Smooth High Chair To Table Transitions

When your toddler outgrows the high chair and is ready to join the family at the table

, family meals will take on a whole new meaning. With a toddler at the table, things are bound to be entertaining, a little messy, and a whole lot of fun. Make the transition from high chair to table smooth and painless with a few simple tips.

Toddlers Still Need a Boost

Even if your toddler is done with the high chair, odds are she still isn't tall enough to sit at the table without a little extra height. A booster seat will fill in the gap between high chair and regular chair, bringing your toddler up to the right level to eat from the table easily.

When choosing a booster, look for one that straps securely to the chair and won't fall off if your little one is a little wiggly at the table. Straps to hold the child in place might not be necessary for an older toddler, but if you still have trouble keeping your child in her seat throughout the meal, they are a good idea. Choose a booster seat that is easy to clean and comfortable for your child.

If you chose a high chair that converts to a booster seat, you won't have to buy anything new - just convert the chair and you're ready to go.

Eating Without the Tray

Now that the high chair is gone, your child will no longer have an easy to clean tray you can just pull off and run under the faucet. Replace the tray with a plastic placemat that can be secured to the table either with a little tape or with a non-slip bottom. It will prevent your table from becoming a total mess.

If you haven't already, it's time to start serving your child all of his food on a plate or in a bowl - no more dropping food on the tray. First of all, without the raised edges of the tray, a lot more food will wind up on the floor. Secondly, when your child transitions to the table he needs to start learning the table manners and behaviors that are expected of him. Eating from a plate is not just neater; it's an important part of growing up.

Serve Up One Meal to Everyone

When your toddler joins the table, odds are he has already been eating table foods similar to what the rest of the family has been eating for a while. But with the transition to the table comes another transition; your toddler must now learn that special foods won't be prepared for him and he will be eating the same meal as everyone else. Don't give in to demands for concessions, or you will find yourself giving in for the rest of your toddler's childhood! Explain that you are making dinner for the whole family, and now that he is a big boy he needs to eat what everyone else is eating.

You can give your toddler a little something special though - try getting him his own special plate and cup as well as toddler utensils to use at meals. He will feel special and grown up at the same time, which will encourage him to eat his meals at the table without complaint.

Bringing your toddler to the table is a big step - soon he will be eating like a big kid, and hopefully everyone will be happy.

by: EeLynn Lee

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