Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Baby High Chair Safety

By Matthew Byrd

Baby highchairs are something you?ll need for your child as soon as they are old enough to sit up on their own; this is typically around six months of age. There are some models which recline to be suitable for infants, but in general, you won?t need one until your child can sit up.

Highchairs usually come with a lot of features, many of which are geared towards the parent rather than the child. Your baby really doesn't need the chair to have wheels or be foldable for easy storage, but you'll find these useful features. More important for your infant's comfort are padded seat covers and adjustable height, as well as foot rests which are adjustable.

Many highchairs can be converted to play tables by the use of an insert which goes over the tray to give your child a surface to play on. You can also choose from highchairs which have larger trays; this keeps the mess to a minimum ? and every parent knows how messy of an eater their infant or toddler can be. Inset cup holders are another common feature which adds convenience to highchairs.

The base of the highchair should be broad and stable to help prevent the highchair from tipping. If your child leans over the side the chair could tip and injure your child. It is best then to teach your child to sit up all the time.

When looking at highchairs some people express opinions about what the highchair is made of. There are all wood chairs that tend to not be adjustable in height. There are metal framed highchairs with plastic trays and there are highchairs that are all plastic.

There are things you can do to make the highchair safe place to be. Never leave your child unattended to go grab a bib, food, or answer the phone. It only takes a second for your baby to have an accident. You should have everything ready before putting your child in the chair.

Your child should be securely strapped into their highchair so that they do not fall out and injure themselves. Older children can be trapped between the chair and the tray - remember that the feeding tray will not hold your child in place.

Foldable highchairs need to be locked open before you seat your child. You should test your chair's locking mechanism regularly to ensure that this is in good shape.

Never place your child in a highchair within reach of anything which they could push against and tip themselves over. Make sure that there are no cords, wires or any other hazards within your baby's reach.

Keep your child's fingers away from the tray as you lock it onto the highchair to prevent pinches and cuts. Make sure that the tray is secure by giving it a soft tug. A tray which is loose can be dangerous for your infant.

Wear of the high chair can be hazardous. If the vinyl cover over foam is torn the baby could ingest small pieces of foam. Worn locking mechanisms could prevent the tray from staying in place. All belts and clasps should be checked for fraying or tears. Check the clasps for missing pieces or cracks. Cracked or chipped trays could cause injury or harbor germs. This type of check should be done before purchasing a second hand chair as well.

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