The high chair is a pretty big deal in Baby’s life as an exciting milestone, but the fact that it’s big in the sense that it’s significantly taller than them can be worrying. Here are a few precautions to keep Baby safe and snug when they're getting used to this piece of furniture so high above the ground.
- If the shoe fits…
One of the most important pieces of high chair safety comes into play long before you’re getting Baby strapped in for mealtime. Not all high chairs are created equal, and finding the right one for your child is key. A wide base will make the high chair more stable if they get rowdy, and a three- or five-point harness can help keep them from either sliding out the bottom or standing up. Folding high chairs can be great space-savers, as long as they snap safely into shape as a stable structure.
A high chair that attaches to a table may be a good short-term solution for travel, but might not provide the stability you’re looking for in day-to-day use. If you do choose to use one of these chairs, it’s important to make sure that the table is secure enough not to be unbalanced by the chair and Baby‘s weight, and that the chair properly locks into place, With all high chairs, if you’re borrowing from a friend or relative, or if you’re looking to buy used, you can search the name of the model online to be sure it hasn’t been recalled due to safety concerns. - Location, location, location
Baby may be eager to join the rest of the family at the dinner table, but if a free-standing high chair is placed within kicking range of a table or counter, some children’s restless moods may put them in danger of pushing off, and taking the high chair with them.
If you’re using a travel high chair attached to a table, it’s important that the table be heavy enough to support the uneven weight of your child on one side, and that the table legs or supports are far enough from them that their curious feet can’t push off and dislodge the chair. - All tied up, nowhere to go
When a child decides to make a run for it, that poor tray isn’t going to be able to stop them all on its own. On the other end of the spectrum, if they are feeling sleepy, there’s no guarantee that they won’t relax a little too hard and start sliding down in their seat. Three or five-point harnesses should keep your child secure, especially harnesses with a crotch strap. - Your presence is present enough
When it comes to high chair safety, the most effective precaution you can take is just to be around. There’s a limit to what Baby can get up to under your watchful eye, and if anything starts to go wrong, you can step in right away.
