The OXO Tot range aims to make feeding babies and toddlers a little bit easier with products that include highchairs, cups, plates and bowls.
What’s in the box?
- Chair with seat cover and harness
- Tray
- Legs
Any additional extras?
- OXO Tot Sippy Cup Set - £7.99
- OXO Tot roll-up bib - £12.99
- OXO Tot Feeding Spoon - £6.99
First impressions?
I was a bit sceptical about the Seedling because although I have a reasonably big kitchen, there’s no getting away from the fact the chair’s footprint does take up a fair bit of room.
However, it’s just so stylish and functional, my two-year-old daughter Martha and I have fallen in love with it a little bit more each day.
How is assembling the Seedling?
My first thought when I pulled the Oxo Tot Seedling highchair out of its box was its size. It seems huge in comparison to our battered Ikea Antilop and although it can be disassembled for ‘easy storage’, I’d question whether you’d want to do that each and every time you want to feed your child.
That said, the Seedling is incredibly easy to put together coming in two parts, which simply slot together. The manual is simplicity itself containing clear written instructions and illustrations and there are no extra screws to fiddle with so you don’t need any extra tools.
How does it compare to your old highchair?
Firstly, once assembled, it’s apparent just how sturdy the chair is. It measures H 91-105 x W53 x D87 and weighs approximately 11.4 kg.
Its wheels means you can move it about with ease so it could be stored under the stairs, for instance, and simply wheeled in to the kitchen when needed.
One aspect I liked was the fact the wheels are lockable, which is a definite bonus especially if you have a fidgety child. I also liked the generous footrest but it’s a shame it’s not adjustable for older and taller toddlers.
Compare the Seedling with the OXO Tot Sprout highchair.
What is the age range of the chair?
The Seedling is suitable for children from six months to three years and has three reclining positions and five height settings, so it’s ideal for babies who are taking their first tentative steps to eating solid food right up to independent toddlers like Martha.
The reclining positions also mean that if you are feeding a young baby or child and they fall asleep, you can leave them there quite comfortably as the chair reclines enough to make sleeping possible. The large buttons are comfortable to use and are intuitive, making adjustments a breeze.
How comfortable is the Seedling?
Really comfortable, the seat has a superb padded seat, which is a breeze to wipe down and the five-point harness is secure enough to allow for very little wriggle room, a fact I particularly liked as Martha is a Houdini in the making and can get herself out of any car seat or buggy harness the minute my back is turned.
However, a minor gripe is the harness does get twisted easily and food gets trapped within the plastic clips, which is a problem I’ve come across with other highchairs. A lot of thought has gone into the style of the Seedling and it’s a shame more thought wasn’t put into making the harness easier to clean.
Overall, is it easy to clean?
It is, the seat cover, which is available in 3 colours, is washable, stain resistant and is easy to remove, which is a big plus point as far as I am concerned as there does come a point when a wipe down is simply not enough to get the cover properly clean.
What about the tray?
It seems odd to enthuse about a tray but the designers at Oxo must have done their research when they designed it. You can remove the top tray for cleaning, its release is on the sides of the tray and out of baby's reach. It is also super light and easy to remove and replace with one hand, leaving the other hand free to wipe a spaghetti-covered mouth!
It’s smooth and contoured and there are no seams or crevices for the food to get stuck to so wiping it is a pleasure. It’s also dishwasher safe and is flat bottomed so if you put it on the table, it doesn’t roll all over the place. What I particularly liked was being able to remove the tray with one hand allowing me to wipe Martha’s face at the same time.
A large button underneath the tray allows you to move it to whatever position suits your child and what’s more, you can take the entire tray off and store it on the back of the chair’s legs.
What is it made of?
The Oxo Tot Seedling is BPA- PVC-, and phthalate-free and the cushion material is Oxford fabric, which is breathable and durable and has a polyester fibre batting filling
Made For Mums verdict?
There’s a great deal to love about the OXO Tot Seedling. It’s practical, stylish and functional and you really get the feeling OXO thought long and hard about what makes the ideal highchair.
Its variable height settings mean five-year-old Jack can easily interact with Martha and because it reclines, it’s ideal for babies who fall asleep during meal time.
I loved the fact it’s so easy to clean and looks so good in my modern kitchen.
