Hint: It's Not How Easy It Is to Clean!

When it comes to choosing a high chair, many parents focus on how easy it is to clean. We all know how messy and chaotic feeding kids can be and we've heard all the horror stories from other veteran parents.

But the truth is that whilst easy-to-clean surfaces are handy, they should never be the number one priority when selecting your child's high chair.

What should come first? How supported they are in their seat.

The Importance of Proper Support for Self-Feeding

Children need core strength to complete upper body tasks like using cutlery, drinking from a cup, or even holding a pen for colouring and writing. When they’re not well-supported in their high chair, it becomes much harder for them to focus on learning these essential skills. If their bodies are wobbling or their legs are dangling, their core has to work overtime just to keep them upright, which leaves little energy left for fine motor tasks like picking up a spoon and getting it to their mouth.

Imagine for a second that you're sitting on a super high bar stool and there's no foot rest, so your legs are dangling awkwardly. That's not comfortable at all. Now imagine trying to learn to use a knife and fork or chopsticks for the first time. It'd be a struggle, and you'd be desperately looking for somewhere to put your feet or using your arms to stabilise yourself. Frustrating!

There are so many frustrated kids out there struggling to feed themselves, and so many frustrated parents wondering why mealtimes seem to take forever and are super messy -  the answer is often that the high chair isn't a good fit.

6 Signs Your Child May Be Poorly Supported in Their High Chair

1. Dangling feet:
   If your child’s feet aren’t resting on a surface, their legs may dangle and swing causing instability in their posture.
2. Slouched posture:
   If their back isn’t straight and supported, they might slump forward or sideways.
3. Restless movement:
   Constant shifting, wiggling or trying to get out of the chair could be a sign of discomfort or lack of stability.
4. Struggling with cutlery:
   Poor support can make it harder for them to hold and use utensils effectively. They may give-up quickly or prefer to use one hand.
5. Slipping down the chair:
   If they keep sliding down from their seated position or are leaning back, the seat might be too deep, too reclined or too slippery.
6. Leaning on the table:
   If they’re leaning their arms on the table for support rather than to eat, they might be compensating for a lack of core stability.

The Gold Standard of Support

So, what should a good high chair offer? The key is proper alignment and adjustable support. For optimal positioning, your child’s hips, knees, and feet should all be at 90-degree angles. 

A great high chair will have:

• Adjustable footrests to grow with your child and keep their feet supported as they get taller.
• Seat depth and height adjustments to ensure their hips, knees, and feet are aligned at that perfect 90-90-90 angle.
• A stable backrest to support their spine and prevent slouching.

What Happens When Children Are Poorly Supported?

When your child doesn’t have proper support in their high chair, you might notice they’re constantly shifting, sliding down or even refusing to sit in their high chair at all. It's not worth trying to sit there and eat when they're so uncomfortable. Their body is probably working hard just to stay balanced, making it difficult to focus on anything else. If their feet are dangling with no stable base, it’s exactly like what I said about trying to balance on a bar stool -it'd be hard to concentrate on eating when you’re too busy trying not to fall!

This issue goes beyond mealtimes. In classrooms, if children are sitting in chairs that are too high or without a place to rest their feet, they can struggle with tasks like holding a pencil or staying focused on their work. A stable, well-supported body is crucial for all fine motor tasks, whether it’s picking up peas or practicing handwriting.

Do Your Research

Don’t be swayed by claims about easy cleaning. Yes, it’s helpful, but it’s far more important to find a high chair that supports your child’s development.

Is it the end of the world if your child doesn't have a supportive high chair? Of course not. We were likely very unsupported in our high chairs years ago. But science and knowledge and research has come a long way and now we understand more about what can really help. We can make informed decisions about what we buy our kids knowing exactly how it will help and why. 

Pro tip: Check the advertising photos! If the child in the ad is slouching, their legs are dangling or their posture looks uncomfortable, that’s a red flag. It suggests the chair hasn’t been designed or tested to provide the 90-90-90 support your child needs to thrive at the table.

Take your time, read reviews and choose a high chair that grows with your child and sets them up for success - not just at mealtimes but in all the fine motor skills they’ll be mastering as they grow!

You've got this!