Out of IKEA’s handful of highchair designs, starting with the well-known £10 Antilop at the bottom and the £50 Leopard at the top, Blames is in IKEA’s higher price bracket, coming in at £45.99. Still pretty good in a market that includes highchairs at the £200 and even £300 price point.
The Blames has a fixed height, and no recline positions, so measure up if you plan to use this for up-to-the-table dining – the seat height is 56cm (the top of the seat back is 93cm). It also doesn’t fold away.
What we love
Aside from the stylish looks, the tray is by far its biggest pro. My 12-month-old baby Gabriel agrees too. Spanning far and wide and tucking right round to both sides, the tray serves to catch all manner of offending food drops. He has plenty of space to dribble around finger foods and play, mush and pinch before slam-dunking a food goal. It could suit mums who are trying the baby-led weaning method, or any mum with a food explorer. And it just pops off when you need to wipe it down.
For older babies like Gabriel, and beyond, you can take the tray away and introduce them to family mealtimes at the table.
What to watch out for
The seat doesn’t include a cushion, but you can purchase a lilo-like blow up support cushion for £5.49.
For me, the main issue is the headrest. When Gabriel has a mealtime meltdown, he throws his head back in disgust resulting in a big bang on the bar – cue more tears followed by a hasty chair ejection. However, Gabriel and I are happy to persevere!
While the safety belt appears immune to little swivelling escapologists, some mums might want to invest in a detachable 5-point safety harness.
This highchair isn’t one that can be folded away after mealtime, so do consider if you have the space/like the look to always have it out.
Who is IKEA Blames highchair best for?
Mums who want a sleek no-fuss highchair that’s easy to assemble, doesn’t pull on the purse strings, and allows babies to explore food to the max.
This highchair is brilliant in its simplicity and because it’s fairly room, it could see your baby through to early toddlerhood. But beware headbangers!
