1 1 Facebook PinterestAlexandra Rowley When Baby's Ready for a High ChairWhen Baby can sit up on his own and is eating solid food -- usually between 4 and 6 months -- it's time to add a high chair to your kitchen decor. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you buy.2 2 Facebook PinterestStockDisc Is It Easy to Use?Whether it's easy to get your baby in and out is the most important concern. Before you shop, ask your friends if they have a high chair they love. Once you're in a store, test the chairs to find one with a tray that you can operate with one hand. Look at the seat straps to see if they're simple to buckle and unbuckle. The majority of high-chair accidents occur because parents don't use the buckle feature. Remember, as soon as your baby figures out how to pull himself upright, he might try it in his high chair. Using a three- or five-point harness keeps him safe.3 3 Facebook PinterestJuice Images/Veer Is It JPMA Certified?Speaking of safety, manufacturers can opt to have high chairs tested and approved by the independent Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.
If there's a JPMA seal on a high chair, it's one of the safest.4 4 Facebook PinterestKaysh Shinn Is It Comfortable?You'll want your baby to stay seated for a decent period of time. Consider how roomy the seat is, especially if you have a big baby. Is the seat well padded? Is there a footrest?5 5 Facebook PinterestFancy Photography/Veer Is It Easy to Clean?Babies are notoriously messy eaters, and that means you need to consider how easy it is to clean up the high chair after a messy meal. Most chairs come with a vinyl seat that can be wiped clean. Look at how the cushion and frame fit together and imagine a scenario involving applesauce and crumbs. The fewer seams and crevices, the better. A recent update in high chairs is a tray-within-a-tray feature, where the top tray pops out for cleaning in your sink or dishwasher. Some high chairs even come with an extra tray so that if one is being washed, you've got another.6 6 Facebook PinterestAlexandra Grablewski Does It Have the Features You Need?
Will you move your high chair around, maybe pushing it to the table for meals and then back against a wall for storage? If so, look for a model with wheels that lock to keep the chair stationary when in use. Some high chairs fold up for storage, making it a good choice for occasional use, such as grandma's house.Originally published in American Baby magazine. Updated 2010.Win Baby Gear! 7 The Must-Read High Chairs Buying Guide High chair shopping doesn't have to be a task. To find the perfect seat... more Begin Slideshow The Lowdown on High Chairs High chairs are typically designed for use from infancy to three years of age, with a top weight limit of around 50 pounds. Here are some important factors to consider when shopping: Safety features are a top consideration. Look for these main components: A crotch post; wheels that lock in place (or a chair that doesn’t have wheels); and if it’s a folding high chair, make sure it won’t pinch your fingers when closing. From conventional to contemporary, high chairs come in a range of décor-enhancing styles.
Some are functional—adjustable trays with dishwasher-safe inserts make for quick cleanup; seats that recline to multiple positions are handy when bottle-feeding, and chair heights that accommodate your growing baby are a plus. (Height adjustment can be equally convenient for the parent; you can lower the high chair seat to match your chair, allowing you to sit while feeding the baby.) Others are downright practical—such as high chairs that convert to booster chairs when your child is ready to sit at the table. If space is tight, consider a chair that folds or has a smaller footprint. A certification sticker shows that the manufacturer has met safety standards set by ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials), and that it takes part in a certification program administered by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. JPMA certification can provide some level of assurance that the product meets safety standards, but is not a guarantee that it does.
You might not know what high chair will best suit your child until you try it. Keep your receipt or packing slip. If you receive a high chair as a gift, ask that a gift receipt be included. Some high chairs require assembly and can come with more parts than you might expect, or can be tricky to put together. If you're not handy, you might want to buy a high chair that comes fully assembled. Think Twice About Secondhand We recommend against buying or accepting a second-hand chair. If you do, get the model name and date of manufacture—which should be on a label permanently affixed to the chair—then check www.recalls.gov to be sure the chair has not been included in any safety recalls. High chairs have grown up and some of the newer ones are packed with features. You'll find the features for each high chair in our Ratings on the features & specifications tab on each model page. This category includes basic models to high-end models. Meant primarily for home use, traditional high chairs are not designed to fold for travel, or transform into on-the-go child seats.
