Are High Chairs a Necessity?

nice but not necessary. As a baby when feeding solids you can sit them in the swing or in their bouncy seat or car seat and feed them fine. It's when they start to feed themselves that high chairs come in handy.

I used the high chair that my younger brother used when he was a baby with my son (there is a 21 year difference, and yes, my mom still had it & it even closed up) until I found an antique high youth chair with a tray. When he was old enough to eat at the table, I just flipped the tray back, moved the chair up to the table & he ate with us. I did the same thing with my daughter only she started out in the antique chair. Now my granddaughter is in it, still, and she is 5 years old. It is built more like a chair, it is not spread out like the high chairs these days.

High chairs are great when they are starting baby foods for them to sit in while you feed them. They are especially wonderful when they start eating finger foods, but you don't have to go the pricy high chair route. I bought for the high chair/booster seat that just gets buckled to a normal table chair. I love it. I don't have a lot of space taken up by a high chair and as they get older, it works for a booster seat at the table. The best part is that they are portable and light weight so when we eat at a friend's house, I just grab both of my boys' chairs and take them wiith us. They cost between $20 and $30 only too.

You certainly aren't going to be needing one until 4-6 months after she is born. You may want to register for more immediate needs. This item does not have to be expensive.

I used my Bumbo with tray until my daughter was nearly a year old. This is a great solution until your baby can really sit up on her own...that is generally around 6 months.

After that I did buy one from the company where I work (IKEA). It is called the ANTILOP and you can get the tray and chair for under $30.

I love it because it is SO easy to clean, it is light, and the way the front is configured it fits right up to many dining room table when you remove the tray. Then your little one can join the family for dinner while still being contained.

It does NOT fold, but you're not going to need that for a while. Nor is the tray easily removable with one hand.

I'll be honest, if I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't have even bought it. I used the Bumbo as a booster because she preferred to sit at the table with everyone else.

I would have been lost without my highchair! I definitely think you need one, maybe not a fancy one though, even a used one from a baby consignment shop, or check craigs list. You'll be shocked how often you will need it besides meal time! Like get your baby off the floor while you mop, and hand them a few CHERIOS!

I purchased a really nice high chair with a pretty fabric cover. The high chair was absolutely necessary, the pretty fabric cover was a waste of money. After a couple of meals there was food all over the cover. It went in the washing machine and never got put back on the high chair. I liked the stand alone chair because I could put my toddler in it with a snack and work in the kitchen. She could still see me and we were still able to engage. She could easily feed herself from her tray. I also had a booster chair that attached to the kitchen chairs. When my second child was ready for the high chair my older daughter was ready for the booster seat. She was 2 1/2 years older so she was ready to sit at the dinner table and eat her food on a plate. The younger one threw her plate on the floor and ate her food on her high chair tray. These were fun times. We have really great pictures of both kids stripped down to a diaper feeding themselves Christmas dinner and birthday cake!

best 20 bucks I ever spent on baby stuff was a fisher price booster seat that attaches to your kitchen chair. It has a removable tray so you can bring it to restaurants and strap your kid into a seat there. LOVED IT. Had them for both of my kids and eating out was a pleasure b/c they were stuck! lol

Just another thought... I don't disagree with the other answers, in fact, we have a 13 mon. old daughter who has used a high chair since she was 8 mon. We have a graco (the one that folds into 8"... we slide it in next to our refrigerator) the only thing I don't like about it are the straps, so pay attention to that when choosing one. Also about the cleaning, no matter what kind of chair you buy you are going to have to clean it at least three times a day... is there really one that is more easily cleaned than another, probably not. I would pay attention to what material the cover is made of, some stain more easily than others, say with spaghetti or blueberries.
I also don't think your mom is completely wrong. I am currently reading a book (How to raise a Self-Confident Baby by Magda Gerber) It was written in the 70's so you take what you can from it. One point she makes is that you should hold your baby while feeding it, on your lap. She says that it makes them comfy, and more secure about eating. Which in turn calms them and food is more easily digested. She also says that it is quality time with your undivided attention. And that if your baby feels safe while eating he/she will feel safe about eating new foods, and more willing to try. I did not read this book until after we began using the high chair but when our daughter began eating her first foods I put her in the boppy right in front of me and feed her. When she began grasping and wanting to feed herself I put her in the chair. You may want to give the book a try before buying all the new and cool baby products, Magda is actually against most of them... some of it makes sense. Take from it what you can.

