High Chairs, How To Choose The Best…
Take it from a mom who made the wrong high chair choice…and cringed at the sight of the thing everyday for years, high chairs are not all created equal. To get the lowdown on how to choose the perfect high chair for your family, we checked in with Baby Planner Shawn Corry of Blue Skye Baby… she’s done all the research, so we don’t have to!
High chairs can be a parents dream comes true while preparing dinner or putting away items from a “relaxing” trip to the market. Little do parents know, there are many things to think about while searching for the perfect high chair.
Pattern, color & style can be enticing to the consumer, but it is best to look beyond that. Avoid chairs that have many cracks & crevices near the tray and seat, which can make it difficult for the type A personality to clean with the shop vac. The big debate is a vinyl versus cloth seat, especially the cloth edging & piping. Look for a well upholstered seat that will not tear or puncture easily. If you choose cloth, can the seat be easily removed for a proper cleaning in the washer and dryer or would you rather spot clean instead with vinyl? Your baby is in that seat for many snacks & meals, how often do you want to be reinstalling the chair cover? I know I would rather be reading a book to my son or on a play date rather than extra loads of laundry. Food for thought, no pun intended!!
Now let’s get to the nuts and bolts of a high chair, SAFETY. Look for JPMA, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (jpma.org) certified high chairs. 4 to 5 deaths occur every year when babies “submarine” under the tray. A passive restraint can alleviate the problem which is a plastic post under the tray and is best if it is attached to the seat versus the tray. When you take the tray off, the child then cannot slide out of the seat. Also, a safety harness with multiple straps around the hips and between legs, similar to a 5-point harness system you will see in infant & car seats, can stop your child from falling below the tray.
A seat that reclines is a nice option for infants to get them in & out easier and for bottle feeding. NEVER feed a child solid food in a reclined position, it can be a choking hazard. Check for a wide, stable base to deter from tipping and do not place the chair close to a wall, they can kick the chair over. Ouch!!
If you have a “busy” baby or toddler, a kick-guard on the release or a push release button will eliminate the tray being kicked across the kitchen. Climbing out of the chair can be another issue parents will face soon enough. A seat depth between 5 to 7 inches is acceptable for the climber in your home, and a tray height less than 8 inches should work for most babies to reach their Cheerios.
High chairs are an important part of the “must have” baby gear. Choose wisely and you will have a safe chair to place your child in during meal time or mommy time.
