Ikea feeding chairs
With the birth of a child in the family, not only great joy should appear, but also new amenities designed for the needs of the baby. Its capabilities and level of development do not yet allow the use of ordinary adult furniture, so parents have to specifically buy children's counterparts, and even completely atypical furniture for adults.
Among such specific furniture in recent years, high chairs have become very popular, in appearance and specific purpose, markedly different from ordinary adult chairs.
Of course, such a huge giant of the furniture industry, like Ikea, absolutely could not get past this type of product and presented its own vision.
When and for what is needed baby chair?
Already from the name it becomes obvious that such a stool is designed to simplify the feeding of a child, but if the parents have never seen such and have not heard anything about him, they may quite reasonably think about why he is needed. This is a relatively new invention - it means that quite recently people somehow managed without such a piece of furniture.
To be honest, now it seems just amazing why such a construction was not invented earlier, because it radically simplifies the life of the mother in terms of feeding the baby. Because of their age, babies are generally not very prone to disciplined behavior; they do not always feel hungry right now to eat immediately, although this is good for health.
In addition, they are distracted and interested in many other objects that you definitely want to touch, but the insufficiently developed motor movements contribute, perhaps, to an overturned plate and a spoon that constantly drops out of my mother's hands. As a result, it is still unclear which porridge will be more - eaten or upset, but the latter will lead to the fact that the child will remain hungry, and even soils his clothes.
The situation would have been greatly simplified if the child had been securely fixed, while the mother had both hands free. It was with the thought of this that the creators of this invention worked their first highchair. It looks very simple - it is a small seat, designed for maximum comfort of the baby, which at the same time reliably fixes it in place using special durable straps, armrests, backrest, and so on.
The maximum that a child can afford in such a high chair is to spin in place, but he is completely incapable of falling out, as well as knocking over the entire structure.
This allows the mother to keep the plate at a sufficient distance from the baby so that he does not knock it over, leaving one hand completely free to control the child's behavior.
In addition, high chairs are usually high enough so that even a baby can comfortably eat at a table with parents. So, first of all, he gets used to family meals and learn the rules of etiquette from an early age, and secondly, it is useful from the point of view of family relations.
At the same time, no one forces parents to imprison a child who is not yet ready for this turn of events at the common table most models are equipped with a special removable table top, turning a stool actually into a full-fledged set of children's furniture for meals.
If we talk about the potential timing of such a chair, they are quite extensive and may differ depending on the specific model and the individual characteristics of the child.
The lower age limit is usually limited to six months old. - Many mothers would have enjoyed using such an accessory before, but for its effective use it is necessary that the child already know how to sit at least a little. In addition, at an earlier age, due to the relatively weak motor activity, feeding the baby is still not so complicated.
As for the upper age limits, they are usually limited only by the size of the seat - while the child fits comfortably on it, the product remains useful..
Of course, it hardly makes sense to feed a child of 4-5 years old specifically on such a high chair, but his design with a tabletop allows you to do other interesting things - for example, to draw, look at picture books or even play with small toys.
When a mother is busy with some household chores, but she still does not want to leave the child alone, she can take him with her to the same kitchen and put him in such a high chair — even without watching the baby continuously, she will know that he has not fallen, did not hit and did not do anything stupid.
The upper limit for the use of high chairs is 4-5 yearsHowever, if the model is chosen in such a way that it becomes uncomfortable for the child to sit in it even earlier, then it’s time to stop using it.
Benefits
On the modern market there are hundreds and thousands of different models from dozens of manufacturers from all over the world; it’s worth finding out why some consumers choose Ikea products.
In addition to the fact that it is simply a well-known company, which theoretically should make a quality product (it has reached such a size thanks to a certain quality of its products), there are a number of other advantages.
We consider them on the example of a model called "Antelope", since at present this is the only model of high chairs, which are still produced by the Swedish industrial giant.
In the ads for the sale of used furniture can be found and references to the model "Leopard"However, the company no longer produces such chairs, and they gradually disappear.
It should be immediately clarified that Ikea should not expect some incredibly aesthetic design - the Swedes believe that there is no more attractive style than strict minimalism.
This chair is quite easy to enter into any interior, since it is almost not noticeable, but if you expect it to add comfort to the room, then it is in vain.
Nevertheless, it copes with its main task perfectly well, and in comparison with many other models it provides the following advantages:
Security
The main feature is widely spaced legs, ensuring one hundred percent stability of the structure. The child can rotate on the seat as it will be convenient for him - the ends of the legs are located far beyond the perimeter of the seat, so it is simply unrealistic to tip the product. True, it slightly reduces the safety of adults, who are unaccustomed to, without looking at their feet, will definitely stumble over this furniture, but here you just need to get used to it.
Product equipped with a special inguinal wall in front, as well as fixation beltsso that the baby will not voluntarily or accidentally leave its place. Finally, the design is designed in such a way that it does not have sharp corners and other traumatic surfaces or parts.
Compactness
Unlike a huge number of analogs, the Antelope weighs very little, which allows you to effortlessly transport it around the apartment when needed.There is another clear advantage in this: since older people will often stumble about it, it is better for them that the chair “flies” to the side when confronted, and not stand an incalculable obstacle on the way. At the same time, despite the widely spaced legs, the chair takes up quite a bit of space, and, according to consumer reviews, it can be placed in almost any angle.
Although the legs of the chair are long and widely spaced, the manufacturer has provided the possibility of their unfastening - the product is much easier to be disassembled in a private car.
