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Infant in a high chair

A high chair is a piece of furniture used for feeding older babies and younger toddlers. The seat is raised a fair distance from the ground, so that a person of adult height may spoon-feed the child comfortably from a standing position (hence the name). It often has a wide base with splayed out legs like a trapezoid to increase stability. There is a tray which is attached to the arms of the high chair, which allows the adult to place the food on it for either the child to pick up and eat or for the food to be spoon-fed to them. There is usually some strap or harness to restrict movement and reduce the risk of injury.

Typically, the tray or table is made to detach for ease while cleaning.

A booster seat can be considered a form of highchair, and is meant to be used with a regular chair to boost the height of a child sufficiently. Some boosters are a simple monolithic piece of plastic. Others are more complex and are designed to fold up compactly and include a detachable tray.

Highchairs can come in a range of more aesthetic-leaning and/or utilitarian forms.

Etymology

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The term high chair comes from the adjective high: how a person sitting in this type of furnishing would be elevated. The first recorded use of the word can be seen in 1848.[1]

History

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Older highchair design with no tray or restraints
 
Tripptrapp high chair designed by Peter Opsvik

17th & 18th Century

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While Nanna Ditzel is usually seen as the first high chair designer, it has a history that goes decades in the past. The first example of a high chair can be seen through a walnut high chair dated from the 17th century.[2] This design only featured a wooden bar to keep the child secure and notably has a lot of similar design elements to more modern high chairs. Not every past high chair shared this design though as seen through an 18th century model which emulated general chairs.[3] This chair shares the wooden material but notably has a much less secure design for the infant or child seated in it.

It is unclear where the first high chair originated from. However, its history in America can be traced back to Windsor chairs.[4] In the 1760's, Windsor chairs sold in Philadelphia were advertised to be "fit for piazzas or gardens, childrens dining and low chairs."[5] Early high chairs resemble the writing-arm category of Windsor chairs: the cut-out silhouette and attached bracket arm were deemed useful for securing an infant.[4]

1900s

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1940 Gerrit Rietveld's Zig-Zag High Chair was created.[6] Interestingly, this chair has a more geometric design which originates from a desire to create a chair out of folding a single material. Despite the more odd design the Zig-Zag High Chair functions as well as any other past high chair with even a tray for eating or playing.

1955 Nanna Ditzel, Danish designer, created the Children's High Chair.[7] This design notably is much rounder and less chair like than past iterations. It also has a heavy focus on keeping Infants seated in it secure and unable to slip out easily.

1972 showcases a notable design with Peter Opsvik's Tripp Trapp Chair.[8] Inspired by the Zig-Zag High Chair, the Tripp Trapp takes the bent design and adds an adjustable seat and footrest to make a versatile chair. This allows the chair to not only be used by infants and children, but older children could even use the chair by adjusting the seat or removing the footrest.

2000s - Present

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A modern plastic highchair

By the 2000s high chairs have become much more mass produced with many companies producing high chairs embracing a plastic design. This resulted in the plastic high chair becoming the most common type of high chair on the market.

2005 Maartje Steenkamp created a very interactive high chair design with the Mother-Child Dining chair.[9] This high chair is actually a fusion of both a high chair and an adult chair which resulted in a far more dynamic way to feed your child. It not only has a minimalistic design to allow the child comfort, but it focuses on making the feeding experience far more intimate then a general feeding.

Purpose

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High chairs are mainly used in familial settings, households, or in places where children reside and develop during adolescence. Most high chairs are used for feeding children of varying ages, typically those who cannot feed themselves yet. The seat base portion is typically situated at the same height of an average adult so that the latter can comfortably spoon-feed the child. Food can be placed on the tray for the child’s self-feeding or play.

High chairs are not just used for feeding. It can also be used to secure the infant under the supervision of guardian(s) while the latter work on other activities.

High chairs are offered in most public establishments, such as restaurants, for the ease of the guardian and infant while they are away from home. Booster seats are sometimes found in movie theaters.

