Around six months, your baby’s mealtimes change. Your baby wants to sit up, grab the spoon, and get banana in places they shouldn’t go. That’s when a high chair stops being a casual purchase and becomes an essential one.
It’s easy to buy one in a rush, as most chairs look fine. They all have a seat and a tray. But U.S. emergency rooms treat thousands of high chair injuries every year, and falls cause most of them. A little checking before you buy goes a long way.
Here are six things worth checking before buying a high chair for your baby.
1. The Harness and Crotch Post
Pediatric experts say a high chair needs a three-point or five-point harness with a crotch strap or post. The tray alone won’t hold a wriggling baby. Babies slide, slump and push. The gap under the tray becomes a real danger.
Look at the straps in the store and do they answer these questions- Are they attached to the chair’s frame? Do they click shut easily? Can you tighten them with one hand while holding a baby in the other?
A harness you can’t use quickly is a harness you’ll skip on a busy morning.
2. The Stability of the Base
Give the chair a push. Not a gentle one. Rock it from side to side, then front to back.
Wider bases tend to be more stable, according to safety guidelines. A narrow frame tips more easily, especially once your baby starts kicking at the table. If the chair has wheels, check that they lock. Test them in the store, not at home.
Also consider the kitchen space as well. A chair that sits steadily on wood floors might not sit sturdily on uneven tile floors. Place the chair away from tables and counters so that they don’t tip over when the baby pushes against them.
3. The Tray and its Locks
The tray does more than hold food. It also sits right in front of your baby, so it has to behave.
Click it in and out a few times. Does it lock firmly? Does it feel loose or wobbly once it’s on? Try it with one hand, because you’ll often have the other busy. Some trays need two hands and a bit of luck. That gets old fast.
Check the tray’s edges, too. Look for rim lips that catch food and corners that could bump small faces. A tray with a deep lip keeps spills contained. A flat one sends porridge straight onto the floor.
4. Safety Standards and Recall Status
This check takes five minutes and can save you a lot of worry.
The high chairs that are available in the USA should comply with the federal safety requirements for stability and restraint systems. As per the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the mandatory safety standard became effective on June 19, 2019. It is recommended to buy a high chair that was made after this date. The manufacturing date is marked on a label on the chair.
The next step is to confirm whether there is any recall notice against the chosen product or not. For that, one can use the brand name and model number of the high chair on the CPSC database online. This is particularly important when buying used high chairs as a secondhand item or receiving one as a hand-me-down from someone.
5. Comfort, Fit and Adjustability
A baby who feels comfortable sits longer. This makes mealtime calmer for everyone.
Look for a footrest. Dangling legs make babies fidgety, and a solid footrest helps them sit upright. Check whether the seat height and tray position adjust. Your baby will grow quickly, and a chair that only fits for three months won’t earn its space.
Many stores let you sit a child in it. If yours does, notice how your baby sits. Do they slump? Is the chair too big or small?
Generally, by six months, most infants are capable of sitting without much assistance, and thus the perfect high chair would be one that allows them to sit upright comfortably.
6. Cleaning and Space at Home
Nobody mentions the cleaning task of a high chair in the ads. Everybody feels it by a week or two.
The peas can end up beneath the seat and the yogurt can harden in the creases. Choose a chair that you can clean easily. The easy to remove and washable covers will help save your sanity. Just ensure that the chair tray is also washable and removable.
It is also necessary to think about space. Measuring the kitchen or the dining space is essential. There are folding infant high chairs that help in small spaces. Non folding chairs occupy floor space.
A good high chair is one that you can buckle up every time, wipe off in a couple of seconds and use even on the roughest morning. Save these six checks before you shop.
