Back to "Skool" for Playskool!
Written: Feb 08 '00 (Updated Jun 13 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Height and tilt adjustability, large tray
Cons: Three-point harness isn't as safe as it seems, bulky
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| SmrfChic's Full Review: Playskool 1-2-3 High Chair |
How did this highchair end up on my registry list? I did my research. I knew what we were looking for in a highchair - a tray that could be removed with one hand, multiple heights and reclines, easy to clean, durable, and steady to name a few features. The Playskool 1-2-3 Highchair seemed to meet all these needs.
My In-Laws wound up purchasing the highchair for us, and we eagerly put it together months before our daughter was actually born. It was a bit bulky, but at the time I had a HUGE kitchen and could easily store it in a corner out of our way. I hadn't yet learned how to fold it up.
I began using this highchair when our daughter was just days old. A little bit young for solid foods? Yes, but that wasn't what I used the chair for. The Playskool 1-2-3 highchair features a three-position reclining seat. One position is straight upright for toddlers, the second leans back slightly for older infants who aren't very adept at sitting on their own yet, and the third position is a newborn recline. I was able to put my newborn in the highchair, fasten the straps, and get things done in the kitchen.
As my daughter grew, the chair grew with her. The slight recline was perfect when we started solid foods, allowing her to be upright enough to eat, but not slumping over her highchair if she lost her balance. At nineteen months of age, she is using the seat in the upright position.
Not only is the recline of the seat adjustable, but so is the height! It can be raised or lowered to any one of six heights, but it can only recline in the highest position. The lowest setting is great for an independent toddler who wants to climb in and out on their own (as a precaution, be sure to steady the chair with your hand when the child is climbing in or out so that it doesn't tip.)
The strap is a three-point harness style, encircling the baby's waist and coming up between baby's legs. The snap buckle is easy for an adult to operate, but chubby toddler fingers have yet to undo it in our house. There is a bar between the baby's legs keeps them from sliding out under the tray. In the last month however, my daughter has discovered that she can shimmy out of the straps. This means that more than once have I turned around to catch her standing in the seat of the highchair, sitting on the tray, or running down the hallway carrying her bowl of mashed potatoes. At this point, I'm looking at buying a highchair that has a 5-point harness, or just moving on to a booster seat.
The large tray is easy to clean and features a raised lip that is successful at keeping most of baby's food and toys actually on the tray. The one-handed operation is fairly decent, and actually only requires one hand most of the time. The storage compartment on the back of the chair is wonderful for bibs and toys.
The chair does fold up, but once folded, it won't stand on its own and tips over even when you lean it against a wall. While the folding may make it more compact for traveling, it does little to reduce the bulk of the highchair for storage. The highchair also doesn't feature wheels and can be a bit awkward to move around.
The padding on the Playskool 1-2-3 Highchair is an eclectic pattern that hides food stains well (is that carrot puree or a polka-dot?), is easy to wipe down with a damp rag, and is proving to be fairly durable. The non-removable straps are a bit more challenging to clean, but a nice soak in a bowl full of bleach and water usually does the trick. You might also want to know that you can use an old toothbrush to scrub the straps.
Overall, the Playskool 1-2-3 Highchair has proven to be durable, easy to clean, adjustable, and nearly impossible to tip over. There are just a few things that could use improvement, and I hope Playskool takes note of them in future models. I'd like to see a five-point harness for optimum safety, a chair that will still stand upright when folded, and locking wheels for easier relocation.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
SmrfChic
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Member: Sadie
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 128
Trusted by: 85 members
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