High chairs come in handy for lots of things besides eating. Child can sit high to watch you cook in kitchen, it's a place to paint, use play-doh, it's a safe place to put a child in an emergency (your bathroom break!) and puts him at people eye level for family meals. Not sure you need to spend $180 on one though.

You will use a high chair. Now, which type of one is up to you. They can be messy so you don't want them in a cloth bouncer or any thing like that unless you don't mind washing all the time. Being in a high chair also helps teach them how to sit and eat at the table with the family. You won't really need the high chair until they are about 4 1/2 months old.

You can get by without one, but you will need somewhere to put the little one when you start solids. You won't be able to hold her and juggle her food without risking dropping her and making a big mess. There are alternatives to the big expensive high chairs.

One idea is the bumbo seat with the play tray. You can get the bumbo and tray for around $40-50 (I think they have them at Target, Walmart and BabiesRUs.)

http://www.bumbobabyseat.com/

Another idea is the Fisher Price space saver high chair. This high chair actually attaches to one of your kitchen or dining chairs and converts to a booster. It costs around $50.

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Space-Saver-High-Chair...

We have both of these and they serve different purposes for us. The Fisher Price was a shower gift with my first child and we are still using it with the second child. The bumbo seat is on loan from a friend.

I used the bumbo when I first started feeding solids to my second child. It is also very convenient for traveling, and we use it when visiting other people's homes. The tray is a little hard to get on and my child is very large for his age, so is starting to grow out of it.

The Fisher Price has worked really well for us because it does not take up extra space, but sits on one of our dining room chairs. It is relatively easy to clean (the tray can go in the dishwasher, but it is large) and easy to use.

In my opinion there is no need to spend $200 on a high chair. Good luck!

I just bought a cheap, $70 highchair from walmart for my daughter. It comes in handy big time. you're going to have to feed them food sooner or later, and to me, it would be impossible to sit even a 2 year old in a big person chair at the table. don't let products fool you. they always try to big bigger, better, more. just stick with the basics of what it is you really need. my daughter's high chair is a dark cherry wood. it's beautiful and looks like it costs alot of money. it doesn't fold, collapse, play music, or have toys on it. it does EXACTLY what i need it to do. i hope this helps.

I am a grandmother and we bought a chair at Wal-Mart that straps to a regular dining chair for my grandaughter to use. I love it because the tray comes off and fits in the dishwasher. I don't remember the exact price but I think in the $20-$30 range.

A high chair can provide a safe place for your child to sit while you cook etc... You don't need all the bells and whistles to one. Just one that is safe and comfortable.

Hi J.,

I use my highchair everyday!
You do not use it at all in the first 4 -5 months, you start using it when your baby can sit by herself, then it is extremely convenient.

But definitely you do not need an expensive fancy one. Mine is a handdown from my sister and is extremely simple old style wood high chair with plastic tray (and ofcourse security lap belt) and I do not need anything else.

I do recommend getting one..... and by the way I love her numbers! 01/02/2010! wow!

Again congratulations!
M.

My daughter was breastfed until she was 16 mon. but when she was about 7 months old I bought her a high chair I purchased a $55 graco highchair from walmart and when she was younger I out her in there to keep her contained mostly like if i need to cook dinner or i was cleaning and I couldnt have my eyes on her at all times...she seemed to like it better then her walker...plus i could give her ice pops or teether biscuits in it...but she is 2 1/2 and we have definalty got our use out of it...she eats in it, colors with markers or water colors...a lot of children don't like them but if you start them in one early enough they get used to it...i would say one is necessary, maybe not right away and you really dont need a real fancy one unless you think you'll use all the options! good luck and congratulations on your little girl!

I think they are a necessity, but you definitely do not need an expensive one. A reasonably priced sturdy one will do fine. It's a safe place for baby and toddler to feed themselves and maintain independence, plus it gives you a break.

I'm still breastfeeding at 19 months however when my little girl started eating solids (6 months - which is around the same time she was able to sit up on her own) I purchased the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat (approx $25) and attached it to one of our extra kitchen chairs. She's still uses it and she's 24 lbs. The nice thing is it's pretty adjustable and portable and not that expensive. We were not into spending a bunch of money on things that were not really needed. That being said - get a good stroller, especially if you plan to take lots of walks =) Good Luck!

