For wearing a bib at meal times

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.

For sitting in a highchair at home

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court.

a)until they can eat without messing their clothes totally , G is 2.5 and he wears one for breakfast and dinner, lunch isn't so messy

b) until you can COMPLETELY trust them to stay put ... actually, just keep them strapped in, totally safer, if they're small/young enough to be in a buggy, young enough to be strapped

c) until the weight limit?? We have moved G to a chair b/c we need the other highchair for B, but I'd have loved to keep him in there b/c it has straps and he can't climb up and down from the table

d) until they can't fit - if there are spare ones I will use them for G, otherwise not.

my DS (2.5) doesnt have a bib anymore for meals.
he usually walks beside the stroller, even though its a double. i will strap him in if i want to walk quickly though.

we still use high chairs, but i want to phase that out by 3.

For wearing a bib at meal times
Leave it on for as long as possible, lol! My dd objected to it long before WE were ready for her to stop wearing it, so had to live with messy clothes for a while.

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.
They should always be strapped into the stroller if they are *in* the stroller, but as for how old is too old to be *in* a stroller, full stop, I guess it depends on the child. Mine were generally kicked out around 2-3 but I can see the value in having them strapped in when you are in a busy place like a mall, especially if you have a bolter. I do admit that I think 3 is a bit old to be in a stroller generally, though...but that's just me...meh, whatevah...yanno?

For sitting in a highchair at home
Keep them in it for as long as they fit. We have an old skool wooden one, so dd grew out of it before she might have grown out of a modern bells-n-whistles one, so a booster seat with straps was her transition high chair.

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court. If they still fit in it, and don't object loudly and violently to being in it, then keep using it.

My answers are not when they are too old, just when we stopped doing them.

For wearing a bib at meal times
Probably about 18 months.

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.
We stopped using a stroller at the mall when DS was about 3 because he was over the weight limit.

For sitting in a highchair at home
We stopped using the high chair really early, it was not that long after his 1st birthday that he started just sitting at the big table with us. Just because the highchair was big and got in the way and he wasn't one for running away from the table or anything like that.

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court. I think we stopped using cafe ones about 18months, just because they are usually quite small and DS was a big baby.

Bib - Till I couldnt be bothered walking to the room to get them out anymore

Pram - Till they protested ... Sayla was 2 - and she rides her running bike everywhere - including the mall - as while she might not get to go *fast* it gives her somewhere to sit, and we dont get the "my legs are tired - caarryyyy me". Ive had some funny looks about her running bike in the mall / supermarket - but I dont care .... no one has actually told me she *cant* ride it yet ... so she does ... and shes very good and sticking beside (unlike the boys who used to hoon and roll over the backs of peoples ankles when they looked behind to see where I was )

Highchair at home ... we switched to the half chair on the chair - and she has just given that up at 3.5 ... but I wish she was still in it !!!

Highchair out - if there is one, Ill grab it ... only cause its higher and easier for her to eat in it !!!

For wearing a bib at meal times DD 3.3yrs stopped wearing one about 6months ago. Some meals ie spag & meatballs I would like her to wear one but whatever ha

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall. My eldest hardly ever goes in pushchair, hasnt much since DD2 was born, but if she does she straps herself in (obsessed with latches)

For sitting in a highchair at home I love the highchair! DD1 was in ours until DD2 needed it so DD1 was about 2.5 when she stopped using it. I don't think DD2 will be in it as long as she HAS to do what big sis is doing

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court. When they can comfortably & safely sit on a chair

Our 2 year old still wears a bib for breakfast coz the milk always dribbles down his pjs otherwise! and we put one on our 4 year old very occasionally if it's something that will stain (but not in public LOL).

I still put our older one in the pram sometimes if i'm going to be looking in the shops a lot, otherwise he gets bored and starts getting silly. But, i'm slowly getting out of that habit now and getting him to hold onto the pram instead.

We ditched the highchair at around 1, when they were old enough to sit safely in a kids chair. Perhaps a little later in a cafe, as their chairs were higher.

Thanks for the answers. With DD1 now being 3 I was wondering if I was being a mean mother and still getting her do all the above things in my oringinal post.

She doesn't protest to wearing a bib and will happily put it on herself. Saves food going all over her clothes.

I still put her into the stroller when at the mall and other busy places because if she's in there then I know where she is. Plus it won't take all day to walk from one end of the mall to the other plus she can't get to everything in shops to touch and pull on. She's normally pretty good at sitting in it. I guess it would be different if I only had the 1 but having to watch that she is staying with me as well as me manovering the stroller around the place doesn't sound like a very pleasant time.

Walking to kindy I'm ok with her walking. Its a quite area plus she is learning to stop and wait when I ask her to and to stay near me. Quite often on the way home though she will hope into the stroller as she is tired.

At home she has been out of the high chair since about a year due to small kitchen but when we brought it back out again for DD2 she would like to sit in it too. Even now she will still want to sit in it and I'll have to put DD2 in the booster seat on the dining chair. I actually don't mind that as even with the booster seat she still looks small sitting at the table esp when eating out of her bowl. Would be easier for her if she was up a bit higher. (And thats with a cushion under the booster seat too.) I've been considering getting a couple of those Mocka chairs (the ones without the tray) for the girls but they're kinda pricey.

When in a foodcourt I still put DD2 in a highchair and I prefer to put DD1 in one too esp if DH isn't with me but I feel guilty for having 2 highchairs. I just have to watch her like a hawk to make sure she doesn't get down from the table and go shopping on her own.
In the likes of KFC for example because of their booths she is 'blocked' in so she can't escape. Still is on the short side for the table though. I will but DD2 in a highchair for a while yet til I can trust her to sit on a chair better and when she can reach the table.

