At a glance:
East Coast's Wooden Folding Highchair is compact and sturdy. It takes up limited floor space and folds away neatly. Virtually no assembly is required – just fitting on the padded insert and opening it out! It’s easy to clean and includes a good-sized tray but the straps are far too tight and are difficult to adjust, especially with the insert in place. The chair is also heavy, which makes it difficult to transport but overall, it’s an attractive, well-made product that's good value for money.
What they say:
“The Folding Highchair is a classically shaped wooden highchair in a white and grey finish that will complement your home. It folds easily for storage, and the tray can be lifted back, so your baby can be pulled close to the table to join in with family meals. It’s suitable from around six months, and includes a safety harness and a footrest.”
Tested by mum Pagan Macklin for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
If a friend or fellow mum had older children then I would recommend this style of highchair to them. I love the style and the fact that it's very foldable and easy to store and transport around the house.
How did the product make your life easier?
I don't think this product made my life easier as a mum, as you need to make sure you keep hold of your child when putting them in this style of highchair due to its open bottom. It’s easier to clean due to its simple design and style, unlike other types and styles of highchairs that are on the market today.
Would you choose this product to win?
I don't think I would choose this product above all the others that are on the market, as my daughter slips and slides in this style of highchair. She has one of the Cosatto range, and she looks more comfortable and safe in that style due to there being a block that sits in between her legs, preventing her from falling down.
What changes would you make to the product?
I would change the age range, as I don't think that a six-month-old would sit in the seat safely, as I have a seven-month-old that was slipping and sliding and nearly fell through the gap at the bottom. She’s a bonny girl, so it's not as if she's too skinny for the chair.
Tested by mum Lesley Mackintosh for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The folding highchair has made my life easier because my daughter didn’t like the highchair that we purchased for her. When I then placed her in this highchair she didn’t cause any fuss, and happily sat and ate her food. I love the fact that if I had a dining table she would be able to join us and be a part of the family time. Since having the chair I am able to do baking and have my daughter sat in the chair and not be unhappy, which is great!
How did this product make your life easier?
The chair is easy to fold away and is really easy to clean. The design is very basic, but is used in restaurants, which helps babies to get used to the chair at home and away. The chair is not transportable, but the idea of the chair being the same as the ones in restaurants makes it so much easier. The chair can be adapted with cushions to personalise, for more of an individual design.
Would you choose this product to win?
The chair should definitely win a Mother & Baby award – if the chair were in my price range I would definitely buy it. I feel it is a very sturdy highchair and will last until my daughter no longer requires one. I also like the fact that it has dual purpose when using it, as you can either use it with or without the tray at a table, which is really useful.
What changes would you make to this product?
There isn't much I would change about the product, other than I would like it made more transportable so that the chair can be taken away with you when going on holiday, meaning your baby doesn’t have to then get used to using a different chair, especially if the baby is fussy like my daughter!
Tested my mum Malika Madani for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I'd recommend this fantastic product to a mum not only because is it super practical for storage and easy to put up and down, but also because it's just so beautiful to look at! I am a massive fan of minimal design and the simplicity of it really fits in well with our decor at home. We love the grey and white finish, so stylish! It's also super easy to keep clean. A quick wipe over and it's done!
How did this product make your life easier?
This product makes life much easier as a mum in many ways; first of all it folds up really easily and small, so it takes up minimal space when not in use. It's also very sturdy, and the straps keep my little one completely safe, so no escape attempts as of yet! I love the fact that she can enjoy food right up at the dinner table with the rest of us too!
Would you choose this product to win?
I would definitely consider this seat as a top contender above others across the market. They're super easy to keep clean, which makes a messy dinner time less stressful, as I know I don't have to throw the whole thing through the wash and worry about drying it for the next meal time. It's a perfect height, and is so sturdy and well made.
What changes would you make to this product?
The only thing I would change about this product is how easily marked it gets. My daughter is such a little rascal and loves to bang her cutlery on the tray, which unfortunately has shown up straight away. A protective layer to go over the top would be the only thing to better this already fantastic product.
Tested by mum Lucy MacLeay for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would highly recommend this product to other mums, primarily for the stylish design and stress free use. This highchair pulls out quickly and easily, and my daughter sits happily inside it. Due to the simplicity of the design, clean up is a breeze, leaving me with more time to play with my daughter.
How did this product make your life easier?
This highchair is great. I love how compact it folds, making it easy for storage. Its simplistic and stylish design and ease of use makes it a delight to use as a first time mum. Other highchairs I have used have been clunky and difficult to pull out, while this highchair is simple and does what you need and want it to. My daughter will sit happily in this highchair playing with her toys while I make her food.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would definitely pick this product above all others on the market, mainly because of the stylish design and ease of use. Other highchairs have been frustrating to use and uncomfortable for my daughter, whereas this high chair has been a delight for my daughter and I, both in terms of ease of use, and comfort.
What changes would you make to this product?
The only thing I would change about this fantastic highchair would be making the tray fully detachable. This would improve an already incredible product by making clean up and access easier for my daughter. Other than that, this highchair is an excellent product that I would definitely recommend to all my fellow mums and friends.
Tested by mum Tika MacPhee for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The highchair was very easy to put together, only taking about fifteen minutes, and it is easy to put up and down. It also wipes clean, and doesn't take up much space, which is a big plus. I really liked how it could be used both as a highchair and as a pull up chair at the dining table – and my son really liked being closer to the action (and food!). The fact that the feet have grippy bits on the feet made me feel much more comfortable, as my current highchair can move when my son rocks. I love the big tray – there was plenty of space for a plate, drink and any discarded bits and pieces too.
How did this product make your life easier?
I loved that it could be used at the dining table as a chair - my son loved eating up at the table with us as a family - and I know this would be a big selling feature to other mums. The look of the highchair was pleasing; I liked the colour (grey and white) as it went with my kitchen design. It was also easy to fold and unfold; however, I did find it a bit heavy, though my son wasn't able to make the highchair move, so this is maybe a plus. As much as I like the look, it does mark very easily, and already has a few scratches. For the price, I think it’s good value for money, as it looks and feels well made. It is very easy to put together, as the instructions were simple and the bulk of assembly was done.
Would you choose this product to win?
I personally wouldn't choose this product. I think that it should come with an insert, as I had to put a cushion behind my son as he kept banging his head off of the back. The inserts are available to purchase online at around £14.99, and are mentioned in the letter from the company – but it would be better if these were included, as I just didn't feel that my son was comfortable in the highchair. There is also no T-bar, so my son slid forward quite a few times, and had the strap not been done up, he would have fallen out.
What changes would you make to this product?
If the insert were included, this would be a big selling point to me, as it would mean that my son would be much more comfortable, and would give me more peace of mind when he’s sitting in it.