Child Sized Tables For Eating

[Josiegirl]

I run my daycare out of my own home, it's kinda small but does the job. I use a regular kitchen table but have grown tired of taking climbing tots out of chairs and off the table, for fear they'll get a head banger. I'm kinda toying with the idea of buying a kid-sized table and chairs for them. They'd use it for eating and art and table play, for everything because what I would do is store my kitchen table out of the way. I'm by myself so really have no need of a table anyways(I could do without if I had to).
Plus it would do away with booster seats and high chairs(except for really little ones).

Any thoughts or ideas about this? Drawbacks? Do the dcks actually stay at the table when needed to? Would it work for 12 months up to 4 yo?

Thanks so much for you help!!

[Shell]

I actually have both- a regular adult table with the booster chairs and a kid table with chairs. I put the younger kids in the boosters until I feel they are ready to join the bigger kids at the table.

In my experience, it's a little before two years old that they can be trusted to sit and stay at the table. When I worked in centers, they had these little wooden chairs with a buckle, like a seat belt for the toddlers and those worked very well.

I don't know if we're allowed to use those- and they are super expensive. I use these kid chairs I found at target last year that are kind of deep and have sides that the kids can rest their elbows on. The older kids get those yellow plastic chairs that almost everyone has- little tykes maybe?

Kids that grow up here transition quickly to the chair and do fine. But, I just had a 2 yr old that started and has a high chair at home- she's no Where near ready to sit for more than 40 seconds, but I keep trying because I am sick of the booster chairs.

Hth!

[Unregistered]

I have a child sized wooden table and chairs set that sits six children (daycare space separate from main living area) for meals and art, etc. I've never had a problem with children leaving the table without being excused during meals. My lunch lasts 30-45 minutes depending on the meal and conversations the children are having, and they sit there the entire time until I'm done cleaning up, and they are called to potty and wash up for nap. I have 18 months-4 year olds. One I had as an infant, I started sitting him at the table when he turned 1 years old and could eat regular food and feed himself. I think it helps that I model by sitting and eating with them in my own chair.

[NoMoreJuice!]

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=33806356&cagpspn=plab_18171224&camp=PLAPPCG-_-PID18171224:BRUS&eESource=CAPLA_DF:33806356:TRUS

I have these, but they're all in red. I have twelve kids though, so three tables. We have assigned seating (implemented to avoid fights over "spots") and it works like a charm! My youngest is 19 months and climbs on/off her chair very easily. My oldest is 5 and is starting to outgrow it with her long legs, but she'll be off to Kindergarten in the fall.

[Laurel]

I run my daycare out of my own home, it's kinda small but does the job. I use a regular kitchen table but have grown tired of taking climbing tots out of chairs and off the table, for fear they'll get a head banger. I'm kinda toying with the idea of buying a kid-sized table and chairs for them. They'd use it for eating and art and table play, for everything because what I would do is store my kitchen table out of the way. I'm by myself so really have no need of a table anyways(I could do without if I had to).
Plus it would do away with booster seats and high chairs(except for really little ones).

Any thoughts or ideas about this? Drawbacks? Do the dcks actually stay at the table when needed to? Would it work for 12 months up to 4 yo?

Thanks so much for you help!!

I used high chairs longer than I probably should have but as long as they fit in them, they went in them. Then they moved to the regular dining room table (with younger ones still in high chairs). However, my provider friend used a little plastic picnic table. I used a plastic picnic table outside because I found that using any kind of kiddie chairs usually resulted in them moving the chairs around, trying to stand on them, tipping them back. I thought it was a pain.

BUT her picnic table worked well. I thought she had a pretty ingenious idea for the littlest ones. She bought some molded plastic children's outdoor seats with arms. The kind that are meant for the patio. The key was the arms to support a one year old and to have a back so they wouldn't fall off the bench backwards. What she did is slip the two front legs of the chair over the picnic bench seat so then it was right up to the table yet they were sitting supported with a back but still with the older children. I think it worked for her because she sat there the whole time with the kids. Personally, I'd rather move around while they eat or eat myself. I didn't like that she had to sit there the whole time in order to keep reminding someone not to touch someone else's plate or knock over someone else's drink, etc. I much prefer high chairs until they are old enough/tall enough to sit at the dining room table. But that is just a preference I guess. IF I were to do a little table though it would definitely be a picnic table type. No loose chairs for me. At other times, they were a hassle.

Laurel

[spedmommy4]

My group is 18 months to 5 years old. I use these amazing adjustable resin tables sold on costco.com. They are made by ECR for kids, are $119, and come with 4 chairs. (No shipping costs) I set it about mid height and my littles and older kids are all able to eat and do projects at the table. I even scored some extra larger child care chairs at the costco store for $13 a piece. If you don't have a membership, it's something to look into. They have tons of stuff online for childcare and shipping is included in the price.

[jenboo]

I love my child size tables!!! The kids love sitting at them... I hated boosters.
I have one table that fits the older kids (2 and up) and one that fits the little guys (under 2).
I feed infants in a bumbo until they can sit unassisted then I move them to the little table. The chairs are not even 6 in off the ground so my under 1's fit just fine.
I hate the space high chairs and boosters take up... Plus I'm all about independence!

