High chairs are a great addition to any dining experience, but the choice of which type to get when multiple children are involved can make the decision more complex. Traditional high chairs are sturdy but when several are needed, they can take up a lot of space. Portable options are good alternatives but the available seating arrangements can affect the choice of which type to choose. Parents can figure out the best option for the family by carefully considering the available space in the kitchen or dining room area and while comparing the various options.
Baby High Chairs
Traditional baby high chairs offer parents solid eating solutions and most are convertible to allow use well into the preschool years. These high chairs come with a variety of perks such as easy-to-lift-off snap-on trays that are dishwasher safe.
The downside of traditional baby high chairs is that they take up a lot of floor space in the kitchen or dining room areas. Families with small eating areas might find this a problem.
Booster High Chair
Booster high chairs secure to the family chairs at the dinner table, allowing older infants and toddlers to settle in with the family. These chairs often come with removable trays that allow the chairs to slide under taller tables. The child can eat with the family while having the security of a tray close in front of him.
Some of these boosters are too tall to slide under the family table, which means the chairs will stick out further into the room when the chairs aren’t in use. Larger families might not have enough seats at the table for multiple booster high chairs. An option in this situation is to locate some extra chairs that will line up along the wall separate from the ones at the dinner table so the babies can be close by during family meals.
Travel High Chair
The travel high chair or clip-on high chair is a great choice for parents-on-the-go. Most clip-on high chairs can be folded into flat, compact sizes and some even come with convenient carrying cases that have a shoulder strap for hand-free hauling, an important feature for a mom or dad of many.
The chairs hook onto the table and can be used at dinner tables, picnic tables or any other table that features a solid surface. Babies and toddlers like this feature because unlike traditional high-chairs, it allows them to be closer to the action at the table.
Folding High Chair
Folding high chairs are freestanding units but are usually smaller than traditional baby high chairs. They offer the flexibility to be used during regular family meals, can be toted to events outside the home and can be conveniently folded away and secured in a closet or storage area between meals.
The choice of the perfect baby high chair for parents of many can be a complex choice to make, but if the parents carefully consider the available choices and compare them with the available space, the decision will be easier. Traditional baby high chairs work well if the family has a lot of space and doesn’t plan to travel with the chairs. Boosters are nice for transitioning baby to the family table. Folding high chairs or clip on styles are easy to store while allowing the family to take the chairs along on trips and outings when necessary.
Paige Dooly - Paige Dooly is the author of nineteen books and novellas and has written and published over 200 articles. As a homeschooling mother of ...
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