High Chair: to Buy or Not to Buy?

I don't know what I would do without our high chair. We have a Chicco high chair. It's on wheels (the wheels are great!) I've been feeding our son there since he was able to sit up. He is now almost 3 years old and he still sits there. He's a bit old for it, but he climbs into it himself and buckles himself in. When he was younger, he would smear food all over the tray and make a huge mess and it was easy to clean up. I'd put a big bib on him. While I fixed his food, I'd put some toys on his tray. He'd zoom them around and have fun watching me cook. Perhaps a Stokke might be nice now, but when baby is little, a high chair on wheels with a tray is perfect. I wheel him over to the dining room table to eat with us, them wheel him over to the kitchen sink to wipe off his face and hands and wipe off the tray. Perfect.

Dear T.,
I had high chairs for both of my children and definitely got my money's worth each time. I don't know that I'd spend $200 on one especially since you haven't used one at all until now, but they are very handy. I put the kids in their high chair while I cooked or did dishes or mopped the floor and didn't want them crawling or walking around. When my daughter was a baby, I did daycare and had a little guy that was one month older than her. I couldn't have made it without having high chairs to get them both fed. With my son, I moved his high chair around quite a bit. When our piano teacher came, I put him in his high chair with a snack, a sippy, and his favorite ring of plastic keys so he could watch me and my daughter take our lessons and be with us in the piano room without someone having to hold him. We even took it outside on the deck so he could sit by Grandpa while we bbq'd and got dinner ready. Grandpa was frail and couldn't handle a wriggling baby, but they could still play or share a snack.
I bought tablecloths at the dollar store by the dozen so I could put them under the high chair in case of any spills. They can easily be wiped down, tossed in the washer, or just thrown away.
I don't remember the brands we used, but they slid up to the table easily without the tray when the kids got bigger so they could have a plate right on the table. I also don't want it to sound like my kids lived in their high chairs because they certainly didn't, but I only have two arms and them learning to feed themselves and being used to being in one in restaurants, etc made things nice and easy.
I personally think it's worth having one, but that's just my opinion.

Best wishes!

DOn't buy a $200 high chair. You already missed the window! High chairs are useful for children learning to put food into their mouths (feed them in chunks directly onto the tray, rather than spoon feeding them) ...But only until they are resisitant to staying in the chair. Very soon now he will not want to stay seated for long periods, or he will begin the gravity game (I drop it, mommy picks it up again! fun!!) which is when it is best for many people to get rid of the high chair and get a small table and chairs. Then you can let your child eat at that table, on his own accord. Very young children need to be given the ability to graze through multiple (6 or 7) small meals, rather than sit down with adults, at adult hunger intervals, and eat 3 larger, longer meals.

And don't worry! By the time your child is 5 or 6, he'll be sitting down to eat with the family again. That is the age when they can sit still for longer periods of time.

I vote for getting a less expensive chair that will attach to the dinner table. Save your money for movie tickets and a sitter, for that date with your husband.

Lots of Love,
Linda
www.RivieraPlaySchool.com
www.rivieraplayschool.blogspot.com

We got the Graco slim fold high chair and we used it for about a year and a half and we loved it! When my son got older we bought the Phil & Ted Mee too chair and my son used that up until a few months ago. He is three. We absolutely LOVED the Mee too chair. So easy to bring places, like restuarants, family members homes. It was just perfect!

http://www.philandteds.com/metoo_index.htm

Hi T.,
congratulations on your little one. my son now 21 months old only used the highchair for a few months. even then I bought a used one from someone for just $20. that way I didn't feel guilty if he didn't use it alot. he is my youngest of 3 so I've done alot of the impulse shopping because I was excited. I've learned to LOVE hand me downs.
happy new year

T. I found a hidden secret and bought a Van Beek Kids high chair. It is a little more expensive, but is an heirloom peice and can be passed down generations, not plastic that will just get thrown away...it converts to a junior chair...it is beautiful and I don't regret buying it at all!
www.vanbeekkids.com

Hi T.. I will probably be the oddball here but I don't believe you need a high chair. I never used a high chair with either of my children because I used meal time as an opportunity to be really present with them. I would sit them on my lap and feed them from there. It was a nice time for quiet and bonding, When they were able, I had a small table and stools that were the perfect size for them to eat at.

