Anyone who has ever tried to feed a toddler will recognize the importance of having the right high chair; the wrong choice can leave you with a squirming baby stuck in the seat, food packed into hard-to-reach crevices, and – the ultimate disaster – a baby toppling the whole setup as they try and climb out. From mom to mom, we’re here to help you choose the chair that fits your specific needs by outlining the factors to consider when making your decision.
Style
Who says that stylish ladies have to fall prey to frumpiness and a loss of fabulousness when they have a baby? There are many stylish high chairs out there to fit into any number of décor themes: take the Micuna Ovo, a sleek and sophisticated high chair made from solid beech and leather that’s a tried and tested favorite in Europe but a newcomer to the US. You don’t have to choose between style and practicality, but generally, you do have to pay more to have both. Which leads us onto…
Price and quality
Even if you’re strapped for cash, don’t be tempted to buy the cheapest plastic high chair available in the store. Given that 9.2 million of our kids go into the emergency department to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries every year, we don’t need to add to the risk by purchasing a flimsy model that could crack, fall, or trap little fingers in sub-standard fixtures and fittings. If you can’t afford a quality chair new, get one second hand from a friend or yard sale, and clean well before use.
Practicality and ease
Mothering can easily be a full time job, and it’s becoming increasingly recognized that moms who work professionally at all and have a young child are basically working two jobs. A lot of our time at home seems to be spent cleaning up the messes that our children make, and having a high chair that’s quick and easy to operate as well as clean and maintain makes a big difference. This means no fiddly tray attachment, no tiny crevices, and no absorbent straps that end up as a breeding ground for bacteria.
Versatility
Children grow like weeds – fast and uncontrollably. So if we shell out on a quality high chair, we want it to be able to meet our child’s changing needs as they mature and develop. The best high chairs can be adjusted for use as desks or lower chairs once the child can sit properly to eat at the table, and the tray part can be removed to make a normal seat. Check for this versatility in any new chair you buy to make sure it isn’t outgrown in a matter of months!