I agree that you are going to need SOME kind of high chair/booster type seat.
I have a high chair and we used it for about 1.5 years-half the time with the tray and the other half without, just pushed up to the table.
I have a girlfriend who has a high chair that is more like a full back booster and straps into a chair. It came with a tray for younger babies and then the tray removes so it can be used as a booster seat just to reach the table. These are much cheaper than a full high chair from what I have seen.
I think its totally personal preference on which to get but they are certainly very convenient to have around and without ours, solid food feeding times would have been much more difficult.

I say go ahead and get a high chair. You will use it A LOT the older your child gets.

High chairs are not necessary but can be helpful. What is the plan for your daughter once she is able to sit at the table? Will you have a booster type chair for her?

You also should consider game plan B in case you are not able to breast feed.

We used a Graco highchair for mealtimes up until our daughter was around 2. You can pick up gently used baby furniture, etal at resale stores, garage sales or on EBay.

The ones that fit on a kitchen chair are way more useful. Child is closer to the floor, he/she is eating with you at the table at your eye level, washable and much cheaper. They are plastic in primary colors. I know they have them at Target. Baby usually doesn't get to eat until they are ready to sit so I wouldn't waste the money on those high ones.
YOu can easily throw it into the trunk to go out to eat or to grandma's too.
K.

We never had a high chair, our house is tiny and there wasn't much room for one but we received a booster seat at our baby shower that is the type that you strap on a chair. It folds up and we strapped into one of our dining room chairs. This worked great and he still uses it,(he'll be 4 in December) once he got big enough we just took off the tray and it's the booster chair to give him the height he needs to sit with us at the table. Plus it's portable so we were able to fold it up and take it on trips with us.

For me, MAJOR neccessity. I am on my 3rd & 4th child now (twins) and I fed each of my babies buckled in their bouncy seats on the counter(not recommended by maufacturer) until they were old enough to lift their back from the seat. I then moved them into a high chairs where they still have their meals, they're almost 2. For us, it keeps them in their place during meals, the mess is contained to a small area, and dinner is pleasant because everyone is in their place and we all know what we're there for: to eat. I've had friends who have done it without highchairs and watched their children roam and play during meals which caused constant bickering between parent and child during the entire meal time. There are alternatives to the stand alone highchairs. They have some that even attach to the table (a little scary for me). We also have a booster seat that straps to our dining chair for our 3 year old. When we go out to dinner, she stays seated without a booster and I attribute the good behavior to the routine we keep at home. I also use my high chair in the kitchen when I want to include my little ones in meal preperations. I roll the chairs into my kitchen and they get to use their spoons to "help" with meal prep, which they love!

The best advice I can offer here, is to ALWAYS make sure they are buckled in properly. We had an accident with my daughter when my husband chose not to buckle her in and she did stand and fall out. She was not injured, but it could have gone the other way. My husband now understands why we NEVER compromise the safety of our children by "assuming" they know to stay in place.

As far as cost goes, You can purchase a used one online at Craigslist, or other resources as long as you go online to the manufactures website to ensure the product hasn't been recalled. If you find the style you are looking for, but the cover looks too used, you can buy a replacement through the manufacturer.

Congratulations on your upcoming blessing! Children are amazing!

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1009...
this is the one I have and I love it because you can set it anywhere like on the floor or what ever you want. Its like and infant seat too. I like it becaue its very portable.It makes feeding baby food very easy. Yes I would definetly get it because its affordable too. $48.88
Good Luck and God Bless
K.

As a mother of 2... the two things, I have found that I used the least was a high chair and a changing table. If you are planning to nurse as long as possible, you will probably not use the high chair until a lot later anyway. I did have one, but I registered for an inexpensive one (under $100) at Target. I found that I actually did not use it almost at all until my child was about 10-12 months and at that point is was mainly for self-feeding or keeping him contained while I cooked. He loved to place with ice cubes on the tray. Also, while changing tables are cute and all, I would encourage getting one (if you haven't already) one that is versatile in being able to be used for a dresser or storage. 95% of the moms I know always ended up changing their child wherever they were (floor, couch, bed, etc).

