Booster Chair Fundamentals

Booster chair safety

You know the first thing to think about when buying a booster chair for your baby is safety. Happily, you won't have to worry too much about that on our site, since we have a baseline certification that all booster chairs and high chairs must pass before we offer them. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has established voluntary standards that include:

• Drop tests for trays
• Disengagement tests of trays
• Load and stability tests for chair
• Protection from exposed coil springs
• Scissoring, shearing, and pinching dangers
• Accessible holes and openings tested for entrapment hazards
• Restraining system tests conducted using child dummy

More to consider Traveling about with your child is a necessity of parenting and should be a fun, rewarding, and hassle-free experience. Consider whether you'll be doing this a lot with your child and whether your outings will involve meals. Where you'll eat is also important, as some booster chairs and hook-on high chairs might not be compatible with the table in question. Also, if you get a booster chair complete with a dining or activity tray, why not choose one that can function by itself without being attached to a standard dining chair?

Restraints and straps?

These days, it is rare to see booster chairs without straps to secure both the seat in place and the child sitting in the seat. The reversible, restaurant-style booster seats are no longer seen as adequate, and should be avoided if possible. Some styles without straps are okay, but they should at least have gripping surfaces to hold fast to the chair and your child. Remember, these kids get squirmy at the drop of a hat. You don't want any unpleasant surprises while you finish your macaroni.

What else?

The latest design trends in baby booster chairs indicate that it's pretty standard to have a removable, adjustable, and machine-washable dining and activity tray. Naturally, you don't want to be running your dishwasher three times daily, so also consider whether the removable tray can be easily washed by hand. Little crevices and crannies where germs can hide are no good. Fortunately, our booster seats are so well designed, this probably won't be an issue.