High chair entertainment?

[newmamalizzy]

DD (7.5months) probably spends about 30 - 40 minutes in her high chair throughout the day as I cook, clean & have supper.  I generally time myself for 5 minutes so she doesn't get bored, but she generally gets bored anyway.  Any suggestions for things I can give her to keep her occupied?  I've tried cups, spoons, wooden spoons (she loves those), measuring cups, spatulas, and many of her regular toys, but she's always dropping them and ends up toyless. 

[tzs]

the only thing that worked for us...honestly....was food. is that horrible? cheerios lasted the longest. my neice can sit in that chair for what seems like hours but she's got 4 siblings running around to entertain her.

[waiting2bemommy]

second this, my mom who babysat ds at that age used to put him in his seat just to keep him confined, then she would just move the seat from room to room. I finally found out she was doign it because suddenyl with me he would scream if I tried to sit him down to eat, or put him in his carseat or anywhere confined. i don't have a problem with exersaucers and stuff in moderation but I feel that the highchair should be used for eating

I put dd in her booster chair at breakfast, lunch and dinner for about 30 minutes each and she is eating the entire time. She self-feeds so it takes a while. This gives me a chance to cook (she munches cheerios or will very rarely be entertained by a spatula or something) and serve everyone else, and get started cleaning up.

She does snack during the day in her booster seat, probably twice a day, but I really try to resist the idea of feeding her to make her be quiet or leave me alone so I can do something. It is very tempting, but i don't want to start those kinds of eating behaviors (I am an emotional eater, luckily I have a fast metabolism and don't gain weight, but still). It might be silly but I just want dd to associate the highchair with meal times with her dad and brother and I and not a place that I stick her so that she can be ignored.

[sageowl]

When mine was at this stage, I have a stash of yogurt cups, jar lids, etc.  (Babies love this kind of crap, so instead of recycling, it, I'd hang on to it).  I'd give the babe a few at a time to play with, and when he'd drop them on the floor, I've give him a few more, (repeat til they're gone).  I never picked them up, just let him go through what was there, handing him a few at a time.  When he had thrown all of them on the floor, we were "done", and I'd pick them up with my gripper stick (why bend over if you don't have to?) and we'd move on to some other diversion.  I refer to this activity as the gravity testing laboratory, and it would buy me a good 15 minutes.  I mainly used it as a way of entertaining the babe while I was sweeping the floor or cooking.

[newmamalizzy]

Unfortunately DD doesn't eat yet, so that option's out for the moment.  I agree, though, that when she does start eating I'd like for that chair to be used for eating moreso than diversion.  Hopefully she'll be more versatile by then and I'll find some other way to occupy her while I do these chores.  I do try not to ignore her when she's in the chair.  I sing stupid songs while I clean and dance around with the dishes and stuff.  That's why I like the high chair - having her close to my height enhances our ability to interact.  I like the idea of having a large stash of stuff that I don't have to pick up until.  I'm going to search around to see if I can put together a kit with stuff I already have!

[mamaladd]

Have you tried breast milk popsicles?  Not only are they good entertainment, but technically they're food too, so they actually are eating in the highchair.

the only other thing that kept my guy's interest in the highchair was our bowl of leftover halloween candy.  The crinkly nature of the individually wrapped candies intrigued him for a couple weeks!

[snoopy5386]

Ice cubes in the mesh feeder are very popular here.

[hakeber]

I tied the toys to the arm of the chair with colored ribbons and showed DD how to pull them up if she wanted them again.  This has offered her endless hours of fun and serious giggles.  But maybe my baby is weird,

[katelove]

We have one of those hoop thingies that clamps to the handles of a stroller and has toys dangling from it. We use the clamps to attach it to the high chair tray. The toys are velcroed on so you can swap them around. And DH put ome clothes pegs on and she thinks they are the greatest things ever :)