You’ll be needing a high chair as soon as your baby starts eating solid foods at 6 months. At this stage, your baby should be able to sit up and hold her head on her own. With the help of a high chair, she can eat together with you or just simply eat and play at the dinner table. It’s a very important milestone for your baby.
Here are tips to keep in mind when choosing your high chair:
1. Push And Shake The High Chair Before Buying
You may look silly with this one but it’s very important. Before purchasing, push and shake the chair to test if it is stable and sturdy. One mom shared, “He pushed the table in front of him falling backward and hitting his head on the floor,” The chair was simply not stable and sturdy enough. The legs are straight down instead of angled. “It was just a high chair with armrests, no seatbelts and legs there were too steep and straight,” said the mom.
2. Check The Seatbelts
“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,” said Consumer Reports in their high chair buying guide. Never settle for highchairs with difficult to use harnesses. Consumer Reports recommends high-chairs with a five-point harness, that is having straps for the waist, crotch, and shoulders to prevent a child from leaning over and possibly falling or tripping over.
3. Choose The One With Rubber Or Foam Seats
Your baby’s high chair is really going to get messy so choose the ones with seat pads made of rubber for easier cleaning. There are also high chairs with seat covers that are washable.
4. Additional Features
Some high chairs have wheels with locking mechanisms so they can be folded when not in use. Some also have adjustable height and trays. Some also include tray inserts or tray lids. Regular high chairs are already good enough but if your budget can still keep up, additional features can add up ease.
5. A Portable High Chair Or Booster Seat Save Money And Space
High chairs can take up a lot of space in your house so you may want to use a portable high chair or booster seat straps instead. Unlike regular chairs with legs, this one can save you space and are less costly.
