33 out of 33 people found this review helpful.
Fisher-Price Aquarium High Chair -- We give it two bowls of Rice Cereal!
Date of Review: Apr 3, 2006
The Bottom Line: Bottom line says: I pity da fool who doesn't buy this high chair!
Being a first time mom, I was naturally overwhelmed by all the products and options available for your child. Researching (by internet, word of mouth and trial and error) different bath seats, bottles, pacifiers, high chairs, strollers, car seats, etc, can be overwhelming and a bit frustrating.
However, I think I've made my life just a bit easier. I have come to the realization that as long as I buy Fisher-Price products, I will love it. What has spurred this realization? Well, I initially bought First Years Tub-to-Bath system and I hated it... so then I bought Fisher-Price Aquarium Bath Center and I love it. I bought a nice Graco swing, but my friend recieved the Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Cradle Swing for her little girl... and I'm envious (why didn't I find this swing on one of my research-o-ramas I went on?!)... So I decided, without any research or comparison shopping, to just buy the Fisher-Price Aquarium Healthy Care High Chair... and I am SO GLAD that I did.
Brief Introduction
My son, Aidan, just turned 4 months old... that hallowed age where he can begin to try out rice cereal. I have been putting him in the chair to get him used to it for about a week, and for the last two days (twice a day) I have sat him in it for some experimental rice cereal fun. Now, this means I haven't been using it for a while, but I know this will be a keeper.
Product Specs
**Comes with one dishwasher-safe food tray that snaps into the main tray (you can buy more at Babies R Us, $9.99 for two)
**7 height adjustments AND it adjusts to a booster seat when the baby is ready
**3 position recline (one hand adjustment)
**Toy tray that comes equipped with music, sounds, water and a bead bar
**Two toys that are attached to the tray
**5 point restraint
**Foot rest
**Machine-washable and wipeable, vinyl-coated pad
**Compact folding
**Towel bar on back
**Tray snaps onto back legs for storage
**Rolling casters with wheel locks
Weight limit: 50 lbs
Retail Price: $99.99 at Babies R Us
From the webside: The Fisher-Price Aquarium Healthy Care™ High Chair helps you keep baby's high chair cleaner than ever, with a feeding tray you can sanitize right in the dishwasher. But it also keeps baby entertained while you prepare the meal (or while you're cleaning up) with an interactive toy tray baby will love! Baby presses a button to make aquarium fishies swim or hear one of four ocean sound effects. Baby can also use the high chair's roller to make music play (for short-play) or mom can activate up to five minutes of ocean-themed music! Two teether toys add to the aquarium fun. They're attached—even if baby throws them, they stay with the high chair tray. So they stay cleaner longer! Other Healthy Care™ high chair conveniences include a machine-washable and wipeable vinyl-coated pad, divided food tray (no need for a plate!), handy towel bar and jar holder, and a three-position reclining seat for feeding or napping. And when baby's ready, the high chair converts to a booster seat! Folds up for easy storage.
My Experience with the high chair
I love it, love it, love it! Let's start at the beginning: it was a breeze to put together. The instruction manual was illustrated with clear pictures and concise instructions (in three languages). It took me a while to put together, but that's because my 3.5 mo old son had just discovered rolling over, and he was rolling around on the carpet next to me grinning at me and giggling. It seems extremely sturdy, I'm not worried about it falling apart anytime soon.
Everything about this high chair seems really easy (which worries me a little)... You want the seat reclined, simply pull a little red lever. Three nice and easy positions, for the younger child with a little neck control to the older one who wants to sit upright -- you can even adjust it with the baby in the chair! You want the height adjusted? SEVEN different heights, all you have to do is push in two little red levers and SNAP, you have the height adjusted! You want to fold the seat up? Just pull on two little red levers, and it folds flat (with the wheels locked, it'll stand upright). Even my husband can operate the high chair without instructions.
The ease of use even extends to cleaning and washing. The main tray snaps on to the high chair (you want it off, just pull the lever!), and the food tray snaps into that. The food tray is nice because it has little areas set aside for different foods. It is so simple to clean, just snap it off and pop it into the dishwasher -- viola! The Fisher-Price Aquarium High Chair is easy to wipe down (hey, it's only plastic!), as is the vinyl cover. I would wash it every once in a blue moon, but it's so simple to just rinse off with a sponge that you don't have to worry about laundering it excessively.
Then we have the wheels... My son has a great time just riding around in it. It has a five-point harness that is easy to adjust, lock and release, and the wheels glide so smoothly. They even glide on carpet (though the high chair does have a small problem navigating the switch from tile to carpet. The locks work fantastically -- I can't imagine that thing moving an inch with the castors in the locked position.
How about fun for the baby? Aidan loves just sitting in it (at the highest level) while I put dinner together. The tray is large enough to hold his favorite rattles and toys, and he gets to watch mommy chop veggies! How fun! This chair has two toys already attached -- a teether and a rattle -- which are cute... but the great fun is the interactive toy. It has little fishies floating in water, as well as a rolly toy (one that spins around), a bead bar with three beads, and two buttons that make the water and fishies move around. You can also have it play music (two volume settings) and make sounds when the buttons are pushed, or the rolly toy is spun. The interactive toy snaps into the main tray so you don't have to worry about little one knocking it on the floor.
All this AND it converts to a booster seat when your baby outgrows a high chair... you really can't buy anything else as versatile and easy to use!
Final Words
I really can't find enough great things to say about this product. Rarely have I found a product that lives up to all the manufacturer's claims, but this surpasses the mark. It really is easy to use, easy to fold, easy to move and easy to clean. It is sturdy and reliable, and tons of fun for baby to use. $100 (in my opinion) isn't a lot to spend on a high chair, and it definitely is a bargain when you receive everything the Fisher Price Aquarium Healthy Care High Chair gives you. Plus, my son loves to sit in it... he has tons of fun!
If you're in the market for a great high chair at a moderate price that will last for years to come (and probably through a few more kids as well), this is it... shop no further! You NEED this high chair!!
