My baby is going on 20 wks, I have not gotten a high chair?

Question

when did you make the transition from holding your baby to feed him/her to feeding him in a chair?
when did you start your baby on 1st stage baby food?
my husband is in such a rush, and I keep telling him our son isn't ready, can someone share their experience with me?

Answer 1

Using a high chair is not some kind of milestone you have to reach. I have 3 kids and one on the way and one high chair. I have to use the high chair because our table only seats 4 people. Other than that I would feed my kids in the high chair, on my lap, in the car seat, in the swing, in the exersaucer, or wherever as long as they were sitting up properly and safe. Of course I am a pretty laid back mom. I am strict and quick when it comes to safety and discipline, but other than that anything goes. Also, all my kids started rice cereal at 4 months old and stage one foods around 5-6 months. It's not terribly important. Breastmilk or formula their primary source of nutrition the first year. All other foods are just to prepare them for the taste and texture when they turn one.

Answer 2

We didn't start using a high chair till my daughter could sit up alone without slumping to the side. That's when it's safe to start using a high chair. We started my brat on 1st stage around 4 1/2 months, when she would sit and whine at us while we ate. Your son will tell you when he's ready for solid foods in some way or another, clue in to his signals. Does he watch you eat, watch the silverware as it moves from the dishes to your mouth. You can start by just letting him taste a few spoonfuls of whatever 1st stage veggie you have. Introduce only one new food a week to see how he reacts. The first few times he will probably be a little strange acting, maybe gassy and not pooing as much, as well as taking more effort to poo. This doesn't mean he's constipated, it just means he's learning how to digest food. He'll catch on quickly, and once he's eating all of the first food containers and wanting more after finishing them, he'll be ready for second foods. Good luck!

Answer 3

My babies didn't start solids until after 6 months. My son was about 8 1/2 months before he accepted any solids. He is 16 months now. It is recommended that babies start solids (ie anything other than milk or water) after they are 6 months. Their tummies are unable to digest the proteins found in other food before this and it can lead to allergies and digestive problems later on.

As for a high chair - we bought one for our son and discovered he prefers to sit at the table with us. If I was going to do it over, I would wait and get a booster chair that either hooks onto the table or fits securely onto a regular chair. It is something that will be useful later on anyway and we could have saved our money.

In the end, what works for you is best. And tell your husband not to wish your babies life away - they don't stay babies long!

Answer 4

Our little guy started eating cereal at 6 months. We waited until he could sit up on his own and showed an interest in what we were eating. Now, at 8 months, he loves solids and we can barely get him to drink his milk!

We still hold him when he gets a bottle. We all enjoy the close time and it's helped the weaning process.

Don't rush things, you're baby will tell you when it's time. I know that sounds nuts, but just watch and let the little one be the teacher for now. :) Good luck! The fun is just beginning.

As for the high chair some helpful hints for shopping:
1. get one that fits your house and your lifestyle.
2. Make sure you can wipe off the entire seat (food will get everywhere)
3. Don't get one that has little nooks and crannys on the tray (again hard to clean)
You may be interested in one that fits on a regular chair instead of the conventional free standing one. They're great for grandma's, restaurants, and even camping!

While you may not need one yet, it helps to have them restrained when they get to moving. Keep you're eyes open at yardsales and the like for a good deal.

Answer 5

My son is 17 months old and I have a high chair, and only use it like once a month, if I want him to sit still while I do something. I never wanted one, but my mother in law pushed this one off on me. I borrowed it for my son's birthday party, for him to go crazy with his smash cake, and she never took it back. She claims I need it. All it's doing is taking up precious space in my tiny house.

You shouldn't start stage one foods until at least 4 months, but it's better to wait until 6 months. You will know if your baby is ready because if he's not, he'll thrust the food back out of his mouth with his tongue.

My son doesn't even use a high chair when we go out. He actually behaves better if I just sit him down in the booth, or get a booster seat and put him in a chair. I don't know what I would advise for you in that situation, since I doubt your little guy is ready for all that.

ETA: I had to add something after reading some other answers. Please dont' start your baby on cereal. Cereal is pretty much empty carbs with a little iron in it. It would be better to start your baby on bananas, squash, or sweet potatos. Those are the perfect first foods for baby. They have pleanty of the good vitamins and minerals that your baby needs. I dont' think my son used two entire boxes of cereal in his entire first year. I've still got boxes of cereal that people bought for him. And they're still just sitting there.

Answer 6

Every baby is different. I think my son starting using his high chair at about 5-1/2 months. He was eating 1st stage baby food at 3 months. (He was gumming Cheetos at 8 months). My son was a piglet.

My nephew is six months old and is still not in a high chair. He just started on baby food a few weeks ago. Your baby will progress at his own rate, not your husbands. Tell him to relax and enjoy his baby. They grow up too fast anyway.

Answer 7

Started 1rst stage baby food at around 6 months. Only offer 1 new food at a time and give it to them for a few days before giving another new one so that if they have an allergy you will know which food they are allergic to. (if you gave say carrots and peas and they broke out you wouldnt know if it was carrots or what) The best thing to start with is rice baby ceral as it is very easy to digest. We started ceral from a spoon at around 4 1/2 months. ALso there is a debate over starting veggies or fruits first. I did the veggies as I didnt want them to eat the sweet stuff first and develop a liking to it and refuse veggies. It worked welll for us. My kids still like to eat their veggies. Also too I never did use a high chair except for when we went out. What was easiet for me was to feed them in a bouncer/walker. It was just the right height to comfortably feed them from the couch.

Answer 8

I didn't give my son ANY solids until he was 6 months old but I did put him in a high chair then. He ate cereal for about 5 weeks and then I started him on 1st foods vegetables when he was a little over 7 mo old. (He was breast-fed.)

Don't be in a rush! Hauling all that food around everywhere is a pain compared to just worrying about bottles! He'll only be a baby once. Just do whatever you think he is ready for. You will know!!!

Answer 9

I got my high chair at my baby shower, so it wasn't something I had to worry about when the time came. I tend to be on the later end of things when it comes to transitioning and switching up normal routines, so my daughter was 6 months when I first gave her rice baby cereal. I started her in the high chair when I started the cereal.

Answer 10

A nice high chair will fit for a little head support and things, I started putting my son in the high chair at 20 weeks to feed a little bit of baby cereal... my doc said not to feed 1st stage food other than the cereal until at least 6 months... good luck and congrats!