Guide

Dubai Nightlife: The Best Bars for Women in 2026

The Best Dining Offers in Dubai: Chic Restaurants, Lounges, Beach Clubs and Girls Nights

Sink Into Serenity: Inside Dubai’s Most Luxurious Sand Bath Experience at Cinq Mondes Spa

The Case for Music: Why Dubai’s Expat Mums Are Choosing Aureus

Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series - An Experience They Keep Coming Back To

Top 10 Most Affordable Budget Airlines in the UAE For Your Next Trip

Outdoor Movie Nights Return to JLT Dubai: Cinema Under the Stars Is Back for the Winter Season

Dubai Expat Resident Receives Commemorate Passport Stamp After 60 Years

Dubai Just Launched a Travel Influencer Academy

Classifieds

Jobs

How to Get a UAE Influencer License: Step-By-Step Guide & Requirements

Dubai Announces Pilot Launch of 4-Day Work Week For Employees

UAE Job Loss Insurance Claim Rejected? Here's Why It Could Happen

How to Claim UAE Job Loss Insurance: Eligibility and Step-by-Step Guide

Dubai Ranked Among Top 5 Cities in the World to Work In

Can I Get Fired in the UAE For My Mental Health Condition?

Dubai Dedicates AED 150 Million Government Support Fund For Influencers

How to Deal With Workplace Harassment in the UAE

The UAE's New End-of-Service Programme, Explained for Residents

Events

Don’t Miss It: DAZ Festival 2026 is the Ultimate Family Day Out This April

Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series - An Experience They Keep Coming Back To

Wicked Makes Its Middle East Debut at Dubai Opera and It's Unmissable

Outdoor Movie Nights Return to JLT Dubai: Cinema Under the Stars Is Back for the Winter Season

Real Madrid World is Celebrating World Football Day With AED 199 Tickets

List of UAE Public Holidays in 2025: Announced and Expected Dates

Win Cash Prizes Up to AED 300 For Every Kilo Lost With UAE's Weight Loss Challenge

Eid Al Fitr 2025 in the UAE: When is the Long Weekend?

Ramadan 2025 in Dubai: List of Ramadan Markets to Explore

Education

The Case for Music: Why Dubai’s Expat Mums Are Choosing Aureus

Why Expat Families in the UAE Are Choosing Online School Over Traditional Classrooms

Dubai Private School Hosts Rare Art Exhibition: "Royal Lineage Across a Thousand Years of History"

The Education Plan Every Expat Parent Wishes They’d Started Sooner

Art, Culture, and Inspiration Come Alive: A One-of-a-Kind Celebration at BC Academy

Getting Kids to Cooperate Without Punishment or Rewards - Aware Parenting with Eva from Kisari.Kids

Back-to-School, Reimagined: How UAE Families Are Choosing a Smarter Start to the School Year

Embark on a Summer Adventure at Kids First Group Universe!

Top 5 Online Schools For Expat Families in the Middle East

Money

Divorce in Dubai Explained: A 2026 Guide to UAE Family Law, Custody and Your Rights

The Legal Framework of Real Estate in Dubai

Marital Breakdown & Divorce: A Guide for Expat Mums Living in Dubai and Across the UAE

The Education Plan Every Expat Parent Wishes They’d Started Sooner

How to Pay UAE Fines in Instalments Using Tabby

Hidden Costs of Expat Life in Dubai (and How to Outsmart Them)

UAE Unveils New Official Dirham Symbol, Inspired By the Country's Flag

6 Financial Resolutions to Make for the New Year

Meet Dr. Hassan Elhais: A Pillar of Legal Expertise for Expats in the UAE

Home

The Legal Framework of Real Estate in Dubai

Getting Kids to Cooperate Without Punishment or Rewards - Aware Parenting with Eva from Kisari.Kids

Are "Own Visa" and Freelancer Visa Domestic Workers Legal in the UAE?

Hiring a Maid in the UAE: 5 Legal Red Flags

Ask a UAE Flower Shop: Your Most Common Questions, Answered

FYI Dubai is Banning All Single Use Bags From June 1

Carrefour's 'Choose Better' Programme is Here to Reward Healthier Choices With 10x the Points

Are UAE Domestic Helpers Allowed to Work on a Trial Period and Hired After?

