I am a final year student and need your feedback about highchairs!

Hi everyone,

As the thread title says; I am a final year product design student and I would love to hear your opinions on current highchairs and what is good and/or bad about them.

So, why am I doing this?

 Well, I will be spending my whole final year designing the perfect high chair!  There is no way I could do this without doing some market research, and that is why I have created this thread.  So whatever it is you think about highchairs, I would love to know.

 I really appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you,

 Ed Lang

(Product Design student at Bournemouth University)

 

when it comes to highchairs, two main things are very important, safety for baby,and the highchair should be sturdy, and easy to clean too highchairs should not occupy too much space,if space is at a premium the highchair needs to fold up and store away easily,
extra features like
adjustable seat height, adjustable footrest, Removable and easy-to-clean seat cover, and Removable tray for easy cleaning.
i prefer wooden highchairs with cushion seat of course, as it has all the features

a must to have a removeable tray.

a better 5 point seat belt

price within £60-80

a basket to store bid, toy...

I've had 6 highchairs now.

We had a cube high chair ,which was lovely when it was new.It took up lots of space.The tray came off to clean ,which was something I did like,and this also meant it was suitable as my child got older to sit in at the table with the family.It had a plastic covered padded  seat which was easy to wipe clean.No corners or edges where food could get that were difficult to clean ,so another plus.Once my toddler was eating with a fork though they managed to stick the fork in the plastic cover of the padded seat,exposing the foam stuffing and I just couldn't keep it clean.

Had a fold up Bruin one.Metal bar frame.Seat was made of a stiff  board,covered in plastic/pvc type material,which split easily and again couldn't keep it clean.It was cheap,I got what I paid for.

I did like the Chicco Happy Snack.It had a nice bit padded seat.Nice big removable tray.Sturdy base.Folds up.The problem we had with this one was the food collecting in the corners of the seat pad,which was a pain to get properly clean.The plastic seat pad could be removed for cleaning,but again this split.

We bought another Bruin one,suitable from birth,fairly expensive.Padded PVC  seat again,removable for cleaning.Adjustable height,which is something we never used.Lie back,we didn't use either.Big removable  tray,with two layers of tray was useful cos when they've made a mess with their dinner you can give them the pudding on a clean tray.We had trouble with the height of the safety harness on this one.Lots of nooks and crannies to collect grime and the seat split,again.

My most durable highchair is a traditional style wooden highchair.You add your own insert for a younger baby,take it in and out for cleaning.It has D  rings for a harness to be fitted,we have a spare set for one to be in the wash one to use.The main part of the chair is easy to clean,the sides are open so you don't have corners for food to gather.Ours has been in constant use for four years now.We bought a new seat pad for my son when he inherited from his sister.If I could fault it,it doesn't have a big enough tray.

For me,safety first,comfy for baby,then easy to clean,and durable.I like a big tray,they're just babies,they're learning,they're messy.Looks nice,comes into it,but practical first.

Can't remmber what first one was but it was highchair then tall seat then jnr seat - it ididn't fold but did have removable tray ad was easy to clean even tho it was hard to change to next use!

Was given a mamas and papas for second son which did lie back but never used - tray came off but pain to keep clean and folded or unfolded took up loads of space plus it was to high  for him to sit at table unlike previous one - got rid an bought basic one from ikea - 14.99 and it's fab - jnr can sit at table or have tray on(although tray bit difficult to get off don't tend to take it off when he's in it lol) easy to clean. even took it on holiday as just have take tray and legsoff and even fitted in our then small car.  Only has a lap belt but does keep him in cause believ me if you forget he's out of there on to the table!

Hope that helps good luck with your design.

I was lucky I was loaned a high chair from my auntie so saved me some pennies it was mamas and papas, I liked a lot of it - top tray come of for good cleaning, good harness, nice and comfy had a plastic molded bit in between his legs to stop very little ones sliding down.

It was quite bulky though.

What I hated is food getting stuck on the straps - hard to clean - food going down the creases of the padded seat - again hard to clean!

Safety is definatly a number one priorty, it also needs to be comfortable and easy to clean.

I like the wooden ones, we used one when on holiday it didnt have too many nooks and crannies to get food stuck in! But cant say it was that comfy plus it didnt have a removalble tray which made cleaning the tray hard.

I have a mamas and papas one that has done 3 children now!!

I look for the following;

*Comfort and safety (mine has that plastic moulded bit between legs as well as 5point harness)
*Easy cleaning (some seats have lots of nooks and crannys that food can get stuck in which isn't hygienic!)
*Adjustable height
*folds and unfolds easily (preferably one-handed)
*has bag/basket for storing bibs, toys etc. and keeps them to hand
*removable tray (mine has a feeding tray that clips onto a play tray)
*reclines

Something that baby can eat in but makes a good reclining chair to play/sleep in too. multi-functioning baby items that grow with the child are the best as we have so much stuff in our homes anyway!

It might be a good idea to design something which catches dropped toys and passes them back to baby... or is that too much to ask?!

good idea Angie!
I would say, design something what will feed the baby too .

I used and still using travel high chair - at home all of us are sitting around one table and enjoying a meal and time together and the babies with us .
When we travel or go for a visit I can easily folded and take it with me anywhere.

Simple and useful. I have three kids and I love things which I can use anytime, anywhere.
Love Phil&Teds. They know space where you can actually fit .

Now I am looking for car seats. In Junior I was reading part about what to pack for holiday. And they mentioned a folding booster seat. I have no idea what it is .

Good luck with the design!

I must replay to myself to let you know what I know !

Just because I have an answer for the folding booster seat! Finally!

Last week I bought an Easycarseat for my older daughter. And we found it very useful and it just works so well for our family (as you know we have 3 kids ).
My daughter said it is the most comfy seat she ever had. And I have to say it is the most light seat I ever held .
So we are getting a second for our 3 years old.

I am so impressed! So easy to use and the most - my DD was in the right position all the time thanks to the heigh adjuster. Nothing bothers me more than kids hanging on the seat belts while I am driving .

So well done!