J.,

This is definetly a personnal preference issue. We did not use a high care with either one of our girls. We used the walker for a little while and then we bought a portable booster/high chair, which was only about $20, and we strapped it into our existing dining room table set. The girls were able to set at the table with the family. Because it was portable and could fit into any chair, we traveled with it, and took it to church etc. As the girls got older it was a booster seat at the table so they could reach better.

Hope this helps,
Good luck, God Bless.

Hey there,

Congrats on your upcoming bundle. I used a highchair like crazy. Once my girls could sit up and were eating things like cheerios I would put them in it. Also, once older I would tape a color page down and let them scribble. I would say you don't need one with bells and whistles, the simplier the better as long as its sturdy and safe.

Good luck,
Debra

Just get a travel one and strap it to your kitchen chair you have now. That's what we did and I even take it to places where I know we will be out and about and it works great.

LOL we didn't see the need for one either until we started the solids. We thought the bumpo chair would work when he was little and then use a travel seat for when he got older. He couldn't hold his little head straight in the bumpo for food. After a week we broke down and bought an evenflo highchair. We could lay back the seat just enough so the cereal would go down. We didn't start solids until 6 months. I breastfed.

We are still using his and he is 16 months.

Get a nice looking one- we bought the old fashioned wood kind becasue I wanted it to look nice and be sturdy. If you have more kids that thing will be in your kitchen a long time...do you really want a huge gaudy plastic one as part of your decor? That said- a high chair is handy! I don't think mine sat in theirs until they were close to 6 months- before that I just fed them cereal in their bouncy seat-so you are about a year away from needing that highchair probably! You will use it from about 6 months to 2 years or so- depending on the temperament of your child. We were in the process of moving when I had my third and we bought a booster chair- no tray on it- which she used almost exclusively. I also had a cloth seat-not sure if you can find them still- that you could put on the chair,slip the child in and then tie it in back-very handy for taking to houses where they had no "kid equipment".
Here's a link similar to what I had:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.phplisting_id=22560635&a...
or
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JQLCOW/ref=asc_df_B001JQLCOW...
or
http://www.thebabymarketplace.com/securestore/c38493p1715...
Good luck! There is even a website with instructions to make one if you are so inpsired:
http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/chairseat.html

I breastfed my 3 also and had a high chair. Let me tell you it was necessary. When baby started eating cereal, started wanting to help while I was cooking - I could put them in a high chair with teething cookies and contain the mess and have dinner on the table without a little one under foot the entire time. Plus it also helped teach them to sit down with mom and dad for dinner. I would say it is a big necessity and you will find out if you have more than one baby its a requirement.
Good luck and congrats.
K.

Here's my $0.02. :-)

The expensive high chair is NOT a necessity, but A high chair is. You don't need to spend top dollar for something. We have the Fisher Price space saver chair, like this one http://www.target.com/Fisher-Price-Space-Saver-High-Chair...

It's great, except for those time when I look for our extra chair...I forget that it's under the high chair. LOL! In fact, our youngest is almost 3 and we still use it. We retired the tray a little while ago and just used the chair as a booster at the table, but he broke his leg and can't get close enough to the table anymore. Luckily the tray still fits so we're good until he get's his cast off. We LOVE this chair. I wish I had it with my 3 older kids!

Good luck!

We bought a similar high chair for less money (a Euro Graco, something like the Graco Contempo--it reclines and converts to a youth chair, but doesn't convert to a table booster) when my first was 5 months old or so. That was about 7 years ago, and we have since used it for two more kids. My 2yo is now using it as a youth chair. Besides using it for eating and snacking, I have also used it to let my little one paint and play with play-doh.

We used a Bumpo chair for our son until he outgrew it, then went straight to a "booster seat" that straps onto a regular dining room chair--the Fisher Price Healthy Care seat in blue and green. It has adjustable heights and two removable trays. It was perfect for us because we didn't have room for a high chair--plus it's a lot easier to clean than a high chair because it doesn't have all that fancy padding and all those little creases and cracks.

You really don't need a pricey high chair, and you can certainly wait on it (she wont eat anything solid for 6 months). Get something easy to clean with a tray that fits into the dishwasher and you will be happy. Good luck.

Fancy high chair is a no. Something for $25 that contains the child at the table is god sent.

