Graduating From The High Chair? Safety 1st 3 Level Booster Seat
Written: Jun 15 '02 (Updated Jun 15 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to clean, no slip feet, 3 levels, storage space
Cons: not portable!
The Bottom Line: A perfect transition seat for those ready to leave the high chair behind.
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| fallyn96's Full Review: Safety 1st 3 Level Booster Seat |
A Tuesday in October
There we were, my toddler and me, happily going about our business. I was fixing lunch, and the Monster was busy playing in the living room. Suddenly, I hear the low grumbling that means only one thing...
'MOMMMEEEEEE! COOK! MOMMMMEEE! EAT!'
Did he notice that I was slaving over a hot stove, making his macaroni and cheese? Oh no, he was HUNGRY. He had to eat NOW. After calmly explaining that lunch was almost done, that it would be ready in a few minutes, and then patiently ignoring the whining coming from the thing attached to my legs, I picked Monster up, and put him in his high chair.
I fastened Monster into the seat, and turned around to grab the tray. It was while my back was turned that I heard the most horrific sound that a mom can hear.
'CRASH! WAHHHH!'
Turning around, I saw my son, still strapped into the high chair seat, laying on the floor with the seat on top of him. Somehow or other, the high chair seat had broke and my son moved the wrong way, and well, the rest is history.
A Friday In December
After the recent demise of our high chair, we knew that we had to purchase something to replace it. Since my son was eighteen months old at the time that the seat broke, and since I was also pregnant with our second child at the time, we decided to just get a booster seat for Monster, and we'd buy a high chair when we needed one.
The hunt began one Friday in December, shortly after we purchased our kitchen table. We were in Wal*mart, in the baby section, looking at the booster seats. There weren't many available... We didn't want one that came with a tray, so a few models were 'out' from the get go. I wanted a seat that was easy to attach and detach from a chair. I also wanted something inexpensive that wasn't going to set us back a ways. It was then that I noticed the Safety 1st 3 Level Booster Seat. Perfect!
The seat adjusts to three different heights, but you know what? We've never adjusted it. Monster, at the age of two, no longer uses his booster seat unless I need him to stay still while taking something out of the oven. Right now, he uses it as a chair when watching one of his many Blue's Clues videos. But while I'm sitting here writing this review, I did play with it. Even without the instructions, I was able to figure out how to adjust the height. Yeah, it's a little tricky- but then I would expect it to be. I wouldn't want this seat wearing out, and then have my toddler take another tumble to the floor. We've been through that one already.
The seat attaches to kitchen chairs using a strap. This strap threads through two holes under the seat, and then locks together with a clip under the seat of the kitchen chair. There's also openings for what looks like a three point restraint that threads through the bottom of the adjustable seat- but we never used those straps, and opted only to use the ones that strap the seat to the chair. Our booster seat didn't come with a tray- even though there's one pictured on the site. But this is the same booster seat that we have- maybe the fact that ours didn't come with a tray is a mistake?
Anyhoo, I am really impressed with this booster seat. It's very easy to clean- simply take a soapy sponge or wash cloth, and wipe it down. The hard plastic- while slightly uncomfortable for children used to the cushy seats of some high chairs- makes cleaning a snap. The colors are pleasing to the eye- ours is a blue and teal combination that wasn't too girlish for our boy, and wouldn't be too boyish for your girl (although there are pearly colored ones that might better fit girls- but that's only if you put stock into that sort of thing).
The back of the seat has a handle. That's right- this seat comes with it's own built in handle for travel! I don't think that it's really all that portable. It doesn't fold up, and takes up it's own share of space in your trunk. But the handle has come in handy for us, for taking the booster seat in and out of the chair (once the straps are undone).
One the bottom of the seat, there are four rubber no slip feet. These feet do what they're supposed to- they grip the chair to keep the booster seat from slipping. Even the few times that we've used this seat without the aide of the strap (not recommended), I've noticed that the chair doesn't move. Even when Monster is getting out of the seat on his own, the seat doesn't move.
When the seat is adjusted to the top two levels, there's plenty of storage space underneath. It's the perfect place to hide mess mats and bibs, or anything else that you want handy but don't want to leave sitting on the kitchen table.
A Saturday In June
I'm sitting here, months after our initial purchase, with my two year old Monster watching Blue's Clues, and my four week old Bean swinging away in his swing. The seat is still going strong, and still looks new. As I sit here, glancing at the seat that I'm writing about- I can't help but think that we made a good investment with this seat. When it's Bean's turn to graduate from the high chair (hopefully his graduation isn't as traumatic as Monster's), I know that this seat will still be there for his dining enjoyment.
Recommended:
Yes
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fallyn96
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Member: Tracey
Location: Illinois
Reviews written: 263
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About Me:
Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.
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