Starting solids is one of the most important milestones for both mama and baby. When your little one is already showing signs they are ready for complementary foods, it’s also time for you to begin preparing to win the weaning challenge.
After planning what specific items to feed your child, you also need to think of mealtime essentials — one of which is a high chair. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a high chair is “a child's chair with long legs, a footrest, and usually a feeding tray.”
When should your child use a high chair?
When your baby is around 6 months of age, you can start introducing them to solid food. There are signs when they are ready to enter this chapter, and this includes sitting unassisted. When they can do this, they are about to take their throne — the mighty high chair.
Is it really necessary to have a high chair?
While most mamas acknowledge the importance of setting up a high chair on the dining table, there are some who are hesitant at purchasing one. The answer will depend on your family’s lifestyle and needs.
There are, however, several benefits to investing in a good quality high chair for your child:
Family togetherness: Eating meals together as a family has been proven to foster amazing bonds between parents and children. More often than not though, young kids are not included in family mealtimes as they are either fed earlier or later. But did you know that bringing the baby to the dinner table allows them to have a sense of that family tradition of eating together? Plus, they get exposed to the different varieties of healthy food that they should eat and they learn table manners by observing you and the rest of the family.
Proper eating position: How many times did our mamas tell us to sit properly when eating so we can swallow our food properly? It’s the same for young kids and babies. When they are seated on a high chair, they sit properly to enjoy their meals safely. And by sitting there, they also improve their posture.
Quick and easy cleanup: There is no doubt: mealtimes are messy, especially when your child has just started eating solids. And that’s totally okay, mama! High chairs help you in this unavoidable problem because when they feed on a high chair, your cleanup time becomes shorter as you only need to tidy up the high chair and its detachable tray (and maybe a few parts of the floor). Still sounds better than cleaning up an entire space!
Independence: Sitting on a high chair encourages your little one to self-feed, thus giving your child an avenue to practice their independence. Let them be messy as this sensory play allows them to explore and learn more about food and their hand movements. Such a fun experience also reinforces positive feelings toward eating and mealtimes.
Multiple uses: Don’t we just love items that pull double — even multiple — duties? A high chair is a good investment because aside from using it during feeding time, you can also put the baby in here to entertain them with toys (under your supervision of course) and for bigger kids, it serves as their art and writing space.
What should you consider when choosing a high chair?
High chairs have more benefits than you think — and when you are already decided on getting one, consider these factors:
Safety: This is probably the most important consideration as you don’t want your baby to get hurt while seated on the high chair. Make sure it’s sturdy enough and cannot be tipped over easily. It should also be free of sharp edges or splinters, and comes with safety straps. The Anko High Chair features a 5-point adjustable safety harness and anti-slip feet pads.
Comfort: Your little one will love spending time on his high chair if it’s well-padded and soft to their delicate skin.
Ease of cleaning: Again, mealtimes are supposed to be messy. So there will be a lot of cleaning up after. Get a seat fabric that you can easily remove to wash and a tray table that can be quickly cleaned, such as in this Graco High Chair.
Space: You don’t want to be buying a huge or wide high chair only to find out it wouldn't fit in your dining space. Consider the space where you’ll be using this baby gear and shop accordingly.
Budget: With the multitude of choices in the market nowadays, there is a high chair for every budget. You don’t need to get the most expensive one — one that’s of high quality is good enough.
Grows with your baby: There are high chairs — then there are those that grow with your little one, such as the Joie High Chair. It can be converted into booster seats and youth stools when your child moves on to another chapter in their growing up years.
What are some safety tips when using a high chair?
1. Ensure the high chair is sturdy enough to carry your baby.
2. Do not ignore the safety straps, especially the ones that go between their legs. Wear them on your baby to prevent your child from slipping down.
3. Never leave your child alone in a high chair.
4. Do not let your child stand on the high chair.
5. When using a removable tray, make sure it’s locked in place while your child is using it.
6. Place the high chair away from hazards such as sockets, candles, or sharp objects.
7. Do not let older kids climb onto the high chair as they can hurt themselves or their younger siblings.
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