It's not necessary to get a high chair that costs that much $$. I have a Fisher Price high chair that costs about $100, but my son did not want anything to do with it after he was a little over a year. He wanted to be at the table like the grown-ups, so we transitioned him to the Fisher Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat, which costs about $25-30. I love this booster seat because it's easy to transport, can be attached to any chair, and it buckles him in so he can stay put during a meal. If I'd known how popular an item this would be, I would have saved myself some $$ and space by using the booster seat from the beginning.

I would definitely purchase a high chair, but you do NOT need to spend $200. We got the Fisher Price stages one that attaches to a regular chair. It is light weight, easy to clean, portable, takes up way less space, and transitions to a booster later on. High chairs are also great to put the kids in while you are cooking or doing something where you need them contained. I will bring the chair into the kitchen while I am cooking so my daughter and I can hang out. I give her some toys or a teething biscuit and she's a happy camper.

We did not buy a high chair ourselves. My brother & sis-in-law bought one for us. My daughter is a good eater so she stays in there as long as she's being fed. It's great but kind of bulky. We have a small house so sometimes the legs get in the way. However, we bought a booster for my parents since they watch her while my husband and I work full time. It works great. We spent only $25. They can take it down anytime since we have a big family and we visit my parents often. Also, they have guests often so they have to make room so it's very convenient.

another vote for the portable booster/feeding seats that strap on to your regular chairs. One disadvantage of conventional high chairs is that the wide base makes it nearly impossible to slide them up to the table. with the portable ones, since it's attached to a regular chair, it slides right up to the table. We had the First Years infant to toddler feeding seats for our twins (strapped them to folding chairs) and used them reclined and without the trays when our girls first started solids, then upright with the trays, and then upright without the trays until they were tall enough to sit on regular chairs at the table, so we really got our money's worth out of them.

We use a chair that hooks on to our dining table. That way the baby
eats with us. Since your baby is already sitting up, you don't need the reclining feature.

We used a regular high chair for our first child, but with the wide base it was always in the way. With our second child we bought the hook on chair and never looked back. (We're using it for our third right now.) With all the other baby stuff that takes up so much space, it just makes sense for us.

We have the First Year's Newborn-to-Toddler Reclining Feeding Seat and have been very happy with it. It doesn't cost that much. The seat straps to a regular dining chair, has multiple recline positions and removable tray. Our 7 mo-old son is using it right now. When my daughter was 2 she didn't want to use the tray anymore, we used the chair as a booster. I've been tempted to buy something like a Stokke because of the style, but good thing I did not spend all that money because when she turned three, my daughter refused to sit in a booster and just wanted to sit in regular chair like the adults.

We bought a nice expensive one and used it almost exactly one year from 6 months old to 18 months old - now we use a little table and chairs set in the kitchen (we have a good size kitchen) that she loves. We also have a booster seat for her to use at the kitchen table. If I had to do it over again, then I wouldn't buy the high chair - I would just use the booster seat at the table (which are like $30 compared to $100-$200 for a high chair)

My son didn't want tot sit in his after 18 months. We put him in a booster chair at the table. But I did find the high chair (Peg Perego Papa Diner) invaluable at the time he was in it. Why don't you look for a used one. Go on Craigslist or a local used children' store. :-)

Borrow a highchair first if you can. We ended up buying two because my son **really** objected to having a tray placed over his lap. He would just scream and refuse to eat. Our kitchen table is too short to slide his legs under the table while in a highchair, so for awhile he ate in my lap or a bouncy seat then when he could sit up well enough we found a restaurant style chair.

