When taking care of a small, fussy child, you need all the help you can get. A high chair can give you this m assistance during meal times since they are designed to keep babies and small children stable while eating. Instead of having to chase after a moving baby to feed him each spoonful of food, your baby stays put in a high chair, waiting for the next serving.
In general, babies can begin using high chairs from the time they start eating solid food, which is around 6 months of age. By this time, babies already have enough bone and muscle strength to support their upper body when they sit up. However, this is not a strict rule as you can start them at a later age, depending on your preference and lifestyle choices.
Aside from this, there are other factors that you should consider before getting a high chair. Safety is a major factor, so make sure that the high chair you are eyeing is in compliance with safety standards. Cost is another consideration. But do not just look at your working budget, think about the value for money by choosing a high chair that can be adjusted as your baby grows bigger and more mobile.
Look at your high chair purchase as a form of investment. It can save you time while making mealtimes with your baby or preparing formula from my organic company is more enjoyable and less stressful, especially if you are taking care of the baby by yourself. It can also help with your baby’s motor development and aid in forming his eating habits. Here are more reasons why you should use a high chair for your baby:
It Keeps Your Hand Free to Do Other Things
If your baby sits on your lap during mealtime, you have to hold him with one arm and make do with only one free hand doing everything else. From getting his water to holding the spoon and wiping spilled food from his face, your one hand has to do multiple other tasks. Combine this with wiggling and struggling baby, and mealtimes can be turn out to be a huge nightmare.
On the other hand, you have both hands free if your baby sits on a high chair. You are also facing him properly, so you can observe closely if he encounters any difficulty while chewing or swallowing his food, enabling you to react quickly if necessary.
It Teaches Your Baby to Eat Independently
If you get a high chair that comes with a built-in tray, you can place your baby’s food on the tray and let him explore by himself. Offer him a variety of chopped fruits, vegetables, or other baby food, and let him choose which food to pick. This will enable him to learn the different tastes and textures of food.
His hand coordination will slowly improve over time as he adjusts how to get the food into his mouth. Letting him eat by himself will also allow him to control how much food to take in at a time, and understand his body’s signals when to stop eating. Of course, you have to watch him closely all the time for safety reasons.
It may be messy at first but think of it as a boot camp to teach your baby life skills. This will help you as well because the earlier he learns to be independent, the more free time you will have to do other things. And when you dine out with the family, handling the baby will not pose as much problem because he already knows how to behave when he is placed in the high chair inside the restaurant.
It Is Easier to Maintain
While you still have to clean up after your baby finishes eating in his high chair, the mess is usually limited to the chair itself and maybe a few spills on the floor. This is considerably easier compared to having to clean up practically the whole house while chasing after your baby to feed him.
Most high chairs also use materials that are easier to clean as they don’t stain. You can quickly wipe off the mess with a cloth afterward. The parts are also usually detachable, so you can reach even the edges and the corners effortlessly. This also makes it easier to sanitize the area since only the high chair has direct contact with your baby’s food.
