11 Month Old Screaming in Highchair

I learn so much from moms! C., this is such great advice! Yes, children who are 11 months are beginning to show independence. as mom's we worry about them "eating right" and getting enough of the good foods. As a parenting education specialist and a parent of three young adult sons I suggest as others have to give him his own spoon, try to "get in" as much as you can and enjoy the ride! 6 months to 18 months is a hoot and holler time! He will be fine. One of my sons who proclaimed as a child he was "allergic to green foods" is now a vegetation and cannot get enough greens! Enjoy and hang on for the ride!
E. S.

Oh yeah, this is way normal. One spoon for him, one spoon for you. Welcome to the mess of toddlerhood!

My son, also 11 months old, did the same thing. (We don't actually use a real highchair for him. We use a booster chair with a tray) He started doing once he was old enough to sit in the high chairs at restuarants. I think he likes to be in the chairs that fit againts the table, rather than using the tray. You should try to push the chair close to the table and let him eat his meals with you at the table. He may like that.

Very normal, my daughter is 13 months old and she went thru the same stage as well...just try to get one of those toys that attaches to the high chair and he will have more fun...also give him his own empty bowl and spoon, so that he feels like he is doing things his way...right around that age they think they can do everything and anything without help...but he will settle down later on!

Hi C., I went throught the same experience with my daughter who is now 17 months old. She was probably about 10-11 months old when she started throwing tantrums with the highchair. I at times had to hold her down for a little while until she sat and I was able to strap her in. I honestly believe it's a phase they go through and maybe also testing us to see how much they can get way with. That's at least might thought. I'm also going to check out the stay at home mom job website. I've been looking to do something and maybe it's of an interested. Thank you for that information.
Liz

i agree with everyone else, just give him the spoon, he may be tring to feed him self and making a big mess but i know i'd rather clean up the mess then have him cry and not eat (plus you'll have to deal with the mess at some point)

Hi C. - it is normal for an 11 month old to scream and holler at this age - he is looking for a little independence. I think you giving him his own spoon is a great idea - (it worked for me with my kids) and little by little they were so involved with trying to feed themselves that the screaming and hollering ceased...

Why dont u try a booster seat. My son just turned 1 and has been sitting in a booster chair and he loves it.

hey,
my son went through the same thing....he wants to be indepent...soon hell want to do everything on his own....my son will let me feed him if and only if he has a spoon to "pretend" hes feeding himself....its not so bad once you get used to it....

Hello C.,

YES by all means give im his own spoon. If by him holding his own spoon is going to let you feed him, let him have it. An this is quite normal. I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old and we had similar issues with my 3 year old.

Good Luck...

A. D

the only thing i can suggest that hasn't been suggested yet is either try a booster chair (so he can sit in a big boy chair at the table just like everyone else). also, not only give him the spoon, you can try giving him the kiddie forks, and just put a little pile of foods he can pick up with the fork (or even his hands...my daughter picks them up with the fork, 1/2 go in the mouth with the fork, and the other 1/2 is taken off the fork and put in the mouth by hand...she's been doing that since about 10 months or so). i've definitely learned with her that she eats very little when i insist on being the only one to feed her and not allow her to feed herself too (plus it's much easier to just sneak something in the mouth between them feeding themselves). good luck, if the food suggestion doesn't work, then i'd definitely suggest that you try the booster seat (and even the ones with the table top attached slide under (most) tables so they can either eat off their own table, or the table everyone else is eating off of. good luck.