Highchair for giant baby, also bibs/smocks

[KikiShack]

DD is over 4 months now, and although I'm going to wait until ~6 months to start weaning I'd like to be prepared.
I was probably planning to get the ikea highchair everyone recommends, but how large a child will it support? Sorry if that's a silly question! DD is a megababy at 21lbs already and still putting on about 8oz a week. I presume she'll slow down growth at some point, but no idea when! I don't want to buy the antilop if it is only likely to fit an average child until they're 18 months for example, as DD could be that size by 7 or 8 months.
I gather the Tripp Trapp fits until a child is 5, so maybe that'll be better for us? I'm not just looking for an excuse to get something fancy, honest! I did want the fresco bloom until every review ever put me off...
And secondly bibs: are normal bibs any good for weaning or are those whole-torso smocks better? If DD is anything like her mum she's going to be a very messy eater

[TurnOffTheTv]

I've got nothing to add about the high chair, but I'm bad laughing at mega baby she must be lovely and squishy, my 2yo is only 22lbs

[bec0901]

Our DD fitted into the ikea chair until she was 3 so it'll be fine for mega baby. I'd say yes to the plastic smock things for the first year. We liked simple plastic ones without material lining. They take 5 seconds to rinse and hang up afterwards.

[ceeveebee]

Ikea do great smock bibs as well £3 for 2. We use a combo of smock + pelican bib to catch the dropped food in!

My DS is still very comfy in his antilop at 2.3 and 30lbs although I prefer to use booster seat at table now so we don't use it very often

[SoonToBeSix]

An antilop is fine till age three.

[McPheezingMyButtOff]

Mamas & Papas Snax is really roomy, and the seat lays back for that after tea nap

[browneyesblue]

I have my own squishy mega baby, and he fits very nicely into his older brother's old Ikea Antilop - loads of room!

DS1 was around the 95th centile, and although he is tall and thin now (almost 4), he could probably still fit in it. If I tried, it would be 50-50 whether he'd be outraged or refuse to get out.

DS2 is far chunkier - I could squeeze his thighs all day . He just turned 7 months, and was on the 99th centile last time he was weighed (a while ago, but 22+lbs). He wears 9-12 month clothes, 4+ nappies, and is very comfortable in the Antilop.

Get it - you won't regret it. It's cheap, stable, and can go in the dishwasher.

I used full sleeve bibs with both DSs, and let them feed themselves. All babies make a mess eating at some stage, so you might as well get it over with.

[KikiShack]

Thanks for the replies, you've ruined my hopes of wasting money on something unnecessary, that's very good
God knows when DD will reach the weight/size of a 3 yr old, if it's soon I'll come back and let you know.
And good to know trusty Ikea has smocks too.
I'm getting excited about weaning now, DD stares and grins when I eat. I've started telling her what I'm doing and showing her bits of toast disappearing into my mouth and she gets very excited. I wonder how long I'll hold out. She can't sit unaided and she still has a strong tongue thrust so I know she's nowhere near ready yet, but it's lovely seeing how excited she gets and imagining her reaction to food. And finally giving my boobs a bit of time off!

[Gerty1002]

I am so pleased you started this thread. DS is 5.5 months and 99th centile and our mothercare high chair, which doesn't have a removable tray, is certainly not going to last until he's old enough for a booster seat. Glad I don't have to spend a fortune replacing it :)

[Rhododendron]

"whole-torso smocks": Actually, DD needs a full-body smock! She plasters food all over her arms, legs, bottom (after dropping it), hair, etc -- sometimes even her back.

I have a cheap splash-suit (meant for going out in the rain) and use that with a round-the-neck bib. It wipes clean easily afterwards, or can go through the washing machine.
I also have waterproof over-trousers which I use with whole-torso smocks.

Bibetta make neoprene bibs, which are good because they're soft but also bad because they take ages to dry.

The ikea antilop high chair is definitely best. In particular I like that it has a hard seat which you can easily clean; lots of other chairs have cushions which would quickly get manky.

[roboneill02]

Normal bibs is not that good for weaning. Weaning must have a bib that is appropriate for this stage. Mealtimes are very messy, so you must have a bib that will fit for your baby and will really less the mess.

[NinjaLeprechaun]

Rather than putting extra clothes on my daughter when she was weaning (several years ago) I just took her clothes off. Saves on laundry.

Can't help on the highchair, sorry, but I had one of those 99th % Mega babies (her name is Megan, so I literally would call her Mega-baby. Or Moose.) and she wasn't 'squishy' at all - solid as a brick outhouse I may be paraphrasing was my mum's description, iirc.

[NorahBone]

Yes to smock bibs, at least for the messy stuff. I don't have a mega baby, but I find our reclining high chair great because when it is reclined it's really easy to slip the baby into and out of. Also great for naps and the baby loved sitting in it from 4 months (only possible because it reclined) when he started hating the bouncer.