I've never used a high chair. they seem dangerous to me. I either sit the little one on my lap to feed us both or use a toddler sized table and chairs. the current toddler is too busy to sit and usually eats on the run!

I definitely think you will need one. Try buying a used one on Craigslist. My child is 12 mos old and has been using it since he was about 9 months old. He eats with us at dinner in his high chair and when he didn't want his bottle I'd put him in their to feed him cereal and baby food. I think you will be able to use it for years.

Greetings T.,
I want to say as the mother of 5 and having been a foster parent, had a Day Care, and now the Grandmother of several cuties-- I have never paid more than $80.00 for a high chair in my entire life.
I have one that has been through 3 grandchildren and if I had to do it over again I'd of chosen a different style because of the way the bottom tray is fixed and doesn't remove so when they get to a certain size they can't use it. BUT $200.00 dollars? Please send me a note and tell me what it does, as I am truely interested--
I will generally use the Highchair until they can sit at the table safely in a regular chair. We have booster seats. My old Highchair was one that converted to a chairfor the table. I know that some of my parents @ Day Care, never used one and some had used it until 4 years old-- it totally depends on the childs and your needs.
Since you would be useing it all the time you won't need to worry about folding and storing it- believe me it isn't worth the time it takes to do it & get it out and reset up.
I wish you well and appreciate that you are thinking this thru before purchase. I know how tempting itis to buy like there is no tomorrow for a child, just remember that the childs needs are simple and and they out grow everything quickly. Enjoy the adventure of parenthood, it is the greatest thing I have ever accomplished! Nana Glenda

You can definitely get by just using a portable high chair that attaches to your regular chair -- maybe $30. We had a Fisher-Price one we used on trips and liked it so much we got rid of the regular high chair (which takes up lots of space). Definitely don't spend $200 on a high chair! If you do decide to get one, I agree with the idea of getting one through Craigslist.

Hello,

WOW $200 is high for a highchair. I have twins and the high chair I have is great. I have the ones that you place on your chair. It also converst to a booster chair when they are older. I love it!!! You can take it with you to someones house if you need to. You can store it in the closet if needed.

I did not want to have a high chair in the middle of my dining room taking up space. You can also place the chair on the floor.

I got it at Target not very much at all. Trust me, you do not have to spend a lot of money and they outgrow it so fast.

Good Luck,
M

DON'T buy a highchair. I really feel they're just a waste of space and money. I had one for my first baby and got rid of it within a month... my second baby never sat in one. I use the Fisher-Price booster. It's great! Straps to any seat so you can take it with you. I bought one to keep at my parents' house as well. My sister and neighbor also used it exclusively. Save your money for something more fun!
http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Care-Deluxe-Bo...

PS - I'm a multitasking mom and this chair is VERY stable. You just need to strap it on. My girls have both given it a good rock and have never even come close to falling.

IKEA has a compact $18 one that is doing the trick in our house.

Hi T., I belive it depends on the parents and child how long you use a high chair. I found it very helpfull limiting messes, but you do have to watch your child as they may toss their food on the floor. They ofcourse will do that to get your attention or when they are done. My advice in that case is to get a splat mat to put under the high chair to help prevent messes on your floor/carpet.
I have a high chair for each of my kids which are now 2 1/2 & 3 1/2. I hardly use their high chairs, because I have a small picnic table they eat at now. So I only use their high chairs when we have big family dinners or if they are eating something really messy.
Good luck on your decision. :0)

Hi T.! When I found out I was pregnant one of my first issues was what to buy. I didn't want to buy unecessary items, but I had no idea what was and was not a necessity! That said, in retospect, I would NOT have bought a high chair. Once they are able to hold their heads up, they can easily sit on a booster seat. If you choose to go with a booster, I would recommend one that is one solid piece so it is easier to clean. That was another problem with our high chair, it has to many crevices to get food stuck in. I literally had to go through with a toothpick to clean it. The booster is the way to go, saves space, makes the child feel more part of the dinning experience, less clean up. Toys-r-us has a pretty good selection. Good luck!

