Buying a Highchair

DigForVictory

To keep a very little one with you at mealtime, put the carseat on the table? Or on a windowsill or worktop where they can see you? (I'm presuming your carseat has relative scrubability.)

My sprats moved from flat in a cot, to perched in the carseat til they were big enough to sit (albeit padded & wedged) & every word about keep it simple, and make sure it's scrubbable - it's gold.

All the very best with the zigzagging world that is parenthood. You'll find compromises you never dreamt of becoming vital workarounds, and the rewards? Beyond price.

ThinkPink

Hi Freddie, hope all is well with your little one. I was in the same boat as you when I started looking at high chairs. Everywhere I looked suggested the Ikea one, but like you I wanted one that reclined (especially when he younger), that has adjustable heights (so we can either sit at the table with us or we can lower him if we want to feed him from say the sofa). I actually have the mamas and papas pesto high chair (I was lucky, my in-laws got it for us for Christmas), we haven't used it yet but it does look like it will do the job. I guess this seems a pointless post as I haven't used it yet, but wanted to let you know that you aren't alone in your thoughts about what you want!!

I think we will probably get the Ikea one for the in-laws, but I did want something more padded and comfy for every day use.

*max*

My brother and SIL made the judicious choice of an Ikea/similar plain high chair. Having had the pleasure of sitting within projectile-vomit distance of my nephew at dinner, I totally understand why.

PS: never wear white around a feeding baby. Or glasses. Or anything you don't want permanently stained orange. In fact, just go in a swimsuit, goggles and shower cap.

MonkeyDr

Another +1 for the Ikea one.

A friend gave us their old one, and we bought the insert thing.

It's great, for all reasons already given. My messy 1yo eats 5x / day now, and I really don't want to spend hours cleaning crevices.

Plus, if you do baby-led weaning / want the baby to feed themselves finger foods or whatever from a young age, it's essential that the tray is low enough for their elbows to be above it so that they can use their arms properly. Our baby was small and managed with the Antilop but struggled with other ones (including the Graco one Grandma picked up on Freecycle). That's the sort of thing I would never have thought about beforehand.

Also, it's so easy to take apart and take places, our one often accompanies us to friends' houses, the local pub for lunch etc...

When my friend gave us their one we were grateful in that we didn't have to buy one or think about it, but vaguely thought that we might have preferred a fancier one. Very glad that we didn't waste money on anything else.

(I do not have shares in Ikea)

getmore4less

Second vote for the Tripp Trapp.

makingplans4nigel

We bought the Joie Mimzy LX from boots, at the time it was reduced to £70 plus 10 points per pound for advantage card if you're signed up to boots parenting club, not forgetting quidco aswell.

It's really well made with 7 height adjustments and 3 recline positions and the 2 seat covers wash up very easily (the bottom one is waterproof so just wipe, but the padded one comes out nice and clean if you soak it in vanish)

It's on offer again at boots

http://www.boots.com/joie-mimzy-lx-high-chair-hoot-10208644

MallyGirl

getmore4less wrote: »

Second vote for the Tripp Trapp.

and a third. Our old one is now being used by my step-nephew. It cleans up well and still looks like new (DD is 15)

Kildare

I'm another that started out with one of the Chico high chairs when our LO was 6 months. Thought it was great at first, but it was a pig to clean - you had to take the inner padding off to get the food stuck the straps and under the plastic.

I picked up the Mamas & Papas baby bud at a Baby Show a couple of months later and wish I'd had that from the beginning. Straps straight onto a dinning chair, very easy to clean, can sit him straight at the table and just unstrap it and take it with us when visiting family.
https://www.mamasandpapas.com/en-gb/baby-bud-navy/p/4124w7500/

If I was starting all over again though, I'd probably invest in the Tripp Trapp - much more adjustable and cleanable than a traditional high chair x

rhino_horn

Another vote for the Ikea chair. Lasted through 2 babies and still looks brand new.

suki1964

Our ikea one is 10 years old now have seen out 2 grandkids and been lent to friends

Yes it's basic, it's ugly even, fgs it's CHEAP even , but it does the job perfectly. Many a time it's been chucked out in the garden to be hosed off when DGC has decided to tip the complete bowl of food over their head and smear what they could reach everywhere

Believe me, when a child is learning to feed themselves, it's messy. And when they get into that mess, your only concern is to get them clean and changed. Having to come back to try and scrape dried slop off a high chair and get it dry in time for next meal time isn't easy.

IKEA one even goes in the dishwasher