Babies can sit up at approximately 4 to 6 months of age. At this point, they are also starting to eat solid food, which means they have to claim a spot at the table. What better way to include your baby at the dinner table than to acquire a high chair? But which one? With our best wooden high chairs guide you can find the perfect one for you and your baby.
The way I see it, a wooden high chair is not just a piece of furniture. It is a way to introduce your baby to the adult world. Socializing is a necessary aspect of a child’s development, and the dinner table is the perfect way to start. Even if the baby does not understand very much about what is happening, he or she will at least be around grown-ups. He or she will absorb everything that is going on, which will help him or her in the future.
High chairs will keep your baby safe and secure at meal times. Not to mention that your child will feel included and will learn to eat without help a lot faster than children who are not.
Features to look for in a wooden high chair
There are many choices when it comes to high chairs. There are so many models on the market that you don’t know which one to choose. Fortunately, there are many guides online that you can read. They will help you to make the best decision. You can consider this piece one of those guides, as I will tell you what the most important aspects you must take into account when buying a high chair are.
Safety
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this point. Babies and accidents are bound to meet often. If there is a slim chance of something silly happening, it will happen. That’s how you must think when it comes to children. That is why it would be best if you took all precautions to avoid a disaster.
For a high chair to be safe, the harness system must be flawless. It has to be sturdy, and resilient, and the child should not figure out too fast how to loosen it. The best systems are five-point harnesses. They will safely secure your baby in that chair. Some seats come with a pommel (crotch bar) that will stop your child from slipping through. It comes in handy when he or she will start to wiggle in the high chair.
One of the most important issues when it comes to harnesses is the crotch part. If you like a high chair, but it doesn’t have one, then just forget about it. It’s dangerous. It doesn’t happen often, but toddlers who try to get themselves out of the high chair and are not careful can hang themselves. I know it sounds awful, but don’t let that happen to your child.
Is there a tray?
It depends on what you want, but it does matter if the high chair has or not a tray. Do you want to put your child on the table directly, or do you want him or her to have a tray? It’s a legitimate question. Parents usually opt for a high chair that has a tray because they already come with a sippy cup holder or a dual-layer, which makes cleaning a piece of cake.
If you are interested in a high chair that has a tray, you should know that some models have adjustable or detachable trays. This feature comes in handy when your baby is grown up. You don’t have to buy a high chair each time he or she grows out of it. A removable tray also means that you can get the seat closer to the dinner table. Once the child is older, you can pull the high chair closer to the dinner table and include him or her in your family’s dining habits.
Padding and Comfort
My favorite is the wooden high chairs because they look fancy and they blend in with my kitchen’s furniture better than a plastic ones. However, wood is a hard material and not so comfortable to sit on which is why I always prefer padded furniture, and a high wooden chair makes no difference. Padding makes it soft and comfortable. Moreover, a small child will have to sit on it, so it must be comfy. Is your chair rock solid? Then why would you put your baby through this? Given the fact that this should be his or her first experience sitting, make it the most comfortable it can be.
But keep one thing in mind, though. Choose a padding that can be cleaned easily; it will make a difference for you. If you go for fabric padding, then it would be a good idea for it to be removable. Or you can choose synthetic leather. You can clean that with wet tissues.
Adjustability
You may not know that now, but you want to go for an easily adjustable chair. Think of the actions you will be repeating every day, like removing the tray, folding the seat, and handling the harness buckles. You want to do that with ease. You don’t need something that will cause headaches each time you have to deal with it.
Folding high chair
One of the features you want in a high chair is foldability. You don’t want a high chair that will always stay in your way. Use it and then put it away. Easy storage is one of the most sought aspects of almost every item. Also, you should know that there are high chairs that need the tray removed before folding. That can be annoying if you have to do it several times per day. My advice is that you choose one which does not require that action.
Easy cleaning
Some high chairs come with dual-layer trays and removable padding so you can put them in the washing machine. These features will come in handy. You know how messy eating can get for a six-month-old, don’t you? All the bibs in the world cannot save you from a baby’s eating habits, which is why my recommendation is an easy-to-clean high chair.
What are the best wooden high chairs?
