[bubbatime]

My DS has had issues sitting in his highchair for a few months so we have moved him to one of those boosters that straps to a normal dining chair, which he loves.

I thought that maybe daycare was sitting him in a highchaair as punishment and that was the reason he refused to sit in a highchair as he saw it as punishment. Well, yesterday I found out that they do strap him in a highchair as a disciplinary measure.

Now I see why he refuses to sit in a highchair at home or sit in the shopping trolley. He thinks he's being disciplined!

Does your daycare do this? DO you think he is making a connection to these things as well?

[lozoodle]

No, and I find that really off that they strap a child in a chair, presumably in the under 2 year old room given there are high chairs, as a form of discipline.

[Jess1983]

My dd isn't at daycare yet so I don't have any experience around that. But my first thought when I read your post was that doesn't sound right. I would definitely be enquiring as to why they use a highchair in that way.

[Jenflea]

How old is he?
Why on earth are they restraining him as discipline? i'd not be happy about that!

[Dylan's Mummy]

It doesn't seem right that they do that. Perhaps you could put a toy on his high chair tray, there area few toys that stand upright and have suction on the bottom that would be perfect for a high chair. You could also try putting some snacks on the tray (loose, not in a box or container, so that they are scattered around the tray) such as sultanas or rice bubbles. You could speak to the day care about how he is now reluctant to sit in his high chair at home and tell the what you do at home if he misbehaves. Also find out what it is that he is doing to receive punishment at day care. This is definitely something I will be finding out about when my bub starts daycare.

This post has been edited by Dylan's Mummu: 26/09/2012, 09:03 AM

[MrsMumma]

I wouldnt be happy that a highchair is being used for time out. It is for eating not for punishment.



I also wouldnt be happy that time out meant being restrained. How old is your DS?

[marnie27]

That's completely inappropriate. They should be using positive guidance techniques, not restraining him. I'd be requesting a meeting with the manager.

[bubbatime]

It sits very uneasily with me. They said yesterday they put him in their as he just gets up from a time out in a corner or on a mat.

I'm really upset by it and I should have said something at the time. I think it's very harsh too, glad I'm not overreacting. No wonder he refuses to sit in a highchair at home!!

And yes, he's under 2 and the room goes from 0-3 years. He otherwise seems extreemly happy there, he runs in and gives his room leader and teacher a hug every morning and is really eager to get in there. He is a very stubborn little thing but surely there is an alternative to strappin ghim in a highchair?

Does anyone know of any alternatives I could take to them?

[Jess1]

No daycare I have used does this and I wouldn't use them if they did. My LO doesn't tend to like highchairs or shopping trolleys either so he may not be making the connection but it is still completely inappropriate for them to use it as discipline anyway.
I'd be organising a sit down meeting pronto.

[Matthias' mum]

I would have thought at that age, they should be using distraction, rather then time out. Most children walk away from the time out spot at that age, and generally you would just keep putting them back till they stay, but that wouldn't really work when there are so many other children to care for.