12 Days of Giveaways « Previous postHappy Feet Two available now on DVD and BluRay! Next post »7 Best choices for your child's first utensils High chair Vs. booster seat? posted: March 13, 2012, 12:13 pm in: Baby, Pregnant, Toddler, Previews & Reviews, Products & Gear, Products & Prizes One of the biggest baby registry questions (after baby furniture, stroller and car seat) is do you get a high chair or a feeding booster seat? Pros for High Chairs: Eye Contact with child (this was a big one with me) Huge tray to serve food on (that can go in the dishwasher) You can fold most of them up if you need the space back. Reclines for younger babies Cons for High Chairs: Most people don’t actually fold high chairs up Can’t take out of the house (too big) Hard to clean (food ALWAYS gets in crevices and fall on the floor) Most kids grow out of a high chair when they’re between 18 months to 2 1/2 years — unless you have something that will grow with your child, like Stokke’s Tripp Trapp.
Expensive (most likely over $100, upwards to over $300 – yikes!) Even with the tray off, it may not but your table well (and food may get on the floor). Pros for Feeding Booster Seats Easy to clean – you can take it off and clean under the seat You can take it with you (to grandma’s house.. You can take the tray off (if it comes with one) and place your child at the table. Price is more reasonable — around $30 – $60 A child can start off in the feeding booster seat with a tray and then go to the table as they get older. You can lower the booster seat and use it until your child outgrows any kind of booster seat. Cons for Feeding Booster Seats May not recline, and therefore not suitable from birth to 6 months of age. Some kids still may not be able to sit up easily in a non-reclining booster seat until 8 or 9 months. Seat may be too low, hard to have eye contact with baby. May not be as “stylish” as a high chair Personally, I prefer a high chair, but end up going to a feeding booster seat when my kids get to around 18 months to 2 years old.
Skylar is still in a high chair at 19 months and it suits him just fine. But I will be eventually moving him into his sister’s feeding booster seat (which was her big brother’s). We’ve used hand me down high chairs and booster seats, as long as it’s not recalled, you can use them safely! Which do you prefer, high chair or booster seat? 9 mom-approved cheap birthday party favors posted February 17, 2017, 4:23 am 7 baby-gear knockoffs that look like expensive brands posted February 16, 2017, 3:32 pm 7 strollers that fold up so easily it’s like the whole world smiles posted February 13, 2017, 6:00 am 6 last-minute Valentine’s Day surprises for your kids posted February 10, 2017, 4:55 am More Products & Prizes »spend some time with us!Britax: Up To 77% OFFRecaro: Up To 44% OFFChicco: Up To 55% OFFBaby Jogger: Up To 44% OFFThe Graco TurboBooster is one of the most popular high back boosters for older kids – it’s inexpensive, and provides a great seat belt fit most of the time.
It also hosts of one of the most common misuses we see as Child Passenger Safety Technicians – the elusive screws in the armrests. Are we talking about a booster seat here? Yes, we are still talking car seats. To better explain, here are pictures:A high back TurboBooster comes out of the box looking like this. Like everything you buy your kids – some assembly is required. This, however, is a little easier than removing your average plastic dump truck from the box, and it’s designed to save your kid’s life – go figure. Let’s take a closer look at that little plastic bag:Instruction manual (which you need to read before doing anything else!), registration card (don’t forget that either – that’s how they contact you if there were ever a recall. Mail that in, or better yet – go online and fill it out right away), shoulder belt positioning clip for backless mode, instruction manual (yep, that was said twice, it’s that important – go read it!), and the star of the show: those two little screws.
After you’ve read the instruction manual, you’ll know you need to pop those two armrests into their slots. There are two height positions, you may use whichever is more comfortable for your child and best positions the lap belt. The seat will look like this, and you’ll see a little hole, which is where the screws are going to go.Locate yourself a Phillips screwdriver, and go to town. Do the same on the other side, and you’re all set to go!Why are those screws so important? Graco doesn’t tell us the exact answer, but here’s what is known: those armrests are designed yes, to keep your child nice and comfy in the car at all times, but more importantly, to help ensure the lap belt is placed low on the child’s hips and off the soft belly. This allows for the pelvis to take the force of a crash rather than the child’s internal organs. Those armrests can’t be removed with the screws in them – so it’s pretty obvious that they’re doing a vital job for the booster to do its job properly.
Some models are now sold with the screws pre-installed, but this model was manufactured two months ago and purchased from a Target store yesterday, so many of them have to be done yourself. If you own a TurboBooster, please – go check it now! Make sure your screws are there, and if they are not, use an alternate booster until you can get replacements.Unfortunately, you cannot hunt around your garage and use a couple of screws that fit, they need to be the correct ones from Graco. You can order replacement parts online here, or call 800-345-4109. High Chair Types, Features, and Functions Mealtime is the perfect opportunity to bond with your little one, and for your baby to observe good habits and healthy social interaction. When it comes to your child's place at the table, a high chair is a must to ensure their safety and free your hands feed them -- and yourself. There are a variety of types and different options to consider when choosing the best high chair for your lifestyle.
Types of High Chairs Standard high chairs can range from very basic plastic, wooden or metal frames with a seat and harness for baby and tray for food, to feature-laden models with additional padding, wheels, and conversion functions. What they all have in common is that they are supported by legs. Alternatively, there is the clamp-on high chair, which secures to the edge of the table. These have the added advantage of being exceptionally portable and lightweight. Features to Consider When Buying a High Chair You may want a high chair with folding capabilities if space is limited, or wheels if you've got lots of space and plan to have meals or snack times in different rooms. Additional padding and adjustable seating can make a high chair more comfy for your baby. Convertible high chairs can give you more bang for your buck; some convert to become booster seats or toddler chairs, others even transform into adult chairs. Look for material that is stain-resistant and parts that are easy to wash, like removable, dishwasher-safe trays, to make care a little easier.