In a nutshell

A stylish, sturdy highchair that converts into four modes, including a table and chair, meaning it can be with your child from weaning to homework.

What we tested

  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Ease of cleaning
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Comfort
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Style
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.

Pros

  • Sturdy, stylish, easy to construct/adapt, comfortable, has different modes.

Cons

  • Quite expensive, insert not included.

You may not have heard of Knuma, an emerging nursery brand founded in 2012 in Leeds, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a big player in the world of highchairs.

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Set up by a father-of-three, Knuma currently only sells its flagship product, the Connect 4-In-1 highchair, but if the quality and style of this product is anything to go by, I’d bet my blender that it won’t be long before other equally impressive baby products hit the market.

As the name suggests, the Knuma Connect 4-In-1 highchair has four functions: a full-size high chair, a mid-size high chair, a toddler chair with tray, and a table and chair.

Knuma claims to offer a “fresh perspective on nursery products” that are “contemporary” and “as effortlessly beautiful as that first breath of life.”

While the latter quote might be a bit of a marketing stretch, I certainly can’t argue with the other two.

Neither could the judges in the 2014 Loved By Parents Awards, where the product won silver in the ‘Best Highchair’ category and bronze in the ‘Best Innovative Idea’ category.

It was also shortlisted in the Mother & Baby Awards in the ‘Best Highchair’ category.

How do you assemble the Knuma Connect 4-In-1?

There are quite a few components, so I was nervous that I’d never be able to construct it, but the instructions are easy to follow and clearly labeled.

It took about 45 minutes to build the full-size highchair (someone with more allen-key savvy would probably have been quicker) and only about five minutes to convert it to the other three modes.

The harness was a little tricky to get through the holes but not enough to cause me to swear.

What do you think of the different modes?

I love that this highchair can be converted into different heights (full-size and mid-size, which is a good height for joining grown-ups at the table), and also a table and chair for when my little boy, Josh, grows and wants to, say, smush Play-Doh or draw (my dining room table is breathing a sigh of relief!)

However, I can’t really see the point of the ‘toddler chair with tray’ size – why would he ever need to eat his dinner so close to the ground?

I may be missing something but this product would make more sense to me if it were called the Knuma 3-In-1 highchair.

How secure is it?

Made from beech plywood, this is a very sturdy chair.

At the mid-size height, Josh gave it his best go to push it over with his feet on the side of the table (eek!) but, thankfully, was unsuccessful.

It has a 5-point harness so that he can’t climb out, but I’ve only ever used the lap strap and this does the job just fine. The harness is easy to use and I’ve had no protests from Josh when I’ve strapped him in.

How much room does the Knuma Connect 4-In-1 take up?

With the full-size chair at 98cm (height) by 57cm (width) by 53cm (depth), it’s not the most compact highchair in the world, but I haven’t found that it dominates the room.

As the design is so tasteful, I’ve actually found it to be a nice addition tucked in the corner.

You can buy a seat insert to go with the chair, tell us about it?

At the additional price of £30 you can get a highchair seat cushion (available in green, blue, red or orange).

I have the lime green insert and it looks very smart. It’s easy to wipe clean and is comfortable for Josh’s back and toosh.

It’s a bit fiddly to take on and off because the harness has to be looped through the holes, but it’s fab that it can go in the washing machine if it gets really mucky.

Is it easy to clean?

The tray has a Melamine finish so is easy to wipe clean. However, it’s rather large so, while it’s simple to remove and clip back on, when I need to wash it clean in the sink (darn you, cauliflower cheese!), I find it a little cumbersome.

Pieces of food have sometimes worked themselves between the chair and the insert, so I have to check to clean there as well.

I’ve also found that crumbs have fallen through the cracks and gathered on the tray under the seat. It’s not really a problem, though – if I wasn’t wiping them up from there I’d be sweeping them up off the floor.

Do you like the design?

The Knuma Connect 4-In-1 looks very contemporary. It’s built to last and is styled as such.

It’s quite ‘blocky’; if you want something cutesy, this isn’t the highchair for your nipper. It’s sturdy and substantial, yet still manages to be sleek.

How does it compare to other highchairs you’ve used?

I’ve only ever used plastic highchairs in the past, and some of them have felt flimsy.

This one doesn’t; it’s robust. However, as wood is obviously heavier than plastic, it’s trickier to move from room to room.

It also can’t be folded up if we need extra space. But these are minor grumbles considering it’s a great high chair.

My husband likes it, too. He says it’s a good height and he likes that the tray is so easy to clip on and off.

His only complaint is that he finds the shoulder straps fiddly. I told him to do what I do: not use them.

Is it good value for money?

While there’s no denying that the Knuma Connect 4-In-1 is expensive, it’s certainly not the priciest highchair on the market.

I think it’s a bit cheeky that you have to buy the insert separately because it’s not really an optional extra – it wouldn’t be at all comfortable without it. I think it should be included in the price.

Having said this, the chair will withstand the test of time, and its use will adapt as Josh grows. If your budget allows, I’d say that this chair is definitely good value.

What’s in the box?

  • Highchair
  • Tray
  • Five-point harness

Any additional extras?

  • Highchair seat cushion - £30

MadeForMums Verdict:

A wonderful high chair that’s easy to use, easy to clean and easy on the eye. While it’s pricey, it’s durable and has multi-functions so can be used for years and years in different capacities.

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MadeForMums product reviews are independent, honest and provide advice you can have confidence in. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links. However we never allow this to influence our coverage. Our reviews and articles are written by parents who are professional journalists, and we also include feedback from our parent community and industry experts.

Authors

Katherine BeboContributor

Katherine Bebo has more than 15 years’ professional writing and editing experience. Previously the senior sub-editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, she has written for many well-known publications and websites, including Stylist, Closer, Women’s Fitness, Real Travel and MadeForMums

Product Specifications

Product
BrandKnuma
ModelConnect 4-In-1 Highchair
Price£190.00
Suitable for
Child age (approx)6 months to 6 years
Dimensions & Weight
DimensionsH:98cm W:57cm
Dimensions (folded)H:55cm W:52cm
Features
Seat height positions3
Recline positionsNone
Made fromThe seat, table top and tray are made from Beech Plywood with a durable Melamine finish
Features
  • Has four functions: a full-size high chair
  • A mid-size high chair
  • A toddler chair with tray
  • And a table and chair
  • Suitable from six months to six years
  • 5-Point harness
Accessories
Optional extrasHigh chair seat cushion - £30
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