Weaning my son was one of my favourite milestones and as soon as he started grabbing food from our plates, we started our search for the perfect highchair. We wanted something that would suit our kitchen – I couldn’t bear the idea of a plastic monstrosity detracting from its sleek and modern design! The Bloom Fresco Contemporary Baby Chair was perfect – and it complimented my dining chairs!
The Bloom Fresco has been awarded a range of design and innovation awards, including The Netherlands Best Baby & Infant Product 2009.
What we love
The space-age design of the Bloom Fresco is simply stunning – better looking than any other highchair I’ve seen. There’s a 5-point padded safety harness with adjustable shoulders, so your baby is really secure and it swivels 360 degrees, which is great for getting your baby in and out or for a better feeding position.
There’s a pneumatic-assist device for raising (up to 104cm) and lowering (93cm) the chair so it can be easily adapted to various tables or countertops. The new Loft version can be extended up to 116cm, so it’s perfect if your kitchen has a breakfast bar. And there’s also the 3-position footrest that can be adjusted for a comfy sitting position, whatever your child’s age.
The really unique thing about this highchair is that it’s suitable for newborns. The seat has three recline positions, so if you buy a Bloom Snug (£25) it can be used as a cute cocoon-like daytime bed for little ones. As your child grows you can remove the tray and use the chair at the table. My 2-year-old is using his Bloom Fresco like this at the moment and it’s ideal for eating, playing and drawing.
The Bloom Fresco comes with two trays – a super-sized feeding tray (perfect for finger foods or when your toddler is learning to feed himself) as well as a small play tray. Both can be easily removed and are dishwasher safe.
There are two seat cover options: micro-suede (£39) or leatherette (£59). Both can be wiped clean and come in a huge range of vibrant colours that will suit any home.
Because the Bloom Fresco Contemporary Baby Chair is so versatile, it is a pricey option – it’s recommended retail price is £270, which will include one micro-suede seat cover - but you’ll be able to use it until your child is around 4 years old (or up to 36kg).
What to watch out for
At 13.8kg this is a heavy highchair and although it has wheels in the base, I find it difficult to move. The Fresco Bloom’s wide base (68cm) means it takes up a lot of floor space and because it’s so big and bulky you can’t put it away when it’s not in use. Getting the seat to recline is also a bit tricky.
Although the seat cover is wipe-clean, it does start to look a bit grubby and faded after a while. However, replacement covers are available. It’s also quite fiddly to take seat cover and the safety straps off if you want to give the Bloom Fresco a good clean.
The £270 price tag may be off-putting. But, the Bloom Fresco is hard to beat in the style stakes.
Who is the Bloom Fresco Contemporary Baby Chair best for?
Design-conscious parents after a highchair so stylish they’ll be happy to keep it on show for years.
Beautifully designed, the Bloom Fresco Contemporary Baby Chair has a wide range of features that allow it to cater for baby, toddler and preschooler. However, it is bulky and difficult to move, so you’ll need to love the look – and have the space – to keep the Bloom in full view.