High chairs are not a necessity. They are a convenience. Our granddaughter lives with us with her three children. We purchased booster chairs that you can find at Target and WalMart and Big Lots for a reasonable price. These boosters can be attached to most any dining chair and they are easy to take along when you go visiting during feeding time. They have some that recline for an infant and as the baby gets bigger you can reposition it to sit up straighter. We have thoroughly enjoyed the boosters and it helps the kids to be at the table with the rest of the family without being held by someone. Congratulations on your new baby and we're praying for the safe return of your Marine. We are retired military.

I have 4 children. I used a highchair for my first. And, then when we moved him to a booster chair that fits in one of our dining table chairs, I realized that we didn't really need a highchair. They take up so much room!

So, for my other 3, I've only used a booster chair. If you decided to start cereal at an early age, before they can sit up very well, you can feed them in their carseat or a bouncer. But, mine could always sit up before I started feeing them food.

The Graco portable high chair is great. It clips onto tables, but you have to make sure that it will fit your table (most likely it will). I'm not someone who believes in sitting your kid up in a high chair before he's old enough, and I don't believe in keeping him in there for hours. About $35 brand new. The baby would be eating at the table. I like that, BUT there are some definite advantages to having a separate high chair scenario (leaning back ones, just a tiny bit, are awesome because they actually can serve the mom so much more!) We bought a used Peg Perego (Papa Pia) if I remember right, it's been like 8 years, and I liked that one so much. I'd recommend NOT getting those beautiful wood ones. Even some inexpensive ones are fantastic. I think I've probably gone through 4 or 5, I'd find them at garage sales and clean them up like new (or bought them in perfect cond.) because I seemed to like or not like them after I used them for a while on the children. (One definite plus of not sinking a ton of money into brand-new baby furniture--you don't feel so tied to use it even if it's not comfortable to Baby--and you can re-sell it and get another one.) BTW, I love the Marines!!! We were att. to them in CA and NC because DH was w/ Navy healthcare. God bless you at the end of the gestation and deployment for both you and your DH! I remember having my third baby just two weeks after my husb got back from a deployment! Just some unsolicited advice: do everything that you can to avoid a c/s if at all possible. It would effect you more than realize for the rest of your life. Get educated. I knew nothing about how important it was for me to advocate for myself until my fourth pregnancy. It's way too easy to get messed over if you don't know what's going on. There are fantastic Navy doctors & midwives, but you really need to be aware of the adv/disadv of various interventions. Look into the "Bishop Score" online, and if Jan 2 comes and goes and your sweet baby is enjoying being in Mama more than you want (!) please don't rush to inducing. Also: check out SpinningBabies.com because I believe the baby position is waaay more important than some estimated baby weight (which can be 2 lbs. off anytime)! Also, the amniotic fluid level can vary at anytime (so drink good fluids and don't make any decision based on a one-time assessment). I'm so happy for you and I wish you the very, very best in everything!!!

A high chair is a MUST. You will use it all the time. Perhaps your mother just doesn't remember all those little things that go with a baby (especially if it has been a long time) I would get one you are comfortable with, the 4 in 1 sounds great to me. (Just so you know where I am coming from, I am a mom and now run my own in home daycare. I have used different kinds of high chairs/ hook on chairs/booster seats. It is best to find something you like and that works well for you. The 4 in 1 sounds excellent and I would say worth the money)

Congrats on BFing!
I also bf my kiddos. Eventually, I think you will want something like a highchair.
I had a highchair with #1 and had no real issues with it. For #2 though, I ditched the highchair and got a Portable Booster instead. I got it off of craigslist, but you could get one off of amazon.com for about $20.
HTH and best wishes!

K., mama to
Catherine, Samuel and Baby (due 9/15)

Having a high chair will give you a free hand and later on a free body while they feed themselves.You will not need it right away but talk with some of your friends and see what they think before you listen totally to Mom on this one. I am most likely your moms age and I found that I used one most of the time.

I can't comment on the exact type of chair you mentioned, but a high chair was very useful when my 8YO was a baby. Now, I had older kids and the high chair I had would recline just a bit. That was helpful when she was just starting to sit up. But my daughter LOVED to sit in her chair in the evenings. The big kids did their homework at the dining room table, while I got dinner ready. As babies, my older kids would have never sat for that long, but this child LOVED sitting up and watching everyone go about their business. She would sit for up to 45 minutes!! It also put her on their level, not down on the floor in a walker or the like. Good luck with your sweet baby girl (I have three!!).

