Thinking of buying a highchair for your baby? There are lots to choose from, but which is the best highchair for you and your baby? Here’s a guide to what’s available. Useful features Before you rush to buy your highchair, there are a few really useful features to look for. These can help you decide whether to spend that little bit extra to make life easier. They include: A tray that’s detachable for cleaning, but that can stay in place when you fold the highchair A highchair tray with rounded edges so food can’t get stuck in corners A well-padded highchair seat for your baby’s comfort Easy-to-clean contoured padding An easy-to-fold mechanism. (You’ll probably need to get the highchair out and put it away several times a day) A harness that isn’t too fiddlyHighchair safety Before buying a highchair, check that it is stable when assembled. Babies tend to throw their weight around as they get older, so the highchair must be placed on an even floor so it won’t tip over The highchair harness should have a crotch strap as well as shoulder and waist straps to prevent a wriggly baby from sliding or climbing out Make sure your baby’s fingers are well out of the way when you attach the highchair tray Position your baby’s highchair well away from heat sources
, including radiators and hobs, plus other hazards such as saucepan handles,electrical cables, small items like coins and pen lids and anything breakable Stay with your baby at all times while they’re in their highchair Standard highchairsIf you’re on a budget and looking for a no-frills highchair, a standard type will do the job. Standard highchairs tend to have one fixed height. others have a simple folding mechanism. Some have a feeding tray that’s detachable, making it easier to clean.Pros of standard highchairs Relatively inexpensive Standard highchairs are usually lightweight Less bulky than multi-functional highchairs, so easier to store (if there’s a folding mechanism) Cons of standard highchairs Limited use age-wise Difficult to store if they don’t fold down Less versatile than other highchairs Having a fixed height makes them less adaptable. You may not be able to sit at a comfortable height when feeding your babyMulti-functional highchairs A multi-functional highchair can have up to six different height positions.
This means you can move it from room to room, house to house or home to restaurant and you can adjust it to the height of your own seat. The position that reclines slightly is really useful if your baby is only just holding their head up. Multiple recline positions help widen the scope beyond just feeding to making it useful for playtime or even an after-dinner nap. Some multi-functional highchairs have a multi-position tray that can be adjusted as your baby grows.Pros of multi-functional highchairs The adjustable height means you can feed your baby at a level that suits you, wherever you are Your baby can sit at the table with you once they no longer need the feeding tray Most multi-functional highchairs are foldableCons of multi-functional highchairs Multi-functional highchairs are often more expensive than basic models Some are a bit cumbersome and can be heavy They’re usually quite bulky (even the foldable ones), so may not be the best option if you're short on space Convertible highchairs If you’re looking for a highchair that will last until your baby is a toddler, a convertible highchair is a good choice.
These start off as a highchair but turn into a lower toddler feeding seat and then, in some cases, a chair and table for an older pre-school child. Pros of convertible highchairs They start at a similar price to multifunctional models, but last until your baby is a toddler, so they’re great value for money They can blend in well with your own furnitureConvertible highchairs offer toddlers more independenceCons of convertible highchairs They don’t all come with a baby safety harness, so you may need to buy one.(Look for safety standard BS6684:1989) Some aren’t foldableThose that do fold are usually bulkier than other types They can be fiddly to convert Portable highchairs If you eat out in restaurants and cafés where highchairs aren’t available, a portable highchair is a great idea. There are four basic types.Travel highchairs: Similar to full-size highchairs, but smaller and on very short legs, these highchairs strap on to a dining chairClamp-on seats: These clamp or screw on to the edge of the table top.
