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You'll want a stable, sturdy model that can stand up to spilling, kicking, and regular cleaning for at least a year (some babies can't bear to sit in a high chair after that). A chair with a tray that can be released with one hand is also a plus. Photo your baby occupying your other arm while you're opportunity and end the tray; it's just one of the many corporeal feats you'll be asked to scholar as a parent.

A high chair ordinarily consists of a frame of molded plastic or metal tubing and an attached seat with a protection belt and a footrest. There are still a few old-fashioned wooden high chairs out there with a detachable tray or arms that lift the tray over a baby's head, although they aren't all the time as comfortable for babies as the modern, form-fitting models on the shop now, and most of them aren't certified as meeting the most recent protection standards. You'll also find a few hybrid units, which can duplicate as a swing or turn into other types of gear, such as a chair for an older child or a play table.

Chicco

Shopping Secrets

Look for a chair that has a waist strap and a strap that runs in the middle of the legs. If a tray is used, there should be a passive restraint, such as a crotch post, used in conjunction with the harness straps. A high chair, like a car seat or a stroller, is one of those shake-rattle-and-roll buying experiences. We propose visiting the baby store near you with the broadest selection. Then do the following:

Open and close the stamp on the seat's protection harness (try it one-handed) to make sure it's easy to use. If it's not, you might be tempted not to use it every time your child is in the seat, although that's imperative.

Adjust the seat height to see how well that mechanism works. Some seats come with as many as seven potential heights. You may only use one or two, but you can't know for sure at this point.

Assess the seat cover. Look for a chair with cushion made to last. It should feel substantial, not flimsy. Make sure cushion seams won't scratch your baby's legs.

Make sure wheels can be locked (if you're buying a model with wheels) or that they come to be immobilized when there is weight (like a baby) in the seat.

Watch out for rough edges. recognize the underside of the feeding tray to make sure it's free of whatever sharp that could scratch your baby. Also look for small holes or hinges that could capture puny fingers.

Check for the absence of small parts. Make sure the caps or plugs that cover the ends of metal tubing are well secured. Parts small sufficient for a child to swallow or inhale are a choking hazard. Know when to fold 'em. If you plan to fold up your high chair as often as every day, institution in the store. Some chairs that claim to be foldable can have stiff folding mechanisms. Technically they may be foldable, but they're not user-friendly.

What'S Available

Major brands of high chairs include, in alphabetical order: Baby Trend, Chicco Usa, Dorel teenage Group (Cosco), Evenflo, Fisher-Price, Graco, J. Mason, Kolcraft, Peg Perego, and Scandinavian Child. There are three normal price ranges:

Basic high chairs

High chairs at this end of the price range (under ) are simple, compact, and commonly work quite well. Essentially plastic seats on plastic or steel-tubing legs, such models may or may not have tray and height adjustments and tend to lack bells and whistles, such as wheels, foldability for storage, one-handed tray removal, or the capacity to recline, which you may not use anyway unless you're bottle-feeding. The seat is ordinarily upholstered with a vinyl face or bare plastic, and the pad may be detachable and washable. The tray is typically kept in place with pins that fit into holes in the tubing.

Pros: For the money, a basic high chair can serve you and your baby well. But it pays to comparison shop, as some brands may be more convenient to your needs than others.

Cons: Watch for chairs in this price range with grooves in the seat's molded plastic (a gunk trap); cotton seat pads rather than vinyl, which tend not to hold up as well over time; and trays with side release buttons that are accessible to your baby. Some parents article that their babies can take off such trays--food and all--as early as 9 months of age.

Midpriced high chairs

In this price range ( to 0), you'll find many of the features of higher-end chairs, which consist of many tray and chair-height positions; casters for mobility, with a locking feature for safe parking; a reclining seat for child feeding; one-hand detachable tray; foldability for storage; and a three- or five-point harness plus a passive restraint when used with the tray. Most have cushioned, vinyl seat pads that can be removed for washing, although you'll also still see models with cloth covers in this price range; those are a challenge to keep clean. Frames and seats are typically made of molded, rigid plastic or steel.

Pros: This price range commonly offers sturdier chairs with more usable features, although, depending on the model, price isn't all the time aligned with quality.

Cons: Some models are bulky and can eat up space in a small kitchen, although a large footprint provides greater stability. Just watch out that you don't trip on the protruding legs.

