One of the sweetest things about motherhood is to see your baby grow. As babies grow, we begin to introduce them to different things such as trying to feed on a feeding chair.
If you have a baby or/and a toddler and are looking for the right baby chair for eating, this article is going to provide you with all the information you need.
Apart from showing you the best baby chairs for eating, you will learn the right time to introduce a baby to a feeding chair. You will also read about some factors to consider when buying a baby chair for eating.
Without further ado, let’s get started with the primary aim of this article.
Table of Contents
When Can Your Baby use A Feeding chair?
The best time to introduce your baby to a feeding chair is between 4 to 6 months old. At this stage, most babies can sit upright, which is the number one criterium to consider.
However, you should understand that transitioning for babies varies. While some grow faster, it takes some babies a lot of time to catch up with their age.
You don’t have to force your baby if he or she is not ready to use a feeding chair.
I understand that most mothers with babies are eagerly waiting to start enjoying a bit of freedom. Nonetheless, if you have to feed your baby from your lap even at 6 months, please do.
Apart from sitting up, another good indicator that tells you your child is ready to use a feeding chair is when your baby starts eating solid food.
Other than this, most parents recommend that you wait for 6 months before using a baby chair for feeding.
You may want to read about the best baby chairs that you can attach to tables.
What to consider when buying a baby chair for eating?
The market is flooded with dozens of baby chairs for feeding. Therefore, you need the right information to choose the best baby chairs that will suit your needs.
Also, your personal preference and the space in your home would determine what type of baby chair to go for.
Below are the qualities to look out for when buying a baby chair for feeding.
#1. Durability
This is of course an obvious factor to consider when buying anything. As parents, the price of parenthood is enough burden to bear. You’d want to avoid buying a baby-feeding chair over and over again.
A good baby chair for eating is one that is solidly built and that will last for quite a number of years.
#2. Easy to Clean
Trust me, you don’t want to go for a baby chair for feeding that will take a whole lot of your time to clean. You might feel okay with the cleaning at first, but you’d definitely get weary of cleaning it over time.
So, what should you go for? Look for a feeding chair with a removable feeding tray and washable covers. You should also avoid one that has too many nooks where crumbs can be trapped.
Children can be really messy during feeding and the only good thing you can do for yourself is to choose a feeding chair that is easy to clean.
#3. Baby Chair for feeding with wheels attached
As a parent, if you’d be spending most of your time at home, you should go for an eating chair with wheels. That way, you can easily move the chair around while you continue doing your house chores.
You don’t want to leave your child feeding alone in the sitting room while you are in the kitchen. It is never a safe act and should be discouraged by all means.
#4. Safety
Whatever we introduce to our babies, their safety should be our top priority. We want to buy a baby chair for eating that has all the necessary safety features.
It must have an adjustable waist and shoulder strap to hold a baby in the right position. You also want to make sure that there are no crevices that a baby’s finger could get stuck in.
A wrong sitting position can cause a baby to choke and this should be avoided by all means. This is why you need the straps to hold your baby in the best position.
#5. Versatility
Since babies grow so quickly, parents need to be proactive when buying baby products. This will save you from spending unnecessarily in the future.
A baby-feeding chair with a removable tray and seat height adjustment can serve you for years.
Now, assuming you have followed these factors above and have gotten a baby chair for feeding, there is one thing you need to do. Try to register with the company just in case there is a recall.
Things like this have happened in the past and the only way to get quick information is by registering with the manufacturer.
You wouldn’t want to use a defective feeding chair for your baby because the implication might be grievous. Therefore, register the product with the company in case of a recall.
5 Best Baby Chairs For Eating
Now that we have seen what it takes to buy a good baby feeding chair, it’s time to see the best ones in the marketplace. Below are our top recommendations.
#1. Graco Slim Snacker Baby Eating Chair
This is unarguably one of the best feeding chairs for babies and one of the most bought. With over 20,000 reviews on Amazon and a rating of 4.8/5, you can count on this baby high chair.
It takes just a few seconds to fold the chair after use and it comes with a storage bag. So, if you are going on vacation or visiting granny, you can carry along this compact chair for your baby.
Graco Slim Snacker also has a large mess storage basket where you can store things like wipes, extra bibs, etc. It comes with a 3-position reclining seat, seat pad, and fortress for your baby’s comfort.
Pros
- Cleaning is super fast and easy
- Large storage basket for storing baby’s essentials
- Has a cup holder for keeping cups in place
- A 3-reclining position seat for comfort
- It is foldable and has adjustable straps
Cons
- With a price tag of $70, it is not the cheapest in the market
Here’s a link to this product on Amazon
#2. Century Dine On 4-in-1 Highchair For Eating
This baby feeding chair comes in 3 different colors (berry, metro, and splash). So you can go for the color that matches your home decor.
