High chairs are a great asset to parenting, as they allow parents to teach their children how to feed themselves, and can be a fun adventure to healthy and nutritional eating.
While high chairs come in a variety of sizes, styles and pricing options, one thing remains important--safety. As with all infant, toddler and children's products, high chairs should only be used under direct supervision of an adult.
What to Look for
When shopping for a high chair, parents should first research the different types and styles on the Internet or through magazines, books and word-of-mouth. The Internet provides a great option for parents to read and write product reviews and to search product recalls and safety notices.
There are many different types of high chairs--plastic, wooden and compact for traveling. Compact travel high chairs offer two options: They can either be securely belted to a kitchen chair for stability, lifting the child to table height with a tray, or they can attached directly to the table top, with legs and fasteners keeping it securely in place.
Whether you choose to purchase a full-sized high chair or a compact travel chair, one thing remains the same--high chairs allow your infant and toddler to be part of the family at the dinner table while providing a separate tray and safety belts to keep your child--and her food--confined within the chair.
Common Pitfalls
Like with many other infant and toddler products, you will sometimes hear of safety notices and recalls of high chairs. Be sure to fill out and send in your registration card so that you may be informed of any such notices.
Also, while we like to think the high chairs keep a child's mess contained, more than likely the child will have fun dropping or throwing food off of the high chair, creating a mess for parents to clean up. It is a smart idea to place a piece of thick plastic lining, or even a towel, underneath your child's high chair to help ease the mess-making capabilities of your child.
Sometimes high chairs can become rather dirty, and they aren't always so easy to clean. It's recommended that you take apart your child's high chair (tray, seat and safety belts) and thoroughly clean it to prevent germs and bacteria from building up.
Remember, infants and small children should never be left alone in a high chair. Staying with your child at all times while using a high chair will help to prevent risks and injuries to your child.
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