Design and construction

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High chairs can vary in size and style. They often have a wide base to increase stability. The frame of high chairs is usually constructed of metal (typically steel) or plastic tubing, or wood. The chair portion is measured and carved to situate an infant body. Cushion can be added to increase the infant’s comfort. The seat cover is made of a type of fabric, depending on the user's preference. Most harnesses are made of nylon. The front tray is normally made of plastic or wood. Some components of the high chair are not machine washable.

Often accompanying the seat is a booster chair. It is meant to be used with a regular chair to boost the height of a child sufficiently. Some boosters are a simple monolithic piece of plastic. Others are more complex and are designed to fold up and include a detachable tray.

There are models of high chairs that include a breaking and locking mechanism which may include wheel locks[10]. Recent models of high chairs are foldable for ease of transport and storage.

Notable examples

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Tripp Trapp

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The Tripp Trapp designed by Peter Opsvik

The Tripp Trapp was invented by designer Peter Opsvik in 1972.[11] Today, the chairs are manufactured and sold by Stokke. The high chair is constructed of wood available in different shades. It is composed of a slanted frame (resembling an upside-down number seven). A curved back rest is attached to the two legs of the Tripp Trapp at the topmost portion. The base is widen and reinforced by wooden bars and metal cross bars. There are grooves along the legs of the high chair allowing for customized seat and footrest placements. Additional features to the Tripp Trapp are the seat padding (named the 'Baby Set' by Stokke), storage tray, and five-point harness system.[12]

The attraction of the Tripp Trapp, according to Stokke, is in its height-adjustable features which allow the high chair to adapt to users of varying ages: from infancy to adulthood.[12]

ANTILOP

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The ANTILOP high chair was developed by engineer John Forsén for IKEA.[13] Its primary structure consists of four wide-angled, steel legs (resembling an antelope, hence the name) which are connected to a plastic seat and tray. A three-point harness and center seat post are included with the high chair as safety measures. The parts of the ANTILOP high chair are detachable.[13]

Edwardian Metamorphic High Chair

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The Edwardian Metamorphic high chair is a wooden antique chair for infants. The chair has an ornamentalist design, and was created in the 19th century. It has a polished finish to keep the wood smooth and from splintering, as well as giving it a clean aesthetic look.

The antique chair has a system of cast iron bars with hinges, to allow the chair to convert into a variety of chairs. The chair includes a wooden food tray, and is bolted with metal beads around the tray for style. A foot rest is included in the mid section of the legs for the child to rest their feet. The backrest is sometimes woven, or has holes drilled in the back of the wood to make a pattern. The chair is completed with cast iron wheels for easy movability.

By turning the base forward and up from the hinges, by the footrest, whilst pushing down, once the hinges aren't locked in place. The back and front legs will spread away from each other, to put the chair in a lower position. In another case, the chair can be brought all the way down to the point the legs no longer sit on the wheels. Rather sitting in a bowed shape position, to allow the chair to become a rocking chair. The convertible features of this chair make it functional in three unique ways. The impeccable and beautiful details to these chairs designs, really reflect the craftsmanship and quality of materials of that time. Its many functions made it economical in space and form, three chairs in one. Each stamped with a number, the start of mass production.[14]

Safety measures

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Restraints

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Standard high chairs include a harness system to secure the infant throughout the duration of use. A five-point harness, consisting of five straps, are typically employed to maximize the child's safety. In the five-point system, two straps are placed over the child's shoulders, two secure their hips while the remaining strap cover the child's crotch. These straps all connect to a buckle which can be pressed to release the harness.

Five-point harnesses are also used for car seats and booster chairs. In an event of a head-on collision, the five-point harness reduces the damage to the child's body by distributing the collision force across a broader surface area. Furthermore, the harness system prevents the child's neck and shoulders from being entangled in the straps in a crash.[15]

Variations such as the two-point, three-point, four-point and six-point harnesses also exist. These harnesses are often made of nylon and plastic.

Base

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A wide-base wooden high chair with cross bars in a Swedish cafe

In order to maximize security for the child, most high chairs are constructed to have a wide base. This is done to prevent the child from toppling the high chair over should they move or climb out of the restraints and seat. Some high chairs are designed to include wide-angled legs (often four) which are further reinforced by cross bars.