High-end high chairs

In this price range (0 and up), you'll find European imports and traditional solid-wood high chairs. Chairs at this end of the shop tend to have thick, tubular frames topped by densely padded seats upholstered in vinyl. As a result, they may have a more solid feel and cushier digs for baby. Some models come with add-on fabric covers that are detachable for laundering. These chairs can be adjusted to many separate heights and reclining positions with a straightforward squeeze-release mechanism. Some have folding "A"-shaped frames to make them easy to store.

Pros: You'll get extra features, such as seven height positions instead of five, and often better quality, which is foremost to think if you want the chair to last through other baby or more. other bonus: Many parents article that clubs that sell higher-end chairs tend to have responsive customer service, which helps if you have a problem.

Cons: Chairs in this range can be bulky because they tend to have a wider base for stability. That's good because it reduces the risk of tipping. However, you'll need more space to adapt the footprint, which tends to be more like that of a baby swing.

Features To Consider

Crotch post. To help prevent a baby from slipping out under the tray and getting his or her head caught, high chairs now typically have a center crotch post attached to the tray or to the seat. It's not meant to replace the protection belt, though. A center post that attaches to the chair rather than to the tray is better because it enables you to push your child up to the table without the tray but still have that center-post support.

Foldability. Some high chairs fold for storage. If that's foremost to you, make sure there's a acquire locking ideas to prevent accidental folding while your child is in the chair or being put into it. Such a ideas should automatically engage when you open the chair.

Safety belt. As we mentioned, this is an foremost feature. When buying a high chair, recognize the restraining straps to make sure the waist belt has a buckle that can't be fastened unless the crotch strap is also used. protection belts should hold your baby securely in place, with no leeway for standing up or climbing out. Some high chairs offer an adjustable three-point harness--two adjustable shoulder straps and a lock in the middle of the child's legs--or an adjustable five-point harness--two straps over the shoulders, two for the thighs, and a crotch strap, which is ideal.

Seat adjustment. Seats can move up or down to as many as seven height positions on some chairs. They may also recline (in case your baby falls asleep right after eating). However, except for bottle feeding, don't use a seat in the reclining position while feeding your baby--that's a choking hazard. With a height-adjusting chair, the seat slides along the chair frame, locking into varied positions. Height options range from nearly floor level to appropriate high-chair level, with the middle height low sufficient to allow the seat (with the tray removed) to be pushed up to a dining-room table.

Toys. Some high chairs have toys that attach to the tray, an selection your baby will likely enjoy, although you can indubitably buy toys separately that fasten to high-chair trays. But avoid strings when attaching them.

Tray. In general, you'll want a lightweight tray you can take off with one hand or that swings to the side when not in use. inevitable designs help consist of spills: a tray that surrounds baby on all sides, a tray angle that channels liquids away from baby, or a tall rim all colse to the tray. Some chairs have two trays: a big tray with a deep rim for feeding and a smaller one for snacking or playing. Don't be lured by a claim that the tray is "dishwasher safe"--most trays are too large to fit in a dishwasher.

Upholstery. Many models have seat coverings--or whole seat panels--that come off for easier cleaning. Be sure fasteners won't cause cushion to tear as you pull off the seat or coverings. Opt for a seat cover with a pattern rather than a solid color; patterns are better at concealing spills. Some covers look like cloth but are indubitably vinyl, which is easier to spot clean than cloth.

Wheels. Wheels may make it easier to move the high chair around, which is foremost if you'll oftentimes be hauling your high chair from, say, the kitchen to the dining room. On the other hand, wheels can also be a nuisance because they may allow the chair to move as you're trying to pull a tray off, or as you put your baby in. Older children may be tempted to take the baby for a joyride when you turn your back. Wheels on some models appear to make the chair less stable. If you determine on a wheeled model, look for locks on the wheels, preferably on all four. Some models come with locking casters. Still others have just two wheels and stay in place unless you tilt them on their wheels for rolling around.

Recommendations

There are pluses and minuses with every price range of chair. All can be tough to clean because, let's face it, baby food has a way of getting into every potential nook and cranny (and most seats have them somewhere). High-end models offer flexible positioning, extra-thick seat padding, and lively upholstery.

Mid priced models commonly characterize the best value. And, like high-end models, they ordinarily have an easy-to-remove tray, a sturdy protection belt, a tip-resistant frame, and a crotch post. But even some basic chairs can compete with higher-end models in terms of protection and other features. No matter what your budget, buy a chair of up-to-date production that's certified so you can be sure it meets the current voluntary protection standard.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

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consumer Reports: High Chairs