Pet Breeding in the UAE: Is it Allowed and Where to Find Legal Pet Breeders

Car

How to Convert a Non-UAE Driving License in Dubai: A Complete Guide

Booking Taxis in Dubai: How to Hail a Taxi Through WhatsApp

What Are the Requirements For a Car Loan in Dubai?

Dubai Public Commute Timings & Road Closures for New Year's Eve

UAE Petrol Prices Will Increase in August 2024

Head's Up! Dubai Taxi Fares Will Increase in May 2024

UAE Announces New Fuel Prices For May 2024

Missing UAE License Plates: How to Report a Lost Plate or Reclaim Yours

Authorities to Waive All Dubai Traffic Fines Incurred on April 16

Wellness

Managing Anxiety During Uncertain Times: Practical Strategies to Stay Mentally Strong

Top Tips to Have a Healthy Heart in the UAE

9 Warning Signs for Breast Cancer

Where to Get Free Breast Cancer Screening in the UAE 2025

Win Cash Prizes Up to AED 300 For Every Kilo Lost With UAE's Weight Loss Challenge

Discover "The New You" at Zieda's Aesthetic Clinic in Dubai

Top Ladies-Only Gyms and Fitness Centres in Dubai

Say Goodbye to Wrinkles With Mediclinic's Botox Mondays Offer

Get Expert Healthcare and Wellness Delivered to Your Doorstep in Dubai Within 30 Minutes

Shop

Shopping In Dubai

Best Online Shopping Sites in Dubai and UAE

An A-Z Guide to Dubai's Popular Malls

What To Wear At The Beach In Dubai

14 Hilarious Realities of Visiting Dubai Mall

Every Day is a Discount Day on THIS Deals Site

Cityland Mall Preview: Dubai's New Nature-Inspired Shopping Mall

EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Highchair battles

2937

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 07:47

DS seems to have developed an aversion to eating in his highchair, especially at breakfast. He'll happily scoff a piece of toast as he's cruising around the room but put in him the chair and try and feed him, and it ends up all over the floor with him yelling at me. Once I take him out of the chair and he's cruising again, he wants more to eat.

My 3-year-old nephew is a little ratbag who simply won't eat a meal at the table, meaning every meal we have with him is disjointed and stressful because someone has to be chasing him all the time. I really don't want DS to end up like this.

Any suggestions?

Log in to post new content in the forum.

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 14:06

Is a year old too small to try and get him into good habits, though? Can I ask this question for a 7.5 month old? LOL :D

happymommy22180

74

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 12:55

Sounds like the same phase DD is going through at 1.5yo. She'll stay in her highchair and eat for about 5 minutes, then starts playing with her food and wiggeling around until I let her out. I usually let her out and she'll run off and play for a while. Whenever she comes back and begs for more food, I'll stick her back in the chair and offer her meal again. It has already gotten a bit better than it was a couple of weeks ago. She seems to get the idea that she can only eat when she's sitting in her chair at the table. But like someone else said her attention span isn't long enough for her to finish her whole meal at once. Eating is just too boring when all she wants to do is run around all day long. She's not eating as much as she used too, but I'm not worried. She's quite chunky and I know she won't starve herself. I think consistency is the key. Once they learn that they won't get fed while playing and running around, it gets easier. I still do give her a snack in the afternoon (like rice cracker or apple) which she can walk around with. But the proper meals she will have in her chair and I'll sit and eat with her. Hopefully soon she'll manage to eat her whole meal in one session, until then we just split it up into 2 parts. I don't want her to associate fighting and negativity with meals, so I rather have her get up and run around inbetween instead of trying to force her to finish the meal. I won't offer more than twice though. If she won't eat up the second time around she'll have to wait till the next meal or till snacktime later on.

522

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 12:55

My first DS was an absolute ****** to feed and I resorted to a lot of different methods to try to get him to eat - and it was the worst mistake! It took a long time to get him out of the habits that I had formed. But it did ensure that he ate. As bad as this sounds - tv worked a treat. It would keep him amused, he'd sit down in his chair for long enough and eat well. Alternatively, if you want to try something different - the ikea highchairs (?antelope?) are fantastic and more of a "big boy" chair, or like others have mentioned, the booster at the big table are good. Perhaps he's bored with the food? Perhaps mix it up a little - rather than a wholoe piece of toast, try half a piece of toast plus a few other things to give him variety and mix it up?

