Buying a Highchair

rach_k

We spent a lot of money on a fancy highchair for our first child - it was height adjustable, fully reclined to be suitable from birth, spun 360 degrees, had multiple trays, changeable colour inserts, turned into a nice chair for an older child, blah blah blah... total waste of money that took up a load of space and was put in storage at the first chance I could justify it! Now I'd always recommend either a cheap Ikea high chair which can be put in the shower and hosed down, or one in a design similar to this: http://www.mothercare.com/highchairs/chicco-pocket-snack--booster-seat/LA7330.html?cgid=feeding_highchairs&dwvar_LA7330_color=Silver (we had a Mothercare one that was pretty similar - we rarely took it out with us, it was just great on a normal dining chair at home). If it comes with padded covers, make sure you can use it without them.

I know it's tempting to get something with bells and whistles that can be used early so your 4 month old can watch you cook but really, it's 2 months max (because plenty of kids can sit up while strapped in and supervised before 6 months) that you benefit from that... compared to the hours you'll spend each week picking dried Weetabix out of the nooks and crannies of a fancier chair for the next year or longer.

toniq

We stupidly spent over a hundred on a comfy reclining multi position chair not realising as it had a wipe clean cushioned seat that had stitching that the food stained the stitching and became a nightmare to clean and was stained quite quickly.

I then bought a wooden one and that was the problem solved, my little lady only used it for meal times supervised so the no padding wasn't an issue.

Kynthia

For 2 years we used the IKEA one and was pleased with how easy it was to wipe clean. These weaning babies make a lot of mess in their chairs.

At my parent's they had a slightly fancier chair that could fold in half and completely flat which was useful as it was only used a couple of times a month so they didn't want it cluttering up their house. However as my daughter got bigger she looked less comfortable in this as her feet were past the foot rests and it didn't let her sit completely upright like the ikea one. It was good though bit definitely not as easy to clean.

My sister uses a plastic booster seat with straps and tray on a dining chair and that looks good too. It means it's not another baby item cluttering up the room. However she has chairs that can wipe clean and I have fabric covered chairs, so I wouldn't use it with my chairs.

Kim_kim

I bought the bells & whistles one first, then bought the ikea one & sold the fancy one on.

penguingirl

My nephew has a plastic wipe down one and it is so easy. He is nearly 3 now and happily sits in it to eat (and he would let us know if he didn't like it!). His dad's recommendation to us was wipe clean and no fabric at all. If you want something earlier have you thought about a bumbo? They can sit in it to watch you. Also I'd be reluctant to put a baby in a high chair other than for eating as I'd want them to associate it with eating, not playtime/watching parents, but obviously that's a personal choice.

kingfisherblue

Three children and one grandchild - go for a basic wooden or plastic highchair that has no nooks and crannies. It's so much easier to clean something like the Ikea one than a bells and whistles highchair.

And as it is MSE that we are on, look on Freecycle. That's where my granddaughter's highchair came from, and when she finished with it, I Freecycled it to someone else.

Alwayspurple

Fancy padded with first. Hated it's cleanability. Drove me mad. Swapped for nice wood one. Lovely but still nooks and cranny s. Seriously Ikea is the way to go. Went onto with second and no question with my third.

A baby need not be in a high chair until can sit easily anyhow and are eating. I.e. About 6 months and not needing padding. There's buggies and tickets and those seat bum things if you want otherwise.

Seriously it'll drive you potty otherwise. But when it's your first you don't listen lol like I wouldn't have.

FreddieFrugal

Alwayspurple wrote: »

But when it's your first you don't listen lol like I wouldn't have.

Oh I am listening. well...reading

nearlyrich

My grandson has this one at our house

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6239703

It's good as it folds flat when he's not here. At home he has a Cossatto which reclines etc...

esmy

Another Ikea Antilop supporter here. Having had padded, folding etc etc highchairs for my children, I bought the Ikea chair for my grandaughter. We just put a cushion behind her till she filled the chair, and it lasted until she was nearly 3. Still pristine, it's been passed on to friends for their grandchild.