As a mother of 7 children, I would say yes! you will be needing a high chair.(bit not right away) only after baby can sit up good. I have a regular high chair & a cheap foldaway one that straps to a regular dining chair that we take on trips.I myself wouldn't buy a new one, because you can find some a garage sales in very good condition. I do understand that most new ones want all new things for their baby:)
The foldaways are great when your child is bigger, but I prefer a regular high chair. It does as these other moms have said, teach your child to sit & eat, not run all over the house with food :)
I couldn't imagine being with a highchair :) I have a 22 month old baby. He loves his chair. I ask him if he is ready to eat & tell him to go get in his chair & he runs to it, waiting for me to pick him up & put him in it :)

I would have to say, OH YES!, the are necessary. Of course you wont be using it for the first 6 months but once you start feeding solids you will use it ALL OF THE TIME! We have the space saver high chair which straps onto one of our chairs at the table and we LOVE it. It reclines back a little for the very little ones too. Its definitely not $180 either. I suggest getting one that isnt at the top of the price range but register for one for sure.

I had a great high chair for my kids but I do not remember the brand. I couldn't do with out it. My kids spent some good time on it - they would sit there with cherios or fruit. It is not just for meal times. Kids can sit there with a couple of toys or books. Also, we were able to convert our high chair into a kid's table and chair so, after they stopped using the high chair I was able to set it up in the game room to do other activities. Google it and if you can't find it let me know and I'll send you more info.

You really need one. My son would sit in his early on just to be part of the family at meal times. Even when all he ate was breastmilk he would sit at the table and loved it! It is also hard to keep a moving toddler in their seat at meal times.

You could try the space saver high chair that clips into a chair from your table. Not as expensive and very nice. Good Luck.

Registering for a baby is confusing. They stores and magazines make you think that you need everything out there. While I agree that specifically a high chair is not absolutely necessary, you need something for your child to sit in and eat. You could use a booster seat that attaches to a regular chair. It is too difficult to hold a 6 month old and feed baby food to her. As they get bigger, they won't sit in a regular chair with out getting up. My youngest son won't eat well when he is in a regular chair because he thinks he can get up and move around. For us, using a seat of some kind has been a way to teach our boys manners. They must remain seated during dinner until they have been excused from the table. The booster or high chair helps with that until they are old enough to understand and follow directions. It also keeps the mess contained.

We used our high chair all the time. You will especially need one once your baby is 4 months and starting solids.

We have a one year old and my husband and I are always talking about things that we didn't really need afterall. A high chair is one of those things. We have one, but also have the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat, to use when we go out. It is great, light, easy to use, and we are thinking about putting our high chair away and just using that at the table - that way he can really be a part of the meal. So I would definitely say, you do NOT need to buy a highchair, if you get one of the boosters.

I would definately get one, but get the cheapest one you can find (without sacrificing safety, of course). All of those pretty little cushions and pads just end up with food stuck in every nook and cranny. I actually pulled all of the padding off of my child's high chair. Now, I can take it outside, break out on the soap and bleach, and hose it down whenever necessary! Congrats on your pregnancy!!

Firt of all, congratulations! I have a 2 year old and when I was pregnant I read Baby Bargains (an awesome book that helped me select all my necessities). In it they recommened the Chicco Polly highchair. It had received the best ratings. However, my daughter hardly ever used it!! I felt it was the biggest waste of precious money. I also bought a highchair that attaches to the table and folds so you can take it with you. She used that more. I guess each child is different. SOme use them, others don't and there's really no way to know what your child will be like until she gets here. So, I would NOT spend a lot of money on it. $180 is alot of money. I think that the Grandma that responded had a great idea of the space saver /booster chair. My friend has one and it's really nice. Good luck!!

Congratulations!

I didn't use a high chair at all with mine. I got a little wooden table and chairs and once my little guy was able to sit up well enough he sat there. I didn't want a high chair because they take up a lot of space and I was worried about accidents (me getting too comfortable, turning my back for a minute to get more juice and baby suddenly learning to wiggle out of safety strap and fall to our hard tile floor)
I still have the same wooden table and chairs from IKEA almost five years later and use it for everything from arts and crafts to breakfast, lunch and snacks for my two preschoolers. There is room for two more little ones at the table when friends come over. (They now sit at the big table with mom and dad during dinner.)

