Tutti Bambini Nova Evolutionary highchair review

Tested by:

Jaya is mother to a 5-year-old daughter and a 7-month-old son who was born in the summer. She tested this product at home, at a time when spending a lot of time in the house and sharing meals as a family. Her son is a big eater so spends a lot of time in his highchair!

What were your first impressions of the Tutti Bambini Nova Evolutionary?

The product was packed beautifully and very securely. It was easy to unpack with minimal packaging and the boxes were not too big or heavy.

How easy is it to assemble?

The instructions were very clear and concise regarding assembly. I assembled this product in roughly fifteen minutes.

What age is it suitable for?

The main product is suitable from 6 months to 12 years, and you can purchase a newborn seat to make it suitable from birth. This comes as a separate box and for an additional £60.

The newborn seat function is an expensive addition considering you can only use this for 6 months. It's becoming more common to find highchairs that can be used from, however like with the Nova, most need an additional purchase to make use of this function.

At 6 months, your child can use the regular seat which is very easy to set up and a great place for them to enjoy their meals.

Does the Tutti Bambini Nova Evolutionary fold?

Due to its design and multiple modes, the highchair does not have a quick folding function like many others on the market for quick storing and access. You can take it apart and make it into an easy-to-carry bundle, but this is not suitable if you need to fold it away after every meal.

How easy is it to store?

To put the highchair away you have to take it completely apart which may put some people off who want a product they can quickly whip away and store flat between meals. However, for us it works perfectly as we leave ours up throughout the day and only take apart when we want to use it in another mode.

How comfortable is it for your child?

As the Nova Evolutionary is so adjustable it can be easily optimised for your baby’s comfort as they grow. It’s great that the footrest (2 positions), recline (3 positions) and tray (3 positions) are adjustable, and it’s perfectly padded to supporting growing children.

The only niggle is that the adjustable tray table is quite a tight fit to the chair. This is great for security, but might become uncomfortable for your child as they grow.

How adaptable is the Nova Evolutionary highchair?

The Nova can be used as a highchair, a chair at the table, a low chair and also a booster seat which offers great flexibility for feeding and playing whatever the situation.

When your child reaches 2, the upper part can be converted into a small chair and a cleverly included base then transforms into a table, using the original legs for the chair. Now your toddler has their own little place to eat, snack, colour and play! It is worth noting that some parents have reported the legs are quite high in the chair mode, so younger or smaller children will need to be supervised so they don't fall out. You can also use it at the lower setting with the harness still attached (see above) for more flexibility and reassurance.

Further down the line, you can convert this to a comfortable regular sized chair so your pre-schooler and upwards can join the table with the rest of the family or use the chair for other activities.

As my baby grows, I think the toddler chair will be very useful, as my older daughter used to love having her own little chair to watch television or read stories. The fact that the rocking feet can be interchanged with the regular feet is a lovely feature that means the chair will be well used for many different scenarios.

What do you think of the design and style?

The pieces are solid and sturdy, and slot together beautifully and firmly so it feels reassuringly safe for your baby. The design is elegant and sleek with the wood finish on the legs. The cushioning is thick and luxurious, offering a comfortable and supportive space for your baby to enjoy their meals.

How easy is the Tutti Bambini Nova Evolutionary to clean?

You think that the fabric covering is going to be a nightmare to clean, until you realise it’s made from spill proof fabric. Everything my little one has dropped onto it sits on top of the fabric and doesn’t soak in and can easily be wiped away with a wet cloth when you’re finished feeding.

What are the straps like?

The tray is adjustable and can be removed with ease, which makes it easier when trying to find and secure the safety straps. The straps are 3-point which makes the securing process nice and quick, and they are also easy to clean. They can be tightened securely and there are padded covers for the buckles provided for comfort. I also like that the tray has a partition that goes between baby’s legs for an extra level of security.

What is your favourite feature of the Nova Evolutionary?

My favourite feature by far is the removable tray cover, which makes me wonder why this feature isn’t commonplace for every highchair. Highchairs need cleaning a lot - and sometimes a cloth and antibacterial spray isn’t enough for those hard, dried-on bits which you can spend hours scrubbing.

The removable plastic cover comes away from the tray in seconds, meaning you can take it to the sink, wash it thoroughly or even put it in the dishwasher for easier cleaning and sterilising. This is a great feature and one that demonstrates how in tune Tutti Bambini is with parenting needs and how much research they have put into designing a highchair that solves problems with truly innovative solutions.

How useful is the shelf at the bottom of the highchair?

I thought the shelf was very useful. It is covered in wipe-down fabric and is a great storage spot for bibs, spoons, bowls and snacks so that you are always prepared. I like to keep a few toys down there too for when baby is finished and the family are still eating, to keep him entertained.

Again, the tray cover really comes into play here as if it is messy after a mealtime, you can quickly remove and continue to use the clean tray underneath for playtime, without having to get up from the table to fetch cleaning products and manoeuvre baby out and then back in once it’s clean. The overall design of the chair really enables our baby to integrate into family mealtimes.

How did you use the Nova Evolutionary in your everyday life?

We absolutely love this product as it allows our baby to sit with us at the perfect height and join in our family meals. The comfortable seat means he is happy to sit for the duration of his meal and stay longer to play while we continue eating. After dinner, the highchair can easily convert into a baby rocker that we can take through to the living room so baby can relax or drift off to sleep while we enjoy a film or any other activities we might do.

This is a lovely feature because it means he is just the right height for his big sister to show him toys or read him stories - and mostly he is just happy to watch her play. The cushions are thick, feel very luxurious and comfortable and he is happy in there for an hour or so which gives us parents a nice time to relax.

Do you think you will use the Nova for older children too?

Tutti Bambini suggests that this chair could be used for children up to 12 years in the standard chair mode. Apart from extending the lifespan of this product in your home, I’m not sure what use it would have as a regular sized chair. For smaller homes where they may not be a dining table, perhaps this is a good solution to older children having somewhere to sit and eat but I don’t see us using this chair to the extent of this time frame.

In my view, once my child is old enough to sit on a regular chair at the dining table he will do so although perhaps we might find another use for this is chair somewhere else in the house when the time comes. In short, it’s a great idea that adds value to the product and suggests great durability but I’m not sure how useful the modes for older children will be.

What’s in the box?

• Black carry bag
• Chair unit (pre-assembled)
• Foot stool
• Tray table
• Legs for the high chair function
• Rocking legs
• Table top
• Seat - in two parts
• Seat cover for chair function

Is the product worth the price tag?

The price tag of £239 (for the birth to 12 years package) is understandable and reasonable when you consider that buying a highchair and a separate baby rocker would probably amount to more than the cost of this item. It is also of such high quality and so versatile that I think it is worth the cost.

If you want to save on the cost of the newborn rocker, you still get plenty of longevity out of the highchair (£179) with its various different modes.

I was not alone in loving the Nova Evolutionary, with our MFM home testers also rating it highly. Lauren, for example, said: “It has exceeded my expectations highly and is a must buy for those expecting a child.”

How does it compare to similar highchairs?

Similar highchairs include Stokke Tripp Trapp, Red Kite Feed Me Combi and Chicco Polly Magic Relax – see a comparison of their key features below.

Where can I buy the Tutti bambini Nova Evolutionary highchair?

It is available from Amazon, Uber Kids and Tutti Bambini

MFM verdict:

An ingenious product packed with flexibility and helpful design features, making eating and sharing meals as a family a delight. It is expensive but its adjustability and different modes of use make it versatile and will give parents much more use than a standard highchair. We will use this product for many years to come and would highly recommend it.

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