Help! About to spend £100+ on a highchair!

[Kathleen]

Need to know if anyone rates the Tesco family highchair which is not included in the Mumsnet review and I don't know anyone who's used it. It looks lovely and adapts as the child grows. I know the Babydan is rated highly but doesn't have a tray which is a must for the other diners to avoid a food fight! Please help

Don?t know about the Tesco one but one little tip that may/may not be of use toyou - get one with a tray that is removable/swivels to the side. We bought one from Mothercare with a fixed tray as we liked the colour scheme, it folded away easily and was easy to clean. It was a total mistake and I wish I had thought a little more about it. The fixed tray makes it really tricky to put dd in and pull out - I often scrape her knees. It also makes doing up the safety harness really tricky. That reminds me - check that the harness has an easy system, if it is like mine you will curse every mealtime. Good Luck

Kathleen, save yourself £70 and buy a strap on "booster chair" instead. We got one at Mothercare (john lewis sells it too) made by TOMY. It's blue plastic with green arms and a yellow tray. It straps on to just about any chair, has a removable tray (you only need one hand to remove it...very essential) that comes apart and goes into the dishwasher. Also the whole things folds up into itself so you can take it with you when travelling. We go out to dinner a lot and take our ds with us and bring the "booster chair" along as many restaurants in london don't have high chairs. Our ds started in the booster chair as soon as he could sit up and is still in it (21 mo.). You can also use it as just a booster seat without the tray and push it right up to the table. Our ds is very lively and the thing is really sturdy and straps really tightly to the chair so there is no worry about tipping. And since in our case space was limited, it means that we can fold away the seat if we have guests and need the extra chair.

We looked at those wooden highchairs that ada[t as the child grows. We decided that the Tripp Trapp was rather expensive, although friends who have them say that they're great for keeping clean. We looked online at theTesco one and felt that although it had a tray, if it were removed the length of the arms would prevent it from being easily used at the table. In the end we bought an East Coast chair from John Lewis. It was £70 (I think), has multi position seat and foot rest. The tray is removable (with Allen key). They also do a highchair/chair and table combination for about the same price. We and dd love it! Even with the whole fingers in the food thing we can keep it clean, and the foot rest is useful for keeping wipes/yogurt on safely out of reach!

Thanks to you all for the advice. As regards the Tomy (and I do like the idea of saving £70!) the one you describe is available also at Tesco for £19.99. I'm giving it serious consideration. Advice also please on the latest feelings about baby walkers. I used one for my other children, now 6 and 5 but opinion seems to have gone against them lately and I'm not sure what to do. My dd is now 6 months and is bored lying down and slides down when supported by cushions which I'm constantly having to rearrange. The stationary walker-type activity centres may be a solution - has anyone tried them? (Tesco will get some money out of me yet!)

A friend thoroughly recommended the static baby walker activity things (where baby sits in a seat and can turn round by not actually go anywhere). She (and DD) liked them so much she had one up stairs and one downstairs.

All mine have loved their baby walkers (from 4.5m on) and all have walked early and have no problems. I think it's easy to get hysterical about things. Personally I find those door bouncers a lot more dangerous!

Beware high chairs with straps that aren't removable. Also thumbs up for booster chair as purchased by my MIL for meals at her house - but frequently borrowed by us for visits, holidays etc.

I think wooden highchairs are definitely best. I spent nearly £100 on a lovely big padded plastic one and it stank after a month despite cleaning it every day. Have now got a Mamas & Papas wooden one (about £80), it looks gorgeous and is a doddle to keep clean (don't underestimate this aspect!). As for eating in a walker - I wouldn't even think about it, the mess after a month will be beyond belief! I have the static ladybird walker from Tesco online. A couple of dd's friends have eaten tea in it when they've been round and it's taken me half an hour to get it clean each time.

Curious Angharad about your door bouncer comment as both of mine have adored theirs. Have there been instances of accidents?