention span, and starts running around during dinner time then we put him in the high chair. The high chair is like a "time out supper chair" at our house. "OK if you can't sit in the booster chair, then it's time for the high chair."

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T.A.

answers from Huntsville on

I think it is different for every child. We moved my daughter to a booster seat at 16 mths, and she did great! We needed the high chair for my son, so we really didn't have much choice. However my son, who is 18 mths now, does NOT do well in a booster seat. he won't eat and doesn't stay in his seat, etc.

You could always buy a booster now, try it and see how it goes. If its horrible, jut put it away and try again when she's older.

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J.J.

answers from Nashville on

I think at about two years old it is time to get a booster. Any sooner than that could just make a big mess. You might want to get her a booster seat and just let her try it out to see how she adjusts.

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