2937

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 12:41

Er, no, I'm not 'leaving him in there screaming' or indefinitely - sorry, I should have been clearer. He has his food and then he's out of there, but he gets bored quite quickly and wants out before he has a full tummy. I'm always with him when he eats, and don't clear up until he's out of the chair and back playing. He does communicate when he's done - by shouting at me - but as he wants to carry on eating once he's out of the chair, he's clearly not done with his meal. I don't want him to not eat enough, but equally I don't want him to learn it's OK to do this now then confuse him when he's a bit bigger by insisting he eats a full meal at the table (i.e. in his chair).

kiwispiers15400

2782

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 12:11

I kind of disagree with expecting a one year old have the attention span to stay in their chair indefinitely but I agree you should start instilling manners now, perhaps just a bit more gently. Meals only in the chair as a rule, fine but make sure you stay there the whole time too (and also eat) so that it is a social event, don't expect your child to stay there and focus on his food while you tidy up etc. Allow for pauses between eating, some toys to play with too etc. shorter snacks (like 5 min) more often (all in the chair) might allow you to remove any negative associations you have built if you are leaving him in there screaming. He really is too young to understand the idea of manners, so its more about building expectation/social norms (i.e when I sit in the chair I get food) rather than about discipline and power play. Allow him to communicate when he is done and he might not make it a battle from the start.

121

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 11:44

Dubaicat - your DS sounds EXACTLY like mine! I am actually about to sell my high chair and just buy a booster seat for each table in the house as that seems to help a bit.... well, just a TEENSY TINY bit to be honest! Let me know if you find a solution that works! My little guy only eats a few bites in his chair, then he wants OUT and starts throwing food. If I allow him to eat while playing he eats well. Every now and then I decide to stop this and only allow him to eat when he is in his chair, and he always wins... seems to prefer an empty tummy to being captive in his boring chair. I am just not comfortable with the small amounts he eats on my terms and am always worried that I am starving him! And to be honest some days I just cannot bear the thought of the highchair drama and mess on the floor so just let him do what he wants. I figure there will be plenty of time ahead to teach proper table manners, at the moment my first priority is to get healthy food into his little tummy? Am hoping to break the habit when visiting my parents for a month during the summer as they have always been super strict about food belonging at the table etc!!!! Let us know how it goes :)

829

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 11:09

I ABSOLUTElY agree with you DubaiCat and no, it's not too early to instill good table habits. Stick with the same rules and he'll learn soon enough. It would be unfair to let him do what he likes now and then when he hits 2 decide that now is the time for change.

2937

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 10:59

Thanks ladies :). It does really matter to me - I know everyone picks their battles but when I was small we all learned to stay at the table until we were excused and seriously, mealtimes at home with my nephew are a nightmare. He gets to pick where he sits, other people have to move if he wants to sit next to someone in particular, he just gets down and bogs off when he feels like it, then he comes back and expects to be fed a mouthful of whatever he fancies when he fancies it! This is not going to happen in my house! :D Is a year old too small to try and get him into good habits, though? Good idea re the booster chair at the table. Then we can eat together and hopefully that'll keep him entertained.

MirdifIngrid12929

736

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 08:36

My DD has totally gone off her highchair but will sit on a chair so we let her do this at the kitchen table (easy to clean the floor) and in the dining room we have a booster seat. We bought the booster seat from Mothercare in MCC, worth every penny.

829

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 29 May 2011 - 08:08

If it's an issue that matters to you (and it sounds like it is) then you need to fight the battle. Don't let him eat anything at all out of his chair and just persevere with it. He'll realise that mum mean business and stop trying it on eventually. Sorry, not great advice from me but it's one of those times when he needs to know that you're the boss even if it means he's not eating as much as you'd like for a while. You could also try one of those special booster high chairs that go on the top of a regular chair. Your objective of having him sat at the table would still be achieved but perhaps he'd be more amenable to that. win/win :) Good Luck

Log in to post new content in the forum.

