Should all meals & snacks be given in his highchair?

[LHightower]

Hello everyone,

I am just curious if you all feed your little ones all of their meals and snacks in their highchairs.  Currently my 11 month old son eats three meals and one snack per day and has all of these meals in his highchair.  However, just recently, he has started to fuss and arch his back when it is time to put him in his highchair.  I know that he is hungry though because if I offer him a bite while I am holding him, he will definitely take it!   :?   Therefore, I sometimes have to offer one or two bites and then put him in his highchair.  A bit messy but it works if he is really fussing. 

Do you think it would be better to just offer meals in the highchair and snacks somewhere else?  (i.e. exersaucer or stroller)  I don't want to create a bad habit but he does seem to be in his highchair a lot throughout the day.  Just wondering how all the other Moms out there are managing this one. 

Thanks!

[~tess~]

in the beginning i did give snacks not at the table, but then meals were an issue.  so the best advice i got was to do all snacks and meals at the table.  i am glad i did this.  even now my youngest tries to eat wherever but i am sticking to my guns....all meals/snacks in the kitchen at the table.

[Susie-Q]

That's a good question because sometimes I swear, he would eat more if he wasn't in his high chair.  Sometimes he'll cry as soon as I put him in it and the whole meal can go down the tubes very quickly.

[Katet]

I have always had one snack at a different place & lunch was often on a blanket on the floor (picnic style) I did that as I don't tend to sit down for my lunch & also let ds know he had to eat in a "set spot" even if it wasn't his high chair.

Now at 2 he has breakfast at the kitchen "breakfast bar" on a stool, lunch at his "play table" or on his sofa seat (has snacks at these 2 places) & dinner is at the dining table with us.

[tylersmommy]

I think it depends on whether or not eating at the table is going to be important to you later on down the road. All eating takes place at the table for everyone in the house and has since Tyler started solids. We have brand new carpet and a white couch, so roaming with food is not an option. But if you're comfortable with a bit more latitude, then do what feels right. It's pretty normal to go through phases of resisting restraint, whether it's the highchair, carseat, or stroller, but we just held firm and kept in mind that Tyler wouldn't starve himself. HTH!