The Learning Hub

Mealtimes, demystified.

Evidence-informed, plainly written guides on starting solids, high chair safety and eating out, because a good chair is only half of good mealtimes.

The first five years at the table

Milestones, meal by meal.

Swipe through what's happening at each stage, and how the chair keeps up. Every baby moves at their own pace; your child health nurse is the expert on yours.

~6 months

First tastes

Head steady, sitting with support, watching every forkful: the classic readiness signs. Expect more wearing than eating. That's learning.

Baby Chair mode: cushion, Back Plate Support, harness, tray.

7–9 months

Little explorers

Grabbing, squishing and gumming finger foods as the pincer grip develops. Mess is the curriculum.

The tray wipes down, or goes straight in the dishwasher.

~12 months

Self-feeders

Spoon experiments begin, most of them upside down. Confidence matters more than accuracy.

Same seat, same routine. Babies eat better in seats they know.

~18 months

Up to the table

Toddlers want in on the family meal, not a sideline seat. Watching you eat is how they learn to.

Tray off, chair pulled up, eating from the table like everyone else.

2–3 years

Big-kid ambitions

Cutlery gets serious, opinions get louder. Sitting well through a meal is the new skill.

Toddler Seat mode: cushion retired, booster height, 25 kg rating.

To 5 years

One of the family

A confident eater with their own seat at every table: home, café and grandma's.

Then hand it down: warranty transfers to second owners.

Starting solids

Is your baby ready for a high chair? The signs that matter

Australian guidance says start solids around 6 months. Learn the readiness signs: head control, supported sitting and real interes…

4 min read →

Safety

High chair safety at home and out: what the standards actually mean

EN 16120, AS/NZS 8124.3, harness rules and the right chair underneath: a plain-English guide to chair-mounted seat safety for Aust…

5 min read →

Out & about

Eating out with a baby: the 2 kg trick that changes everything

Cafés without high chairs, holiday rentals, the grandparents' place: how a 2 kg portable high chair that fits under the pram makes…

4 min read →

These guides are general information, not medical advice. For advice about your baby's feeding and development, talk to your child health nurse or GP.