The all important highchair

You have made it through purchasing a buggy. Well done. That was not an easy task. There are so many to choose from. The next big purchase is a high chair. It doesn’t need to be expensive but it does get a lot of use so it is worth thinking about. How do you know which is the best highchair?

5 things I recommend you look for in a highchair:

  1. One which fits the space you have – are you feeding your baby in the kitchen, dining room – a combination of places? Some are wider than others, some fold and some don’t so think carefully about where you need it to fit and how you are going to dance round it wherever you put it.
  2. One which is secure. I would recommend a 5 point harness. That’s one which goes over the shoulders too. Although you should never leave a baby unattended in the highchair, it is easier for them to climb out of a 3 point harness.
  3. One which is easy to clean. Weaning is messy so you don’t want to be spending ages cleaning all the little grooves.
  4. One which can be separate from the main table and up against it – ie with a removable tray. I say this from experience, sometimes you want your baby to be able to interact with the rest of the family at the table and sometimes, especially on nights you eat Bolognese, you want them away from the table! They might also grab things on the table so it is helpful to have a separate tray. This also applies if you are feeding them away from the table or you want to have them in a comfortable position for you to spoon feed. Removable trays are also easier in terms of getting them in and out and also taking the food away if needed.
  5. One with a footrest. Studies show that footrests are better for posture and can also reduce fussiness because they fidget less. Either way, they are more comfortable for children as they grow – think about bar stools you have sat on without a footrest.

Once you have considered what you need, have a look and see if you can buy second hand. You can get some bargains. Charity shops and the usual online groups are great places to start looking.

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