At around six months of age, a child reaches many milestones regarding sitting and eating. Solid foods are generally introduced at this point, and a child begins to imitate the social, verbal and motor skills of others around the table.¹

A child is ready for a chair at around six months when they are able to sit up on their own. Before then, a child's back and spine have not gained the strength to support their heavy head.

Placing a child in a carrier, car seat, stroller or other sitting device before they are ready can cause harmful damage to their spine and back.² The optimal place for a developing child is on the floor where they can strengthen muscles and move about freely.

Chairs with a large, firm and adjustable footrest and seat give the child a place to comfortably shift their weight, using their feet, as well as to balance themselves and improve reach and motor skills (e.g. gripping, moving spoon to mouth). This stabilization and ability to move is critical for comfort and posture. Seated adults naturally shift their body weight every one to two minutes using their feet against floor. Children have the same need, to be seated comfortably.³

A traditional high chair tray often separates the child from a family and does not encourage them to participate in valuable social interactions. Research tells us that the family dinner is an ideal place for language development and social skills to evolve.⁴

Children who eat dinner with their families develop better eating habits later in life, including more fruits and vegetables. Frequent family meals are associated with lower risk of smoking, drug usage and depression among teens.⁵

The ability to enter and exit their chair gives children independence and helps develop a sense of self.

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