Highchairs and Starting Solids Safely

FAMILY · GLOBAL

Highchairs and Starting Solids Safely

Harnesses and stability, when to start, choking and cleaning

A highchair is a safety device before it is furniture, and the details that matter are about restraint and supervision.

Always use the harness

A five-point harness with a crotch strap, done up every time, including for a quick snack. Babies stand up and slide down, and falls from highchairs are a common cause of head injuries in this age group.

A crotch post alone is not a restraint. Never leave a child unattended in a highchair, and never let an older child climb on one.

Stability

A wide base, and the chair positioned where it cannot be pushed off against a table or a wall. Check it meets the relevant safety standard and carries the manufacturer's details.

Retighten fixings periodically, since these take a great deal of movement.

When to start solids

Health guidance in the UK is around six months, when a baby can sit up with support, hold their head steady, and coordinate looking at food, picking it up and bringing it to their mouth.

Sitting upright rather than reclined is what makes eating safe, which is one reason the chair matters.

Choking

Cut round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthways into quarters. Avoid whole nuts under five, popcorn and hard sweets. Remove stones, bones and skins.

Gagging is noisy and normal; choking is silent. Learn infant first aid — a short course is widely available and free in some areas.

Highchair or seat

Booster seats and clip-on table seats suit small kitchens and travel, and clip-on seats must be used only on tables that meet the manufacturer's requirements.

Buying

Check the chair meets the current safety standard, the height range it covers, and whether it converts as the child grows. Measure it against your table height, since many highchairs do not pull up to a table.

Second-hand is reasonable if the harness is complete and undamaged and the standard label is intact.

Mess and the floor

A wipeable mat under the chair saves a great deal, and letting a baby explore food is part of learning to eat rather than a failure of technique. Feed before a bath rather than after.

Offer water in an open or free-flow cup from six months rather than a valved bottle.

Allergens

Current guidance is to introduce common allergens, including peanut and egg, from around six months rather than delaying, one at a time and not when the baby is unwell. Speak to a health visitor or GP first if there is eczema or a family history.

Cleaning

Removable washable covers and a tray that goes in a dishwasher save a great deal. Crevices in fabric seats hold food, so check the cover comes off.

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