For wearing a bib at meal times

I gave up putting bibs on DD when she was about 1 years old.

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.

Hard to say, as between 2yrs - 3yrs I was pregnant most of the year - and it was just alot easier on my back to have her in her in the MB.

For sitting in a highchair at home

Ditched the highchair at about 2 years old.

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court.

I never do - I generally would have her sitting in her buggy, or in a chair.

Ten.

For wearing a bib at meal times

I gave up putting bibs on DD when she was about 1 years old.

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.

We never really used our strollers as Katie likes to walk or be on her daddy's shoulders.

For sitting in a highchair at home

Sold the highchair when she was 9 months old.

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court.

I never do as we don't eat out due to her severe food allergies and the risk of contamination.

DS still wears bibs for messy type food (eg spaghetti)

Stroller: I wouldn't use it for the mall anymore but use it for big walks all the time.

Highchair we just sold ours a week ago as we are moving, otherwise he'd still be in it for a while yet. He's too little to sit at the big table with us without sitting on phone books/booster seat.

Out for food we use a booster seat if there's one available otherwise he goes in the highchair-but only really because otherwise he can't reach the table properly.

For wearing a bib at meal times
I wasn't very good at bibs - always found it just as easy to change a shirt. The boys wore them at their nana's until they were about 1?

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.
Didn't do this much either. My boys always complained if in the stroller, so if we took it it was mostly used for carrying bags.

For sitting in a highchair at home
Don't remember when we gave up on these.

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court.
I don't think I ever bothered to use them. I put my kids on my knees when they were babies, and on a seat when old enough.

But your question is really when are they are too old. I guess when they are too old they will let you know by refusing to cooperate?

For wearing a bib at meal times
When I got sick of washing them. Sometime around one year old. But sometimes if things are super messy I'll still put a bib on DS3.

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.
I can't stand my kids running away from me and getting lost, and touching everything in the shops - it does my head in. So usually I strap them in. Once they're too old they either need to behave themselves or stay at home.

For sitting in a highchair at home
Out by one and sitting at their own chairs and table or at the big table with us. DS3 was an exception due to the allergies - he joined us on a big chair at the table at around 20months.

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court.
Under 18months we might have used a highchair but mostly they were on my knee or in the pushchair or on a big chair when old enough. A cafe highchair would be extremely risky for DS3 so he is still strapped into his pushchair to eat in cafe (on the very rare occassions that we go).

I don't think you sound like a mean mummy at all.

For wearing a bib at meal times
As long as they tolerate it. Mine used to fight to the bitter end from about the age of one (right around the time they wanted to feed themselves lol) however now I can usually get DD1 to wear one if she's doing something messy.

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.
Depends what I am doing. If we are just doing a wander and time isn't an issue then I don't mind having DD walk (she is two years old). If I am on a schedule and can't afford to chase after or prevent imminent disaster then I'll strap her in. While I was pregnant I stopped walking with her as she would take off and I had less confidence in my ability to catch her.

For sitting in a highchair at home
Until the other child needs the highchair I moved DD out earlier than DS but she went into a booster with straps. DS is 4 and sits in a booster without straps, and DD is strapped into hers.

For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court.
Depends entirely on the child. DS was always fine sitting in the buggy or highchair but was like a jack in a box in a chair so I put that off as long as possible. DD is okay-ish, as long as she has something to eat and drink that she likes. Probably past two and if DD gets too antsy we strap her into the buggy or a highchair if we can.

I don't think you sound like a mean mummy either! I think you should do whatever makes life easier for yourself. The stroller, for example, is all about containment if you have a bolter, or a dawdler, or a compulsive toucher-of-everything-that-is-not-nailed-down. If she starts making a fuss about it, then stop doing it. Roll with it dude!

Sometimes I wish my DD still wore a bib and fit in a push chair. She's a messy eater, and gets dreamy when out and wanders off without realising it. She's 11.

For wearing a bib at meal times
- I stopped when they started pulling it off themselves which from memory was sometime after 1yo but before 18 months.

For being strapped into the stroller in busy places such as the mall.
- Depends on safety. DS is 2yo and still gets strapped in unless I have another adult on hand to watch him 1 on 1. If I am there early and it is empty I might let him have a wander.

For sitting in a highchair at home
We just took DS out about 2 months ago and his is on a booster.


For sitting in a highchair when out and about such as a cafe or food court.
Always still for DS - he is a wriggly bum and if left he would roam the cafe and get into trouble......hehehe.....


So much depends on the kid. Some kids are small for there age and need the highchair/stroller longer than others and some kids have more compliant natures so walking in a mall is not a problem...........and I am all for whatever makes life easier for mum - that is the most important thing.

DS1 (3.5y) stopped wearing a bib a few months ago. It was just habit really. Although last night we had spaghetti and I put one on him. He doesn't mind either way.

He will still go strapped in the buggy at the mall. If he gets out (like if we stop for coffee etc) he tends to want to walk after that. We have a P&T and DS2 will be in there still.

Highchair at home - we have a picopico wooden highchair and at about 18 months we removed the tray so it sat at the normal dining table - and he still sits on that (goes up to age 6+). DS2 (12 months) has one too and I'm thinking of removing his tray soon so he can sit at the proper table with us.

Highchair at the mall - hmmm not sure when DS1 stopped using one of those, but I'd say probably around age 2? They are quite small (narrow) those highchairs so I suspect kids don't fit them too long.