Baby Bjorn constructed the Appetite following five years of independent study and research involving paediatricians, parents, children and designers. Basically, Baby Bjorn wanted to make sure it got the product just right.
The moulded seat is curved and perfectly fitted the back of Nathaniel, my 7-month-old son, and the footrest was also just at the right height, which is a bonus, as for so many of these products you have to wait for months for your baby to grow into it. The white tray is smoothly rounded to avoid any sharp edges and negates the need for a harness – its pillar locks between your baby's legs and the tray curves around to stop them falling sideways.
What we love
Upon opening the packaging, I loved the sleek look of the Baby Bjorn Appetite. So often highchairs can just look like lumps of plastic, but the chic white and black styling looked perfect in my dining room.
At first I was worried about the lack of harness, but after putting Nathaniel into it, I was surprised to see that he was totally secure and there was no way he could escape or pull the tray down.
Placing Nathaniel into the Appetite highchair was so easy. I didn't need to lift him very high at all, so there was no strain on my back. The lack of harness also meant that Nathaniel didn't feel penned in and meal times were a lot least fraught. He was also quite happy to sit and play after he had finished feeding.
As the seat was moulded into a curve it was great for helping Nathaniel sit up straight. So often highchairs swamp young babies and only come into their own when your baby reaches 18 months. In his usual highchair, Nathaniel usually slumps to one side and I spend a long time sitting him up straight, however, the Appetite had him sitting bolt upright the whole time.
The Baby Bjorn Appetite highchair was very easy to fold and the back of the chair made a great carry handle. It also folds up very flat, so would be great for taking on holiday or easy to store in between meals at home.
What to watch out for
Although Nathaniel was perfectly secure in the Baby Bjorn Appetite, I think that a lot of parents will be put off by the lack of restraint.
The highchair’s lifespan is dependent on your child's weight, but the average age where it would be unsuitable is 2, and some toddlers won't be ready at that stage to move into a normal dining chair. I probably would end up having to buy another chair for Nathaniel.
While there are only three buttons/knobs to work the Baby Bjorn Appetite, it was a bit fiddly until I got the knack and this made me worry about the lack of harness more.
Nathaniel was notorious for throwing his head back when he first sat in his previous highchair and I was worried that he would hurt himself or become uncomfortable quickly because of the lack of padding on and around the seat.
Lastly, although the food tray was adjustable, when it was positioned right next to Nathaniel there was no room to reach his back and I did panic when he choked on some food that I couldn't reach to help him.
Who is the Baby Bjorn Appetite highchair best for?
Style-savvy parents who want a trendy highchair that can easily fold and be taken on holiday.
Once you get over the fact that it doesn't have a harness, the Baby Bjorn Appetite is a great, on-trend highchair that will support your baby from a young age and has plenty of desirable features. However, its small size and hard surfaces mean you'll probably end up shelling out for another highchair before your child is ready to eat at the table on an adult chair.