With my son we got the traditional big plastic high chair, and I hated it. With my daughter I got on of the small ones that straps to your regular chair ($25-30). I liked this a lot better for when she was little. Then when she was one we got Keekaroo chairs, which are very similar to the Trip Trap but cost less, for both kids. I have LOVED these. They look great, like real furniture, and were well worth the investment. My son, who is now 5, still sits in it and will be able to for years still. Since your son is already over 6 months, your could probably go right to the Keekaroo if he can sit well on his own.
http://www.keekaroo.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Keekaroo-Height-Right-Wood-Chair/dp...

Hi T.-
I say by the chair- or at least one of those things that allows your baby to sit at the table with you.
My nephew is 16 months old and my sister has had him in the high chair since he was somewhere between 6 and 8 months old.
The reasoning is
#1- they need to see that eating at the table is kosher...and watch you interact socially over a meal.
#2- it contains the mess for the most part. Cleaning bits of mashed food out of the carpet is NO FUN.
#3- you can put the baby in the high chair (partially reclined) with a snack and a sippy and talk to him while you are cooking. Babies are VERy interested in what you are doing, so show them the wooden spoon, the pan, the butter, and tell him what you are doing. Interact, but keep him safely away from the stove/oven, etc.
#4-It teaches them to sit at the table and eat. You can feed them prior to your dinner and then give them small bits of what you are eating (because babies want everything that you have!) during dinner, etc.
#5- did I mention mess containment! =)
I hope this helps.
I think the key is just utilizing it within your daily regime. If you are not planning on sitting him at the table until he is a bit older and can use a chair or a booster seat, then it's really not worth the money. However, I will say that it has made all of my sisters and their babies lives a LOAD simpler by having one.
You might want to get a drop cloth, too. =) They like to throw things over the edge- games of toss and retrieve at the expense of your clean floors. =)
I do think it is worth it, but the decision is a tough one. Good luck!!!! And congrats on the little tyke!
-E. M

YES! you need one! He will be, if not already, need to learn to self feed. Starting with things like Gerber Puffs etc. My daughter is a slob and I have the Chicco high chair. There are a lot of nooks and cracks to clean. It's comfortable for her and I love the removable tray liner over it. Also think about when they can and will be able to get out - 5 point straps are key. My son did and it was nice to have a secure place for them even while I cook dinner.
Also check Craig's list for the high chair you want.

My daughter just turned 18 months & now is wanting to sit at the table. We bought a travel high chair a while back-which just attaches to a regular chair & works great for her transition & keeping her strapped in & safe. I bought one that is a 'grow w. u' type where we will get a few more years use out of it. I think this is your best bet-I spent about $40 @ Babies R us -for the travel high chair as compared to your $200 for the regular sized chair-saves money & space. You made it this long w/out one-if he is like my daughter, you'd get about 10-12 more months before he wants to sit @ the table with you & then you'd have to make a decision to buy the travel type chair or not anyhow. :) Take care

You can always just buy a Stokke Trip Trap chair. I bought a high chair for my little girl and we got a ton of use out of it. But at about 1.5 years old we were given a Stokke Trip Trap chair. Wow we love it! AND, you can buy an attachment that keeps the little ones in there. They can use this chair as soon as they can sit up. AND, my daughter is over 3 years old now and still uses it. Plus mom and dad can fit in it and we have had adul guests sit in it too. It is pretty comfy even for an adult and we have gotten YEARS of use out of it! We are currently expecting baby #2 and I keep thinking that I don't want to bring out the high chair, I just want to buy him a Stokke Trip Trap chair when we start doing solids.

We did not buy an expensive one - but you do need one. I'm sure we used it for 2-3 years. I had some friend who bought the Peg Preggo -the really expensive one - but you don't need it. We had a Graco and it didn't recline, fold or do anything - it was just a high chair.