BTW Have you heard of Operation Shower? It is a non-profit organization that does baby showers in a box for military moms all over the country. You should check out their site and see about getting yourself and some other military moms you know registered!
www.operationshower.org

I bought one of those booster seats that attaches to a chair. She loves it and I can unhook it and take it anywhere with us. Best of all, it only cost $29.99 at Walmart. She can sit at the table with us as well instead of in her own world away from the table. I started my daughter when she was 4 months. Even though I am breast feeding, that's when my doctor told me to start trying her on solid foods. Its great to have her at the table with us.

Congrats on the baby! Just a thought on breastfeeding, some times those little boogers (the kids) just aren't up for it. I tried many a times - to the point of frustration - along with a lot of help from nurses and my son just was not interested. But whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, you won't need one for awhile.

I do think the high chair comes in handy. You can safely secure them in there when they are older and put cheerios or cookies on it while you cook, clean, etc. It is also a way for them to be a part of the family at meal times. I had an adjustable one that had different heights and I used it as a craft table too. I would sit him in the living room, lower the height and put some crayons and paper. As he got older, he would ask to color and immediately go to his high chair. As he did get older, my sister bought him a booster seat - which he refused to sit in. He sits in a regular chair now to eat. So it is all a preference, and remember they grow up fast and have a mind of their own.

My other advice to you, don't buy all the sippy cups or pacifiers (if you decide to go that route). I tried the cute little pacy's for my son, and he would not use one, he had to have the ugliest, biggest pacifier on the planet - but it worked. Also, when we transitioned to sippy cups - I had some hand me downs from a friend. They were the cute ones with the hard plastic lid. He wouldn't use them - I had to go get the soft lidded kind.

Good luck and congrats again!

I agree with everyone and want to add that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Space Saver high chair! They are not very expensive at all.

Get a bumbo with a tray and then also get a chair that straps onto one of your diing charis and converts into a booster seat as the baby grows - much more practical, takes up a lot less space and you can trave with either much easier.

Hi J.,
I am a mother of T. children. High chairs are not used much at the beginning, that is true. When the children get older 5-6 months and older they become very useful. I personally recommend you getting one.

Good luck,
Elisa M

We used our highchair ALOT. They even napped in it occationally (it reclined). Its a safe place to put them to play while you cook, clean the floors...ect

You dont need to spend a ton of money on one just get one that you like the looks of because it will be around for awhile. My boys used it until they were two.

Yes, yes, yes you will use a highchair! And probably for more than one child.
Even when our kids were done with the high chair, we kept it for years for visitors and friends to use.
It is so wonderful to have for traveling parents, who don't have to worry about bringing a high chair to your home.

I thought I would nurse my first son for a long, long time, too! Then at 4 months, he started getting teeth. Then at 6 months, he figured out how to use them and he used them with gusto.

When he was 9 months old to a year, it was nice to sit him in the high chair with a bottle of expressed milk every once in a while, and I could start working on dinner.

I have three children the oldest is almost 13 and the youngest just turned 4. Prior to my children I worked as a nanny. We did not buy a high chair with any of our children. When I worked as a nanny, I realized that high chairs are difficult to store, they are hard to clean, and they seem to always be in the way. They are useful, but I found two things that I think work as well and have more uses. We received as a shower gift one of those vibrating chairs. It leans back similar to the first stage high chairs. I could put it on a chair or table as I began feeding. (Very early month 4-6) Then we bought on of the booster chairs that fasten to one of your dining room chairs. They have seat belts and a tray. They also fold up so that the tray and seat can be washed even in the dishwasher. The one I had did everything that everyone below listed as a benefit of a high-chair. The only thing was a child needs to be able to sit up fairly well. My kids all set-up early so it worked extremely well for me. They also can travel anywhere easily. When we went to visit my sister-in-law who had a high-chair my kids hated not being at the table with us.

Bottom line...if you can afford it and have space get a high-chair if you want they are useful. However, if you are looking to save money or save space you can make do just as easy without one.

I love the name you've picked out for the baby. Congrats!! Yes, highchair is needed, but I don't think I started using it until he was at least 6 months? Honesly, I don't remember b/c he's grown so quickly and time does fly. My advise is check the straps at the stores, I bought one that doesn't have good straps (around $80) and am now having to purchase a new one b/c at 13 mos, my son is very active and stands up in the highchair, disregards the "no's" and the many times we sit him back down. He's so cute though that it's hard to get frustrated -so now I'm searching on Cragslist for a replacement highchair. So good luck to you and get ready for the best part of your life to begin!!

