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Home Home and Family Babies Baby High Chair Safety: What To Look For To Protect Your Child
Baby High Chair Safety: What To Look For To Protect Your Child PDF Print E-mail
Written 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.
by MatthewByrd


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.

Many of the features offered by highchairs are made with the parent or other caretaker in mind more so than for the child. However, padded seat covers and height adjustability definitely make for a more comfortable seat for your child, as do adjustable foot rests ? these allow the chair to be adjusted to accommodate the needs of your growing child. Wheels are a great feature for parents but are not necessary for the comfort of your child (but parents will definitely appreciate them). There are also a lot of models of highchair which are foldable for ease of storage.

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.

Any highchairs you choose needs to have a broad base which gives the chair enough stability to prevent its tipping over. While it?s important to teach your young child to sit up, a broad base will prevent tipping when your child leans over the side of their high chair.

Highchairs are available in several different materials, with some being seen as better by some parents. There are highchairs which are made from wood ? these are sturdy, but are usually not adjustable. There are also plastic highchairs, which are easy to clean but less durable and highchairs with metal frames and plastic trays for a balance of strength and ease of cleaning.

As a parent, you need to make sure that your child is safe in their highchair. Your baby only needs a second to have an accident, so never leave your child unattended while they are seated.

You?ll also need to make sure your baby is strapped into their highchair at all times. Otherwise, they can slip out of the chair and fall ? the feeding tray will not keep them in the chair and larger children can actually become stuck between the seat and the tray.

If your high chair folds be sure that when you open it, that it locks in open position. If the chair collapses your baby could be hurt. This can be prevented with periodic checks of all parts of the chair.

You should also make sure that your baby?s highchair is placed too far away from anything your baby can reach ? they can push themselves over if they can reach a countertop or the table; cords and wires should also be out of baby?s reach when seated in their highchair.

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.

Check all of these things regularly so that you know that your child's highchair is in good shape and is safe for your baby. Even a torn seat cover poses a choking hazard; you know how babies will put nearly anything into their mouths. Make sure that tray locks are in good shape and hold the tray securely, check that the straps are not worn or frayed and that the tray is free of cracks and chips which can cut your child or be a host for bacteria. Whenever looking at a used highchair, all of these must be checked before purchasing - your baby's highchair needs to be a safe place for them and as a parent, your child's safety comes first.

About the Author:

Dr. Matthew Byrd, PhD is an expert on children and baby issues, and enjoys writing about baby high chairs. He owns a baby high chair website where you can browse the selection and buy the perfect baby baby high chair.

Kindly provided by 4Girls.dk You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include this link.
 
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