To be honest, I cannot remember how long my older kids stayed in their high chairs, but I am finding it indispensible right now with my 6 mo. old daughter. She sits in it to eat, yes, but she also sits in it and plays with toys while I cook, wash dishes, clean up the kitchen. She is not yet quite able to sit up on her own, so the high chair is a great way for her to practice. She loves the different perspective, and she especially enjoys banging things on the tray to make noise. All this to say, you will get more use out of the high chair than you might think. Good luck!

Hi! I recommend buying a booster seat that attaches to your regular dining chair. It is small enough to be discreet so you don't have to worry about it not matching your furniture...I assume you are buying the expensive highchair that looks good! My son's been using his booster seat since he was able to sit up and is still using it now at 3 years 11 months. He's been eating with us at our dining table from the beginning and never had an issue of wanting to run around during meal times. If that's the rule you set down, that's the rule your baby boy will follow. The booster seat has the advantage of helping him fit in at the dining table since his seat as compared to a highchair is not so different from everyone else's chair. My son refuses the high chair in restaurants but happily uses the booster seat at home.

Definitely don't need to spend a lot of money on one, but it is useful to have for a little while. I wouldn't expect to be using for years and years though. We moved cross country when my son was 15 months and we didn't want to pack the high chair, so when we got to our new place he went straight into a booster seat with no problems at all. It didn't take long before he refused to sit in a high chair (at grandma's, at restaurants) at all. Recently he has started refusing to sit in the booster (he just turned 2), and so now we've moved on to "knees or bottom" on the regular chair. It makes it more difficult to keep him seated for an entire meal without having a buckle, but it is forcing us to start teaching him table manners, like asking to be excused, etc.

We have one similar to this.. and use it all the time. It is great for my daughter learning how to feed herself. I paid something along the 50-70 range, nowhere near 200.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3623277

Another vote for the Stokke Chair... if you are willing to spend that much, it is a great investment in a solid piece of furniture. My kids have both been sitting in them for more than 5 years now (they started at about 10 months) and still have many more years in them. We have adjusted them many times and they are so comfortable (no feet dangling around which is very uncomfortable for the kids - just imagine yourself sitting without the floor as a foot rest - it is hard to get your back straight then. Yet in most of the high chairs or booster seats the kids do not have a foot rest). The Stokke Chairs grow with the child, are very easy to clean and the kids sit directly at the table with is a great bonus for family meals. My kids sit on them for their homework too. We love them.
I covered the few months from starting solids at six months to putting them into the Stokke Chair at about 10 or 11 months with some cheap used Peg Perego high chairs. I was so happy when I was able to throw them out. Those big monster high chairs take so much space (especially if you have more than one child in them), let alone the tray :-) And they are hard to clean too.

Although I'm not a huge fan of high chairs because they're so bulky and can be hard to clean, I also have some reservation about booster seats. My son has used a booster since he was about a year old and really began to self feed. He has kicked himself (and the chair) over backwards. Luckily, he was only frightened and not hurt. Clearly, the booster seats aren't as safe as the wide-based high chairs since the stability of the booster seat is dependent on the chair it's strapped to. Something to consider....

I personally hate the look of the traditional high chairs so we bought a Stokke. I looks like furniture and fits at most tables so that your little one can eat with you right at the table. The benefit is that is will adjust for life. My son is 1 1/2 and we have only adjusted it once. We also went out and bought a really inexpensive booster chair. we use it at home occasionally but is is portable so we take it with us as well. I just think that it is important to have the family sit down together for meals. I have friends with the other highchairs and the biggest complaint is that their child gets angry because they are far from everyone else. Best of luck

My houseis too small for a full size chair, so we use the srap on chair....works great and gets the kids right up to the table with everyone else.