The versatility of this feeding chair makes it one of the best to buy. It can be used during 4 stages of your child’s development – a baby feeding chair, tot booster, stool, and a chair for big kids.
Other features of this high chair include a removable tray, it is safe to use a dishwasher to clean up the tray, you can wash the seat pad with a machine, and comfortable padding for your baby’s comfort.
Pros
- Machine washable pad and dishwasher tray insert saves you time during cleaning
- 3 reclining positions for comfort
- Can serve your child for years
- Made of recyclable materials
- Supports weight up to 40 pounds
Cons
- No wheel lock
This high chair costs $80 on Amazon
#3. Graco Blossom 6-in-1 Convertible Feeding Chair
this is another great baby chair for eating produced by Graco. It comes with 6 different modes, which means it serves for several years.
Some of the modes include a baby seat, a booster seat, a traditional high chair, and a dining chair for big kids.
Graco Blossom also features a 3-position recline option and a fortress for comfort. The feeding tray is dishwasher washable, making cleaning quite fast.
Pros
- 6-in-1 convertible feeding chair
- Can accommodate two kids at the same time
- height position adjustment and 3 recline options
- Easy to wash
- Shoulder straps to hold babies in position
- Well-padded for comfort
- Supports weight up to 60 pounds
Cons
- At $170, it’s a bit pricey. However, it is worth the price tag
- Comes in just one color (sapphire)
You can check it out on Amazon
#4. Skip Hop 2-in-1 Convertible Baby Feeding Chair
Skip Hop is a reputable brand known for producing baby-eating chairs with many functionalities. With this chair, a baby can use it from 3 months all through toddlerhood.
This 2-in-1 baby eating chair is sturdy, has height adjustable features, is super easy to clean, and has 3 recline options.
The soft head support feature is another amazing thing that makes this product be among the best in the marketplace.
Pros
- Height adjustment
- Easy to clean
- 3 recline positions
- Converts from a feeding high chair to toddler stool
- Large footprints
Cons
- No wheels
- A bit weighty
#5 Maxi-Cosi 6-in1 Minla Baby High Chair
The Minla 6-in-1 baby chair for eating is designed to serve for 6 years from birth. It comes with 5 recline options for optimum comfort and 9 adjustable height position for the best seating.
Just like the other baby seats for eating mentioned above, the Minla product also has a dishwasher washable feeding tray.
You can wash the seat pad with a washing machine and the liquid-repellent fabric makes for quick and easy cleanup. This baby feeding seat can serve as a high chair and a booster seat.
You can easily fold the chair after use and store it for the next use. If you are a stylish mom like me, this is a great option to consider.
Pros
- Made of high-quality material that is easy to clean
- Can serve your baby up to 6 years of growth
- 5 recline positions for maximum comfort
- Dishwasher-friendly tray and machine-friendly seat pad
- Easy to fold and carry from one place to another
- Stylish
- Has wheels
Cons
- The price might be the only challenge with this baby high chair. It costs $200
You can check it out on Amazon
How to stop your baby from eating the chair
The best way to stop your baby from eating the chair is by monitoring your child while he/she feeds. After feeding on the feeding chair, you should get him/her off the chair to prevent the behavior.
Whether the baby eating chair is made of wood or plastic, some children are fond of eating it. How do you stop this from happening?
If the behavior is a result of teething, the best thing you can do is to give your baby something better to chew.
You can also talk to your child by letting him/her know that the behavior is not acceptable. Although at that early age, you may not be talking to someone with a listening ear.
Finally, the best way to prevent your child from eating either a wooden feeding chair or a plastic feeding chair is by staying close to your child. Once your baby is done eating, take him/her out of the chair completely.
How to put a baby in a feeding chair?
To put a baby in a feeding chair, remove the removable feeding tray to create space. Thereafter, lift your baby and place him/her on the chair. Use the adjustable waist and shoulder straps to ensure your baby is comfortable. Finally, insert the feeding tray and start the feeding business.
While this question might sound weird to experienced moms, we shouldn’t write it off. Most new moms get nervous about things like this due to lack of experience and they often end up asking questions.
Safety Tips to follow when using a baby eating chair
Follow the safety tips below whenever you are using a feeding chair for your baby.
#1. Lock the wheels during feeding
#2. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines in terms of the height and weight capacity of the high chair
#3. Make sure your baby is well-strapped
#4. Never leave your baby to feed alone without your supervision
