Choosing and using a high chair

Why it matters

High chairs are linked to thousands of emergency room visits each year. Most injuries happen when a child climbs in or out, when the chair tips as a child pushes back or rocks, or when a part like the strap, tray or lock fails.

What to look for

• A chair that can't be tipped over easily.
• A manufacture date on or after June 19, 2019. Chairs made since then must meet a federal standard for stability, restraints and warning labels. The date is on a label on the chair.
• If it folds, a lock that holds every time you set it up.
• Straps that include a crotch strap, not just a waist strap.
• For a secondhand chair, check that it hasn't been recalled at CPSC.gov.

At every meal

• Use the safety straps every time, including the crotch strap, and adjust them to fit snugly. This stops your baby from slipping down.
• Don't rely on the tray to hold your baby in. It isn't a restraint.
• Never let your child stand in the high chair.
• Keep the chair away from counters and tables; a child can push off hard enough to tip it.
• Never leave your baby alone in the chair, and don't let older children climb or play on it.

Hook-on chairs

A chair that hooks onto a table isn't a good substitute for a freestanding one. If you use one when eating out or traveling, choose one that locks onto the table, make sure the table is heavy enough not to tip, and check that your child's feet can't push against a table support.

Good posture helps safe eating

When a baby has to work to hold their body steady, they have less control for chewing and swallowing.

• Head up, chin level with the floor, and back upright.
• The 90-90-90 rule: about a 90-degree bend at the hips, knees and ankles.
• A firm footrest: when feet dangle, the body is less stable, and so are the tongue and jaw.
• Upright, never reclined: don’t feed your baby in a reclined seat, car seat or stroller.