Highchairs

Hiya just wondering if anyone has any highchair recommendations. A friend has offered us their highchair which is a Bebeconfort Omega which does look like a good one but the seat padding needs replacing at a cost of about £50 and I'm thinking we can probably get a new highchair for that price.

We got the cheapo model from Argos for 20 quid and couldn't be more pleased.  It's solid plastic.  No seat cushion.  For this I am grateful b/c it would just be another thing to clean.  There is food literally everywhere.  In places I'd never have thought of.  Besides, she's never in it long enough to get uncomfortable, especially w/a nappy on.  Once they get mobile, they want to get down and move about, and let you know it in no uncertain terms.  We made sure we got one with the biggest 'table' we could find for 'fingerpainting with food'.   

I like a highchair with a big, high-lipped tray.  However, I believe the cool thing in the UK is a Tripp-trapp chair, which lets the child sit right at the table with you and it grows with the child.

If I could do it again, I'd buy one like Expat describes.  We have this lovely vinyl covered, padded one, but by god could food get stuck in every little crack and crevice.  That made it a nightmare to clean.

Niall's booster chair is plain, solid plastic.  Much easier to keep clean.

I'm with Expat, too.  The food gets into crevices and can be really, really difficult to clean.  You want something that's easy to wipe down properly.

Thanks, esp for the comments about keeping it clean. I think my friend's highchair will be a pain in the butt to keep clean it looks like it has a lot of nooks and crannies.  She is trying to tell me a cheaper highchair might topple over but surely if you get a reuptable brand it should meet safety specifications?  She's got me worried now!

We had a plain old Mothercare highchair.  It lasted nine years through three kids.  Never tipped over, not too hard to clean and I agree, they're not in it all that long that it has to be super comfy. 

Plus, be wary of buying second hand things that need some kind of refurbishment.  More often than not they turn out to be a huge hassle. 

That's what I'm thinking too. I know this friend is trying to be nice but I think she's also trying to save herself a lot of hassle as it will be hard for them to get rid of the chair, they can't sell it in that state and dumping it will be difficult because they don't have a car. As well as the £40 to recover it I found out it also needs a booster seat if we want to use it before Ethan is six months so it would be more like £55. Kiddicare.com has some really good chairs for less than that.

I say, go for the cheaper chair.  Just make sure you look for one with a shoulder harness thing-not just a seat belt.  They soon learn to unhook/scramble out of those.   

Thanks for the tips!

I agree with Mindy. Be wary of secondhand baby equipment.

I bought a very cheap Toys R Us fold up high chair when I had Coby because we just dont have the space to have a bulky highchair sitting around. The chair isnt that pretty but its effective and stows away easily. I think I only paid £28.00. In the USA I had one of the 3 in 1 reclining ones. They were great because you can use the reclining position before baby can sit up on his own. I considered getting one here but they are just way too bulky. Jack still feeds in his bouncy seat but hopefully he will be sitting up any day now and can sit in his highchair.

That's what I'm thinking too. I know this friend is trying to be nice but I think she's also trying to save herself a lot of hassle as it will be hard for them to get rid of the chair, they can't sell it in that state and dumping it will be difficult because they don't have a car. As well as the £40 to recover it I found out it also needs a booster seat if we want to use it before Ethan is six months so it would be more like £55. Kiddicare.com has some really good chairs for less than that.

The 20 quid one at Argos meets EU safety specs.  £55 is a lot to pay for a used chair.  Her local council may have a furniture initiative - Edinburgh has one - that uplifts donations of unwanted furniture to give to homeless who are finally being housed by the council.  It won't get her any money, but it will get the chair out of her house and onto s/one who has no other means to get one for their child. 

I think it's a lot for a used chair even though she paid double that for it - but it was new then 2 years ago. Nope I have seen several others that are just as good and brand new PLUS I can get it delivered and don't have to hassle with going to get it.  This friend is probably going to get a bit huffy - she gave me her cot too and got a bit offended when I said I was going to put a new mattress in it. I mean who wouldn't put a new mattress in a second hand cot?! Oh well, never mind.

I think it's a lot for a used chair even though she paid double that for it - but it was new then 2 years ago. Nope I have seen several others that are just as good and brand new PLUS I can get it delivered and don't have to hassle with going to get it. This friend is probably going to get a bit huffy - she gave me her cot too and got a bit offended when I said I was going to put a new mattress in it. I mean who wouldn't put a new mattress in a second hand cot?! Oh well, never mind.

eegads!  It's an absolute must to put a new mattress in a cot-even with your own babies.  There are some studies linking cot-death with mildew and ammonia. 

And if it's only two years old and it already needs major refurbrishment, that's not good. 

I agree with the simple, cheap high chairs.  I have a highchair with a big puffy pad and it is so hard to get fully clean. 

Good advice from everyone, wish I had asked