I was given a very expensive Italian highchair with wheels, locks and the infant adapter and you could take the seat off and attach it to a table, kitchen bar.. You could even lower it to floor level so she could get into it herself. etc.. It was awesome.. I think they paid $200... It was an office gift..

Invest in a top of the line car seat and crib mattress instead... That is what your infant and then toddler will really need..

I ended up selling that high chair in a garage sale for $50.
So consider that we used it till she was about 18 months. We only had one child.... I could have purchased a fine high chair for so much less...or they could have given me the $200 in gift certificates, so that as things came up, I could have purchased what we needed..

Maybe ask if anyone has one you could borrow.. I know when you have your first child you want all new, but I borrowed about 85% of all the infant and early toddler stuff , the people were thrilled to have it out of their houses and garages.. and we did not end up with all of that stuff once our child grew out of everything.. Just make sure it is not on any recall lists..

Yes!Even if you breast, the baby will need a seat when being spoonfed.Also, the high chair is great for sitting her in the kichen to watch you cook dinner or clean up after a meal. My kids used their high chair until they were too large to fit in it. I had a hand me down, make of plastic that I could spray with disinfectant and keep clean. Hope this helps.

Congratulations:) I didn't need my highchair until like 4 months or so. It all really depends on when you start to introduce solids usually between 4-6 months. So you won't need on immediately for sure. I think mine came from target and was like $40 or so. It worked great, it is the kind you just hook on a chair. I plan to use it with our next baby who is a January 2010 baby as well, yeah!! So it is really your call as to when you purchase your chair, but you will probably need one at some point.

J. - Congrats!! January is a great time in SA to give birth - my first was born Jan 10, 09. Re: the high chair, I have the Fisher Price space saver and love it. I am still breastfeeding but when we started solids at 6mo it worked really well. Also, now we can put him in it when we are eating so he can be "included" ;) Registering really overwhelmed me - good luck!!

Hi J.
good for you-
unless you plan on holding your little girl on your lap to feed for the next two years I think you will most definitly need a high chair. I am not sure you need one that fancy- but if it doubles for a lot of other items you would use, I would say get the one you want- it is pricey but maybe some family members can go in together to get it for you.
the up side of that is you will have a good, useful item that can be used for any other children that come along in the family.
There are other high chairs out there- so just try and be practical.
Most children are nearly 2.5 or 3 before sitting at the table..........so make it easy on yourself and get a high chair.

Hi J.,
I'm a mom of two little girls (age 2 & 4) and I would say a high chair is NOT neccesary. Save the expense for other things such as diapers :) We bought an expensive high chair for our first child. But when we had our 2nd child we decided that instead of taking up the space in the kitchen we would sell our high chair and get one of the reclining booster seats. The kind that you just strap on your regular chair. It has worked GREAT! You can use them all the way from infant to about 3/4 yrs depending on size and they only cost $25-$30. Much more cost effective. Hope that helps and congrats on your new little blessing!

M.
www.FollowingOurDreams.com

High Chairs are indespensible. BUT, you will not need one until your baby is at least 6 months so you have some time to find a good one at a good price.

We had a nice high chair with our first baby. It was a pain in tail to clean and we didn't have a good place for it. When he was a little older, we purchased the Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster. You can see a picture of the latest version at http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Care-Booster-S.... Since he's a little on the smaller side, he used it until he was almost 3. We eventually ditched the tray and he used it as a booster at our table.

We sold our high chair and started using this with our second child when she was 5 months old. It is SO great! Cheap, easy to clean, doesn't take up space, folds up to travel with and just straps on to your kitchen chair. Since then, I have had 5 friends who have bought this instead of a high chair and just this weekend my friend and I were raving about it. They should hire me as their spokes woman. Ha ha. Anyway, I plan on keeping this even after our youngest stops using it. ....for friends little ones who come over to visit.

We also used the portable booster seat and it was perfect. We really didn't have room in our kitchen or dining room for a high chair. We just strapped it to a chair we already had in the room. Ours reclined so you can use it with young babies or, put it upright for toddlers. It's not one of the foldaway ones.
Here is the newer version of the brand we bought (First Years):
http://www.target.com/First-Newborn-Toddler-Reclining-Fee...

Good luck with your decision!