When it comes to buying something for a baby, every parent wants to buy the best. The same thing applies when it’s time to shop for a high chair for the baby. Comfort and safety are the two things paramount in the parents’ mind. However, these days the high chairs don’t just provide a safe place for your baby to sit in, they offer a lot more like wheels, reclining and adjustable seats etc. A large variety of high chairs is available in market. But not all of these chairs are good. So a careful selection is a must if you are thinking of purchasing a high chair. The most important thing is to browse and explore all the alternatives available and remember the tips given below.
Types of High Chairs
1. Standard high chair
This is the basic and most commonly used high chair. It can be used as soon as the baby learns to sit at around six months of age. It has a tray attached to it which serves as a convenient table for the baby.
2. European-style high chair
European style high chairs usually don’t have a tray attached. They are intended to be pulled right up to the dining table so the child can have his or her meals with the family. Such chairs are more suitable for kids in the toddler age group. Depending upon the weight limit of the chair, these can also be used by older kids. These chairs are very comfortable as they have adjustable seat and footrest.
3. Portable or ‘hook-on’ high chair
These high chairs prove convenient while travelling or in places where there’s a shortage of space. Some models of this kind of high chair come with a tray attached. But the ‘tray-less’ options are also available.
It is very important to be careful while using and clipping on the chair to the dining table. As these chairs get attached to the table, the weight limit should be strictly adhered too. Also, it must be made sure that the table is strong enough to bear the weight of the chair and the child in it. The wood of the table must be strong enough to hold the chair in place, instead of getting ripped off by the chair’s hook-on metal arms.
4. Booster seat
This is suitable for kids that are too old for standard high chair, but still need help to reach the table. That is, this chair is most suitable for kids between the age group of 18 to 24 months. Besides giving the child a high chair to sit on and reach the table, it also provides the security of a seat belt. However, unlike the five-point harness of a standard high chair, the booster seats have only a three-point harness. This allows more freedom to the child to move about in the seat, while still staying secure.
5. Chair harness
A chair harness is like a seat cover that can be attached to a chair’s back. It has safety straps to keep the child secure in the seat. However, two major disadvantages of the chair harness are that it is neither as secure as a booster chair, nor does it provides the lift that the child needs to reach the table. But the chair harness can prove very handy while travelling with an older infant or toddler between the age group of 18 to 24 months.
Tips to Remember
1. There must be a bar positioned in a way that it comes between the baby’s legs when the child is placed in the chair. If such a bar is not present, the baby might slip and fall down the chair.
2. Choose the chair that has a wide base. It should also have a low center of gravity. These two things are essential to make the chair sturdy and to prevent it from toppling over.
3. Folding high chairs and high chairs with wheels offer great convenience. But before buying them, test and make sure their locking mechanism is strong and reliable. Your don’t want the chair to roll away or fold over on its own while the baby is in it!
4. Chairs that offer height adjustment can be used for a longer period as the baby grows because their height can be adjusted to suit the growing baby’s needs.
5. Make sure the buckles of the belts and straps of the chair are secure and sturdy.
6. You can’t stop a baby from dirtying his own chair. So it is always advisable to choose a chair that has removable and washable cushions.
7. Make sure that the chair has no sharp edges.
8. The high chair must be easy to open, easy to secure the baby in and easy to clean.
