High chairs are not just for eating! High chairs can also be used for a variety of games and activities.
I often put my son in his high chair while I cook or clean the kitchen. With little preparation and money, your little one can stay busy and engaged while sitting safely in his high chair. The high chair is a great place to entertain baby because it can be moved anywhere you are, so he can always be in your eyesight.
Here are a 17 activities your baby can do in his high chair!
Ice Cubes – Freeze giant ice cubes in clean plastic tubs, such as yogurt or butter, or in plastic cubs. Place a few ice cubes in front of your baby and let them explore. Watch the ice and make sure to pick it up before it becomes small enough to put into your baby’s mouth.
Paint – Put a few dabs of yogurt on the tray and let them “paint” with it. For added color you can either add food coloring or mix some of their baby food puree with the yogurt.
Noodles – Put a handful of cooked noodles on the tray for your baby to play with.
Utensil Drums – Give your baby some common household utensils such as spatula, wooden spoon or brush. Let them “drum” and bang until their little hearts are content. Be prepared, this one is noisy!
Rings – The metal rings on canning jars are the perfect size for baby to play with. He can put them on his wrist and wear them or bang them (my son likes to bang anything and everything)!
Sand Play – Put edible sand into a bowl and let baby play and explore. Be prepared for the sand to be taken out of the bowl and put onto the tray and floor.
Muffin Tin Play – Put 8 or 9 objects in a muffin tin. The object can be anything safe that fits into the tins such as blocks of balls. You will want to leave a few of the spaces empty so they can transfer the objects from one space to another.
Shoe box and Baby Food Lids – Cut a hole in an old shoe box wide enough for the baby lids to fit in. Any lid would do but the metal lids make the best noise when they bang into each other.
Water Table – Put water on the tray and let your baby splash. around. Give him some water toys or milk bottle tops and watch him play and cool off.
Mess Free Painting – Get a canvas and put a few dabs of paint on it. Then wrap the canvas in saran wrap or put it in a zip lock bag. Your baby then can smoosh the paint without you worrying about the mess.
Shaving Cream – Spray some shaving cream on the tray and let your baby play. For fun you can add some food coloring or glitter.
Sensory Bag – Fill a bag with body wash and confetti. Seal the bag with packing tape. Let your baby play with the bag knowing you will be mess free. Or simply fill a plastic bag with crushed ice cubes and watch your baby play.
Jell-O Play – Fill a tub with jell-o. Let your baby touch it, play with it and eat it.
Easter Egg Shakers – Fill plastic Easter eggs with a variety of different small objects such as brown rice, kidney beans or lima beans. Seal the eggs with electrical tape and let the baby make music.
Treasure Box – Create a treasure box with a variety of objects for your baby to play with and explore such as large shells or pine cones, different lengths and textures of ribbon and chunky bracelets. Change some or all the object every few times to keep your baby interested.
Edible Play dough – Let your baby play with edible play dough. You can also give your baby alphabet dough cutters and let them spell words with the play dough.
Watermelon – Give your baby or toddler a piece of watermelon, a spoon (or several different sized spoons) and a plate. Watch your baby spoon out pieces of the watermelon and enjoy eating it.