High Chair Safety

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

17 Apr 2009 11:17 AM

High chair accidents occur more frequently than you might think they do. Maybe parents are pretty vigilant about high chair safety when their baby is just starting to use one, but after months (or several children), the safety rules tend to slip. Here is a guide (or a quick reminder) about high chair safety.

Use a high chair that follows current safety standards

While that antique wooden high chair you saw in a shop or were given by grandma looks lovely, save it as an accent piece in your home to display dolls, plants, old lace, etc. We know a lot more about high chair safety these days, and improvements are constantly being made in order to keep your child safe. My mother-in-law had her original high chair from when my husband was a baby back in the early 1960s. The chair was affectionately known as the death trap, as in "Don't you dare let our child go in that death trap."

Safe high chair placement

When placing your high chair where your baby will use it, observe the immediate environment all around. It is on a level surface away from common hazards, such as the stove, drapes, cords, blinds and shelves?

Use the belt

While you may be tempted to leave the belt unbuckled because your baby doesn't like it or it is more convenient not to belt it, always fasten your baby in to the seat. The tray is not designed to keep a baby in the seat, and a fall from a high chair is something that you really want to avoid, as it could lead to serious injury.

Inspect the high chair

Do a regular inspection of the high chair. This is easiest to do while cleaning the high chair. If your kids are like mine, you'll need to give that high chair a good and regular scrubbing, including the legs, the back, the seat and all of the little crevices where food can hide. Check for loose screws, wood splinters or cracks in the plastic and a wobbly base.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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