High Chairs

From LoveToKnow Baby

When your baby is ready for solid food, it is time to start thinking about High chairs. A high chair helps your baby sit up in the proper position for eating, makes her happy since she can see everyone and participate at mealtimes, and using a high chair promotes healthy eating habits. However, all high chairs are not the same. It is important to find the high chair that is best for you and your baby.

Using High Chairs

Once your baby is able to sit up without support, or with only a little assistance, you can start to use your high chair. Even if your baby is not ready to start eating solid food, try putting her in the chair at meals so she can sit with you at the table. Since the chair keeps her at your eye level, she will enjoy be able to watch you eat dinner. Offer her a cup or bottle or even a toy to keep her occupied. If she gets fussy, it is okay to take her out early, but even a few minutes helps to introduce her to the social aspects of dining. You also want her to associate food with sitting at a table instead of learning to eat on the run.

Once she is ready to eat, place baby in the high chair when you feed her solid foods or when you give her finger foods. Most high chairs have trays that are easy to remove and clean, so you can use the entire tray as a plate if you like.

You may also find that you like to use the high chair for other activities as your baby gets older. Many babies like to sit in their high chairs with toys while they watch mom and dad cook dinner, since the high chair affords a good view of the action. The high chair is also great for messy activities such as coloring or finger painting; the edges of the tray help keep crayons and paint from going overboard.

High Chair Safety

As with all of your baby gear, safety is critical to consider when choosing your baby's high chair. Make sure the high chair is very stable and cannot be easily tipped over. In addition, look at the safety harness. A three- or five-point harness is better than a seatbelt since it is more secure; most babies can easily climb out of a simple safety belt. Make sure your baby fits properly in the chair and that it helps her sit upright so that she can eat safely.

Cleaning the High Chair

Look for a high chair with a cover that is easy to remove and clean. While vinyl covers are the easiest to wipe off, they can be less comfortable to sit on; in hot weather, you do not want to have to peel baby off the seat cover. Instead, look for washable fabric that has been treated to resist spills. You should be able to easily remove the entire tray and wash it in either the sink or dishwasher.

High Chair Features

When you pick your high chair, compare the features of the best-selling brands. Some high chairs have adjustable heights; this is handy if you have a non-standard table or if you plan to use the high chair at both a table and breakfast bar. If you plan to move your high chair around a lot, another feature to consider is wheels. A wheeled high chair makes it simple to use your high chair in different locations, but make sure it has good brakes so you can secure it once it is in place.

Whatever high chair you pick, remember that it will not only make feeding time easier for you and your baby, it will help you get your infant on the path to good nutrition and proper table manners.