If you are prepared with suitable food, easy-clean clothing and a comfortable and safe seat for you and your baby, meal times will feel a lot more relaxed.
One great way to get your toddler interested in eating and food, is to involve them in the kitchen. There are great products to help support their learning in the kitchen including a learning tower and kid safe knives (such as the Kiddikutter knives)
Mealtimes set up options
There are many ways to set your baby up for their meal:
- highchair with a tray
- highchair which pushes up or attaches to the family table
- on the floor with a messy mat
- picnic outside on a picnic rug or messy mat
- on your lap supported in a safe upright position
It's up to you where you set up your baby for their meal, using a variety of the above set-ups can make mealtimes more fun and interesting for your baby and yourself. The easier the clean up the better and the less you're likely to worry when your baby makes a mess.
If you are looking for a highchair, make sure the height will be suitable to pull up to any table you use for eating. Also check you are happy with the footprint of the chair, they need to have a wide footprint for stability, but this can also mean the legs are easy to trip over.
Nice to have features include:
- Easy to clean tray and seat - because you will be spending a lot of time cleaning food off every surface on and around the highchair. Some trays can be put in the dishwasher, which is a bonus. If there is a padded seat cover, make sure it is easy to remove and to clean. Some highchairs have a lot of thick padding, which also means lots of crevices for food to get stuck. The seat backrest should provide some support, whilst allowing your baby to practice sitting unaided.
- Adjustable Footrest - having support under your baby's feet helps with developing their sitting balance and maintaining stability through their core muscles. The ideal position is for your baby to have their hips, knees and ankles at an approximate angle of 90 degrees. As they grow, this can only be achieved by adjusting the footrest and seat height down.
- Long-lasting - chairs with an adjustable height seat, removable tray or bumper bar and adjustable footrest will grow with your baby well into toddlerhood and perhaps into childhood. This could justify some extra expense initially since it will get years of use.
Highchair Options
Highchairs come with a range of features and price points. You need to decide on what are your most important features in the budget you can afford.
Budget Highchair
A popular budget option is a simple plastic moulded seat with a removable dishwasher safe tray. This type of chair is available at many retailers including Ikea and as an ADLI special buy. This design is easy to clean, and when the tray is removed, your baby can sit up to the table surface. You can buy a padded seat insert, footrest and placemat which is compatible with the Ikea version of this chair from Ikea. The main disadvantage to the design other than that the footrest is not included as standard, is that the legs are easy to trip over, so place it somewhere away from where you need to walk past.
Beaba Up & Down Highchair (available from Babycentral Australia)
The Up & Down system allows the height to be adjusted in a few seconds on 6 levels making it suitable for any height table or bench or as a toddler seat. Has a footrest and a lower bar for your toddler to step up into the chair themselves. The optional seat cover is sold separately.
A trail blazing, long lasting great all-rounder fully adjustable chair that grows with your child suitable from when your baby can sit unaided, to when they are big. Sit your child directly up to the table or buy the tray accessory which is easy to wipe down and when not needed. Start with the seat and footrest in the higher settings and gradually lower them (easily adjusted).
Bugaboo has also recently added a Highchair to their range with the Bugaboo Giraffe. This is an exciting option which will last the distance from Baby through to big kid with the use of their newborn set, baby set and tray accessories.
Where to buy highchairs
Amazon Au also have a range of high chairs.
Check out Babycentral Australia for additional highchair options from brands such as Beaba & Childhome
The Memo - shop their range of high chairs and accessories including Stokke, Redsbaby and Bugaboo
Other feeding equipment
You will also need to have some feeding equipment for your baby to use safely. Such as:
- utensils including a few spoons that are safe for your baby to chew on and they can easily hold in their hand
- Some plates and bowls which won't break if dropped
- a bottle that is safe for your baby to chew on the spout, they can easily hold and won't break if dropped
First cutlery
Some utensil/cutlery options include:
Utensils & Teething Feeders (Baby Central Australia)
Shop all starting solids products at The Memo
Once your baby is using the spoon more for eating and less for teething, usually after they are 12 months old, you can transition them to a stainless steel utensil. You can use your regular teaspoons and buy a set of small/cake forks (Amazon Au)
Lime Tree kids also have a range of Cutlery for kids
Biome Ecostores have a range of Starting solids products
Bowls and Plates
When looking for bowls to encourage self-feeding, you want something that will survive if (more like when) dropped and with some grip or suction so it won't slide around. You also want to look for quality materials such as food-grade silicone. If you do buy plastic, make sure it is BPA-free, PVC-free, and Phthalate-free, never microwave it and throw it out at the first signs of wear and tear.
The Baby Central Australia have a large range of Bowls, plates & sets
Wishing you mealtime fun!
Please note: Above all, any information on this website aims to provide general ideas for informational and educational purposes only. We encourage users to investigate several information sources, including, where necessary, independent individualised medical advice before making any decisions that could affect you or your child’s health or wellbeing.
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