Meltdown in high chair

[TheJourney22]

Yet again Velcro Baby is now having meltdowns in the high chair!

No problem with actually eating food but just refuses, back arching, screaming if I put him in the high chair.

Have tried to feed him on my lap, bumbo, bouncer & even in the efffing buggy!

WHY OH WHY IS EVERYTHING I DO WITH THIS BABY SUCH A BATTLE!!!!

Do I just stick at the high chair?

[HairyPorter]

I used to put food on the tray to tempt dd into the chair. I think seeing it there helped!

[smokeandfluff]

Similar to hairy, I put finger food in the tray before I sit ds in his seat. Otherwise he gets a bit cross! I also have everything ready before he sits in it as he doesn't like waiting.

[kaisak]

I had the same problem when I started feeding my DS which is strange because before he used to love sitting in his high chair and playing with his book. So he was already familiar in sitting in the high chair. When he started crying I usually sang to him when I placed him in his chair and he quickly calmed down (up to a point where I was singing the same song to him over and over again although out meals, every time I was feeding him. Must admit it got a bit boring). I also changed the bib I was using for him because apparently he didn't like it. I also stopped cleaning him in his high chair after meals. So basically I eliminated everything that might upset him. But yes, my DS is the loveliest baby ever but he has got a temper and he's not even 6 months yet! So I feel your pain.

[LindsayS79]

I fill the tray full with toys i.e stacking cups etc and this usually stops the tantrum quickly. I then bring out the food.

[Serendipitous80]

I have this problem too, it started a few months ago and my daughter is almost 1 now. It's the same when I change her.

I have found the calmer I stay, the better it is, I smile and say 'let's sit I
In the high chair, good girl' and repeat until she gives up and realises she won't win (I thinks she's trying to assert herself!). When she sits I tell her what a clever girl she is and today I noticed that she seemed so pleased with herself she even gave herself a clap. I'm hoping this continues and improves. It's not working quite as well with changing her!

[AmyByTheTrain]

I'm feeling better that we're not alone with crossness in the high chair. A meal goes something like this:

• Put 7.5mo DS in high chair
  
• He gets cross
  
• He sees the holes where the tray fits and gets really interested in them
  
• I strap him in, making it so he can't reach the holes
  
• He gets cross
  
• He sees the straps and gets really interested in them
  
• I put on the bib, covering up the straps
  
• He gets cross
  
• He looks at the bib and gets really interested in pulling at it
  
• I put the tray on the high chair, restricting access to the bib
  
• He gets cross
  
• He looks at the tray, sees finger food, and gets really interested in it
  
• I give him some food with a spoon, which goes well for a while
  
• He gets really interested in what's on the spoon and starts intercepting it en route to his mouth to scoop all the food out and squeeze it in his fingers
  
• He gets cross when the spoon reaches his mouth and has no food on it
  
• Eventually he thinks blowing raspberries with his food is more important than eating it and I decide the meal is over
  
• I try to wipe his face and hands with the cloth
  
• He gets cross
  
• He gets really interested in the cloth and starts playing with it
  
• I do the washing up
  
• I take away the cloth
  
• He gets cross
  
• I remove the tray
  
• He sees his bib and gets really interested in it
  
• I take off the bib
  
• He gets cross
  
• He sees the high chair straps and gets really interested in them
  
• I remove the straps
  
• He gets cross
  
• I take him out of the high chair and put him in in the jumperoo so he can have happy fun time while I try to clean up the giant mess in the high chair and on the floor while wishing for
  
  That doesn't include the parts involving that bloody tommee tippee sippy cup, as that is a thread unto itself.
  
  Anyhow, finger food on the tray and being quick to have everything ready helps us, but DS still gets a bit cross a few times

[MissRatty]

AmyByTheTrain, you have just described our mealtimes!

[roboneill02]

You had hit our mealtime too. But our battles are mostly wearing bibs. She don't want to wear a bib and she cries like no tomorrow. She is a very messy eater and so stubborn. I always find mealtime as our "battlefield".

[scandichick]

Could you give him something to play with while you're strapping him in, instead of the holes/straps/bib?

And I've heard other people having a second spoon for tree baby, so he doesn't grab your one all the time... He might even feed himself miniscule amounts that way!

[RightyTightyLeftyLoosey]

at "tree baby"

[scandichick]

It's a special edition baby, don't you know - grows on trees...