Choosing a Wooden High Chair

There are hundreds of different styles of high chairs available for babies, most of them are made of metal and plastic. If you prefer something that is more environmentally friendly and looks nicer than plastic a wooden high chair should be your choice.

Wooden high chairs are available in styles ranging from a traditional furniture look to a more modern styling. A high chair made of wood will that is taken care of can last for years and offers sturdiness and style.

Prices for wood high chairs range from around fifty dollars to several hundred dollars. While this may be in line with prices for a plastic and metal one, you can count on being able to use that same wood high chair for future children and even grandchildren. The wooden high chair that my daughter used as a baby twenty five years ago, is being used by her child today.

You can add ease of cleaning to the list of reasons for purchasing a wooden high chair. Babies are very messy eaters and food can be and often will be all over the high chair, floor, you and the baby. It's just a part of feeding a baby, so having a high chair that is easy to wipe down and clean is definitely a benefit for parents.

High chairs that are made of wood have smooth surfaces instead of molded cracks and crevices which helps to make clean up easier. Wooden high chairs are available with and without feeding trays. Many have removable plastic trays, but some have clear plastic covers over the wooden feeding tray. The high chairs that don't have feeding trays are designed to be pulled up to the dining table.

In addition many of the wooden high chairs that are available to day are adjustable and are rated to hold up to several hundred pounds making them useful for both child and adult seating.

As with any type of high chair, your first consideration when choosing a high chair made of wood should be safety. Check for the following:

• Sturdiness and Stability-Any quality new wooden high chair will be sturdy. If you are considering buying a used wooden high chair, check the joints to make sure that everything is in good shape. Make sure that the high chair has a wide base so it cannot be easily tipped over.
• Restraint system-All new high chairs no matter what type of material they are constructed of will have either a 3 point or a 5 point safety belt.
• JPMA(Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association) approved-Certification by the JPMA shows that the high chair meets voluntary safety standards set by ASTM and that the manufacturer is a participant in the JPMA certification program.

In my search to find the wooden high chairs that parents loved, I found several different styles, with some being clear favorites. The list below are those high chairs that were highest rated by parents and grandparents.

If you want a high chair that is made of wood, is sturdy, but inexpensive this high chair fits the bill.

The least expensive wooden high chair I found is the restaurant style high chair.

These high chairs are the style that you will normally see in many family restaurants. They have no feeding tray but instead pull up to the dining table.

There are available from several different manufacturers and the cost for these high chairs is generally a little under $50.

If you want something with more traditional furniture styling, there a several different options. One of the highest rated traditional styled wooden high chairs is manufactured by Graco.

This chair comes with a clear plastic cover for the feeding tray and a fabric covered cushion. Both the feeding tray cover and the seat cushion remove easily for cleaning. The seat cushion quickly snaps on and off. The cost of these chairs is around $150.

The one complaint from parents regarding this chair is the placement of the crotch bar. Many parents say this makes it difficult to put older children in the high chair.

There is another popular type of wooden high chair that has definite modern style. Many of them are from European manufacturers such as Stokke and Svan. These high chairs cost from around $200 to $300.

From Stokke the Tripp Trapp high chair has been in manufactured for 36 years and has won acclaim from parents and industry experts since its introduction. The Tripp Trapp high chair does not have a feeding tray and is designed to be pulled up to the dining table.

The high chair is fully adjustable and with the addition of the optional baby set can be used by babies from age six months and up. This high chair is available in a wide variety of wood finishes and colors. The Stokke Tripp Trapp wooden high chair is rated to hold up to 300 pounds so when adjusted can even be used by adults.

Svan manufacturers several different styles of wooden high chairs with the most striking one looking somewhat like a piece of sculpture.

The Svan high chair is also made to be used anyone from six months up to adults.This high chair is available in several different wood finishes.

This high chair does have a feeding tray that includes a dishwasher safe plastic cover.

The feeding tray is easily removed and and stored on the back of the chair to enable you to use the high chair pulled up to your dining table.

If you like the idea of an adjustable wooden high chair that will work for children or adults, but you need a less expensive alternative you might want to take a look at the Keekaroo high chair.

This high chair was another that we found that received many rave reviews from parents and the cost is around $150.

Both the seat and the foot rest adjust so the high chair can be used for your child from the time the can sit alone and for years to come.

The chair is designed to hold up to 250 pounds. The Keekaroo is an very affordable option to some of the more expensive adjustable wooden high chairs.

As you can see there are many options available other than a metal and plastic high chair. These three options will help you narrow down your choices.

• Wood finish or color
• Feeding tray
  
• Adjustable height
  

Each wooden high chair featured here is well rated by parents, so you can't go wrong by choosing any of them.