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How
to choose a highchair
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View highchairs to buy in the babyworld shop>>
Through the baby months to toddlerhood you may find you need more than one type of chair for feeding and play as your baby grows. Before he can sit up he may enjoy a bouncing or rocking chair, which may double up for first feeds.
Once your baby is sitting up (from around 6 months) he will enjoy sharing family mealtimes in a highchair. From around two years, he will either move on to a booster seat or a raised chair that will fit at the table. He will also need something to use when you are visiting friends or on holiday - this is where a clip-on seat or a fabric travel seat can be useful.
What to look for
How
comfortable is it? Learning about eating can be stressful at times, the
least you can do is make it a comfortable experience
Will
it cater for his changing needs as he grows? Remember that your baby is
likely to use the highchair from around six months up to around two years. Some
designs convert to table and chair and can be used beyond this for playing and
eating snacks
How
much room will it take up? If space is at a premium, think about the overall
size as well as the facility to fold it down and put it away when not needed
Does
it have a harness?
Babies and toddlers must wear a harness or recognised restraint in the highchair
at all times. The best harness is a 5-point which means it goes over the shoulders,
round the middle and between the legs. Many highchairs have these as a fixed
feature; if not, check that there are D-shaped rings at the base of the seat
area for attaching your own harness
Is the tray a good size? Ideally
the stray should be a good size with high edges to prevent food from falling
on to the floor?
How
easy will it be to keep clean? Awkward crevices and corners will soon become
sticky and unhygienic. A removable tray makes cleaning much easier
Is
the seat cushioning replaceable?
Many highchairs are PVC covered which is soft and warm to sit on, but also prone
to wear and tear and doesn’t take kindly to disinfectant. Some highchair manufacturers
offer replacement seat cushioning