[adobe1234]

My LO is about 6 1/2 mos. We started him on solids a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't get him to each much at all in the high chair. Every time I gave him a spoon of food, he would kind of lean his head forward and try to bite on the spoon. Then one day I tried feeding him on my lap. Well, it seems he loves to eat in the same position as when he takes a bottle--leaning back on my lap. I don't know if he just needs time to develop his neck/back muscles more before he's able to get used to the high chair. Has anyone else had this problem?

[arkansas parent]

At that age I always feed our baby in my lap.

[OakShannon]

I fed D in a bouncy seat at that age, so he was reclining a bit. (That was the ONLY time he tolerated a bouncy seat!) Sometimes I held him in my lap, too. I can't remember when we started regularly using a high chair. Probably 8 months.

[Cjmeck]

I too used a bouncy seat at that age. It was just easier and they were more comfortable in that.

[Magic_Hat]

The bumbo seat is working well for feeding our guy who is now 6 mos and not sitting up on his own. But he is starting to arch his back and try to get out of it so we'll probably retire it soon. He will eat sitting on my lap too.

[adobe1234]

Silly me -- I'll try the bouncy seat. My lap is working fine for now too. (BTW I've tried the Bumbo, but it presses on his tummy and makes him throw up a lot-- I think his stomach is too big for it!)
Thanks all.

[sbaglio]

We used the highchair at that age, and it took a bit of time before our DD became used to it. In fact, she ate LESS when on our laps because she quickly figured out that it was easier to wriggle free to play, as opposed to when she was seated and buckled in.

[nurse_reedle]

It sounds to me like he isn't ready for solids.

How will I know when my baby's ready?

Your baby will give you clear signs when he's ready to move beyond liquid-only nourishment. Cues to look for include:

• Head control. Your baby needs to be able to keep his head in a steady, upright position.

• Losing the "extrusion reflex." To keep solid food in his mouth and then swallow it, your baby needs to stop using his tongue to push food out of his mouth.

• Sitting well when supported. Even if he's not quite ready for a highchair, your baby needs to be able to sit upright to swallow well.

• Chewing motions. Your baby's mouth and tongue develop in sync with his digestive system. To start solids, he should be able to move food to the back of his mouth and swallow. As he learns to swallow efficiently, you may notice less drooling. He may also be teething around the same time.

• Significant weight gain. Most babies are ready to eat solids when they've doubled their birth weight (or weigh about 15 pounds) and are at least 4 months old.

• Growing appetite. He seems hungry — even with eight to ten feedings of breast milk or formula a day.

• Curiosity about what you're eating. Your baby may begin eyeing your bowl of rice or reaching for a forkful of fettuccine as it travels from your plate to your mouth.

From Introducing solid foods | BabyCenter , one of the many sites with such a list.

[Biblemom]

Some high chairs will recline. Makes feeding babies MUCH easier!