As I stated before, wooden high chairs are my favorite. They look gorgeous, and they go perfectly in any kitchen. Not all of them meet the criteria I mentioned above, but that does not mean they are not suitable.
Winco CHH-103 Unassembled Wooden High Chair, Mahogany
As the title suggests, this chair will arrive unassembled, but don’t worry. Assembling it is easy and quite fun. You don’t need many tools or glue. It is done with mechanical fasteners, which also means that the chair will be as sturdy as it gets.
This model has proven to be very useful for older children as well. When I say older, I mean a few years. You can purchase this high chair and use it when your baby is about six months old, but you can also adjust it for him or her to use it later. The model itself is not adjustable, but if you pop the front bar of the chair, you can turn it into a chair for a child that sits on his knees on a regular chair just to reach the table. That may happen for a few years, so it comes in handy. The action will not ruin the seat, so you don’t have to worry that you will break it.
The chair has no padding. Although I dislike the ‘no padding’ thing in general, this chair allows you to put something soft on it. It’s all about balance. It is sturdy, it is safe, and it can be used for many years, but it has no padding. It would be a shame to dislike it just for that. As long as you can pad it yourself, it is ok.
Also, this high chair does not come with a tray. When your baby is tiny, you will be feeding him or her, so you don’t need it. When the child is older, you can pull the chair close to the table. It is not as useful as having a tray, but you can work around it.
Check the product at https://amzn.to/3ZSy6Iz
Excellante Wooden High Chair, Walnut
This model is similar to the previous one. Maybe that is why I chose it. I love the walnut finish. It is elegant, even if it’s a high chair designed to be drooled over by a baby. It will fit perfectly in your kitchen or your dining room.
One of the features I like about this chair is the pyramid design. As you may well know children tend to rock in their chairs. The pyramid design will prevent your child from tipping the chair entirely and falling off on the floor. The straps will hold your child down. They are durable and reliable. You can remove them when the baby grows older. You can also remove the front bar when your child is a few years old; when he or she can sit in a chair like a grown-up, but regular chairs are too big.
This model does not come with a tray, which may seem a bit inconvenient. But as I said before, you will be doing the feeding for a while, and then you can pull the chair close to the table. Problem solved.
Assembly is easy. You will be given a set of instructions and the tools you require. It will not last long, and you can even do it yourself with no help whatsoever. It’s child’s play.
Given the fact that there is no padding for this model, nor for the previous one, my recommendation is to purchase a cover. You can find them online, they are not expensive, and they are machine washable. It’s the best option you have.
Check the product at https://amzn.to/3F62cAv
Abiie Beyond Wooden High Chair
I saved the best for last. This is one of the best wooden high chairs available on the market., and it’s my personal favorite. If I had to choose one, this is it.
The reason why I like this high chair so much is that it has all the features the best high chair should have. It is wooden, but it comes already padded. You don’t have to bother looking for soft covers. The harness is a five-point, which makes it very safe for your child, especially in the early months. It can also turn into a three-point harness for later years. You don’t have to worry every time your turn your head for a second. The baby is safely strapped to the chair. He or she will not budge.
The adjustability feature is fantastic in this chair. You can adjust the seat so that it will fit various sizes, from a small baby to a toddler, to a 5-6-year-old. You can use the same chair until the child ultimately grows out of it. You will be able to adjust the height of the seat, as well as the feet stand.
Another thing that you will love about this high chair is that you can buy separate seats. You can purchase the item as a whole, but if you want you can buy another cushion as well, which comes in different colors. The tray is dual-layer. You can take the one above and put it in the dishwasher after the meal. As I said, easy cleaning is necessary.
Check the product at https://amzn.to/3kUp5A5
Conclusion
Each of the three products is high-quality and is worth every penny. However, you can probably see why I prefer the Abiie model. It has everything I like in a baby chair, which is why I consider it to be the best wooden high chair on the market.
Investing in your child and your child’s care and comfort will always be worth it. We all know those baby products are pricey, so let’s not pretend to be surprised when we see the prices for high chairs. They are not exaggerated, but when your baby needs a million things, they add up.
Last Updated on March 9, 2023 by Marie Francis