Ease of care
Antelope is almost a single piece of perfectly smooth plastic. This means that any spilled food, as well as any kind of dirt, have no chance to linger - they simply have nowhere to clog. Plastic, of course, does not absorb any dirtbut it is perfectly wiped with a simple movement of a rag. The cover, if you also bought it, is picky in the wash, and it easily “releases” most types of stains.
Ability to complete at its own discretion
On the official website, you can purchase a minimum complete set of Antelope, consisting exclusively of one plastic high chair - this will ensure the utmost cheapness of the product without the cost of components that may not be useful, but if necessary can be purchased later.
These include, first of all, a removable tabletop, which is not necessarily necessary if the parents realized that it was so late that the child could already eat at the table with the parents - it is sold both separately and in a set with a high chair. Another important component is a special pillow, “hugging” the baby from the back and from the sides, which makes his stay on the chair more comfortable.
However, consumers note that it still does not close the seat itself, so the high chair is hardly designed to stay too long in it. In addition, due to the peculiarities of its location, such a pillow limits the seating space, therefore, it will have to be removed by a half to two years.
Cost of
Not the last role as an incentive for choosing in favor of the highchair for feeding Antelopes also plays a price, which favorably distinguishes it from many competitors produced by other eminent firms. The minimum grade will cost a thousand rubles for parents, another two hundred will have to be added to buy a table top (both separately and in a set - the price is the same).
The pillow will cost another four hundred rubles, but just over a thousand and a half is not such a high price for the comfort and safety of the child, coupled with the convenience for the mother.
Range
To be honest, the choice of feeding chairs presented on the Ikea official website at the beginning of 2018 is difficult to call an assortment, because there is only one product model in two different trim levels, as well as two accessories to it, which can be purchased separately.
Model, as you already understood - Antelope, the simplest high dining chair for a child. Sold in two versions - either with a table top, or so far without it. Such a chair is folding, in the sense that the legs can be completely unfastened for ease of transport, but it does not allow height adjustment. The last point should be especially taken into account if it is planned to plant a child in such a chair at a common table with adults - it is not necessary that the baby will be comfortable.
The table top is sold both separately and complete with a high chair. It is also a very simple minimalist design, supplemented with a special rimthat do not allow liquid to spill out — however, rather low, so it’s best not to spill anything.
Finally, you can separately purchase a cover-pillow called Putytig. Its peculiarity is that it is filled with air - in other words, product volume can be adjusted so that it is most convenient for the child.
Materials, sizes and colors
If you are a supporter of exclusively natural materials, and want to buy a wooden highchair, then Ikea Antelope is definitely not a product for your child. Natural wood is not present here at all - most parts are of synthetic origin, most of which is polypropylene, and from a relatively natural materials can be distinguished except steel, which reinforced the legs of the product.
However, perhaps you should not scold so much the modern industry, which is too fixated on synthetics - Sweden, like any other European country, is very careful about the maximum ecological purity of its products, so even synthetic products of Swedish companies should inspire consumer confidence. The pillow, by the way, is also synthetic - from polyester and polyethylene vinyl acetate.
The legs of the product have a spread of 58 by 62 centimeters, while the seat will be somewhat smaller - especially considering that it is also limited by the cushion, fixing belts, and armrests. The height of the chair as a whole is 90 centimeterswhich is convenient for sitting at a real table, and it doesn’t force mom to lean too far down to feed the baby.
Worktop - square, its dimensions are 42 to 42 centimetersand the thickness is 4 centimeters, which is enough for the child not to break the design with his pranks. It is rather difficult to describe the dimensions of the pillow, since its shape cannot be called correct, and it is also inflated, however, the manufacturer claims its dimensions are 92 by 39 centimeters, while the thickness is determined by the degree of filling with air.
Color diversity, by the way, is also completely absent. Minimalistic Swedes decided that the highchair should not distract the child from the main process - eating, therefore in the assortment it is white and only white. The same can be said about the table top.
A certain variety is introduced perhaps by the pillow - although it is produced in a single color variant, but here the manufacturer at least used three different colors. In the front (inside the seat), such a pillow is painted in a small horizontal strip of white and blue, the back is similar, but instead of blue stripes there are red.
Reviews
Honestly, it is not so often possible to find a product, reviews of which would be so opposite, as about the chair Ikea Antelope. Perhaps this diversity of opinions is caused by the fact that the consumer is guided by the convenience of his own child, but each baby is individual, so someone likes literally everything, and someone considers this purchase a waste of money.
To take even the appearance - some believe that the underlined minimalism is only a plus, making, in general, a temporary kitchen accessory not too catchy, but others openly swear, calling the design tasteless and devoid of the slightest imagination - childhood should definitely be brighter .
Also the lack of a soft case directly under the booty it also becomes a matter of controversy - some like it, because it allows even less time and effort to spend on cleaning up cleanliness and order, while others point out that this is a significant minus for the child, and, at least, does not contribute to long-term use of the product.
Criticism impossibility of precise seat height adjustment It seems quite reasonable, because good children's furniture, as a rule, should be able to perfectly adapt to the current dimensions of an ever-growing baby, and in this case also to the dimensions of an adult table, at which the baby will probably eat with everyone.
Oddly enough, the developers of the Swedish company for some reason completely ignored this moment. At the same time, in many positive reviews there is no mention of this at all - perhaps these parents simply use the tabletop from the kit, so they do not experience discomfort due to the inflexibility of the model.
Even the cost has become a subject of debate, because there are noticeably cheaper domestic models; At the same time, among well-known Western (and not Chinese) brands, this offer seems to be very profitable.
In the next video, you will find an overview of the Ikea Antelope highchair.