DIY HACKS: How to Build a Homemade Baby High Chair

Baby high chairs are one of the most important pieces of furniture for both the baby and the parents. It makes mealtime a little less messy and keeps the baby focused on his meal.

A lot of parents do not feel the need of purchasing a high chair for their little ones. According to many parents, a high chair becomes useless once the child outgrows it. 

It is completely fine if the parents do not want to invest in a high chair. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to baby shopping and/or parenting. More than anyone, parents know and understand the needs of their tiny munchkins.

Listening to the advice and suggestions of family members and friends can be really overwhelming for the new parents. It might confuse you as to what to get and what not.

If you are also one of the parents who cannot make up their mind whether to buy a high chair or not, then keep reading. We have compiled a few benefits of a high chair, which will help you to clear your confusion and make a final decision regarding its purchase.

Advantages of a High Chair

1. Saves Time

One of the major benefits why parents invest in this chair is because it saves them a lot of time. Toddlers cannot be expected to sit properly and finish their meal without feeding their surroundings. Eating and smearing go hand in hand for them.

Making a toddler sit in the high chair doesn’t require the parents to hold them while they are constantly wiggling and planning to pull a new trick.

Mealtimes can be really messy with a baby. Furthermore, it can take a lot of time to clean the mess after the baby is done eating. But, thanks to the baby high chair. It hardly takes a fraction of a time to clean it. The detachable tray in the high chair is dishwasher friendly and can also be cleaned just by wiping its surface with a damp cloth.

2. Exposure To Learning

According to research, a child’s mind is 90% complete when he reaches the age of 3. It is very crucial for the parents to give their little ones adequate exposure to learning. When a baby is made to sit in a high chair, he observes everything around him. He looks at the different things on the dining table. He also tries to hold and touch the items such as his feeding bowl, spoon, napkin, etc. which in return strengthens his fine motor skills.

Mealtimes become learning time for the baby as he observes new objects and explores them by touching and feeling their texture.

3. Safety and Security

A high chair provides better security to your little ones as compared to a normal chair.

These chairs are carefully designed with 3 to 5 harness points and a safety belt. It prevents the baby from slipping away and falling from the chair.

High chairs also have a wide base which makes them very sturdy and stable. If the toddler throws a tantrum inside the chair, parents would be relieved that the chair won’t topple.

Learn how to calm down an angry child.

There are many high chairs in the market which come with a footrest. A footrest allows the baby to rest his legs on it while he is eating. It avoids the risk of varicose veins. If the high chair comes with an eco-friendly footrest, it would be the best. Eco-friendly footrests improve blood circulation in the body.

4. Family Time

Feeding the baby on a high chair makes him feel included during dinner and/or lunchtime. Infancy is a crucial stage for the baby. At this phase, he undergoes numerous physical, mental, social, and cognitive changes. Keeping him close to the family allows him to feel protected and connected to his loved ones.

Developing a healthy bond with babies is very important. A child who has a good relationship with his parents and siblings reflects a confident social behaviour in the further stages of his life.

5. Other Activities

A high chair is designed to make mealtime easier, but it can also be used for other activities. The detachable tray of the high chair can be used for various activities. You can use it for reading and playtime. If you are a busy mom with no one to watch over your kid, then you can place your child in the high chair and carry on with your work. It will keep you relieved that the child is secure and near you.

Keeping in view the above-listed benefits, high chairs are indeed very useful for the child. It makes the child more happy and comfortable during mealtime.

Features of A High Chair

Gone are those days when only one kind of boring high chair was available in the entire market. There is a myriad variety of high chairs for these millennial babies. If you are planning to get a high chair for your baby, then make sure to consider the following points before you get one. Also keep in mind the age, weight, height of the baby, and the space available for you to accommodate the chair.

1. Detachable Tray

This feature is useful for mothers. It makes it easier to put in and pick the baby out of the chair. Not to forget it saves ample time in cleaning.

2. Portability

Having wheels attached to a high chair makes it easier to move it around. You can carry it outside your home. However, make sure that the wheels can be locked during the feeding time, or else the child might go on a stroll alone.

3. Multifunctional Chairs

Why not invest in a chair which can grow with your child? Many chairs can accommodate the needs of your baby and can be changed from a baby high chair to a toddler high chair and then into a booster.

Invest in a chair that your toddler can use for a longer time.

