At what age does a child get a seat for themselves? What to do w toddlers?

I have several 4 yr olds and i talk to the mothers they said that they can sit on there own! they dont want them on laps haha! call the moms and ask what there preference is.

Personally, I would say any child over 3 needs their own seat... if space (and for that matter budget) allows you might set up some kid tables?

I would give them their own chairs, I wouldn't want a 4 year old on my lap all night. Even little baby's should have a chair, that way the mother can put the carrier on it, or move the chair and put the stroller there.

Thanks all. My kid table is ages 9-16yr. My "single & ready to mingle" table is 20ish & a few 30 somethings. Everyone else is sitting with family.

The kids I'm thinkg of are hellions by everyones opinion. I have never met these kids but every time I call to confirm an RSVP they say are you going to "strap xxx child down?! You know they are out of controle." At first I thought it was a running joke. But now I see its not. Having them at a table with other kids just wont work.

My rental company rents wooden high chairs for +$12. Thats not withen my means. I guess I will have to find the little guys seats of their own next to mom.--- I knew I should have went with an adults only reception...oh well.

I wouldn't expect a wedding to have a highchair for me if I was bringing my toddler, but then again, I'd probably leave him at home.

We usually travel with a travel booster/high chair seat that straps to the chair and straps him in place. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you! When there are toddlers at most of the weddings I've shot, it seems that a parent always leaves early with the kids leaving behind the person closer to the party getting married that they know.

Well if they are really a pain then having a chair wont settle them, they will most likely be running around the dance floor all night...

Hmm thats a tough one. As a mother to a 2 and half year old I would say let them have chairs...It hard to say they may go back and forth but as a mom I would rather my child be sitting on her own so I dont get destroyed in whatever she is eating and I dont have grimey hands in my food. Does your place have plastic boosters? I would say under 2 they would likey be in mom or dads lap over 2 prob need there own seat. I always bring my daughters booster anyway so she doesnt make a huge mess trying to get the fork from the plate all the way down to where she is. I dont know if this helps haha?!

I was also going to say not to worry to much...toddlers dont sit anywhere long. Maybe enough to get a few bites of what they are eating but they wont be sitting long I can promise that!

I would advise the children's mothers to bring their booster seats and go from there. This way you don't have to rent anything (which I definitely wouldn't do! Your kid, your problem lol) and the seating issue is taken care of. I know it takes up more room than having them sit on their mothers lap, but at the same time you are more likely to have alot of fidgeting/screaming and spilled drinks if you have the child sitting with the parent. Good luck!

When I was doing the seating chart I called my mom and asked her about the booster seat and she said no. I then asked my FH and he said .."no, moms dont bring those things." I told him when I was a mom I did!! He said "well, most moms arent as prepared as you. Your not the norm." Its nice to see that bringing your own booster seat IS normal and that moms everywhere do it. I will have to run back and tell them both that.

Thats what I was thinking all along....Cant these moms just bring boosters?? My uncle told me his girlfriend wasnt bringing hers for her kid, and that we needed to rent one.---THE NERVE!! I have more rude requests than you can imagine. I would never think of asking someone to rent a booster for my kid because I was too lazy to bring mine. ----sorry just had to vent!

My son is now 4, but we went to a wedding when he was 2. The bride and groom had a 3 yr old and didn't want to have a wedding w/o there child and didn't think it was fair to ask other people to not have their child present. SO....out of her two colors one was more "boy" and the other "girl" (purple and blue) so she went to walmart and bought a few yards of cheap fabric in each color that matched her colors and she cut them into large squares. The she called each mom and asked if they wouldn't mind bringing booster seats b/c she has something special to decorate them with. Once we got there she had scissors and the large squares so the boosters were all covered, and with the scissors we made the slits for the straps to go through. I thought this was a great idea and all the boosters were colored in the wedding colors to cover them. BTW- my son thought this was a "very special chair" little did her realize it was his travel booster from the car. LOL

SUPER CUTE IDEA!!!!!!

