When is a Child too Old for a High Chair?

The question of whether a child is too old for a high chair or not is a controversial one, and often the answer is not that simple. Most parents agree that the best time to stop using such a chair is at the age of 2, but this is not always the case.

Children with underlying mental conditions or developmental problems, for example, might need to be strapped onto their seats while eating so that they can do it calmly. In these cases, the at-the-age-of-2 rule does not apply.

Still, most kids start to sit better at the dining table at the age of twelve to eighteen months. This is the ideal time to transition them to a booster seat and then, when they turn 2, to a normal dining chair. So what are the tell-tale signs which show us that our kids are ready for that change? Don’t stop reading!

Signs That Your Child Is Too Old for a High Chair

Actions indeed speak louder than words, and this is especially true when it comes to little children. Here are the main signs to look out for:

• Climbing out

As we grow older, our desire to experiment with new things and explore the unknown increases. That’s why your child will start changing seating positions, playing with food, and trying to climb out of the chair. All of those actions are due to your kid’s desire to experiment, so they are completely normal.

The high chair will make your little angel feel restricted and even trapped. Therefore, attempting to climb out of the chair or remove the straps is a major sign that your child is ready for a change. At this point, it is essential that you provide a secure sitting arrangement for them since the high chair will suddenly turn into a safety hazard.

• Gets hysterical

As we already explained, once old enough, your kids will feel trapped when strapped onto the high chair. It is only normal they become agitated, irritated, and even hysterical. Once this starts to happen every time it’s time to eat, then the time has come to say goodbye to the high chair.

Sitting on a different chair than the rest of the family won’t remain unnoticed by your kid, especially if they have an older sibling(s). The only way to calm your child down when it starts resisting is to allow him or her to sit on a dining chair like the rest of you.

• Mealtime rules

It is essential that your child understands the basic mealtime rules, such as sitting calmly while eating and not throwing food on the ground. We recommend that you start training your kid as early as possible.

The moment they start to understand that they shouldn’t run around or stand on their chair while eating, you no longer have to strap them onto their high chair. This is a delicate process, though, and is not as easy as it sounds.

As we already mentioned, when your child realizes that the rest of the family is not strapped to their seats, it will start to resists sitting on the high chair. The desire to sit on the table in a normal chair may be expressed in different ways. If the child has older siblings, it may start fighting for their seat or, let’s say, start running to have the first seat at the table before the rest of you.

How to Say Goodbye to The Good Old High Chair

There are two best ways to transition from a high chair:

• Booster seat

All kids are different, and while some may love sitting calmly at the table and enjoying their food, others will constantly be attempting to climb on it or stand on it. What this means is that your child may be over two years old and still need a seat with straps.

Booster seats are great because they will allow your kid to sit on a normal chair and still reach the dinner table. Moreover, most booster seats have straps, so they will keep your kid in one place while still giving them enough space to move their hands and reach out for the food on the table.

• Remove the tray from the high chair

Another great way to transition from a high chair to a normal one is to remove the tray from the high chair and push it up to the table. This way, your child will eat at the table with the rest of you, but it will still be strapped, and you won’t have to worry that it will suddenly start to climb and fall.

Wrap Up

The logical conclusion we can all agree on is that there isn’t a definite age for your child to stop sitting on a high chair. It us ultimately up to you as the parent to look out for signs to indicate that your baby no longer wants to be strapped to the high chair and is ready for a change.

Maybe what you really need is a chair that can be used for all ages? Take a look at the Stokke’s Tripp Trapp below!

See also: Review of Stokke’s Tripp Trapp Newborn Set

What age did your baby outgrow the high chair?

Let us know in the comments below!