Hint: It's Not How Easy It Is to Clean!

When it comes to choosing a high chair, many parents focus on how easy it is to clean—after all, mealtimes with little ones can get messy fast. But here's the thing: while easy-to-clean surfaces are handy, they shouldn't be the number one priority when selecting the perfect high chair.

What should come first? How supported your child is in their seat.

The Importance of Proper Support for Self-Feeding

Children need core strength to complete upper body tasks like using cutlery, drinking from a cup, or even holding a pen for colouring and writing. When they’re not well-supported in their high chair, it becomes much harder for them to focus on learning these essential skills. If their bodies are wobbling or their legs are dangling, their core has to work overtime just to keep them upright—leaving little energy left for fine motor tasks like picking up a spoon and getting it to their mouth.
An unsupportive high chair can also lead to frustration for both the child and parent. The child may struggle to feed themselves, while parents wonder why mealtimes seem to take forever or why their child is so fidgety at the table.

6 Signs Your Child May Be Poorly Supported in Their High Chair

1. Dangling feet:
   If your child’s feet aren’t resting on a surface, their legs may dangle and swing, causing instability in their posture.
2. Slouched posture:
   If their back isn’t straight and supported, they might slump forward or sideways.
3. Restless movement:
   Constant shifting, wiggling, or trying to get out of the chair could be a sign of discomfort or lack of stability.
4. Struggling with cutlery:
   Poor support can make it harder for them to hold and use utensils effectively. They may give-up quickly or prefer to use one hand.
5. Slipping down the chair:
   If they keep sliding down from their seated position or are leaning back, the seat might be too deep, too reclined or too slippery.
6. Leaning on the table:
   If they’re leaning their arms on the table for support rather than to eat, they might be compensating for a lack of core stability.

The Gold Standard of Support

So, what should a good high chair offer? The key is proper alignment and adjustable support. For optimal positioning, your child’s hips, knees, and feet should all be at 90-degree angles. Think of it this way: if you were sitting on a bar stool with no footrest, your legs would dangle, making it much harder to stay stable. That’s exactly how it feels for a child in a high chair without adequate support for their feet.

A great high chair will have:

• Adjustable footrests to grow with your child and keep their feet supported as they get taller.
• Seat depth and height adjustments to ensure their hips, knees, and feet are aligned at that perfect 90-90-90 angle.
• A stable backrest to support their spine and prevent slouching.

What Happens When Children Are Poorly Supported?

When your child doesn’t have proper support in their high chair, you might notice they’re constantly shifting, sliding down, or even refusing to sit still. That’s because their body is working hard just to stay balanced, making it difficult to focus on using cutlery. If their feet are dangling with no stable base, it’s a bit like trying to balance on a bar stool—hard to concentrate on eating when you’re too busy trying not to fall!

This issue goes beyond mealtimes. In classrooms, if children are sitting in chairs that are too high or without a place to rest their feet, they can struggle with tasks like holding a pencil or staying focused on their work. A stable, well-supported body is crucial for all fine motor tasks, whether it’s picking up peas or practicing handwriting.

Do Your Research

Don’t be swayed by claims about easy cleaning. Yes, it’s helpful, but it’s far more important to find a high chair that supports your child’s development. Proper positioning is crucial for learning to self-feed and for overall motor skill development.

Pro tip: Check the advertising photos! If the child in the ad is slouching, their legs are dangling, or their posture looks uncomfortable, that’s a red flag. It suggests the chair hasn’t been designed or tested to provide the 90-90-90 support your child needs to thrive at the table.

Take your time, read reviews, and choose a high chair that grows with your child and sets them up for success—not just at mealtimes but in all the fine motor skills they’ll be mastering as they grow!