Potential accidents

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Due to the height from the ground and lack of restraints in some designs, a high chair could result in child-related head trauma.[16] [17] Lack of supervision while a child is sitting in a high chair can also lead to potential harm.[18]

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, reports that an estimated 40650 high chair related injuries were recorded, to children under the age of four. This was recorded from a five year period alone. A direct quote taken from ScinceDirect “An estimated 5231 injuries (13%) were related to use of an attachable high chair (including booster seats), and an estimated 4067 (10%) were related to the use of a youth chair. The annual rate of injury among children ≤3 years old was 5.3 per 10 000. The mean age was 10 months (median, 1 year); 56% were boys. Ninety-four percent of injuries resulted from a fall from the chair. Most injuries involved the head (44%) or face (39%). Injury diagnoses included contusions or abrasions (36%), lacerations (25%), closed head injury (21%), and fractures (8%). Two percent of injured children, an estimated 941 (95% CI, 399–1487), were admitted to the hospital during the study period, an annual admission rate of 0.1 per 10 000. There were no significant differences between attachable high chairs, youth chairs, and high chairs in anatomic sites of injury, injury diagnosis, or frequency of hospital admission”. #2

Another survey taken at random, was studying 163 families questioning the rate of high chair incidents related to infant and toddler accidents. After the studies, the potential accidents gathered showed scary results in the data. A direct quote taken from the Wiley Online Library, “ Of the 103 infants, 15.5% had sustained a skull fracture, 13.6% a brain concussion, 2.0% limb fractures and 68.9% a simple contusion of the head or lacerations to the scalp or face. The questionnaires were fully completed by 61.2% of parents. Every second family reported that their infant had tried to stand up in the highchair before falling off (only one child had been wearing a restraint). In a further 14.3% of accidents the highchair tipped over. Eighty-seven percent of parents would appreciate a pre-installation of restraints, 54.0% requested more informative instructions for users, and 33.3% asked for products with better stability. The random sample survey revealed a highchair use rate of 92%; 18% of families used highchairs equipped with restraints, and 6% reported highchair accidents sustained by their children”. Almost all of the high chair accidents occurred with restraints uninvolved, since only one child in the study received an injury with the restraints being utilized, shows that the occurrence of this happening are really rare. Restraints being added is still the best viable precaution to date and show great promise to improving the safety of young children and infants. [19] [20]

Safety standards

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The EU standard EN 14988:2017+A1:2020 has been published in 2020 by the European Committee for Standardization.[21] The US standard 83 FR 28358 was proposed in 2018 and later officially ruled in 2019 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission[22][23]

The ASTM-F404-18 has the most up to date safety standards for high chairs to follow strict guidelines for optimal safety. Which meant to be maintained by these rules:

1) High chairs and high chair accessories that have adjustment positions that, per the manufacturer's instructions, are recommended for use only for children able to sit upright unassisted (approximately 6 months of age) or weighing more than 20 lb (9.1 kg).

2) When adjusted into the most onerous manufacturer's recommended use and/or adjustment position for each direction to be tested first referring to reclined seat high chairs.

3) Forward and Sideways Stability— A high chair shall not tip over when setup as defined in 7.7.2.1-7.7.2.3, and then when forces are applied in accordance with 7.7.2.4 and 7.7.2.5.6.5.1.2, described in the ASTM-F404-18 guidelines.

4) Rearward Stability—When setup as defined in 7.7.2.1- 7.7.2.3, and then tested in accordance with 7.7.2.6, the high chair shall have a Rearward Stability Index of 50 or more.6.5.1.3, described in the ASTM-F404-18

5) High chairs and high chair accessories that have adjustment positions that are manufacturer's recommended use positions for use with children who are unable to sit upright unassisted (birth to approximately 6 months of age) or weigh 20 lb (9.1 kg) or less, when adjusted into the most onerous manufacturer's recommended use and/or adjustment position for each direction to be tested, shall not tip over and shall retain the CAMI dummy when tested in accordance with 7.7.3, in the forward, rearward, and sideways directions.6.5.3Stability with Child Climbing into Chair—A high chair shall not tip over when tested in accordance with 7.7.3 [24]

