What to Look for in a Baby High Chair
If you're a new parent, you might be debating whether you need to get a baby high chair. Although there are reclining variants for babies, high chairs are not necessary at this point. Nevertheless, they are advantageous regardless of the baby's age.
First and foremost, a high chair offers a secure and cozy dining space for your infant. It will free up both of your hands, making it simpler to feed your child.
A high chair will also enable the family to be near the infant at mealtimes, allowing for closer contact, interaction, and bonding.
It might be challenging to decide which type to purchase with a few distinct options available. This article's objective is to make the choosing process simpler.
We shall discuss the numerous high chair varieties and compare their qualities. We will also discuss each type's benefits and drawbacks as well as potential pitfalls. Most importantly, we'll go over everything you need to know to keep your child secure while they're in their chair.
Baby High Chairs Overview
While there are some affordable high chairs of decent quality, the most are pretty simple. If this is all you need, there are many options. However, these days, a lot of parents search for products with useful features like extra-large feeding trays and cup and bottle holders.
Some high chairs may serve as both a feeding station and a play table by adding an insert that slides in between the two.
When you pay more, you can purchase a convertible model. These have a feeding tray that is removable and an adjustable height. When they are old enough, your child can use the chair at the family dinner table with the tray removed.
Wooden High Chairs vs Plastic and Metal
Typically, high chairs are made of wood, plastic, or metal.
Many parents choose old-fashioned wooden high chairs. They have a nice appearance, are tough, and are simple to maintain. However, an older high chair could not have the safety straps and latches that are required nowadays. You may enjoy the advantages of wood in a modern high chair that complies with safety regulations. The biggest disadvantage of wooden high chairs is their often higher price compared to those made of plastic and metal.
Although there are some excellent plastic high chairs, the more affordable models are sometimes not as sturdy as wooden high chairs. This suggests that any future infants you have may not be able to utilize the chair. Additionally, plastic high chairs can be stain-prone and challenging to keep clean. A high-quality plastic high chair is worth the additional money if you have your heart set on one
.
Metal-framed high chairs are becoming more and more well-liked due to their sleek and contemporary design. They often have cushioned waterproof seats that can be removed for cleaning and are lighter than high chairs made of wood but heavier than those made of plastic. The primary disadvantage of a metal high chair is that mealtimes can get pretty noisy once your child discovers how much fun it is to smash their spoon on it.
Two other options are the portable high chair and the hook-on high chair. A portable high chair is used strapped to a regular chair, while a hook on a high chair attaches to a tabletop. Both are inexpensive, and they can be folded and popped into your car when you are visiting friends or family or dining at a restaurant. Though primarily designed to be used as a spare for traveling, if you are short on space or money, either chair can be utilized at home.
What to Look for in a High Chair
Next, we will discuss what to look for in a high chair.
Seat
Your infant will be more comfortable in a high chair with a cushioned seat cover. Make sure the cover can be removed for simple cleaning and is waterproof
Adjustability
Your infant can utilize the chair for a longer period of time if it has adjustable footrests and a height setting that can be changed as they develop.
Folding Ability
A folding design facilitates simple transportation and small storage.
Broad Base
An energetic child will be safer in a high chair with a wide base since it won't topple over.
Final Thoughts on What to Look for in a Baby High Chair
A high-quality baby high chair that you can use for each of your children is worth the extra money if you want to have more than one child. A convertible high chair will last your child from the time they are a newborn until they are at least 5 or 6 years old if you are only expecting to have one child.
It's acceptable to purchase a used infant high chair, but if you're doing it online, make arrangements to view it beforehand. In this manner, you can be certain that the chair hasn't incurred any damage that would endanger your youngster. Check the latches and safety harness. Don't buy these if they aren't secure. Make sure the model hasn't been recalled as well.
I hope this essay has helped clarify what to look for in a baby high chair and has facilitated your decision-making process.
