Is your kid trying to wriggle out of their high chair at every opportunity or resisting getting into their high chair in the first place? Or do you turn your back for one second only to find they’ve stood up from their chair?
Written by: Jessica Diamond MPH, RDN
Is your kid trying to wriggle out of their high chair at every opportunity or resisting getting into their high chair in the first place? Or do you turn your back for one second only to find they’ve stood up from their chair?
This is so common! The first thing to remember is that it’s our job to decide where meals happen. This is something we, as adults, get to decide for our babies and toddlers, and when we make that decision for them, it makes meals more structured and more enjoyable for everyone. (Check out this handout about raising intuitive eaters for more info about the Division of Responsibility and why it’s so important for caregivers to decide the what, where, and when of meals.)
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’ve got a wriggler on your hands:
And with any new issue that arises, especially with eating, we always suggest asking yourself, “Why are they doing it?” Approaching these kinds of problems with curiosity keeps us calm and helps us figure out solutions that actually work for your specific situation!
More to Chew On
Check out some of our other resources for how to bring harmony back to mealtimes and raise an independent and intuitive eater!
And if you have a baby, take our Feeding your Baby Solids Course. It covers all the topics and answers questions you didn’t even know you had. The best part is it’s all broken down into short, easy-to-understand videos for you to watch on your own time and at your own pace, even while doing the dishes. It will help you thrive when feeding your little one, we promise! For babies 3+ months old.