[Josiegirl]

My group is 18 months to 5 years old. I use these amazing adjustable resin tables sold on costco.com. They are made by ECR for kids, are $119, and come with 4 chairs. (No shipping costs) I set it about mid height and my littles and older kids are all able to eat and do projects at the table. I even scored some extra larger child care chairs at the costco store for $13 a piece. If you don't have a membership, it's something to look into. They have tons of stuff online for childcare and shipping is included in the price.

Are these what you've got?

http://www.costco.com/48%22-Resin-Table-with-4-Resin-Chairs.product.100047646.html

That would be perfect for the group I have right now! Do you think they'd fit 13 month olds? It says for ages 3+ but I know the 2 tots I have now would be fine with them. But I'm supposed to get 13 month twins the end of the summer and just wonder how they'd do. Hmmm...

Jenboo, where'd you get the shorter chairs? Maybe I could pick up 2 of those to add.

[Gemma]

I run my daycare out of my own home, it's kinda small but does the job. I use a regular kitchen table but have grown tired of taking climbing tots out of chairs and off the table, for fear they'll get a head banger. I'm kinda toying with the idea of buying a kid-sized table and chairs for them. They'd use it for eating and art and table play, for everything because what I would do is store my kitchen table out of the way. I'm by myself so really have no need of a table anyways(I could do without if I had to).
Plus it would do away with booster seats and high chairs(except for really little ones).

Any thoughts or ideas about this? Drawbacks? Do the dcks actually stay at the table when needed to? Would it work for 12 months up to 4 yo?

Thanks so much for you help!!

I use only child size tables in my daycare, the kids stay sitting down, if they want to eat!
I push the highchair close to the table, to give the younger kids the starting feeling and table manner lessons, so that they learn how they are expected to behave, once they move from highchair to regular chair.

[jenboo]

Are these what you've got?

http://www.costco.com/48%22-Resin-Table-with-4-Resin-Chairs.product.100047646.html

That would be perfect for the group I have right now! Do you think they'd fit 13 month olds? It says for ages 3+ but I know the 2 tots I have now would be fine with them. But I'm supposed to get 13 month twins the end of the summer and just wonder how they'd do. Hmmm...

Jenboo, where'd you get the shorter chairs? Maybe I could pick up 2 of those to add.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004HWS6OY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1428168512&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&keywords=wooden+toddler+chairs&dpPl=1&dpID=41RQ9bKFIHL&ref=plSrch

I purchased the 6" size

[spedmommy4]

Yes, these are it. I don't know where they came up with the three plus recommendation. The chairs are actually perfectly sized for an 18-30 month old. My three year olds usually grab the bigger chairs and move them to this table.

Are these what you've got?

http://www.costco.com/48%22-Resin-Table-with-4-Resin-Chairs.product.100047646.html

That would be perfect for the group I have right now! Do you think they'd fit 13 month olds? It says for ages 3+ but I know the 2 tots I have now would be fine with them. But I'm supposed to get 13 month twins the end of the summer and just wonder how they'd do. Hmmm...

Jenboo, where'd you get the shorter chairs? Maybe I could pick up 2 of those to add.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I have two flip-up tables attached to my kitchen walls (mine were $20 at ikea, solid wood; I see they've altered the design a bit and they're now $40), which I attached as low as they would go. The kids sit on child-sized chairs (free kindergarten cast-offs; nice old wood ones; I scored!!) and I sit on an ottoman so I am low but comfortable. When I started out, my kids were 2 months-2 1/2 years. Now they are 1 1/2-10 years. It has worked for everyone. When the babies were ready to start solids, they sat on my lap until they could sit well in a chair (I only had took one little infant at a time). Soon they were sitting in a chair, and I used this cool thing my sister gave me--a wide fabric belt-like thing that velcroed around the child and the back of the chair--for a little added support. But by a year or so they were just fine sitting with us. I also find that a silicone hot pad makes a great non-slip surface for a young child who has a hard time not sliding around on a seat. Also, my littlest ones do tend to kneel on the chairs, which I allow so they'll be tall enough (but I do ask them to sit on their feet, not kneel up tall). New kids of all ages have a hard time staying at the table--I think a lot of kids are allowed to roam as they eat at home. Not here. They learn quickly that they are expected to stay at the table to eat.

[Controlled Chaos]

I got my table at Ikea, it has adjustable legs and I can fit 6 at it, but I got 2 so I can do four at a table to give them more space. I got bright stacking chairs from Amazon. I love them.

[Blackcat31]

I bought 8 oak child sized chairs from my Head Start center (when I quit working there) and my DH took an old matching oak table that he had in the garage as a poker table (before kids...LOL!) and cut it down to a shorter height. It works awesome for my needs at daycare.

I also have a small table with 2 chairs (Fisher Price...I think ?) that I use for my couple older kids.

I also have booster seats on two of the oak chairs instead of high chairs so the littles can sit with everyone at meal time since we eat more family style.

Here is an old picture of my table:

[Unregistered]

high chairs

I use preschool sized table and chairs for the older kids, and my babies and toddlers use these:

http://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Worldwide-Secure-Sitter-Feeding/dp/daycarecom/B00GICZA3G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1428299491&sr=8-2&keywords=foundations+high+chair

I didn't want tall high chairs. These are great because the little ones feel included in the meal and I feel they are a lot safer (no tipping, no kids falling out, no worry about a kid climbing in to it when they shouldn't)