Highchair Heyday

Reese has been using her Bumbo chair during meals and for general sitting for several months now. (I know it was labeled 3+months, but she got an early start.) When we first started using the Bumbo it was a lifesaver! She could sit with us at the dinner table or watch while I washed the dishes. It was also the location for all of her first attempts at solid foods. Unfortunately, the Bumbo is no longer suitable for feeding. Reese is simply too active for the Bumbo--if that makes any sense. When placed in it, she immediately starts trying to climb out--either via the front or the side. Even with the tray in place, she manages to get her entire upper body out of the chair and grabs for anything within her reach. When mommy or daddy try to rangle her back into the chair, she screams and then arches her back (and since the Bumbo is backless) throwing herself out of the rear. All of these incidents led to the purchase of Reese's first highchair today. (The Bumbo is staying on hand for other uses and playtime.)

I did some research online and headed to the baby store after Reese's morning nap. I took her to the highchair aisle and proceeded to put her in every model I was willing to purchase. She has some definite preferences. While it wasn't the model I orginally had in mind, we ended up purchasing a Chicco brand highchair (pictured above). It had all the features I was looking for and more (and the Graco model I orginally liked had a fabric seat--talk about staining).

After two trial runs this afternoon (one for a bottle and snack and the other for "dinner") I'm pretty excited about this new phase. The seat of the highchair reclines, so if I give Reese her bottle and recline it slightly she can feed herself! I sit and watch carefully (for now of course) to make sure she doesn't choke, but she holds the bottle with both hands and goes to town. How grown up and independent she's getting! She is also able to sit upright and play with toys on the tray. By far her favorite "feature" of the highchair is that she can look down on Annie (who is always nearby waiting expectantly for crumbs) and pet her head. My only complaint so far is the tray which sticks a little as you slide it in and out, but with use this may improve.