Also, we bought an Inglesina brand hook on chair (it hooks to the table) for resturaunts and we LOVE it, best 50 bucks we've spent (well other than the Eurgo...: - ) ) It is clean and you can wash it, it only has your baby's yuckyness on it...and gets some good looks when you use it...people are always asking us about it, highly recommend it!

In my opinion, a high chair's a waste of money (and I'm one of those mamas who likes to buy baby stuff ;)
We sold our new in box one from my shower and got a $30 Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster Seat instead: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Care-Deluxe-Bo... The height and tray are adjustable & since it attaches to your dining chair, it tucks away while not in use. The 2 trays are nice so you can just wash them at the sink & not have to clean the whole thing till after dinnertime. We also have the rainforest one which has an activity tray--this was helpful for my impatient daycare baby who screamed the whole time I prepared his food. W/ my current baby, though, I just attach some toys to the tray w/ linkadoos and she's happy as a clam till mealtime. When our babies are young, we bring it w/ us and baby can use it anywhere from a picnic blanket to a friend's chair. We have 2 in use now (3.5 y/o--no tray--just eats at the table w/ us & 7.5 m/o who uses the tray) and I used them w/ my daycare child as well from 6m-3y/o.)
Spend your leftover $180 on something FUN. These carry right on thru until your little boy's ready for a regular chair. Easy to clean & stays hidden when mealtime's thru.

Most of my kids used a highchair until they were 3 so IMHO I would get one. Sit him up to the table with you. It is a good start in teaching him to eat with you, table manners (when he is a bit older) and how to socialize with the family.

I didn't buy a highchair (mostly because of lack of space in my kitchen). Instead I borrowed a friends Bumbo until my kids could sit up well enough, then I just bought a "high chair" that you attach to a regular chair. It comes with a tray that can be used until the child is old enough to use it as a booster at the table. It was like $40 and works great for us. It's also portable, so we can take it camping, to people's houses that don't have small children, etc.

My daughter is 26 months old and we still use (and love) our highchair. We don't use the tray anymore, we just push her up to the table with us. It's nice to contain her safely at the table to eat. I would definitely recommend getting one and not trying to go without! (Though I have to be honest, I'm not sure I'd spend $200-ours was about $75 and has been just fine. But to each his own)

I would find a 'booster' type chair instead. You can attach it to a regular chair and seat your son at the table near you. This way you are including him more in the family meal and teaching him good manners and good eating habits while you all eat a meal together. High chairs tend to set the baby away from the table more, so they don't get that included feeling. Yes, you have to contend with a bit more mess at your table, but it's worth it in the long run.

Buy it! My son is 21 months old (and big for his age at 34 lbs) and uses it every day every meal. I wanted one that cost about $150 new but found someone selling the same model on craigslist for half that, new in the box. We are expecting baby #2 in July and I think I'll try to transition my son to a booster seat around that time, but I have no doubts that we'll use the high chair for well over a year and a half with my son. We'll use it again for that long with the next kiddo. Great investment!

I say buy one but buy a cheap one.
I can see just getting a booster chair , but they really aren't that stable, so if you are the kind of mom that wants to be able to step away and do some dishes or walk out of the room for a second, you CANNOT trust a strapped in booster chair. So think about if you want to be able to be across the room doing things or if you are a working mom that has to multitask- the stable high chairs are good for that.
I wish I hadn't spent soo much money ont he high chair I bought though. My daughter has been mostly only using the booster since she was 17 months (21 lbs), but there have been a few times I have wished I could walk away. I mean I can step away, but she could definitely knock over the booster/chair way more easy then the big high chair. It was nice to have her in the secure $200 high chair that I knew she couldn't wiggle out of, however there are ones that are stable for much less money. And read the reviews!! The Chicco one I got was expensive but horrible and even the reviews noted how hard it was to clean. Get a simple one that is easy to clean with all washable parts- I can't believe how many grooves the Chicco one had to get food in. We finally had to throw it out after a few months of use because it smelled so bad- even with me cleaning it with a toothbrush and disinfectants!!!!