4. Safety

Make sure to check that the chair has a secure belt and three to five harness points to keep the baby secure in the chair.

5. Footrest

Baby high chair footrest allows the baby to feed better and make them comfortable. If the high chair you are buying doesn’t come with a footrest, then don’t worry. You can easily buy an eco-friendly high chair footrest that can be attached and detached as per the needs of the baby.

6. Comfortable Seat

A comfortable baby is a happy baby. If the baby is comfortable he might give you a lesser tough time in finishing up his meal. Make sure to check the seat before buying. A well-padded seat is sure to give enough comfort to your mini ones.

How to Build a Homemade Baby High Chair?

 When parents go shopping for their little princes or princesses they’re astounded to see the price tags of the goods. The prices of the goods for your tiny ones aren’t tiny. 

There are a lot of baby high chairs available in the market. Each of them offers different features and functions to suit the baby’s needs. The prices of these chairs also vary according to their specifications.

The arrival of the baby means being on a tight budget. Hospital bills, setting up a nursery, buying clothes and feeding items, etc. may not leave enough cash to invest in a baby high chair. But, don’t worry if you are short on cash.

You can still have one high chair for your baby. Wondering how? Well, quite simple. Make one for your baby by yourself.

Learning how to make a baby’s high chair is not complicated. It is quite simple for those who have woodworking experience. However, if you are new to woodworking, even then it’s not much difficult. Making your own baby highchair allows you to ensure the quality and safety you desire for your little one while creating a family heirloom for the upcoming generations.

Follow the steps below to make a wooden high chair for your precious darlings:

Step#1:

Before you start, make sure you have all the material available with you. Furthermore, make sure to read the complete instructions before you begin making the chair.

• Inch tape
• Saw
• 24 linear feet of 3/4 inch by 2-1/8 inch framing stock and another 4 feet of wider material for the seat, seatback, and tray. Keep in mind that softwoods will not be easy to work with. It will be difficult to join and rout without splintering them

Step#2:

Measure the height from the floor to the underside of your kitchen counter or dining table. This will help you to know what should be the height of the chair so that it easily slides under the table while the baby eats.

Step#3:

Cut a ¼” by ¾” wide mortise to make side frames. A mortise is an open cavity in the wood. Relieve the top of the slot at 1/32″ to achieve the angled slant found in high chairs. You can easily do this by tilting your saw 7 degrees off the perpendicular angle.

Step#4:

Cut a square seat out at your desired width. Make sure you keep in mind the age and weight of the baby, and how long do you plan on using it, for instance, for 6 months, 2 years, etc.

Step#5:

Glue the side frames to the seat using a strong adhesive. Use clamps to maintain a strong bond while waiting for the glue to dry and take over.

Step#6:

Smooth all the edges with a router or a jigsaw so the little fingers of your babies do not sustain splinters or other common injuries.

Step#7:

Cut out a seat back around the same size in the shape of a polygon. You can do this by setting your table saw at 83 degrees. Shape the top into an arc, curve, or in any shape that you desire. Repeat the above step to ensure that the edges are not rough.

Step#8:

Clamp together all pieces and countersink your screws into each joint of the high chair. 

Step#9:

Measure the size of the seat. Cut out another piece of the same length. This will be used for the tray. Adjust the width of the tray as per your desire. Attach it to the armrest. Make sure you keep the space for placing the baby inside.

Step#10:

Attach a footrest to the chair. If you need to modify the footrest, use a sturdy box like a tissue box, zip-lock bag box, or pool noodle. Adhere it to the chair using duct tape or double-sided Velcro. Wrap the box or paint it the color of the chair.

Step#11:

Color the chair to give it a more bright and lovely look. However, you may leave it for a more natural appearance of the wood.

And Viola! You are done…

Wrapping It Up!

A baby high chair is indeed an important piece of furniture for the baby. It helps him to focus on his meals. It also helps the parents to save their time in feeding the kid and later in cleaning up the mess.

High chairs are costly, and especially if it has multiple functions and uses. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on the chair and at the same time want your baby to use the chair, then you may make one for your baby.

Not only creating the chair by yourself will save you some money but, also you can design it as per your desire and the needs of your little one.

Working with the wood for the first time can be a bit challenging. Make sure you work in a spacious place with proper tools. Do not work anywhere near your baby. 

If working with wood is not easy for you then you may hire a carpenter to make the high chair for you as per your needs and budget.