High Chair Buying Guide

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Just like your baby’s crib, a high chair is an essential piece of furniture for new parents. You’ll want it to be durable, functional, easy to clean and stylish. After all, it’s something you’ll use several times a day for a few years before your child is old enough to sit up strongly on his or her own. The type of high chair you choose will depend on your personal style, needs and preferences. Your child's eating habits, age and weight are also contributing factors. Pronto’s High chair Buying Guide takes you through the key shopping considerations so that when you click the “buy now” button, you know you’ve made the best choice for you and your baby. More »

the five

What are the five key points I need to look at?

Types of chairs

Wooden high chairs are making a comeback and are designed to match your existing furniture while plastic and metal chairs are lighter, easier to clean and generally more portable. If storage and cleaning are your top concerns, choose an adjustable or conventional high chair.

Safety

Look for five-point harnesses that restrain your child at the shoulders, hips and crotch to prevent your child from slipping in the seat and crotch posts to prevent them from slipping and getting caught between the seat and the tray. Always be sure your child meets the minimum and doesn’t exceed the maximum weight requirements for the chair.

Comfort

Proper restraint is key to baby’s comfort. Other features that make mealtime more enjoyable are thick padded seat cushions and, as your baby grows, adjustable footrests.

Clean up

Plastic surfaces are easiest to wipe and sanitize. Some high chairs have trays that are removable and dishwasher safe and trays with tall edges contain messes best. If the seat cushion isn’t removable/washable, be sure it’s covered in tear-resistant, easily-wiped material like vinyl.

Additional features

If your kitchen is the center of your home, it’s worth paying extra for toy trays or bars that allow your child to play while you’re cooking or after mealtime when cleaning up.

pronto pick What product do we recommend?

Graco Contempo High Chair - Pebblestone

Graco’s Deluxe Contempo High Chair ($120) requires no assembly and let’s face it, one less thing to do when you’re getting ready for baby’s arrival is a plus. We like the Contempo Deluxe for its six height-levels which accommodate a variety of table (and caregiver) heights. This highchair also earned high marks for its nearly unbeatable compact size when folded—great for travel or tucking it aw... more

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Available at 21 stores
$120 - $155

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experts say

Parenting Magazine – “With the Fisher-Price Link-a-Doos Magical Mobile Swing (a Baby Talk editor’s choice), a newborn can recline and enjoy the mobile. Later, an older baby can belly up to the toy bar simply by adjusting its height.” Source: Parenting Magazine

Parents.com – Fisher-Price high chairs earn top honors in Parents.com’s American Baby Best of the Year Awards. Users say that their babies who didn’t like other high chairs, liked Fisher-Prices and with prices starting at $120 there are a variety to choose from. Source: Parents.com

Thenewparentsguide.com – “Always send in your product registration card. This is how you will be notified in case of a recall.” Source: thenewparentsguide.com

celebrity buzz What high chairs are the celebrities using?

With the growing number of children who make up the Jolie-Pitt clan, Angelina must know a thing or two about combining the benefits of comfort with the appeal of style. Motherhood is more in vogue than ever and choosing children’s furniture that work with your décor is too. Mama Jolie is reported to be a big fan of Stokke and purchased the Dutch company’s very modern oval crib for daughter Shiloh. The hip manufacture claims to “build a relationship between you and your baby”. They also offer a 7 year guarantee on wooden high chairs. Source: celebritybabyclothes.com

Wallet Impact

What can I expect in my price range?

Price	Description	Good Pick (see all High Chairs)

$	Expect to pay up to and around $50 for basic high chairs, but be prepared to give up some features that may make life easier. High chairs in his price range may lack height adjustment or recline options and may not fold up easily for storage or travel.	Graco Easy Chair Highchair Buy now at $49.95

$$	For $50-150, you’ll get convenient features like height adjustment, recline and portability that we budget models lack.	Chicco Polly Highchair Pacifica Compare prices at 3 stores $106 - $114

$$$	Luxury high chairs cost $150 and more and feature sleek, contemporary designs, often fashioned from wood. Chairs in this price range offer you all the features you could possibly need plus good looks and the ability to grow with your child into a booster seat, child’s seat and in some cases, even a teenager’s desk chair. These chairs tend to be larger and heavier and best suited for homes with lots of space.	Svan High Chair With Infant Kit And Tray Cover Mahogany Compare prices at 6 stores $229 - $250

shop talk

What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?

5-point Harness

Harnesses that attach at both shoulders, both hips and at the crotch for a total of five attachment points. Not all high chairs feature the 5-point harness; some only feature 3 attachment points.

Infant Recline

A high chair feature that allows infants to be bottle fed at a safe recline.

Casters

Double wheels attached to the legs, usually lockable

Pneumatic Lift

Found on high end models, a system that allows for height adjustment by a one touch lever utilizing the same technology found on most office chairs.

Crotch Post

Prevents baby from slipping under the tray and getting his head caught between the tray and the chair. In order to meet the (voluntary) ASTM safety compliance, all high chairs must have a fixed center crotch post.

Safety Belt

Most high chairs come with adjustable three-point or the safer five-point harness. If you’ve purchased a wooden chair and are shopping separately for your safety belt, choose a five-point harness.

Seat adjustment

Ability to adjust to a variety of heights or reclining position (helpful if your baby falls asleep after eating). Recline positions should only be used for bottle feedings.

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