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Highchair Designers

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See also

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  1. ^ "high-chair | Etymology, origin and meaning of high-chair by etymonline". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  2. ^ The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/203703?rpp=20&pg=1&ao=on&ft=%22high+chair%22&pos=5
  3. ^ MFA Boston, Gift of Hollis French 1710 https://collections.mfa.org/objects/38769
  4. ^ a b Stokes, J. Stogdell (1925). "The American Windsor Chair". Bulletin of the Pennsylvania Museum. 21 (98): 47–58. doi:10.2307/3794262. ISSN 0891-3609.
  5. ^ Gillingham, Harrold E. (1931). "The Philadelphia Windsor Chair and Its Journeyings". The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 55 (4): 301–332. ISSN 0031-4587.
  6. ^ Phaidon. (2018). Zig-Zag High Chair. In Design for children (p. 210).
  7. ^ Phaidon. (2018). Children's High Chair. In Design for children (p. 12).
  8. ^ Phaidon. (2018). Tripp Trapp. In Design for children (p. 298).
  9. ^ Phaidon. (2018). Mother-Child Dining. In Design for children (p. 367).
  10. ^ Renno, Shadi (2022-10-22). "Braking and locking system for caster wheels". Google Patents.
  11. ^ Amdam, Rolv Petter; Bjarnar, Ove (2015). "Globalization and the Development of Industrial Clusters: Comparing Two Norwegian Clusters, 1900-2010". The Business History Review. 89 (4): 693–716. ISSN 0007-6805.
  12. ^ a b "Tripp Trapp®". www.stokke.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  13. ^ a b "ANTILOP High chair with tray, white/silver color". IKEA. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  14. ^ "BBC - A History of the World - Object : Edwardian metamorphic child's highchair". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  15. ^ Langino, Adam J.; Kroeger, Leslie M. (2018). "BLINDS SPOTS: IN BOOSTER SEATS". Trial. 54 (1): 40+. Retrieved 2022-10-22 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  16. ^ Powell, Elizabeth C.; Jovtis, Edward; Tanz, Robert R. (2002-07-01). "Incidence and Description of High Chair-Related Injuries to Children". Ambulatory Pediatrics. 2 (4): 276–278. doi:10.1367/1539-4409(2002)002<0276:IADOHC>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1530-1567.
  17. ^ Mayr, J. M.; Seebacher, U.; Schimpl, G.; Fiala, F. (1999). "Highchair accidents". Acta Paediatrica. 88 (3): 319–322. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.1999.tb01104.x. ISSN 1651-2227.
  18. ^ Rachel M. Kurinsky, Lynne M. Rochette, Gary A. Smith, Pediatric Injuries Associated With High Chairs and Chairs in the United States, 2003-2010, Clinical Pediatrics, 10.1177/0009922813510599, 53, 4, (372-379), (2013).
  19. ^ Powell, Elizabeth C.; Jovtis, Edward; Tanz, Robert R. (2002-07-01). "Incidence and Description of High Chair-Related Injuries to Children". Ambulatory Pediatrics. 2 (4): 276–278. doi:10.1367/1539-4409(2002)002<0276:IADOHC>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1530-1567.
  20. ^ Mayr, Jm; Seebacher, U; Schimpl, G; Fiala, F (2007-01-02). "Highchair accidents". Acta Paediatrica. 88 (3): 319–322. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.1999.tb01104.x.
  21. ^ {{cite web url=https://standards.cencenelec.eu/dyn/www/f?p=CEN:110:0::::FSP_PROJECT,FSP_ORG_ID:70817,622709&cs=10A585091A1F6B297599E689B9BB30FB0 title=Children's high chairs - Requirements and test methods date=2020-02-19 publisher=European Committee for Standardization access-date=2022-05-01}}
  22. ^ High chairs. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2018, June 19). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Rulemaking/Final-and-Proposed-Rules/High-Chairs
  23. ^ The Federal Register. Federal Register :: Request Access. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/06/19/2018-12938/safety-standard-for-high-chairs
  24. ^ "Federal Register :: Request Access". unblock.federalregister.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  25. ^ "Child's high chair". MET Museum. 2022-10-22. Retrieved 2022-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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