Best High Chair Reviews

The highchair is one of the most important pieces of baby equipment that a parent can have. Even though highchairs are mainly used for feeding infants and toddlers during mealtimes they are also a great way to help keep baby entertained in the kitchen with you. There are so many different types of highchairs available that at times it can be overwhelming picking the right one.

This buyer’s guide is designed to teach you about the different types of highchairs available for purchase, but it will also talk about the features that each highchair should have. Knowing about the different types of highchairs and the features that should be included can really help to narrow down the choices because it allows you to eliminate certain ones that don’t meet these basic standards.

Even though there are numerous highchairs available to purchase, there are not that many different types of highchairs. Currently there are full sized highchairs and compact highchairs that you can choose from, but there are also wood, plastic, and metal high chairs. Full sized highchairs are just what they sound like they are stand-alone seats that can be used to feed babies. The compact highchairs are smaller versions of the full sized highchairs and often secure themselves to a kitchen or dining room chair.

Before making a decision on what highchair to purchase parents, need to know what features to look for. Like all other products, not all highchairs are going to offer the exact same features, but some features are always included for safety reasons. However, not all highchairs will offer the exact same options. For example, one highchair might offer a seven height adjustment, while others only have three different height positions. Here is a look of the must have features that every highchair needs to have.

Must Have Features:

• Stability. This is one of the most important features to look at because you don’t want a highchair that is going to tip over with baby in it. Highchairs that have the best stability have a wide base and a low center of gravity. To test out the stability simply shake the highchair at the store to see how much it wobbles.
• Tray. You need to have a tray that comes with the highchair, even if you have to purchase it separately. The tray is necessary because it is used to help keep baby securely in the highchair, but is also a great tool for teaching baby how to feed themselves. You want to choose a tray that is easy to slide on and off, but also one that locks securely. The tray needs to be easy to clean, as well as having high edges to prevent food and spills from reaching the floor.
• Easy to clean highchair. Having an easy to clean highchair is important because you don’t want food molding in the highchair that you have missed, that increases the amount of bacteria that your baby is being exposed to. The seat cover should be easy to wipe down after every meal, but also machine washable so a deeper cleaning when needed.
• Adjustability. Not all babies are going to be the same size and shape, so having a highchair that adjusts to fit baby is necessary. The highchair should have an adjustable height so mom and dad can choose the right height for feeding based on where they are sitting. The tray should also be adjustable to help prevent food spilling down between the gaps, but also to help accommodate a growing baby. Adjustable footrests are a nice feature because they allow baby to sit comfortably in the chair. Having the adjustable features is nice because it allows the highchair to grow with the baby, so it lasts longer.
• Straps. All of the safety straps, whether they are lap belts or a five-point harness need to be separate from the tray itself. The straps should be on the body of the highchair to secure baby in place. They straps should also be easy to use, but safe enough that baby cannot accidentally get it undone.
• Locking device. If the chair has wheels, they should come with a brake to prevent the highchair from moving when it is engaged. The brakes should always be engaged when baby is in it to prevent baby from moving the chair. For folding highchairs, there should be a locking device that prevents the chair from collapsing when baby is inside of it.

Not only do parents need to know about the most important features of a highchair, but knowing the most popular brands is also a useful factor. In most cases, the most popular brands are going to be the highchairs that have all of the above features and then some, so parents can choose one of these brands and not worry about if something goes wrong. Not to mention most of the popular highchairs are from brand names that we know and trust.

• Fisher-Price. This is perhaps one of the most known brand names in terms of baby gear, and is perhaps the most popular. Fisher-Price carries a wide range of highchairs that meet all of the features above, and they even have some extra features. For example, the Rainforest series comes with toys that attach to the tray to help keep baby entertained.
• Graco. This is another trusted name in baby gear. These highchairs all meet the safety features that are named above, plus some. Graco offers both full sized and compact highchairs, so parents can rest assured they can find exactly what they are looking for. For example, the Graco Duo Dinner Highchair converts into a booster seat by simply removing the legs of the highchair.

One thing that parents need to keep in mind is that even though some brands are more popular than others that doesn’t mean they are always going to be better or offer what you are looking for. Most likely your more popular brands have been around for a long time, so they have been able to establish a name for themselves. The key to buying a good highchair is doing research, which includes reading reviews, before making a final decision.