Eating together as a family is one of the most joyful parts of family life. It’s a time to slow down and connect with each other - and with the help of the right high chair, your baby can really enjoy and be involved in this experience too!

When your baby starts on solid food, mealtimes can be much more interactive - and a little messier, of course! Sitting around the table together to eat is a great bonding experience for families and your baby will enjoy it as much as you do.

But how do you know what highchair to choose that will work for your baby and home?

If you’re about to choose your first high chair, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a guide of the key things to consider when you’re ready to buy a high chair including some ideas on how to work out which highchair will best suit your baby, your home and your lifestyle.

 

What to look for when choosing a high chair for your baby?

What type of chair do you need? Are you looking for a full, free-standing high chair or one that ‘boosts’ a regular dining chair?

Look out for a high chair that has a wide base and check that it is sturdy and won’t fall over. A harness is required to keep your baby snug and secure while sitting in the chair too.

If your home is short on space, or you’re looking for a chair for a relative’s house or occasional use, a booster chair might be worth considering. Our Clean & Comfy Booster might be for your baby if they are between six months and four years old.

 

It comes with a countered seat that offers the ultimate support and comfort, keeping your child focused on their meals. With a 3-point harness that adjusts according to your growing child, this booster also features a removable insert tray for added convenience during food preparation and cleanup. 

If you’re looking for a wooden chair, our beautiful Timba Highchair is a 3 in 1 wooden chair that accommodates a growing child. It’s suitable for children from 6 months old to 10 years so really goes the distance!

 

Is it safe and sturdy?

A high chair needs to be not only comfortable but also safe and secure for your baby. 

This means choosing a chair that is robust and durable. It needs to be up to the task of seating your baby or toddler securely and features such as harnesses, wide bases and security straps are key.

Babies can move around quite a bit while they’re discovering the joy of eating, so look for a chair that won’t rock or tip over.

 

How easy is it to clean?

Mealtimes with babies and toddlers can be messy affairs. As fun as it can be to watch them take their first bites of solid food, watching them throw a large portion of their meal on to the floor (over and over!) can be a little frustrating.

However, choosing a high chair that is easy to wipe down and clean up can take a lot of that stress away.

Some chairs also have removable trays that are dishwasher safe – making clean up time even easier for parents.

During meal times, babies can become highly-skilled food distributors and you’ll find the remnants of their meals stuck into every crevice of their high chair. Look for a chair with wipe down surfaces and easy to reach nooks and crannies to make clean up as quick and easy as possible.

For extra help when keeping meal times clean, our Messy Mat can be used under highchairs and tables, is durable, wipe clean and a carpet-saver!

 

Will it grow with your child?

As your baby grows into a toddler, finding a chair that grows with them will make the chair a much better investment for you. They could potentially be using the chair until they’re three years old (or older) and it will need to adapt as their size and abilities change.

Many chairs have adaptable features such as a removable tray which makes it easy to position your child closer to the dining table to ‘join’ the rest of the family when they’re a little bigger.

For an affordable highchair that will grow with your little one, consider our Egg highchair.

This clever 3 in 1 model converts from a highchair to lowchair to booster seat for longevity of use. It’s lightweight and moves easily with a soft and spongy removable easy clean seat pad.

A 5-point harness keeps your baby safe and when they’re older, the booster has bottom and rear chair straps to secure the seat onto a dining chair. These straps can be stored within the chair when not in use.

Our Breeze highchair is a comfortable chair that also adjusts to suit your growing baby. You can switch this chair from a high to low position and it will accommodate a child up to 15kg.

You can find out more about the Mother’s Choice Breeze highchair here.

 

Does it need to have additional features?

Many highchairs have additional features that add to the comfort, safety and security of your baby while they’re seated in it.

Extra padding on seats and backs, adjustable heights and the ability to recline are all additions that help with this.

Our Timba Infant Highchair also has the option of an additional seat pad for extra cushioned support and comfort during mealtimes.

You can find out more about the seat pad here (your baby will thank you for the extra softness!).

Or perhaps you’re looking for a high chair that can fold down or one with removable legs so it’s easier to pack it away neatly when not in use. Or a portable high chair that you can take away with you on day trips or holidays.

 

Take some time to think about how the chair will ‘fit’ into your home and family’s lifestyle and see if the additional features that our range offers help this.

You can check out the full Mother’s Choice range of high chairs, and high chair accessories, here.