High chair safety: an Australian checklist

A high chair feels like a simple piece of furniture. It is actually a seat at height, with a wriggling child, hot food, hard floors and a tray that looks like a ladder. Falls and choking are the main risks, and most are preventable.

This guide covers when to start using a high chair, what to look for, how to set it up and the habits that keep mealtimes safe. It is general information, not a product endorsement.

When is your baby ready?#

Wait until your baby can sit upright with good head and neck control, usually around six months. That is also around the time they show signs of readiness for solid food. Do not start using a high chair before four months.

A reclined high chair is not a safe sleep space. If your baby falls asleep in the chair, move them to a firm, flat surface. The same applies to bouncers, swings and car seats: they are not beds.

If your baby was premature or has developmental concerns, ask your child and family health nurse or GP about readiness.

What to look for when buying#

In Australia, look for a high chair that states it meets the Australian Standard AS 4684. The standard covers stability, restraint systems, gaps, locking mechanisms and labelling. If a seller cannot confirm compliance, choose another chair.

Key features:

• Five-point harness with shoulder, hip and crotch straps. The crotch post or strap is essential to stop your child sliding out.
• Stable, wide base that does not tip when your child leans or pushes against the table.
• Lockable wheels, or no wheels at all. If it has wheels, they should lock securely.
• Folding lock that clicks firmly into place and cannot be knocked loose.
• No dangerous gaps where fingers, toes or a head could get trapped.
• Adjustable footrest so your child's feet are supported. This is better for posture and comfort.
• Easy-to-clean surfaces with no deep crevices where food and allergens hide.
• A tray that locks and does not collapse or detach easily.

You do not need every feature. You do need a stable chair, a proper harness and a design that suits your child and your kitchen.

Setting it up safely#

Where you put the chair matters as much as what you buy.

• Place it on a flat, stable floor, not on a rug that slides or an uneven surface.
• Lock the wheels every time.
• Keep it away from walls, benches and cupboards so your child cannot push off and tip the chair.
• Keep it away from curtain and blind cords, electrical appliances, hot drinks and the stove.
• Do not put the chair on a table, bench or raised platform.
• Keep it away from pools, stairs and balconies.
• Make sure the tray is properly attached before you put your child in.

If the chair folds, check that it is locked into position before every use. A chair that collapses with a child in it can cause serious injury.

The harness rule#

Strap your child in every time, even for a quick snack. It only takes a second for a child to stand up or climb out.

The harness should be snug but not tight. You should be able to fit two fingers between the strap and your child's chest, but not more. The crotch strap should be between the legs, not to one side. Check that the buckle is fully clicked in.

Do not use the tray as a restraint. It is not designed to hold your child in, and a child can push against it or slip under it.

If your child hates the harness, be consistent. A calm "we wear the belt in the chair" every time is more effective than negotiating. If the harness is uncomfortable, check the fit and padding rather than loosening it.

Feeding safely#

A high chair should support your child in an upright, comfortable position. Their hips, knees and ankles should be at roughly right angles if possible, with feet supported.

Choking is a real risk in young children. To reduce it:

• Sit your child upright, not reclined, for meals.
• Supervise every meal and snack.
• Cut food into small pieces and avoid tough, round or sticky foods.
• Do not give whole grapes, whole nuts, popcorn, hard raw carrot or large chunks of apple to a young child.
• Do not let your child eat while running, crawling, lying down or in the car.
• Keep small objects, magnets and button batteries away from the tray.
• Learn infant and child choking first aid. A course from a recognised provider is worth the time.

Our guides to starting solids and baby-led weaning cover food shapes, gagging versus choking and allergen introduction.

What not to do#

• Do not leave your child unattended in a high chair.
• Do not let an older sibling climb on the chair or hang off the tray.
• Do not move the chair with your child in it.
• Do not let your child stand in the chair.
• Do not use the high chair as a babysitter, sleep space or TV seat for long periods.
• Do not put hot food or drinks on the tray within your child's reach.
• Do not use a broken or incomplete harness.
• Do not use a hook-on chair on a glass table, tablecloth or folding table.

Second-hand and hand-me-down chairs#

A second-hand high chair can be fine, but check it carefully.

• Look up the model on the Product Safety Australia recalls list.
• Check for the AS 4684 label or the manufacturer's compliance statement.
• Inspect the harness, buckles and straps for fraying, cracks or missing parts.
• Check the frame, joints and folding mechanism for cracks, bends or loose screws.
• Test the stability: does it tip when you press on one side?
• Check the wheel locks and the tray attachment.
• Ask for the manual. If it is missing, look it up online.
• Clean it thoroughly, including the crevices, before use.

If the chair is missing parts, has a damaged harness or wobbles, do not use it. You cannot always buy replacement parts, and a makeshift repair is not worth the risk.

Recalls and repairs#

Check the Product Safety Australia website for recalls before you buy or use a high chair, especially a second-hand one. Register your product with the manufacturer if you can, so you receive safety notices.

If a chair is recalled, stop using it immediately and follow the recall instructions. Do not pass it on to someone else.

Common mistakes#

• Not using the harness for "just a minute".
• Leaving the wheels unlocked on a tiled floor.
• Placing the chair next to a bench so the child can push off.
• Letting a child stand or climb in the chair.
• Using the tray as a restraint.
• Putting the chair on a table or uneven surface.
• Using a second-hand chair without checking recalls and parts.
• Leaving hot drinks within reach.
• Letting a child sleep in the chair.

When to get help#

Call 000 if your child:

• falls from the chair and is unconscious, drowsy, vomiting repeatedly or has a seizure
• is choking and cannot breathe, cough or cry
• has a head injury with clear fluid or blood from the nose or ear
• has a suspected broken bone or a limb that looks deformed

For a bump or a minor fall, monitor your child and seek medical advice if they become sleepy, vomit, have a headache that gets worse, or you are worried. For a baby under 12 months, a fall from a height should be checked by a doctor.

For urgent advice when it is not an emergency, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

The bottom line#

A high chair is safe when it is stable, compliant, set up well and used with a five-point harness every time. Keep it away from benches, cords and hot food, supervise meals and learn choking first aid. Check second-hand chairs for recalls and missing parts. The best chair is not the most expensive one. It is the one you can use safely, every day.