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Summary: The choice of a high chair for that new baby can seem intimidating with all the options there are on the market. The following high chair buyers guide focuses on the most important aspects of the chair: safety, comfort, ease of use, and practicality.
High chairs come in many types, styles, and materials. Choosing one can seem daunting, especially when you start looking at the price tags. There is a lot of variation in safety and comfort features as well as in practicality. Some are simply easier to use than others. This high chair buyers guide offers some ideas about what to look for in choosing a high chair that will work for you and your family.
Safety features are probably your first concern. These include a wide base that is hard to tip over, and strap restraints that buckle like the straps on a car safety seat. When you look at the strap buckles, think about how easy they are to use. Also look them over carefully to be sure they do not have little crevices in them where food will lodge. The buckles should be easy to maneuver and clean, and the straps themselves should be easy to clean.
For small babies, look for a five-point buckle restraint system. For larger babies who are sitting up well, the minimum recommended by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is a strap for the waist and another that comes up between the legs and attaches to the waist strap. Some high chairs made of plastic have molded seats that have leg holes so the child cannot slip out under the tray. This is a safe alternative to the safety strap that buckles between the legs.
Some high chairs feature wheels for easy movement. Make sure they have good working safety locks on the wheels so you can put the brakes on the chair during meal time. Another important safety feature is a lock to keep the chair open if it happens to be a folding high chair. While safety features are great, there is no substitute for your attention. Don't ever leave the baby in the high chair alone, and don't forget to use the straps and other safety features.
To be sure your high chair meets proper safety standards, you can see if it has a seal of certification from the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (or JPMA). This is an organization of manufacturers who have agreed to meet certain safety standards in their products.
A feature that makes chairs easier to clean is the snap off dishwasher safe tray. This tray fits over a permanent tray and takes the bulk of the mess. It can then be removed and washed in the dishwasher. You will still be wiping around the permanent tray and the rest of the high chair, but the main mess can be rinsed in the sink and the tray then sanitized.
Another thing to look for in the tray is that it is easy to remove (if it is removable.) Some require both hands to be used to remove or adjust the tray. If you can find a chair with a tray you can adjust with one hand, you are probably going to be glad. Avoid any high chair that has sharp edges or any mechanisms that look like they would pinch you or the baby. Also think about whether the tray could be removed by your baby later on.
The high chair you choose should be easy to keep clean. If the chair is upholstered in vinyl it can be wiped clean easily. If any of the chair is upholstered in fabric, the fabric should be easily removable and machine washable.
The baby will be more comfortable if the chair has thick cushioning and is in a size that fits. Some chairs are adjustable so they can grow with the baby. Reclining seats are good for little babies that are not sitting up well yet, and they are also handy when that toddler falls asleep at the table - which they all do at one time or another!
Look for an adjustable foot rest on the high chair. If the baby is not comfortable in the chair, you will not enjoy meals as much, so do consider how comfortable the chair will be for your baby. Some high chairs include bright animal theme prints and even attachable toys that can keep baby entertained while everyone else lingers over the meal.
Hybrid chairs attach to one of your kitchen chairs and convert it into a chair for the baby. These chairs are practical in several ways. For one thing, it allows the child to be part of the family, eating right off the table with everyone else. Because it attaches to the chair, it fits right up by the table and does not take up a lot of extra floor space. There is no separate tray to clean up, but you will be cleaning baby food messes from your table, so keep that in mind.
By having meals as a family, baby will be included in a good habit that will make everyone's lives richer. While it is not as important a consideration as safety and comfort, you will probably want to get a chair that you find attractive. For instance, if you eat regularly in the dining room, you might want a pretty wooden chair that complements the rest of the furniture. A good high chair will get a lot of use, so take your time as you make this important decision.
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