Wooden High Chairs

You don’t have to settle for plastic when there are wooden high chairs. Before deciding to get baby furniture made of wood though, you need to find out if this choice can best fit your needs and preferences. Are high chairs made of wood really worth your money?

Appearance

Baby chairs made of wood are appealing mainly because of their appearance. High chairs can come in a variety of shades and stains. Regardless of the chosen coat however, wood will always be a timelessly elegant material. This means your baby’s high chair will always be easy on the eyes and will easily fit a traditional wood dining set. You’d probably want to display instead of hide your high chair even when visitors are around.

Durability

Manufacturers of high chairs are bound by specific safety standards. Otherwise, their products would be put on recall lists. This means you never have to worry over getting a wooden chair that isn’t sturdy enough. Sometimes wood can even be a sturdier material than plastic especially when hardwood or engineered wood is used. Free standing wood units with wide bases and non-folding legs are the best choices in their class. With proper use, an attractive wood piece can easily become an heirloom piece.

Comfort

Traditional wooden high chairs aren’t always very comfortable. Obviously old models don’t come with cushions or reclining features. This means babies at around six months may find it uncomfortable or difficult to sit on these chairs. Without the reclining feature, feeding may also be difficult. In other words, traditional wood units may only be ideal for bigger or older users.

Manufacturers of newer wood models have attempted to integrate a few features that can ensure user comfort. Some contemporary wood high chairs now have seat and back rest pads.

Versatility

A lot of plastic high chairs now come with features that make them extremely versatile. The same cannot be said for traditional wood models. Some are just plain chairs made to fit smaller bodies. A few engineered wood models however have been made with special adjustable features. Some models have essentially wooden frames but can have plastic parts that allow for conversion from high chair to toddler or adult chair.

Cleaning Ease

Without a doubt, plastic is the easier material to clean. If you are easily bothered by spills, messes and stains, you would definitely be better off with plastic. Conventional wood models are slightly porous and may therefore be a bit more difficult to keep spic and span. If you insist on getting wood but would want models that aren’t too difficult to clean, you might want to get models that are specially coated for protection against moisture or fluid absorption. Some models may also come with detachable tray inserts that are made of synthetic material.

In summary, wooden high chairs are the best choices when it comes to appearance and durability. They do however leave much to be desired when it comes comfort, durability and ease of cleaning. Since more and more new models however are rolling out of factories, you might be able to find attractive wood models with a few modern features.