Trying to design a highchair that will last 12 years may seem foolish, but Mamas & Papas have made a pretty good attempt. It may lack the classic simplicity of certain wooden highchairs, but it offers clean modern lines and great versatility.
For feeding times from weaning to 12 years, the Mamas & Papas Nuna highchair can certainly claim longevity and with its modernistic design it could still look at home in the house of the future. For babies starting out on the road to weaning it is used with the seat pad, harness and tray in place, all of which can be wiped clean with ease. Without the seat pad it’s predominantly white plastic with U-shaped aluminium legs, giving it a look reminiscent of a school or restaurant chair.
What we love
The fact that this can be used for more than just a couple of years makes the relatively high price look like better value, and it will sort out your seating arrangements for years to come. The tray and restraint are easy to remove and attach the seat pad, which is contoured to the exact shape of the seat, is generously padded without being squishy. Because the seat pad is all one unit, there are no seams and creases for food to get stuck in and the seat itself is also easy to wipe clean. The pad goes down to just above normal height, perfect for when your child is at that stage when he’s too big for a booster but not quite big enough to sit on a standard height chair.
The easy-glide raising mechanism is reminiscent of an office chair and adds to the air of modernity. For meals en famille, the tray is easily removed so your baby can take his place at the table. As he grows, the padding can be removed to give him more space, and when he’s mastered the art of sitting still and being a big boy, you can remove the restraint and harness, lower the seat and let him join in family meals at the optimum height. It comes in vibrant blue and orange or a more subtle olive green with yellow tray, so there’s sure to be a colour that suits your home.
What to watch out for
The seat may be a relatively compact size, but it’s not collapsible so will always be out on display and the expanses of white plastic on show when the seat pad is removed may be a little off-putting. Weighing in at 10kg, it’s no lightweight, so can be a pain to move around and because the seat pad is plastic, it could get a bit sweaty for your little one on hot days. The footrest is way too small to be of much use. Do bear in mind that if you’ve bought this to last 12 years, and you have a second child 2-3 years down the line, your eldest won’t want to part with his seat, so you may have to go and buy another! Also, it may well fit with your décor now, but will it still look good years down the line? At just under £200, it’s not cheap, so be sure you’re going to get full use out of it before splashing the cash.
Who is the Mamas & Papas Nuna best for?
Modern parents looking to the future.
An innovative highchair with a chunky modernistic look, the Nuna is built to last much longer than most, but whether you’ll want to give it house room for that long depends on how much you like the look of this chair. It’s clever but we’re not convinced it’s the design classic it needs to be given its longevity.
