Red Kite Feed Me Comfy review

The Red Kite Feed Me Comfy highchair is wooden, and has a 5-point harness and padded back and seat cushions, that can be removed when your child is older and doesn’t need them. There are rows of slots on the inside of the legs for the seat and the leg rest to slide into. As your child grows, you can move the seat, the leg rest, or both, to find the ideal sitting position for his age and abilities. There’s also a removable front bar for added security for small babies.

What we love

This is a real investment purchase: because the seat and leg rest can be adjusted to so many different levels, the Red Kite Feed Me Comfy grows with your child and it can even be used by adults. I’ve got one for my 6-year-old and he sits on it to draw and play with plasticine as well as at mealtimes.

The design of the seat also encourages good posture – it has a very upright backrest and the footrest makes sure your child’s legs don’t dangle. There are other ‘grow-with-your-child’ chairs around, but this one is considerably cheaper and seems really good value for money.

The padded seat and back cushions make the seat more cosy and stop your child sliding around on the seat. They’re easy to take on and off for washing, but could do with being a darker colour as they got a bit stained by all that bright orange baby food!

The Red Kite Feed Me Comfy looks attractive, and feels like a nice addition to your kitchen furniture, rather than a bulky necessity that you look forward to getting rid of, like other highchairs.

When you take the front bar off, it can slide neatly under the table so that it doesn’t get in the way, and the footrest also acts like a step, so that a toddler can easily climb in and out of the seat independently. Jamie, 16 months, loves the fact that he can get into his chair himself, and often comes and joins in with his older brothers when they’re eating snacks or drawing at the table, then jumps down to follow them when they’re finished. Great for me, as it saves me having to heave him in and out every time he fancies a change of scene!

The four legs of the Red Kite Feed Me Comfy highchair are angled so that it has a wide base, making it sturdy and extremely difficult to tip. Jamie tends to grab the edge of the kitchen table and push himself backwards, but I feel confident that he won’t tip over in this seat.

The smooth, polished wood is easy to wipe clean, and there are no nooks and crannies for dried food to get stuck in.

What to watch out for

The optional baby bar is a strange shape – it’s not big enough to be a tray, but too big to allow the chair to be pulled up to the table, so it really just gets in the way. The seat also doesn’t fold down for storage – it’s designed to be a permanent piece of furniture like the other chairs in your home – so don’t go for it if you’re short of space or want to move it around a lot. Having said that, the Red Kite Feed Me Comfy is not as bulky as a highchair with a permanent tray, and can slide neatly under most tables.

Because the cushions are fabric, and not plastic coated like the padded bits of most highchairs, they can’t really be wiped clean. This means that when they get covered in food – which is pretty often – they need to go in the washing machine every time. Not a huge problem, as they come off easily, but I gave up on the cushions quite quickly and now just use the Red Kite Feed Me Comfy without them.

Who is the Red Kite Feed Me Comfy best for?

Families who want their baby to join in at mealtimes, or independent toddlers.

MadeForMums verdict

A well-made, sturdy seat that’s great value for money and will last for years. The Red Kite Feed Me Comfy’s adjustability means it can change as your child’s needs do, and the padded seat and back cushions add comfort if you want it. It's an attractive wooden addition to your kitchen, but it’s not for those looking for a fold-away option.