There are so many baby and toddler products on the market that it can be hard for parents to know what to buy. To make your decision easier, we asked thousands of BabyCentre mums which essential buys they rate the highest. From strollers to changing bags, browse the top baby products for 2017.Weaning a baby can be messy and stressful. Choosing the right highchair can make mealtimes a manageable and fun experience. From safety features to making cleaning up a doddle, see why our BabyCentre mums love these top five highchairs. How to buy the right highchair for your baby This provides your baby with a safe, secure and comfortable place to sit, at a height that’s easy for you to reach without straining your back. The height also means that they can sit at the same level as the rest of the family, helping them learn about mealtime behaviour. There’s a huge range of highchairs for babies and toddlers on the market, with a range of prices to match. At the very cheapest, you can buy a simple moulded plastic highchair for under £10, but most standard highchairs cost from £30 upwards.
If you have a higher budget, multi-functional highchairs (with extra features such as adjustable height or the facility to convert to a toddler chair) start from around £80. If you want to splash out, you can spend up to £500 on a highchair with designer styling. Booster seats, which fix onto either the table surface or a normal dining chair, tend to vary in price between £15 and £50.Key features There are many factors to take into account when buying a highchair. To begin with, would you prefer plastic or wooden? This is really a matter of personal taste, although wooden ones can be harder to clean. Plastic highchairs usually have a padded seat in a wipe-clean fabric, whereas wooden ones may have a detachable fabric seat cover that can be removed and machine-washed.You’ll obviously want to consider how comfy your baby or toddler will be in the chair. Smaller babies might well feel more secure in a deeply padded seat, and some also have a recline function, which is handy if your baby isn’t great at sitting independently yet.
Plastic or wooden highchairs often have cushioned inserts, sometimes sold separately, which makes them more snug for little babies.Think about the space you have available for a highchair. If your dining area is small, look for a chair with a smaller footprint. A folding mechanism can be useful, too. Some stand independently when folded, while others have to be propped against the wall. Some highchairs come with an inbuilt tray, while others are designed to be pushed right up to your table so your child can join in with family meals. The latter sort helps your baby to learn from watching other people, but it does mean that mess tends to be less contained. Some trays have indentations for your baby’s cup, and a lift-off top layer for easy cleaning. If you’d like the option of using your highchair at the table or on its own, look for a tray that can be removed completely. This will make it easier to clean, too.Look at how your baby will be secured into the highchair. Most come with an inbuilt harness, which is a simple system of straps and clips.
Some rely on the tray being in position to hold your baby securely, while others don’t have a harness at all, so you’ll need to buy one separately.Multi-function highchairs are designed to grow with your child. They’re usually height-adjustable, so they can be converted to a toddler dining chair and, often, the harness can be removed too, so your child can be more independent. Some can be transformed into a toddler-size chair and table, while others can be adjusted and used as an ergonomic chair right into adulthood. Another handy feature is an under-seat basket: useful for storing bibs, wipes and other weaning gear.The other key thing to consider is how easy your highchair will be to clean, as it will get messy – repeatedly! Watch out for seams and crevices that could trap dirt, and straps that are hard (if not impossible) to remove and wash. An alternative to a proper highchair is a booster seat.These are independent seat units that either strap onto a normal dining chair, or clamp onto the surface of the table.
They come in a variety of styles, from simple plastic seats with or without a tray, to fold-up seats that pack into a lunchbox-size bag. They’re intended for travel, but can be a good everyday option if your baby is old enough to sit sturdily, if you’re short on space or if you like to eat with the whole family at the table. Although highchairs may look like a safe and secure place for your baby to sit, it’s important that you never leave him unattended in his highchair, even if he’s not eating. Babies and toddlers often find cunning ways of escaping their harness or tipping the chair over. Most highchairs can be used either as a stand-alone chair, or pushed up to the family table for mealtimes. Useful features include a comfortable seat, removable tray and folding mechanism. Look for a highchair that is easy to clean to save time and effort. Booster seats that strap onto a normal chair are good space savers for small rooms, and handy for travel. Family friendly places to eatFinger food for babiesWhat's the best highchair to buy?
Save while you shop Sign up to Netmums Rewards, powered by Kidstart, to start saving for your child’s future while you shopStart saving now1 1 Facebook PinterestAlexandra Grablewski A Seat that Grows with Your ChildIn this economy, who doesn't love a product that you can use and use and use? Well you're in luck. Most high chairs today come with a transition option. This means the seat can be used as a comfy cradle, in an upright position for first-time feeding, as a toddler booster for independent (or getting there) eaters, as a youth chair that can pull up and under the table, or as a spare seat at the computer desk. Check out these picks if you're in the market for a seat that will suit every stage of your child's life.2 2 Facebook Pinterest Investment Seat: Bloom NanoWhy We Love It: For newborns to 6-month-olds, this seat starts as an off-the-ground cradle -- cool!More Perks: Microsuede upholstery. Fits up to 79 pounds. 3 3 Facebook Pinterest Investment Seat: Blossom 4-in-1 Seating SystemWhy We Love It: The quick-change seat button means transitioning the chair into its many options is a no-hassle snap.
More Perks: Six-position height adjustment. Convertible harness with three and five. 4 4 Facebook Pinterest Investment Seat: Svan BirtchWhy We Love It: Simply remove tray and safety guard to use this seat as a full-size chair at the dinner table.More Perks: Comes in five finishes. Blends in perfectly with the grown-up furniture.5 5 Facebook Pinterest Investment Seat: Svan AnkaWhy We Love It: Specifically crafted so the tray can be removed, the seat lowers and -- you guessed it -- slides perfectly under the dinner table so Baby can break bread, too.More Perks: Ergonomic, adjustable frame. Fits up to 50 pounds. Tray stores on the back of the chair.$179.95; 6 6 Facebook PinterestAlexandra Grablewski Save Some SpaceJust because you have a baby doesn't mean you have to have an obstacle course in your kitchen or dining room. A bulky high chair that requires lots of room can kill the cook's mood. Say bye-bye to room ruiners and space-eaters with these chairs that easily fold up for quick concealing in the pantry or spare closet (all are ideal for city dwellers with teeny kitchenettes).
7 7 Facebook Pinterest Space Saver: AstroWhy We Love It: With the lift of a lever, this high chair falls flat to the floor for no-nonsense assembly (and disassembly).More Perks: Folds flat. Five-point harness keeps Baby locked in. Comes in classic colors (tan, black, white, and cool aqua).$149.99; 8 8 Facebook Pinterest Space Saver: SpolingWhy We Love It: Behind the backrest is a practical storage pocket ideal for bibs or a package of wet wipes.More Perks: Easily removable machine-washable cover. Folds up in three steps. Pulls up to the table so Baby can socialize with the family.$39.99; 9 9 Facebook PinterestFancy Photography/Veer Nix Useless Nooks & Crannies for Quick CleanupThere's nothing worse than a high chair with lots of creases and crevices. They trap gobs of food and tons of crumbs. And worse, sometimes all of this mess goes undetected -- that is until you smell something funky or the family dog becomes best friends with Baby's high chair. Try these chairs that boast cool, smooth lines and hardly any crumb catchers.