The Best High Chair

When it comes to preparing for the arrival of a newborn, parents have a long list of must-haves to ensure the baby’s comfort, safety and overall well-being. A high chair may not be in the list of immediate needs for a newborn, but it is an absolute necessity when the infant is ready to use it. The primary function of this piece of furniture is to provide a safe and comfortable place to feed an older baby or younger toddler. The height should be high enough to allow an adult to spoon-feed the baby from a standing position. Today’s high chairs have been designed to address other functions and needs, creating a multitasking baby product in the process.

Evolution of the High Chair

High chairs have been essential baby furniture since at least the 17th century. A 17th century high chair is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum while an 18th century version may be viewed at the Museum of Fine Arts. High chairs from these earlier periods were made of wood, and the designs ranged from stark and functional to intricately detailed. Not all of the older high chairs were designed with feeding trays, and a few antique high chairs were found to have doubled as rocking chairs.

By the mid 1900s, steel and plastic became common manufacturing components, revolutionizing the design and engineering of many consumer products, including baby furniture. Some of these earlier contraptions were made with vinyl covers with adjustable metal legs and plastic trays. As manufacturing processes improved, high chairs evolved into multifunctional baby accessories that converted to booster chairs or portable chairs.

The Right Time to Introduce a High Chair

High chairs are typically introduced when infants have developed the ability to hold themselves up in the sitting position around four to six months of age. This is also about the time when the child is ready to explore solid foods. However, some of the newer high chairs are designed to recline slightly to allow a very young infant to be bottle fed from the high chair with an adult holding the bottle. Make sure to heed your pediatrician’s and manufacturer’s recommendations for proper use of high chairs.

Primary Considerations for Choosing a High Chair

With seemingly endless choices, it is important to make a list of the features that are most important to you. Personal preferences differ, but some key elements should always be taken into consideration.

Safety

As with any product for babies and young children, safety should be a top-of-the-mind concern, and modern high chairs have addressed most of these issues.

• Is it sturdy and stable?
Examine the structural design of the products you are considering. The base should be wide enough to stabilize the chair. Casters are a convenient feature for high chairs as they will be moved around, but an easily accessible locking mechanism should be provided to keep the chair in place when required.
• Is the overall design child-safe?
Make sure that there are no sharp edges or small crevices where a child can catch a finger, any body part or a toy. Moving parts such as removable trays should lock in place firmly with enough clearance all around. Look for small parts that may detach and pose a swallowing hazard.

• Is there a safety harness?
High chairs come with different safety restraints. Look for a submarining bar attached to the base of the seat. A five-point harness that goes over the shoulders is the safest type of restraint especially for younger users. The three-point waist to crotch belt is acceptable for older children.

• Does it meet regulatory requirements?
Look for certification tags on the product. The product should pass the safety standards set by ASTM International. Certifications from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and the Consumer Safety Products Commission provide additional assurances that the high chair meets safety standards.

Design Features

Even the most basic high chair provides a few little extras for the child’s comfort.
• A padded seat and back is more comfortable especially considering that the child will be spending a lot of time in the high chair.
• Materials should be easy to clean with a quick wipe down. The seat, tray and harnesses should be cleaned with a quick wipe-down, but it is equally important that these parts can be removed for more thorough cleaning or replaced entirely.
• Adjustable parts increase the functionality of the high chair. As your baby grows, an adjustable tray will allow more space around the child. Adjustable height makes it easier for adults to interact with the child in the high chair even as they grow rapidly.

• Portable high chairs are designed to collapse or fold so that they can be stowed or transported for use in places outside the home. Many of the high chairs designed for portability fold into a flat piece or a large umbrella contraption. This design is also useful for users with limited space.

Adaptability

Aside from portability, you may want a high chair that converts to a booster chair as your child grows older. A booster chair is strapped on a regular dining chair to give the toddler enough lift to eat at the dining table although some families may prefer to use the removable tray for a while.
A hook-on high chair may also be useful in tight spaces or when dining out. Make sure that the main table is sturdy and stable enough to accommodate the weight of the child. Not all tables are suitable for a hook-on high chair.

Some of the high-end high chairs may do double-duty as rocking chairs, swings or bouncy seats with a few adjustments to the contraption. This may be a money-saver if the price premium covers the costs of additional purchases. Also, where space is tight, a multitasking piece of furniture will help keep the clutter down.

How to Find the Best High Chair

The basic considerations for narrowing down your list should focus on safety, stability, comfortable design for the user, ease of use for adults and easy-to-clean features. Read the reviews of these products on reliable websites, giving equal attention to reviews by users and technical reviews from industry sources. Visit retailers to examine some high chair models and test the features yourself. Ask other people about their experiences with high chairs especially if they have used a model or brand on your list. Verify that the products are not subject to any recalls.
The high chair may not be the most expensive baby accessory you will purchase, but it will be one of the most enduring. If you choose one that is convertible, adjustable as your child grows and with parts that can be replaced, the product will more likely be in use beyond your first child.

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This page about High Chair was composed by V. Tobies and published by Alternative.me.
It was last updated on 2024-12-22 08:05:12 and has been viewed 3459 times.