Picking Out a Baby High Chair

One of the most important things you will purchase for that new baby in the house is a baby high chair. This used to be a simple matter of going to the store and buying the one style they had there. Remember the wooden ones with just a lap belt and those hard to manage sliding trays? Anybody over about 40 years old will recall those.

But time has marched on and child safety has been a focus for many years. This has resulted in a lot of improvements over the years. That has left many parents with the question of which high chair to buy. So here are some things to look for in your new baby high chair.

Most baby items are inspected prior to being sold to the public. Look for a label from an organization called the "Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association". This lets you know that the chair has been certified by the experts.

Baby high chairs should have a wide leg base for stability. The wider the legs are apart, the more stable the chair will be. Also look at what the legs are made of. Solid plastic, metal or wood are best as they will not fold or bend easily. Hollow materials are not as sturdy.

The chair you decide on should have a three point or five point restraint system for the baby. A simple lap belt is not the way to go. May be easy for you, but your child could possibly slip under the belt, out of the chair and get caught by the belt. This could cause a strangulation hazard. The 3 or 5 point restraints will not allow that to happen and are standard across the industry in quality baby high chairs.

Many parents wonder when their child is going to be ready for a high chair. The general answer is roughly around the age of six months, when they are ready for solid food, but a good chair can be used before that if you want a place for your child at the table. Look for a chair with a reclining back because it will let your younger infant sleep comfortably. It keeps your baby in a position that stops his head from falling forward.

Seat cushions are available in all models of high chairs. Some kids may like a hard seat; others may prefer a soft one. Depends on the child, so the best way to pick the right one is to take the baby with you to the store and put him/her in the chair, then judge their reaction. This is almost foolproof.