Of all the supplies you need to raise a child, few things are more essential than a high chair. Not only do high chairs make feeding easy, but they also keep your child contained. Putting your child in a cage might be illegal, but a high chair is the next best thing!
Of course, this isn’t the only reason to buy a high chair. Rather, a high chair serves many purposes!
Why Buy a High Chair – Is a High Chair Worth It?
Once your child begins eating solids, a high chair is as important as teeth. Not only does it help the baby sit in the correct feeding posture, but it also keeps their head steady while supporting the back. This creates safety and makes your child more likely to eat their food instead of throw it in your hair.
High chairs are also very easy to clean after mealtime. They keep the mess confined to one area – the plastic of the high chair is covered in spaghetti while the wood table that’s been in your family since the 1800’s is spared of tomato sauce. High chairs are easily wiped down with a soapy rag and water.
The mess isn’t the only thing contained: as mentioned above, high chairs contain your children too. Transport your chair from room to room (or house to house) and use it to entertain your children while you cook, do laundry, or have a much needed cup of coffee (or whiskey!).
So, now that you know why you should buy a high chair, which one is the best option? The following are the best high chairs on the market.
Best High Chairs 2021:
Baby Trend Sit Right High Chair
This product offers six height options and three recline adjustments. The removable dishwasher safe tray has three positions and one-hand operation. It comes with a three-point safety harness and holds 40 pounds.
Parents like that this chair is easily assembled. It has many of the “bells and whistles” of the more expensive chairs but without the high price. The removable tray and adjustable heights are other benefits. The light weight makes the chair easy to tote around the house. And it’s easy to clean.
Parents don’t like that the tray is a little hard to snap off and on and not always doable with a single hand. The chair takes up a lot of floor space too, which might make it problematic for anyone who lives in an apartment or somewhere with a small kitchen.
Graco Table2Table Premier Fold 7-in-1 Convertible High Chair
This chair features seven growing stages (from infant high chair to toddler table and chair). It can seat two children at once. It’s foldable with five height adjustments and includes a tray and footrest.
Parents like the sleek and modern design and it’s easy to put together. The seat is comfortable with straps that are easy to put on and take off. The tray is easy to take on and off and clean. It’s also sturdy, foldable, and easy to carry up and down stairs.
Parents don’t like that the wheels don’t lock, which allows clever babies to turn dinner into a ride (or dinner on the go). The lack of wheels in the rear legs is another complaint. This lack makes transporting the chair difficult.
Graco Blossom 6-in-1 Convertible High Chair
This chair is designed to last throughout early childhood, converting from an infant’s high chair to a youth chair. It can seat two children at once. It has six height adjustments and three recline positions. It also has a removable tray and footrest.
The pros of this product include the ease of cleaning, the removable tray (that goes into the dishwasher), and the ease in which the chair transforms to different versions. The chair is also sturdy and easy to move from place to place.
The cons include extra features that aren’t really necessary (such as the adjustable foot rest that may sit too far away from many children’s feet). The wheel base is also bulky and takes up a lot of space. And the wheels don’t truly lock.
Jeep Classic Convertible High Chair
This product features water-repellent fabric and sleek metal legs. It offers two-reclines, six height positions, an adjustable footrest, and three tray positions. It also has a five-point harness for safety.
The benefits of this chair include its sturdiness. It’s easy to clean and the black color masks minor spills. It has a large and roomy table top. It’s lightweight and folds up when not in use. Another benefit is the ability to fully recline the seat.
The drawbacks include the tray – it may be too large to fit in your dishwasher. There are no wheels on the back legs, either, which means you must drag it across the floor (or physically pick it up) rather than roll it.
OXO Tot Seedling High Chair
This chair features five levels of height and three levels of recline. It grows with children, suitable for kids from four months up to three years (it holds up to 45 pounds). The tray table is light, easy to remove, and storable in the back.
Parents enjoy that this chair is easy to clean. It offers one-handed tray operation, a comfortable seating arrangement, and a removable cover. It also has tray storage, a center post for safety, and a tray that sits flat on a table on its own (a major plus).
Parents struggle with the wheels – they’re not as easily maneuverable as one might hope which make the chair harder to move around. The lack of storage space in the back of the chair (for wipes and such) is another con as is the size of the tray. If you have a small dishwasher, it might not fit.
Graco Slim Snacker High Chair
This is a fast folding chair that folds in one-second. It’s ultra slim and compact when folded and features a large storage basket. It has three position recline, cup holder, and foot rest.
The pros of this product include the assembly (it’s very easy to put together). The leg room is bigger than the picture shows and it works well with a five-point harness. The tray is large with a cup holder and the chair is sturdy.
The cons include the pad, while removable, requires effort to pull off and the chair has no wheels. It’s not adjustable in height, either.
HEAO Foldable High Chair
This product is multifunctional – in addition to being a high chair, it’s also an indoor stroller and a baby recliner. It’s ideal for babies and toddlers for feeding and for taking a nap after a meal. It has a five-point harness, auto-locking wheels, and double restraints.
Parents enjoy this high chair’s versatility – it can go up or down and it can recline for a nap or to take a bottle. The chair won’t roll accidentally (has auto-locking wheels) and the tray is removable with one hand. It’s sturdy and can be folded and moved out of the way when not in use.
Parent dislike that the harness might be big if your baby is on the smaller side (or fresh out of the oven). It’s also difficult to pull the baby back up if the seat is all the way down. And it might be hard to maneuver, especially on floors that are carpeted.
Costzon Wooden High Chair
This product is made of wood and it's A-framed to avoid tipping. It has five-point safety harness, adjustable height, and removable tray. It includes added padding for comfort.
The benefits include the modern look and appeal, the adjustable seat and footrest, the ease of cleaning, and the straight-forward assembly. The quality is good and the price is affordable. It also closes to the size of a regular dining chair, which benefits those living in tight or cramped spaces.
The drawbacks include the cushions – while they’re comfortable (no complaints, especially from the kids who can’t yet talk!), they slide off easily when putting a baby in the chair. And the shoulder straps would be more comfortable if they were padded.
High chairs are an absolutely necessity of parenthood. They make feeding fun….or at least survivable. Add in the fact that they keep your child safe, contained, and out of your hair, and buying one is an easy decision. There’s no reason to go without unless you’re a Mommy Masochist.
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