The safety of a child during mealtime is dependent on a few factors. When the child is 5 or 6 months old, she may be ready to sit on her own in a high chair to eat. To assure the safety of the child, choosing the safest type of high chair is a great place to start. However, no matter how safe the chair may be, a small child should never be left unattended while sitting in a high chair.
Cause of Accidents
According to Dr. Spock, most accidents that happen with children in high chairs are caused when a caregiver has left the room, assuming that the child is safe in the chair. Of these instances, most involve the child not being properly strapped into the chair. In some instances, children have died by slipping down in the seat and becoming strangled underneath the tray.
Restraints
To assure optimal safety in a high chair, it must contain a strap that is held in place between the child's legs as well as have a strap that lies across the child's waist. Both of these restraining straps must be securely in place every time the child is placed in the chair. The safest chairs have straps that meet at a buckle that rests in-between the child's legs. Be sure that you are able to buckle and unbuckle the straps with ease because if they are too difficult, there may be temptation to leave them unbuckled.
Location
A high chair should never be placed within reach of a wall, table or other surface that the child may try to push off of. This is another way that an accident can happen, as the high chair may easily topple over in this manner, injuring the child. A similar accident can happen when older children pull on or try to climb on the chair.
Selecting a Chair
Dr. Spock advises that the safest high chairs have a wide base for optimum stability. He also suggests buying a chair that has a post built in between the child's legs to make it impossible for the child to slip down in the chair. If the high chair is portable and folds down, be sure that you understand how and are able to easily secure the lock that holds the chair in place.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a high chair that hooks onto a table should only be used as a substitute and is not suitable for everyday use. However, if this type of chair is needed for eating out on occasion, choose a travel high chair that will lock onto a table. Keep in mind that the table must be sturdy enough to support the weight of the child without tipping over.
Additional Suggestions
To make sure that the high chair stays as sanitary as possible, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests choosing a chair that has a removable tray that can easily be removed and washed. In addition, the seat of the chair should be padded for comfort and should also be easily removable for cleaning purposes.
Parents should also examine the high chair to make sure there are no plastic caps or plugs that are able to be pulled off of the chair, as this becomes a choking hazard for the child.
References
- High Chair Safety Considerations; Dr. Spock.com
- Caring for Your Baby and Young Child; The American Academy of Pediatrics; 2003
