High chairs make feeding your baby much easier, but they can be dangerous. It's estimated that more than 11,000 children end up in emergency rooms each year from injuries related to high chairs.
Consumer Reports tested 19 high chairs costing between $40 and $265 to make sure they meet voluntary safety standards. Safest are ones with a five-point harness, which is important to always use to secure your child. High chairs should also have a post to help prevent your child from slipping out.
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There was a problem with one chair. Consumer Reports has issued a safety alert on the Dream on Me Bistro High Chair because an unharnessed child could either slide down and fall to the floor, or his head could get caught and he could strangle. A child could also slip out of the sides of the chair.
Though there are no reports of injuries with the chair, Consumer Reports advises owners to stop using it. A company spokesperson says the chair is no longer being made and it's working on a voluntary recall with the government. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also confirms it's looking into this chair. If you own the Dream on Me Bistro High Chair, you can contact the manufacturer at 877-768-5500.
Consumer Reports also assesses convenience and features. An easy-to-clean seat is a real plus. One chair even has washable straps. And two trays are better than one. If your child spills something, just lift off the top tray and you'll still have a clean surface.
In the end, Consumer Reports top-rated the Peg Perego Prima Pappa Diner high chair for $250. It has two trays and a smooth, seamless fabric that's very easy to clean.
A less-expensive choice also with two trays is the Fisher-Price EZ Clean for $85. Like the Peg Perego, it has a height adjustment so that you can feed your baby at different levels and an easy-wash surface.