High Chair Sourcing Guide
Having a new baby is a time of joy and sleep deprivation. Taking care of your child is a priority, but it’s much easier if you’re prepared before your new baby arrives. Having a good high chair is one of the easiest things you can do to make things easier for your toddler. Your child will be using a high chair for years. Some chairs can even be used while your newborn grows into a toddler. Picking the right chair is not easy. There are so many products on the market that unless you have used a high chair before, it can be difficult to know which features will be most useful. In this buying guide, we’ll help you focus on the most important safety features and discuss some of the optional extras that can build a great chair.
Important Safety Features
As you consider different high chair options, there are a few safety features that should be at the top of your list.
Harness and crotch bar
A basic safety feature that all high chairs need to have is a harness, and most high chairs also need to have a crotch bar. These features are especially important because without them, your newborn baby could slip through the bottom of the highchair while eating or falling asleep in the chair. If your baby does start to slip, both the harness and the crotch barrier will catch them so they don’t get stuck in the chair or fall out. Currently, most safety certifications only require a 3-point harness. However, we recommend the 5-point harnesses (harnesses with shoulder straps) because they are much harder for your child to unhook and prevent them from escaping on their own or standing up and unbalancing the chair.
Certifications
Look for chairs that are certified by ASTM International and JPMA. Both groups focus on evaluating safety features for infants and toddlers. They check crotch bars, harnesses and any buckles or other important safety features.
Smooth edges and no pinch points
Ideally, your high chair should have smooth, rounded edges. Plastic and metal are good choices, as they are less likely to be scratched or roughened and pose a risk of shattering. You should also check to make sure there aren’t any narrow spaces or areas where your child could pinch their hand or get their fingers stuck. Trays and attachment points should have very small or no gaps to avoid pinching.
Tear-resistant cushions
Vinyl is a common cushion liner because it is easy to clean and relatively comfortable. However, over time it can tear and degrade, and can even be a choking hazard if your child is constantly picking or tearing at the cushion. If you decide to use vinyl or a similar type of fabric, you should plan to replace the cushions and covers when they start to show signs of wear and tear. Otherwise, some high chairs are made with rubber or other tear-resistant fabrics that are safer for your child and less prone to wear and tear.
Convenience Features
Other features are not as important as the main safety features, but are still worth your decision.
Grow with me chairs
The Grow with me chair is designed to easily convert to a booster seat and later to a smaller child seat. Some can even be used as your child’s first desk or computer chair. These chairs are convenient because they reduce the amount of child-specific furniture you need. They are also usually very durable, so they will last for years, and you can even use the same high chair for future children.
Folding or travel features
Another particularly important convenience feature if you travel a lot or live in a small space is a high chair that can be folded up for easy storage. Look for chairs that have a locking mechanism when set up and standing, so your child doesn’t accidentally fold the chair. Locks that keep the chair tightly folded are also great. Ideally, you should try opening and folding a folding chair before you buy it so you can look for pinching hazards before you bring it home. Folding the chair should also be easy for you, but difficult enough so that your child can’t do it.
Recliner
After a nice meal, we’re all sleepy. So do babies and toddlers, who often doze off after a meal. A reclining seat lets you move the seat back so your baby can nap safely without having to wake them up and move them to their crib or other furniture. Reclining seats also make it easier to bottle feed your baby, as they provide a better feeding angle and make it easier to hold the bottle.
Adjustable height
Many high chairs offer adjustable height settings so you can pull the high chair up to the table, place it next to a chair, or use a height so you can easily keep an eye on your child while you do chores. Like most of the other features on this list, it should be easy enough for you to adjust quickly, but not so easy that kids can operate it on their own. You should also test to make sure that the height you want locks into place and that the chair doesn’t fall or tilt easily.
