A high chair will probably be among the first purchases you make for your new baby. It can be a difficult decision given all the options, so here is what you need to search for.
If your high chair is not stable, it is not worth having. Set a baby or child in a high chair and she’ll probably start wiggling all over the place. They can easily bend over and unbalance the chair, toppling it over with severe outcomes. A wider bottom means that you will more than likely have a more stable chair. Even with a nice wide base there is invariably a chance that the chair could topple, but the wider the bottom, the less likely it will happen. Many chairs are adjustable enough to allow you to lower its center of gravity. This will also make it more stable. You’ll see most restaurant high chairs are not fancy but unbelievably stable. Even So never leave your infant unsupervised in any high chair no matter how stable it may be.
High chairs are made with safety straps to keep the youngster from slipping out of the chair. At the very minimum it must have a crotch strap and a waist strap. If it has straps for the upper body, so much the better. If the high chair has no safety restraints, but only provides restraint by using a padded bar or tray in front of the child, it is not a good selection, safety wise. If you enjoy antiques, you’ll notice many antique high chairs don’t have these restraints. Adding straps to these chairs is both doable and required.
The next thing you want to look at is how simple the chair is to clean. There is no denying that children can truly make some tremendous messes. For your own benefit and sanity you want to be sure that the padding or cushioning is simple to remove and clean, preferably in a washing machine.
Some children get bored and fussy when seated in a high chair. Detachable toys will help with this. Just make sure the toys are safe. That means no sharpened corners or edges and nearly unbreakable. And don’t forget that if a child can touch it, he’ll want to set it in his mouth. So make sure that the paint or coating on the plaything won’t get your little darling sick!
There are numerous other features purchasable on high chairs, some of which are unquestionably worth considering. Our favorite allows you to only use one hand to remove the tray or front rest. If you’ve ever tried to cope with a wriggling infant to get him into or out of a high chair, while at the same time struggling with a intricate release mechanism, then you totally realize what a true nightmare this little adventure can be. It’s predicaments like this that make a one-handed tray release a must.
If you want your newborn to join you at mealtimes, then another feature to look at is a reclining seat.
Chairs that can switch heights to align to the table size are also nice.
And a tray that can simply be set in the dishwasher will also be appreciated.
Still, the critical features are safety and cleanliness. Don’t even think about a high chair without the essentials! Almost all better brands like Fisher Price high chairs will have these characteristics. The other choices depend largely on your budget, and how useful they are going to be in your particular case. Just remember you also want something that is durable. You might just have some additional babies in a few years, and you do not want to go through the ordeal of buying another chair.
Tags: high chair, high chairs