Choosing a High Chair: Safety, Cleaning and Whether It Fits Your Home

A wide, stable base is the single most important feature. Push the chair firmly at the top and see whether it rocks — an active toddler pushing off a table generates more force than you would expect.

A five-point harness is worth insisting on. Waist-only straps do not stop a determined child standing up.

You will clean this chair several times a day for two years. Removable, dishwasher-safe trays, wipeable seats and few fabric parts or deep grooves make an enormous practical difference.

Padded fabric seats look comfortable in the shop and become a purée-filled nightmare. If you do choose fabric, make sure the cover comes off and washes.

Adjustable seat height lets the chair work at your dining table now and a lower table later. Adjustable footrests matter more than people realise — dangling feet make sitting still harder.

Convertible chairs that become a toddler seat give you more years from one purchase.

In a small flat, a folding chair or a clip-on seat that attaches to the table may suit you far better than a full-size chair.

For clip-on seats, check your table type carefully — they are not safe on glass, pedestal or single-leg tables. Read the manufacturer's restrictions.

Whatever you buy, pull it up to the family table. Eating together is one of the strongest influences on how well weaning goes, and a chair parked in a corner does not get that benefit.