Seeing as how it’s going to be used heavily, there are a few things you need to look for when purchasing a baby highchair. There are a large amount of high chairs to choose from, and they all vary in terms of durability, quality, safety, style and added features.

The most important question you should ask yourself is this: Where in your house will your baby’s highchair reside?

The kitchen? The dining room? Are these areas on the smaller side, and require a smaller high chair? Would it be beneficial to purchase a chair capable of folding up and storing away while not in use? Or do the rooms have quite enough room to accommodate a larger extra piece of equipment?

Once you have a general idea of the kind of highchair you’re looking for, be sure to check for the following characteristics.

QUALITY AND DURABILITY

1. Keep an eye out for a wide base. This ensures better stability.
2. Make sure all four legs of the high chair evenly touch the ground. You don’t want even the slightest bit of tipping or rocking.
3. Choose a highchair with a thick seat cover. This will better hold up to the many uses it will see.
4. If you’ve opted for a vinyl seat, make sure it has smooth and flat seams. You don’t want them sticking out and scratching against your baby’s legs. This is not only a quality issue, but also a safety issue.
5. For a folding high chair, make sure the hinges lock tightly into place, preventing the equipment from folding in on your baby.

SAFETY

1. Look for a sturdy, reliable harness. The best out there tends to have a five-point restraint. These secure the baby at the crotch, the waist and the shoulders.
2. If your preferred highchair does not have a strap at the crotch area, make sure there is at least a smooth, molded, centered post between the baby’s legs, as part of the seat itself. This will ensure that your baby does not squirm or slip under the tray.
3. Check and make sure there are no sharp edges underneath the tray; the whole thing should be smooth with no hanging or sharp parts.

EASE OF CLEANING

1. Look for a high chair with a removable tray. These are a hundred times easier to clean than ones molded to the chair itself. Some are even dishwasher safe!
2. If your baby’s highchair has a cloth seat cover, it should be removable and machine washable. If you prefer to simply wipe the seat cover down, make sure to go for wood or vinyl.
3. The fewer nooks and crannies there are in the overall design of the seat, the easier it will be to keep sanitary and clean.

EXTRA FEATURES
Aside from the main features listed above, there are a few additional features available in certain baby high chairs, which allow for the use of the same highchair even as your baby grows. These are:

• A large seating area
• Removable trays (to allow the baby to sit at the table with the rest of the family)
• Adjustable seating height (to accommodate different table heights)
• Adjustable footrest
• Multi-positioned back

For a baby constantly on-the-go, there are also portable high chairs which are designed to safely clip to just about any table. These are ideal for visits with grandma, friends, or in some cases a restaurant.

If you think this all through before buying a high chair, you will save yourself a lot of time and frustration, and possibly even the need to purchase a second (or different) high chair. The only thing left to do is to choose a style of highchair that compliments your own.