Five Things Your High Chair Must Have
When shopping for the perfect high chair, practice with the floor models to see how easy they are to use. You should be able to operate the chair with one hand, removing the tray and positioning your child inside. Since your child will constantly be in and out, it's really important to select a model you can easily operate.
Basic features you should look for in a high chair:
Safety Features
5 Point Harness. Not just for car seats, the 5-point harness will keep your rambunctious little one in place while you're fixing dinner or turn your back for a brief second. Don't take the chance of him unbuckling a lap belt and trying to climb out himself.
Middle Bar. A solid middle bar stays between your child's legs and helps keep little ones from slipping down and out the bottom. Look for high chairs where the tray is separate from the middle bar, so you can remove the tray and still be confident that your child will be safely contained in the seat.
Wide Wheel Base. A nice wide set of legs with cross bars makes a sturdy chair that is very difficult to tip over. Test the sturdiness of several models in the store before deciding.
Childproof Tray. The release mechanism should be located out of your child's reach so he cannot remove it by himself.
Lockable Wheels. My favorite thing about our high chair aside from the cool "stainless" look that matches our kitchen is the flexibility of being able to move it easily from the kitchen to dining room because of the wheels. Each wheel can be individually locked for stability once you get the chair where you're going.
Features We Like
Easy To Clean. Removable padding that can go in the washing machine, vinyl seat covers easily wiped down. One of our friends raves about their Peg-Perego Prima Pappa high chair that they regularly take out to the backyard and hose down for a thorough cleaning. Several new chairs have a "tray within a tray" concept, so you can remove the messy top tray and put it right into the dishwasher some even come with extra trays!
Reclining Seat. Many moms will tell you how much they love being able to ease the seat back after their little one falls asleep in their high chair, allowing them to snooze in a comfortable, relaxed position instead of slumping over the tray. This feature is particularly good if you're considering using the chair while your baby is still under six months.
JPMA Certified. Manufacturers can have their products tested and approved by the independent Juvenile Products Manufactures Association to measure compliance to their safety standards. Look for the JPMA seal on the box.
Things To Be Aware Of
Wooden Highchairs. They can look beautiful and match your dining set, but they can be really hard to keep clean! Daily use, exposure to moisture and constant scrubbing can cause the finish to chip and wear down. It can be difficult to find comfortable cushions that keep your child positioned securely.
Built-in Toys. It seems like a great idea to have toys secured to the tray but honestly, your baby would prefer to have a variety of playthings to entertain himself with. Toys that are top-rack dishwasher safe are ideal for high chair duty.
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