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY

Dubai women dining offers guide 2026

The Best Dining Offers in Dubai: Chic Restaurants, Lounges, Beach Clubs and Girls Nights

Best music schools for kids in Dubai | Aureus Academy UAE

The Case for Music: Why Dubai’s Expat Mums Are Choosing Aureus

Dubai Nightlife: The Best Bars for Women in 2026

Dubai Nightlife: The Best Bars for Women in 2026

UAE Family Law 2026 | Divorce, Custody & Personal Status Guide for Expat Residents

Divorce in Dubai Explained: A 2026 Guide to UAE Family Law, Custody and Your Rights

Managing Anxiety during Uncertain Times: Practical Strategies to Stay Mentally Strong

Managing Anxiety During Uncertain Times: Practical Strategies to Stay Mentally Strong

The Legal Framework of Real Estate in Dubai | Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy

The Legal Framework of Real Estate in Dubai

Top Online Schools in the UAE for Kids and Teenagers: CambriLearn

Why Expat Families in the UAE Are Choosing Online School Over Traditional Classrooms

A Guide to DAZ Festival 2026 in Al Ain | Tickets, Activities, Food & Beverages, Shows, Events & More

Don’t Miss It: DAZ Festival 2026 is the Ultimate Family Day Out This April

How to get a divorce in Dubai as an expat resident

Marital Breakdown & Divorce: A Guide for Expat Mums Living in Dubai and Across the UAE

Royal Lineage Across a Thousand Years of History exhibition at BC Academy International School Dubai news

Dubai Private School Hosts Rare Art Exhibition: "Royal Lineage Across a Thousand Years of History"

10 Essential Steps to Secure Your Child’s Educational Future

The Education Plan Every Expat Parent Wishes They’d Started Sooner

Psammotherapy at Raffles the Palm Dubai

Sink Into Serenity: Inside Dubai’s Most Luxurious Sand Bath Experience at Cinq Mondes Spa

How to Pay UAE Fines in Instalments Using Tabby

How to Pay UAE Fines in Instalments Using Tabby

Kisari Kids - Awareness Parenting Coach Eva Szorad Interview

Getting Kids to Cooperate Without Punishment or Rewards - Aware Parenting with Eva from Kisari.Kids

Top online British and US High Schools in the UAE: CambriLearn

Back-to-School, Reimagined: How UAE Families Are Choosing a Smarter Start to the School Year

Top 10 Low Cost Airlines in the UAE

Top 10 Most Affordable Budget Airlines in the UAE For Your Next Trip

Top Nursery School Kids Summer Camps in Dubai 2025

Embark on a Summer Adventure at Kids First Group Universe!

Dubai Expat Resident Receives Commemorate Passport Stamp After 60 Years

Dubai Expat Resident Receives Commemorate Passport Stamp After 60 Years

Top 5 UK curriculum online schools for expat families and kids abroad

Top 5 Online Schools For Expat Families in the Middle East

Hidden Costs of Expat Life in Dubai (and How to Outsmart Them)

Hidden Costs of Expat Life in Dubai (and How to Outsmart Them)

Travel influencer academy in Dubai

Dubai Just Launched a Travel Influencer Academy

Central Bank of UAE reveals new official currency symbol for the Emirati dirham

UAE Unveils New Official Dirham Symbol, Inspired By the Country's Flag

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed announces 3 best UAE government departments

Pictured: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed at a UAE Cabinet meeting.

H.H Sheikh Mohammed Ranks 3 Best & Worst UAE Government Departments

New 10-Year UAE Residency Visa for Dubai Content Creators and Influencers

There's a 10-Year UAE Residency Visa for Dubai Content Creators and Influencers

Breakfast with penguins at Ski Dubai Mall of the Emirates

You Can Now Enjoy Breakfast With Penguins in Dubai

How to convert another country's drivers license in Dubai

How to Convert a Non-UAE Driving License in Dubai: A Complete Guide

Registrations open for EYFS curriculum Willow Children's Nursery in Dubai

Where to Choose the Best EYFS Children's Nursery in Dubai Marina

Outdoor cinemas in Dubai for the winter season 2024

The Best Outdoor Cinemas in Dubai to See Open-Air Movies This Winter

Executive Hospitality Programme at South View School in Dubai

Introducing the Executive Hospitality Programme at South View School Dubai

Expat legal consultants in the UAE | Dr. Hassan Elhais

Meet Dr. Hassan Elhais: A Pillar of Legal Expertise for Expats in the UAE

Saray Spa promotions at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai

This Luxury Dubai Spa Has Some of the Very Best Breaks To Escape To

A Complete Guide How to Get an Influencer License in Dubai and UAE

How to Get a UAE Influencer License: Step-By-Step Guide & Requirements

UAE Emirati Lawyer Awatif Khouri in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Meet the Emirati Woman Breaking Grounds in UAE Law: Awatif Khouri