Basic models make good second high chairs to leave at a grandparent's house. Pros: Top-end models tend to have a sleeker, more upscale look. Some have higher-end fabric or styling and offer greater adjustability. There's an endless selection of models, materials, and features. Cons: High-end high chairs don't necessarily deliver top quality; less-expensive models can be just as durable. Watch for protruding or widely spaced legs that can be a tripping hazard. Grooves in the molded plastic of the tray or seat can trap food and dirt. You want double-action latches, which are more difficult for a child to undo. These high chairs have a base and a seat unit with a tray. When needed, the seat unit can be lifted directly off the chair frame (with or without the tray) and strapped to an adult dining chair to serve as a booster seat. As your child gets older, the booster tray can be removed and the seat base moved closer so your child can dine at the table. Pros: You can potentially seat two kids with one high chair by using the base for the older child, and the high chair/booster for the younger one.
Cons: Many modular chairs have a base that does not fold. Grow With Me High Chairs A Grow With Me high chair is a chair, almost always constructed of wood, that converts to a toddler or youth chair (ages 3 to 5 years), with some models lasting into young adulthood (or up to 175 pounds or more). Not all wooden chairs do all three conversions, but this style is gaining in popularity in part due to their design aesthetic and adaptability. Pros: A chair that fits many developmental stages. The style, more like furniture than another piece of baby gear, appeals to many parents. Cons: Seat height is adjusted with a hex key/Allen wrench so you'll need to keep that tool handy indefinitely. High chair conversion kits or “baby sets” can be awkward to use. Spacing can be tight with the seat platform in the designated position(s) for use with a baby set. Shopping and Safety Tips Open and Close the Safety Harness Fastener Make sure you can easily operate the harness fastener but your child cannot.
If it's difficult for you to use, you might be tempted not to use it every time your child is in the seat, which is a mistake. Although the current safety standard set by ASTM International doesn't call for a five-point harness (a waist and crotch restraint with shoulder straps), a three-point harness (waist and crotch restraint) is required for certification. On some chairs, you can convert a five-point harness to a three-point one, but we don't recommend it. Five-point harnesses are safer because they can prevent a child from standing or leaning over in a high chair and possibly falling or tipping the chair over. It should be easy for you to engage, adjust, and disengage—but not for your baby. Tray latches shouldn't be accessible or visible to your baby. Check for a Crotch Post The voluntary industry standard requires high chairs with completely bounded openings to have a fixed post attached to the tray or the seat of the chair. Adjust the Seat Height Adjustable seat heights allow the high chair to be used at the level of your dining room table, so your baby can eat with the rest of the family, or at a height that works well for a seated caregiver.
Remember it isn’t safe to adjust the height when your baby is seated in the chair. Assess the Seat Cover Look for durable upholstery. The seat cover should feel substantial, not flimsy. Make sure upholstery seams won't scratch your baby's legs. Seat covers should be easy to wipe clean or be machine washable. Too many seams, or decorative stitching or piping, can add to the chore of keeping the seat pad clean. Rubber or foam seat pads are easier to keep clean, and the sleek, modern look appeals to many parents. Make Sure That Wheels can Be Locked If you're buying a model with wheels, make sure they lock or become immobilized by the weight of your seated baby. Watch Out for Rough Edges Examine the underside of the feeding tray and edges of the seating area, including the armrests and seatback. Make sure nothing is sharp. Avoid high chairs with small holes or hinges that could trap little fingers. Check for Small Parts Before using, and periodically while the chair is in use, make sure the caps or plugs that cover the ends of metal tubing are well secured, and that labels, stickers or tags are firmly attached.
Check any fasteners for tightness. Parts small enough for a child to swallow or inhale are a choking hazard. If you plan to fold up your high chair every day, practice in the store. Some chairs’ folding mechanisms can be stiff or awkward. Some chairs may take up nearly as much space when folded as they do when opened. Give the Chair a Good Shake Push contenders around to see how well they hold their ground, or lift it if that’s how you would move it within your home. A chair should feel stable and sturdy, not wobbly. Look for a high chair with a wide base for stability. Baby on Board: Features to Consider Safety is a prime consideration when buying a high chair because you don't want your child slipping, sliding, climbing out, or possibly falling. The ease of use of several features can also affect safety. If a harness is hard to use, or a buckle is hard to operate, parents or caregivers might be tempted to not use them. Trying them in the store can help. Check our High Chair Ratings for our assessments of the safety and ease of use of high chairs.