Reclining Highchairs - do I need one?

[HonkyTonka]

I'm looking at getting a wooden high chair for LO. People rave about the reclining functions of their highchairs, so I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake in getting a chair that doesn't.

LO is a bit wobbly while sitting, but will be pretty solid soon.
I'd like to use the chair for her to eat with us at meal time, and occasionally during the day when I need to cook or something.

Advice?

[Knitting Mama]

I don't see the need for one, especially because I did not start solids with my daughter until she was solidly sitting independently (amongst other signs). For the occasional place for baby to sit while I was working in the kitchen, I used her bouncy seat.

[memz]

I have a reclining highchair, but have never used it reclined....If you wait until your LO can support himself well enough, I don't see why you would need it to recline....

[MaerynPearl]

The one I had with DS and DD1 was reclining. I agree, its really a useless feature. I didn't do BLW with them and I still never reclined it.

[tsfairy]

I used a wooden booster with both my boys. Even when they weren't super-stable sitters yet, they liked to be at the table with us and the chair was enough to keep them upright. Reclining high-chairs don't make sense to me unless you're dealing with special needs or feeding solids way too young.

[MJB]

Yeah, I don't get it either. None of my 3 have needed their high chair to recline. They aren't supposed to sleep in it!

[SeattleRain]

OP I'm trying to make the same decision. I feel like people aren't reading your post, you're looking for somewhere to put baby while you're cooking etc and your baby doesn't sit super well yet. You're not talking about using the highchair as a feeding center just yet right?

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by SeattleRain

OP I'm trying to make the same decision. I feel like people aren't reading your post, you're looking for somewhere to put baby while you're cooking etc and your baby doesn't sit super well yet. You're not talking about using the highchair as a feeding center just yet right?

In the OP it says that she wants it both as a place for her to eat during mealtime and an occasional place to hang out.

[Artichokie]

by the time my dd was ready for solids she was fully sitting up alone. As for a place to sit while cooking, I put her in a bouncy chair inside her cosleeper (which was set up in the kitchen).

[P.J.]

Originally Posted by SeattleRain

OP I'm trying to make the same decision. I feel like people aren't reading your post, you're looking for somewhere to put baby while you're cooking etc and your baby doesn't sit super well yet. You're not talking about using the highchair as a feeding center just yet right?

nak

Even so, within a very short time the baby will be sitting unassisted so there wouldn't be a need for the recliner. I say it's not worth it to pay more or not buy the one you want just based on this one feature you'll probably only use for a couple months at most.

DS is about a week younger than your baby and similarly is close to sitting up alone. I put him in a high chair in a store this weekend and he sat fine in it w/out reclining. He also can sit fine strapped into his upright stroller. I don't really get why a baby would need to recline in a high chair unless you're using it for naps.

[whozeyermamma]

I'd vote no too ... I'll add that I got the reclining model that attaches to your existing chair - assuming that DS could hang in it while we ate, while I cooked, etc. He will sit in it sometimes but most times he doesn't like it as much as the bouncy seat b/c his legs are kind of fixed in place - with the bouncy he can kick and scootch more.

That said, I do like the one I have b/c it attaches to the chair and looks nice. It's the Fisher Price SpaceSaver.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

I don't see the need for one, especially because I did not start solids with my daughter until she was solidly sitting independently (amongst other signs). For the occasional place for baby to sit while I was working in the kitchen, I used her bouncy seat.

this. We've only used the recline on our chair once, when ds miraculously fell asleep in there on his own.

That being said, I do appreciate the padding and price on our cheapy high chair. And the fact that it doesn't show chew marks.

[sunnygir1]

I don't think you'll need it. You said your lo was still a little wobbly; I assume that means when seated. You can probably just cram a receiving blanket on one side to add a little support if needed. I agree with a pp that I didn't really use a high chair until they were eating (i.e. no need to recline) and I always used the bouncy seat or a sling for a place to hang out while I worked.

[JudiAU]

Reclining high chairs are really for the super early solids feeders. I.e. the baby is nowhere close to sitting up on their own when they start rice.

Actually, the whole thing makes me sad. I would skip the high chair all together and get that little fisher price one that hooks on the chair. Maybe use a booster or that swedish one later.

I really don't think babies should be started until the sit really solidly anyway.

[katelove]

We have a wooden highchair with no recline option. We've been using it since before she could sit well (just to sit at the table with us for meals) by just rolling up a nappy and tucking it around her in a horseshoe shape.

I have also used it once or twice while cooking etc. For that I attach the tray and put some toys on it. She is inclined to lean forward to play rather than back.

[AislinCarys]

DD didn't sit up on her own until very late, around 9 months, after she had started crawling.

But we got a HandySitt, it is Danish, a wood/metal booster seat that you attach to the ordinary chair, and it is recommended from about 6 months I think.

When we first started solids, she self fed and sat in our laps (because that was where she was, anyway), but sometime before 7 months we tried her in the seat, and she loved it and sat really well in it. We are very happy with it!

[Nicole730]

Not necessary, we have the wooden Graco one and really like it. We don't feed our babies until they can sit on their own anyway. Both kids (2.5 and 8 months) will sit in it while I get stuff done around the kitchen.

[Spiralshell]

I guess I'll be the lone voice for the recline feature I have it on our chair and it's great when my son falls asleep while eating a snack. It's super funny -- he'll be munching away, fist full of a fruit chunk or piece of cheese or whatever, then his eyes get droopy, then just like that he's out. It happens once or twice a week. I just recline the chair and leave him there for a little catnap.
(He started doing this around 9-10 months. He's 12 months now. He never did it when starting solids, and back then we usually used the bumbo anyway, not the high chair.)

[marsupial-mom]

I wouldn't use a reclining feature myself. For meals we use a baby booster seat that straps to a regular chair. For naps we use the crib or playpen. When he was really little we used a play chair that reclined, but we never used that for meals. I'm too afraid of choking to even consider a reclining high chair.

[lifeguard]

I've always been curious about that feature myself. We just have a wooden chair but I could never figure out why I would need it to recline anyway.

If they're still not really stable you can always prop them up a little bit with a towel or blanket around them.