They’re usually fabric, lightweight and easy to carry aroundSeat harnesses: Fabric supports that literally bind your baby to a dining chair. They don’t give any extra height so are more appropriate for older babies and toddlersFolding booster seats: These strap on to dining chairs. They’re made from rigid plastic and usually fold down making them more portablePros of portable highchairs They allow you to eat out without the hassle of taking a full-size highchairSome fold to a handbag sizeSome can be used instead of a standard highchair at homeCons of portable highchairs Most aren’t intended as a full-time replacement to a highchair Your baby has to be able to sit properly unaidedThey are usually only suitable for babies up to a certain weight (check the manufacturer’s instructions)Check out our other comprehensive guides to help you make the best-informed decisions for your family:Baby bedding Baby monitors Breast and bottle feeding How to pack your hospital bag How to set up a safe nursery Moses baskets, cots and cribs for your newborn baby Cots and cotbeds for your growing baby Pushchairs Safety gates
View all Baby Monitors Car Seats and Booster Seats buying guide Cots, Cribs and Moses Baskets View all Baby & ToddlerA high chair is one of the more important purchases a parent or caregiver makes on behalf of the youngster in their charge. Like a crib, a car seat, or a changing pad, a high chair is an item a child will use almost every day of his or her life. High chairs range in price from between fifty and a hundred dollars on the lower end of the pricing scale to many hundreds of dollars at the far end of the range. At each different price point you will see different features available, but price does not necessarily denote better inherent quality. Some families might want an elegantly simple high chair made largely from wood and with minimal adjustment features, for example, while others might treasure a chair's capability to be rapidly reconfigured in dozens of ways. Like most objects encountered in life, a high chair cannot "be all things to all people."
That is to say that some high chairs are conveniently portable but may be slightly wobbly, while others are stable but hard to transport; other high chairs might be ideal for infants needing extra support and padding yet will be quickly outgrown. Therefore selecting the best high chair for your home (or daycare center) means considering how and where a high chair will be used and taking into account the age of the chair's likely primary user. Of the several factors to be weighed most heavily when choosing a high chair, safety always comes first. If you are buying a chair for a small child, then a harness system is a must. Kids lacking the muscle control and/or judgment to stay seated upright in their high chair must have their position maintained by a harness. Next consider the motor control and disposition of the child. For the calm child capable of using his or her hands well, consider a high chair with a tray that can be easily removed, allowing the youngster to be seated right at the table with the rest of the family.
For kids who tend to throw things about or who simply need a little extra help not making a mess, a high chair with a tray featuring sections to hold food and toys in place is a must. Portability is another important factor if you will need to bring your child's high chair along with you when you travel or visit friends or family. Some high chairs can be folded flat for very easy transport; others have rigid and inflexible frames and are intended to be left in one place. If you can afford to buy one of each options -- a lightweight and foldable chair for use when away from home and a more substantial chair in the kitchen or dining room -- that's of course ideal, if not budget friendly. The best way to ensure a child is safe in his or her high chair is simply to use the chair according to its specifications. Make sure your child is neither too small nor too large for a given high chair, for example -- the weight and height ratings that accompany a high chair (or any other item, for that matter) are not arbitrary, but rather are based on careful testing and established data.
Also be sure that you understand how to properly setup and use a high chair; take the time to read through any and all instructions, and don't put a child into the seats until you know how its harness and straps are secured and adjusted. Be wary of where you place a high chair: this means not putting a chair near a wall, heave table, or counter off of which a child could push, potentially causing their chair to topple over. (It's of course fine to move your child to the table for a meal provided an adult is nearby and watching carefully.) Also be aware what other features off the home a high chair might put in arm's reach, from outlets to lamps to knife blocks and more. Consider using a nonskid pad underneath the chair if its rests on a smooth surface that allows it to slide about too easily. And never let you child stand on, turn around in, or otherwise improperly use his or her high chair. A child should be seated and facing forward while in these units; any other position can render the chair off balance and unsafe.
Many modern high chairs have multiple accessories and additional components available for purchase. These items have been specifically designed to work with a given chair, providing anything from a compartmentalized eating tray to a softer seat pad to a play item that attaches to the chair. But with a bit of imagination, it's easy to update and add to a high chair without the constraints of staying "in brand" to do so. If your child's high chair has a flat area on its attached tray, then any object secured by a suction cup can be safely affixed to the tray. You can attach a toy for the child to enjoy when not eating or a suction mounted bowl to minimize the risk of spills during a meal or snack, for example. Simple file clamps can be used to affix sheets of paper to the high chair's tray, allowing a child to color and doodle without knocking their paper aside. This can also work for securing a placemat. And for the extra messy eater, consider perching the high chair atop an old fitted sheet.