bubblesangel,
when my dd was 16mths until almost 2yrs old, she would ABSOLUTELY refuse to sit still in the high chair if we go out and eat. most times she won't even want to sit and eat her meals, she will want to go out and walk ard. sometimes will throw a tantrum. VERY VERY stress! until hubby and i damn scared to bring her out to eat, or when we go out and eat must eat at those places where it takes us 15-20mins to eat only, then quickly go off. there were a few times when we could not even sit down for a meal, the minute we sit down somewhere she would throw a tantrum, so end up i quickly feed her, then hubby and i ta-pao food back home and we eat dinner at home, while the maid help to watch her.
it's a phase they all go thru at that age, can't really do much abt it. for us, we will choose to eat at places where the food is served fast and we can eat quickly and go off (eg foodcourt, fast food, pasta mania). then what we do is i will feed her then hubby will eat at the same time very quickly, then when i finish feeding her hubby will bring her go walk-walk while i sit there by myself and eat. no choice lor, this is the only way.
when she was abt to turn 2yrs old then it got a little better, ie. she will be able to sit there and eat and enjoy her meals tog with us, but still we can't linger and eat there for ages lah, cause she will get bored. and we still can't go eat at restaurants lor, cause she won't have the patience and hubby and i will not be able to enjoy our food.
but this past fri when we went to Carousel for buffet she was very well-behaved and we were all very impressed with her. she could sit in the high chair and eat her meals with us for 2.5hrs! and not once she asked to come down or threw a tantrum. but i think because the food quite nice, so she was enjoying herself. then i also brought along her HK colouring bk and crayons, so she entertained herself by colouring the bk. then of course hubby and i still use the "take turns" method lor, while he eats 1 round, i feed her or play with her. then when he finish that round he will feed her or play with her while i go for my 1 round of food, then vice versa again, the whole night lor.