For about the first two years, infants spend a lot of time in high chairs. To make their meal time pleasant, there are various aspects to consider before buying a highchair for your baby. A sturdy and safe highchair would give peace of mind to the parents.

• Highchairs are available in variety of sizes, styles and models. You can choose one that suits the décor of your home.

• You need to determine the size of the highchair based on the space availability at your home. If your kitchen or dining area is small and you want to feed your baby in one of these places, it is better to opt for small sized foldable highchairs which would not take too much space to store. Foldable highchairs should properly lock in place when not in use. Else, it would open up while storing somewhere and fall due to imbalance.

• If the space is not a big constraint, huge highchairs can even accommodate a growing child and not just an infant which means that you can utilize this for a longer time.

• You should not compromise on certain safety features of the high chair. Make sure that there are shoulder straps to support when infants cannot sit up on their own. Crotch straps would help to secure the lower body of the baby. These straps should easily fasten and unfasten without you having to tug constantly and struggle every time you use them.

• The base of the highchair should be wide enough to ensure stability. It should accommodate right from the infant stage up to 2 years of his life. At the centre of the seat, a solid post needs to be present in order to protect the baby from slipping down. This post would rest between the thighs to ensure safety.

• Plastic or vinyl sheets are generally easy to clean. Wooden highchairs give a classic look but they may show stains especially if the baby is messy while consuming foods.

• Removable trays that slide easily will help you to unlock and clean it in the sink or dishwasher thoroughly. It should be large and wide enough to ensure food does not fall on the floor. Ensure that once you wash them you slip it back in place and securely lock it; otherwise your baby may toss it by mistake and spill the next meal on the floor creating a mess.

• If the highchair is going to be moved often, you should be able to manoeuvre it easily with wheels but ensure that they lock automatically when stationery. Otherwise, it would be dangerous for the baby especially in slippery polished floors.

• Ensure that the highchair is not wobbly in any part and does not have sharp edges sticking out that could harm the baby.

When you place your baby in the highchair, ensure that he or she is not left unsupervised. This is because in spite of all the safety features, there could be severe injuries in case the infant slips by mistake from the highchair.

Jonathan Pitts

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