Made from solid rubberwood - an attractive light coloured wood that is also sustainable – the East Coast Nursery Folding Highchair feels like a proper piece of quality furniture that's designed to last, rather than a piece of throwaway plastic you'll be itching to hide in a corner.
What we loved
As the name suggests, one of the East Coast Nursery Folding Highchair’s major plus points is the way it folds flat in a jiffy. Simply pull the release knobs, flip the tray table over the top so it sits flat against the chair back, release the catch underneath and fold - as you would any conventional folding chair- by lifting the seat. It takes literally seconds, and means the chair could be propped in a corner when not in use, stowed as a spare or moved from room to room.
If you wish, you can also leave the tray folded back, so baby can eat with you at the grown-ups' table. (You can't, however, fold the tray back over baby's head unless you take him or her out first.)
My son Elliot seemed very content sitting in the chair. We also tried the chair out with a wipe-clean cushion insert, an optional extra. I loved the retro red circle pattern, and Elliot seemed to enjoy the added padded comfort.
Wiping the chair clean was very easy, while the cushion can simply be rinsed under the tap.
Finally, it's nice to be able to support a homegrown British company.
What to look out for
While still a great buy, I felt the highchair was let down by its fiddly 5-point harness. Though secure, it felt a little cheap. I found it particularly difficult to master doing up the central waist catch, though this got easier with practice. The straps also felt on the short side, even when let out almost as far as they would go. Obviously the harness must be used all the time, however as there's no 'crotch divider' on the seat, you'll want to do it up quickly or baby could potentially slip onto the floor.
This is a one-size fits all model without adjustable seat position, tray position or height. Getting into the fairly slim gap between tray and seat might be a struggle for bigger babies.
While solid wood looks fantastic, it means the chair is quite heavy to carry around.
The tray table doesn't detach for hand or dishwasher washing (as you'll find on some chairs), so you'll have to rely on sponges and soapy water to stop it turning into a germ-breeding ground – which may be an issue for the cleaning-obsessed parents amongst you.
Who is the East Coast Nursery Folding Highchair best for?
Fans of simple, timeless style – its classic wooden looks will never date.
The East Coast Nursery Folding Highchair is a lovely classic wooden design, from a British-based company at a good price. It's sturdy, easy to clean and folds up very easily though its neat proportions might make it a little snug for very large babies. An easier-to-use harness would make it a real winner.
