Once your baby is strong enough to sit up it is advisable to get a high chair so that the child can be fed properly without slopping things all over the bedclothes or the furniture. It is a nice way of letting the child participate at family meals, too. What are the options you have when shopping for a high chair? Which are the must-haves and which are to be avoided? We’ll run through the basics for your benefit.
The most important consideration in children’s furniture is safety. Make sure the high chair is not likely to topple over easily, especially since the baby is going to do everything in its capacity to make it do so. A low center of gravity and a wide base will make the high chair sufficiently stable.
High chairs come with safety straps to restrain the child from slipping out of the chair. At the very minimum it must have a crotch strap and a waist strap. If it has straps for the upper body, so much the better. If the high chair has no safety straps, but only provides restraint in the form of a padded bar or tray in front of the child, it is not a good choice, safety wise.
After safety comes hygiene and cleaning convenience. Babies are babies and will always do something to dirty the high chair! It is imperative that the cushioning or padding is easily removable and washable, preferably machine washable. Never let your baby sit in a dirty high chair for more than you can help it.
Attachable toys are very helpful in keeping the baby from getting bored and fretful. Make sure the toys are baby-safe, that is, they don’t have sharp edges or pointed corners, and they don’t break easily. Babies like to taste-test everything they can lay their little hands on. So make sure that the paint or finishing on the toy won’t make your little darling sick!
Get a high chair which has a convenient way to detach or release the front tray or bar. This will simplify getting the baby in and out of the chair. Choose a chair in which the back can be reclined. This way even infants can lie down and enjoy watching the family at meals. It will be a good idea to get high chair with a way to lower and raise the seat to adjust its height according to the situational requirement. A dinner tray which can be washed in the dishwasher is a welcome feature, as is an additional snack tray.
That, then, is the lot of do’s and don’ts for you to look out for when selecting a high chair for your precious one. Don’t get confused by the plethora of models that are in the stores. Safety first, hygiene next, these are the essential features that you must not compromise on. The other options depend on your budget, and whether they will fit your requirement.
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