![]() Food tends to get stuck in small crevices. Consider a chair that is easy to wipe down and clean.If you decide not to use the straps, make sure that your baby cannot get out of the high chair.The use of the safety harness is the number one factor to ensure safety. Inspect the safety harness of your chair. Look for its ability to be cleaned, and if you are obtaining a gently used high chair/booster, be sure that the straps are intact.Notice in the image below how baby is seeking stability by crossing his feet! This is something babies – and adults do – so providing good support can really help improve endurance in the high chair or booster. This is NOT a necessary feature, as we never want children to eat solids (including purees) in a reclined position. Many high chairs/boosters come with a recline feature.Make certain that the tray of the high chair/booster is at the right height of your baby to reach the food (chest height or below). If your baby isn’t tall enough or doesn’t have long enough arms, consider adding a small towel beneath your baby to allow them to reach food on their tray or the table even better.In our business we say, “If you get the hips, you get the lips.” This means that your child’s mouth and jaw work more effectively when they’re well-positioned. This position is also known as an anterior tilt and places the trunk into an ideal upright position with the shoulders directly over the hips. If you child is leaning backwards in the chair, try to reposition your baby’s hips and get the baby to be leaning slightly forward into a “positive tilt” position, just like you would lean slightly forward when eating your food.If you need to modify the foot rest, use a tissue box, zip-lock bag box or pool noodle and adhere it to the chair using fun duct tape or double-sided Velcro. Most of the chairs we recommend below have an adjustable foot rest that reach many 6 month old’s feet. Ensure that your high chair or booster has a foot rest that reaches their feet.This is similar to adding a pillow behind your back if you can’t reach the back rest on a chair. If your high chair is too big for the baby, add a small towel roll behind their back for added support and stability.Some additional support may help them feel comfortable. Remember, your baby should be sitting independently on the floor before you start food, but we don’t expect them to have long sitting endurance in this positioning. If they do, consider adding a rolled up pillow or towel. ![]() Make sure your child does not lean to either side. We’re looking for 90 degrees at the hips, knees and ankles and a support under the feet. No matter what high chair/booster you purchase, remember the body mechanics and stability principles in the video above.Many of our Infant and Toddler & Kid Course clients have changed their child’s high chair positioning and have noticed monumental improvement in eating – it really does matter! Watch the video below to learn more about why positioning is important, what ideal positioning actually is, and how to modify your child’s chair to promote great stability and sitting dynamics. ![]() (For the record, before eating any food all babies – barring medical or developmental issues – should be sitting with minimal assistance on the floor first, not just propped in a high chair. They may support a baby that doesn’t have good independent sitting skills, but they don’t lead to successful positioning long-term. Most high chairs are created to be easy to clean or transport, but they don’t actually promote great postural dynamics. The same concept holds true for your baby, toddler or big kid. Restaurants know that patrons will sit longer when they’re comfortable. Think about it like this – when you go to a bar at a restaurant, there’s always a place to put your feet. We really want our babies and toddlers to want to sit in their high chair and participate in eating, not get out right away because they’re uncomfortable or unstable. You see, when we are well-positioned for any activity, we are more likely to stay and endure that activity longer. As a feeding specialist, I have a few favorite high chairs, but almost every high chair can be modified to help your baby or toddler be most successful at mealtime.
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