High Chair Safety
What you can do:– To reduce the risk of a child falling from a high chair, choose one fitted with a five point harness. These harnesses have straps over the shoulders, between the legs and around the waist.
Shoulder harnesses can be purchased separately and fitted to existing high chairs. Use the harness daily from the very beginning and your baby will grow to accept it. Make sure it is fitted and used every time the child is in the chair.
Check the folding high chair cannot accidentally collapse during use and catches are locked into place every time before the child is placed in it.
Follow the instructions and mail the warranty card back to the supplier. This will ensure you will be notified of any safety problems that might be found at a later date.
Keep a close watch on children in high chairs. If you must leave the room, take them with you. Never leave children unattended.
Ensure the high chair is at least 500mm (20 inches) away from the windows, unsecured doorways, stoves, appliance cords, curtains or blind
If the high chair has a reclining seat – do not attempt to adjust the angle while the baby is still in the chair.
Make sure the high chair has no gaps that could trap a baby’s arm or leg.
Make sure there are no finger traps or sharp edges under the tray (any gap between 5 to 12mm is a finger trap).
Make sure the high chair is stable with a wide base.
Make sure the high chair has a 5 point harness fitted. The harness should have straps over the shoulder, round the waist and between the legs.
If the high chair’s height can be adjusted, make sure any locking devices are locked firmly into place before putting the baby in it.
Attend to loose nuts and broken parts as soon as you find them. Most retailers offer a good range of spare parts.
Repair any torn seats before the foam padding is exposed as babies can choke on it.
Never allow a child to stand up in a high chair or climb into or out of it. Put high chairs out of reach when not in use.
Ensure that there are no entrapment points for the head, fingers or limbs accessible to the child occupant. Finger traps may be more common around the tray area. Unsafe gaps may be also be more common in high chairs that can be reclined.
Our thanks to the Queensland Department of Fair Trading for permission to reproduce this article.
Disclaimer:– This fact sheet aims to provide consumers with a general understanding of their rights and responsibilities in the Queensland marketplace. It is not a comprehensive statement of the law. The laws referred to in this fact sheet are complex and various qualifications may apply to the provisions in different circumstances. You are encouraged to obtain independent legal and financial advice if you are unsure how these laws apply to your situation. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this document, the Queensland Government disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason. © The State of Queensland (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) 2007.