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Highchair Buying Guide
A highchair is one of the
most essential pieces of furniture you will buy for your child. It will be in
daily use for at least two years, and there's a range of types and styles of
highchair available, so it's important to find one that will suit your and your
child's needs.
Here are some useful hints
and tips about things to consider when choosing a highchair.
How
to Buy a Highchair: Introduction
With a wide base for
stability, and a tray attachment for food, a highchair is principally a seat in
which a young toddler can be comfortably fed in safety. Because the child is
perched so high, the design is based around preventing the chair from tipping
over.
Highchairs come in a range
of styles and designs. Many models of highchair are available in wood, and
these traditional wooden highchairs are versatile and easy to use. However, wood
is a heavier material and wooden highchairs can be bulky and difficult to move
around, while cleaning usually requires a little more effort.
Metal highchairs usually feature
a folding or collapsible design, but can still be a little too heavy for some
parents, although they are easy to store and clean.
Plastic highchairs normally
come with a full range of features such as height-adjustable seats and wheels.
Lightweight and easy to store, full feature plastic highchairs cost more but
represent great value if you're looking for a portable and versatile highchair.
Most parents agree that
portability and versatility are the main factors to consider when choosing a
highchair. The uses to which a highchair may be put are usually determined by
its type.
Which Type of Highchair to Choose?
Here are the main types of
highchair:
- Highchair
with tray: With a space where
your child can make as much mess as they like while they get used to meal times,
a highchair with tray offers a safe, comfortable and fun environment for
you and your baby. While plastic highchairs with trays are easy to store
and usually offer many adjustable features, they might not look as
'pretty' as a wooden highchair. Highchairs with trays are usually the most
comfortable for younger babies.
- Highchair
without a tray: Usually made of
wood, the highchair without a tray is ideal if you want your toddler to
eat from the same table as everyone else - although it won't prevent table
mess! For affordable, practical seating for the older toddler, a highchair
without a tray is ideal, with many models incorporating a height-adjustable
seat. Some models can even be converted into a conventional chair when
your child outgrows the highchair.
- Portable/clip-on
highchair: This is simply a
seat that clips on to a table, and is great value for money and easy to
use. The disadvantages are that the seat height is determined by the
height of the tabletop and there isn't usually an option to attach a
separate tray.
- Cube
highchair: A cube highchair is
a child's chair and table, which join together to make a comfortable and
stylish highchair. When the child gets older the two parts may be
separated and used as a child's chair and food/playing table.
Features to Look for When You Buy a Highchair
Here are the key features to
consider when choosing a highchair:
- Rounded
edges: A highchair is designed
for comfort and safety, and all edges that the child can touch should be
smooth and rounded.
- Harness: Usually a three or five point system, a harness
will prevent your child from standing up or slipping off the highchair.
- Tray: Look for trays that have high enough sides to
cope with spills - so any mess your toddler decides to make at least stays
off the floor!
- Cleaning
and Maintenance: A good quality
highchair should require minimal maintenance and should be easy to clean.
- Wheels: Wheels enable you to easily move the highchair
within the dining area or around the house. Ensure that the wheels can be
easily and securely locked when the baby is in the highchair.
- Reclining
seat: Ideal for babies of up to
around 6 - 9 months, the reclining seat function is usually found on
freestanding highchairs with a tray.
Set a Budget Before Choosing a Highchair
It's a good idea to set a
limit on the amount of money that you're prepared to spend on a highchair.
Don't pay more for a style or type of highchair that won't suit your and your
child's needs. By shopping around online, comparing prices between different
highchair retailers and taking advantage of special offers and discounts, you
could save money or even get a better model of highchair than your budget would
normally allow.
A warranty ensures that if
your highchair develops a fault, it will be repaired or replaced, providing
certain conditions are met. A reasonable warranty is generally included when
you purchase a highchair, but it's worth comparing the warranties offered by
different manufacturers and retailers. For more expensive highchairs you should
consider paying a little more for an extended warranty that covers the whole
period for the use of your highchair.
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