Advertisement

In a nutshell

A great idea for babies happy to lie in the reclined seat and be entertained by the toy bar, with a useful, sturdy high chair element – the only product combining a baby seat with a high chair and competitively priced too

What we tested

  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 4.5 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 4.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.4 out of 5.

Pros

  • Comfortable, safe, sturdy, adjustable, easy to use, additional 0-6 month function

Cons

  • Bulky, heavy, reclining functions obsolete once baby is sitting up and eating

MadeForMums reviews are independent and based on expertise and testing. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, but this never influences our product choices.

Advertisement

Founded in Italy over 60 years ago, Chicco is synonymous with really useful baby products, having created such parenting stalwarts as the Next2Me crib and the Boppy nursing pillow. Its founder, Pietro Catelli, was inspired by the birth of his own son to create products that work for children aged 0 to 36 months. The Polly Magic Relax is an interesting concept in that it is a high chair for babies from birth rather than six months, providing parents with a way of introducing the concepts of mealtimes to baby gradually and providing little babies with somewhere to sit and be entertained while their parents are eating.

Retailing at £139, it sits alongside Joie’s Multiply 6 in 1, Stokke’s Tripp Trapp and Cosatto’s Noodle in the market, though it is the only one combining a baby seat with a high chair, which is a nice advantage.

Tested by:

Bethan is a first-time mum to a ten-month-old girl Annie, who is an enthusiastic eater and quite well used to highchairs, but who is far too busy to lie down and relax (ever. Unless she’s sleeping).

First impressions:

Simple to assemble, it is a comfortable chair offering four positions, including the upright feeding position. From 0-6 months, it is a reclining baby seat with a toy bar to entertain the baby and introduce them to the high chair. From six months up, it is a comfortable, sturdy and adjustable seat for mealtimes, which has eight height settings.

It’s great, really well made, very sturdy, safe and anti-tilt. It also looks nice, with a neutral grey palette ideal for babies of either gender. The designers have definitely thought about comfort for baby, with both the sturdiness of the design and the comfortable leather seat, and it is very intuitive to use – all the buttons and additional features such as the toy bar, the additional seat liner and the adjustment buttons, are easy to use.

polly-highchair-food

How easy is the Chicco Polly Magic Relax to assemble?

I found it really simple to assemble, which is unusual for me as I tend to find baby kit a bit of a nightmare to put together! But I managed to figure out all the functions and buttons of this high chair with minimal consultation of the instructions. It is very intuitive and true to the brand’s aims of creating things for parents that are user friendly.

How big is it?

It is pretty big and bulky. Its dimensions when open are over 1m in height and 83cm in depth. The company describes it as having a ‘compact fold’ and, while it does fold well and could be slotted into a narrower space, it definitely does take up room. We usually use a Joie Mimzy highchair, which also takes up a fair amount of space, but the Chicco is slightly larger and definitely bulkier, weighing 10.5kg.

polly-highchair-comparison

How portable is the Chicco Polly Magic Relax to move around the house?

It has four wheels, so could be wheeled from room to room, though carpeted floors can make this slightly trickier. However, it can also be folded and carried without too much trouble, though it doesn’t fold down very small and is pretty heavy.

What did you think of the wheels?

They are simple to fit and a good idea, but, in my experience, high chairs don’t tend to get wheeled around the house that much, and on our carpeted floors, the wheels didn’t move seamlessly.

polly-highchair-tray2

Can the Chicco Polly Magic Relax be used as a travel highchair?

No. It’s a big piece of kit, especially the wide tray table, which is great for babies who like to spread out at mealtimes (and reduces the likelihood of food overboard!) but does add to the overall size.

How comfortable is the seating?

Definitely. It is lovely and padded, with a comfortable eco leather seat. There is an additional seat liner included for smaller babies, to make the seat a snugger fit. It is fleecy on one side for warmth in winter, with a cooling fabric on the reverse for use in summer time.

polly-highchair
polly-highchair-recline2

Is the Chicco Polly Magic Relax comfort recliner function effective and comfy?

It wasn’t hugely effect for Annie because, at 10 months, she has no interest in reclining, and just strained to sit upright. But I can imagine for a younger baby that can’t sit up unaided yet, it would be ideal and very comfortable. You could hang additional favourite toys off the toy bar in the hope of keeping them happy in there longer.

polly-highchair-recline3

How effective is the Chicco Polly Magic Relax as a highchair?

Very effective, with a large tray for food, a drinks holder, a safe and simple harness and several adjustments to use as baby grows or at different tables.

polly-highchair-straps

How useful is the tray?

It is very chunky and not very light, but it is a good solid tray. I also particularly liked the feature that allows you to clip the tray onto the back of the high chair when not in use to keep everything tidy.

polly-highchair-tray

Is the highchair easy to clean?

It is no easier or less easy to clean than the Joie Mimzy, in my opinion. Wipe-clean surfaces are great, but there will always be crumbs in the crevices of fabrics (which wouldn’t happen with the Tripp Trapp, for example). That said, it is very easy to wipe clean and a dark enough colour to disguise stains.

Who is the Chicco Polly Magic Relax most suited for?

I would especially recommend this to new mums. Most of us remember the days of juggling with an unsettled newborn during the witching hour while also trying to eat dinner with one hand. The Polly Magic Relax offers a potential alternative to put the baby in a comfortable reclined seat with a fun toy bar to look at, while everyone else sits at the table. The reality might be somewhat different! If only this high chair also had a vibrate function and played singing lullabies! But, if all else fails, the 0-6 month reclining function is a great way of introducing the idea of the high chair and mealtimes before weaning commences.

Where can I buy the Chicco Polly Magic Relax?

It is available from Amazon and Kiddies Kingdom.

MadeforMums verdict:

The Chicco Polly Magic Relax is a great idea. I love the thought of sitting at the table having a meal with a gurgling baby lying in the reclined seat and enjoying being entertained by the toy bar. The reality, at least with my baby, is that she probably wouldn’t have been happy to put down in any chair while she was very young, so it would’ve got very little use! But for parents of chilled out little babies, it could work perfectly. Reclining seat aside, the high chair element is a great, safe and sturdy design that I would be happy to use, but it doesn’t exceed its competitors in any way.

Read More...

Advertisement

MadeForMums product articles 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.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandChicco
ModelPolly Magic Relax
Price£139.00
Suitable for
Child age (approx)Birth to 3 years
Child weightUp to 15kg
Dimensions & Weight
DimensionsH:106cm W:53cm D:83.5cm
Dimensions (folded)H:85cm W:53cm D:31cm
Features
Seat height positions8
Recline positions4
Made fromLeather and plastic
Features
  • Suitable from birth - fully reclinable back rest of 4 positions
  • Height adjustable to 8 positions
  • Seasonal reducer to regulate body temperature
  • Large tray adjustable to 4 positions
  • Removable toy bar
  • Compact and stand alone when folded
  • Easy wipe surfaces and machine washable fabric 
Accessories
Accessories includedSeasonal reducer and toybar
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement