Equipment for New Grandparents - High Chairs and Other Baby Chairs

Choices Range from Traditional to Modern

If you want a traditional wooden high chair for your grandchild, this stylish Graco model may be your best choice. Many wooden high chairs come with clunky plastic trays, but this one has the old-fashioned wooden tray with a clear plastic cover to protect the wood. This type of chair is not for infants; children have to be able to sit up well to use it. The fabric pads can be wiped down, but will still need frequent machine washing, which could be a problem with daily use but isn't much of an issue with a chair used for visiting grandchildren. This chair grows with the child. Remove the tray and pull the chair up to the table for toddlers. Older children up to 60 pounds can remove the tray and pull the chair up to a kitchen counter.

This brightly attractive chair is advertised as having the "slimmest fold in its class," a plus for grandparents who want to put the chair away when the grandchildren are not in the house. It has different height and reclining settings, but the buttons are clearly visible so grandparents should be able to manipulate the chair easily. A five-point harness means that children will not be able to wiggle out of the chair, but getting them in and out will not be as easy as with some other chairs. The chair is on lockable casters so it can be moved easily, another plus for grandparents. Vinyl seat pads are easy to clean, and the tray can be removed with one hand.

If floor space is at a premium, grandparents may opt for this chair which straps into a kitchen chair. More like a car seat than a traditional high chair, it reclines for infants, has a washable pad, and secures babies with a three-point harness. Choosing this type of seat does raise some other issues, such as where the seat will be stored when not in use. Leaving it in the chair all the time doesn't suit everyone as the chair can't be fully pushed under the table. Also, if the primary time that you are going to use the chair is during big family gatherings, you have lost one seat at the table by using this type of seat. It does convert to a booster seat for older children.

This stylishly contemporary chair will be a hit with grandparents who like a sleek, uncluttered look. The pneumatic lift makes the height a snap to adjust, and the pedestal base slides under tables. This design dispenses with the widely spaced legs that make high chairs such a tripping hazard for some children and some grandparents. The plastic is easy to clean, although some foods may stain it, and the pad is waterproof and spongeable. The five-point harness is also removable for cleaning. The main drawback to this design is that it can't be stowed away like some others.

This classic restaurant-style high chair with a three-point harness is good for children who can sit up well. It cleans easily and doesn't take up much space. Since it doesn't have a tray but is pulled up to the table, it allows the child to be a part of the dinner circle. It also allows access to items on the dinner table, which can be a hazard to the child and also to Grannie's china.

This ergonomically designed high chair looks as if it belongs in a contemporary arts museum instead of in Grandpa's house. The ingenious design works for ages from six months all the way to the teen years. Designed to be pulled up to the dining table, this chair's adjustable seat and footrest allow your grandchild to sit comfortably at any height. Children of all ages seem to love the way this chair looks and works. One drawback is that the design of the chair--sort of like a "Z"--necessitates that the boards which form the base protrude quite a bit and form a tripping hazard. The Tripp Trapp is available in natural wood or in a selection of lively colors. Pads can be ordered separately.

And now for something quite different. . . a lightweight canvas chair that clamps to the table. Grandparents should love the fact that it can be stored in a tiny space, or even put in a bag for travel. The way it clamps to the table looks a bit precarious, but of course it meets all safety standards. It does not work for certain types of tables, such as glass-topped tables, or tables with a lip. The canvas doesn't come off the frame but can be wiped for daily cleaning and dunked in soapy water ever so often. There is a three-point harness for security.

A variation of the hook-on or clamp-on chair, this version has a removable fabric cover in an appealing monkey design. It's a little heavier and less packable than the Phil and Ted's version, but adults and children alike smile at its whimsical design.

A perfect choice for practical grandparents, this chair looks like a utilitarian high chair modified to clamp on a table. Unlike the minimalist clamp-on chairs, this one has back support, but the price tag is still minimal. The tray may help the solve the problem of food falling between the dining table and the baby. The vinyl is easy to clean, and it comes with a three-point harness. It folds for storage and travel. Like all clamp-on chairs, it won't workon every table.

This is another of the chairs that fits on the table, only this one has a hook-on rather than a clamp-on system and is billed by the manufacturer as the "safest portable chair on the market." It has a bit of a padded backrest, and the canvas can be taken from the frame for washing. These differences don't, however, mean that Grannie's china is any safer from grabbing.

This all-plastic booster has the advantages and disadvantages of any chair designed to be strapped into a kitchen chair: it doesn't take up floor space but does tie up one of your regular seating units. It does fold up and fits in a small space, which makes it a natural for grandparents' houses. It can be used as soon as children can sit up well and accommodates weights all the way up to 50 pounds. The back and tray can be removed to make a simple booster for older children. The "Healthy Care" part of the name derives from its dishwasher-safe tray that comes with a lid that snaps on to keep the tray clean until use. One more plus: it has a lightweight price tag.

This is one of the chairs designed to fit children who are just beginning to sit up; it is suggested for children from 3 to 14 months. It is designed to be placed on the floor rather than on a chair or table, so it isn't really useful for feeding, other than giving the baby dry cereal or other finger food. It is, however, pretty darn cute, and it supports babies who aren't quite able to support themselves. It can be used with or without the tray, and no harnesses or straps are necessary. This is not a chair to purchase in place of a high chair, but the grandparent who wants a fully stocked nursery will definitely have to have one.