I would say any kid over 3 as well. We are having kids at ours given our son will be 6 and our twin nephews will be 4 for our Vow Renewal and there will be other kids around those ages. Set up a kids table and leave a pre-teen or younger teenager maybe in charge at that table so the adults can enjoy peace and quiet and the little ones can have fun. Set up coloring books, crayons, maybe legos, barbies, something not messy at another table for them to play with and keep occupied. I have been to a event where my sister and I were with the older kids (however I was in college and should have been with the adults) and our 5 year old brother was at our dad and stepmom's table. He could have easily been at our table and my sister and I could have kept an eye on him. I didn't do much dancing with a broken toe, except for a slow dance anywys holding him. Also if you don't want any kids under 3 in laps, ask if they can sit in their strollers. Some places allow that.

Given now that my son is almost 2, I have to say just ask the parents to bring their own booster chair for their own kid. Last year at my sister's wedding when my son was 1, we only had our son at the ceremony in his stroller and in a couple of pictures before I had a friend come and pick him up to babysit him the rest of the time. It's not rude to ask a parent to bring their child's own booster seat for them to sit in for a Wedding. I love the idea of the fabric. I'll have to get that and if we have any kids that require a booster seat, just request with the restaurant if they have any to use, if not have the parents bring their own. Great idea. I can't believe your friend asked you to rent one for her.

Wow, shouldn't these guests feel grateful that you're allowing them to bring their children? ask them to bring the booster seats or deal with their own kids! i was wondering about this question too since my reception is per table..but i don't know how strict they will be regarding the 10 person per table. that is my worry. i have had only a handful of friends volunteer to hold their kid in their lap.

it's true though...these kids not going to sit for very long or eat anything practically! gosh, it's all about money with these venues!!!! i sympathize. it's weird because these toddlers will get a seat but won't be eating!

hm, my cutoff is age 4 or younger --no seat. but i'm checking with my venue whether they will count them if they get a seat! how big are these kids anyway! how much room could they take up?! *sigh*

I wouldn't really consider 3-5 year olds to be "toddlers" any more, and they are definitely too big and too old to be on their parent's lap. Personally, I'd say they need their own seat if they are over a year, 2 years at the absolute oldest. Beyond that, they aren't little babies, they are real people. They walk and talk and can sit at a table and eat. If I went to a wedding with a child that age and was expected to hold them on my lap, I'd be pretty annoyed... and any child of mine would have been insulted to not be given their own seat. Why is it such a big deal to give everyone a seat? Where are you going to fit their plate on the table if they don't have their own place? Or will they be expected to eat off their parent's plate too??

Nowadays children vary- some four years are so mature and some are four years old.

Definitely call the parents; but your thinking was correct...if they are in Pre K or kindergarten they can sit in their own seat.

I can see why soon2b is asking this question...there is no reason for anyone to get sarcastic on her.

I think if they are capable of sitting in a booster seat in a chair by themselves, then they should get a seat. Any guest that is driving should be able to bring their booster seat. If they are flying...I can see their case for you renting one for them. Just come right out with it...say, you'll need to bring your own booster seat. Then they know if they don't bring it, their kid won't get one. No negotiating is necessary in my opinion. They are kids, they'll be fine. You were nice to invite them...I'm not so nice

I was just thinking about the comment about you renting them for the people, do you think they would cut you a deal for a few highchairs or booster seats since you would be ordering a few? Just a thought

Lauren10---Thanks! You are so right. People with young kids just dont get it! (and I have 2 kids of my own) First off little kids need to be left at home when it comes to formal functions--period! Why do moms with little ones think other adults want to watch your kid as he runs amuck, while you are screaming at him to sit down?!

My venue is small and all my guests know this. There is limited seating. Only so many tables can fit in that room. Im not wasting a perfectly good spot/plate/seat on a toddler. Ive settled on if they are 4 and under they are sitting on moms lap. If the moms dont like it they should take a hint.....leave him at home! This aint a family picnic.