As someone who has never quite found the “perfect” highchair, I was pretty excited when we declared this Highchair Week for pnmag's Good Gear reviews and decided to review a different highchair every day.
At the top of my list to review was the snazzy new Astro chair from Valco Baby (who also happen to be the makers of one of my all-time favorite strollers). I've been eying the Astro for awhile now, so I was happy to check it out in person.
I’m the kind of person who appreciates simplicity. So for me, the Astro is like a match made in heaven. The modern look and clean, sleek lines combined with the small size and simple structure make this the perfect pick for a modern mom craving a highchair that delivers both style and convenience. It’s especially great for moms with small kitchens or dining rooms (or those who simply don’t want a huge highchair monopolizing their eating space).
So we’ll start with the chair itself: The seat is nice and roomy, and is made of a cool wipeable vinyl that looks and feels like leather, making it easy to clean but still appealing to the eye. It has a secure 5-point harness and a comfy fabric T-strap across the front of the chair to help keep baby in place. (Many chairs have an uncomfortable plastic T-strap,so I really like the soft, more comfortable option on the Astro.) It also features a footrest, so your tiny tot’s tootsies aren’t left dangling uncomfortably during her meals. The seat can hold up to 44 pounds, so this chair can be used for a long time—it will likely be the only one you’ll ever need to buy.
The tray is removable and adjustable (two different options, so you can either pull it closer to baby’s body or leave it a little farther away). I appreciate the deepness of the tray, which keeps food and utensils from rolling off when baby pushes them away. The tray is easy to remove, although it does require two hands. The only thing I don’t love is that it isn’t dishwasher safe (although honestly, I guess it really isn’t that hard to wash it off with warm soapy water in the sink).
And here’s the reason I’m willing to forgive Valco and wash the tray by hand: the amazing fold and on-the-go capabilities. Folding the chair is truly easy (and trust me, I’ve tried some I can’t say that about), and the size when folded flat is a mere 7 inches. It’s seriously impressive. And since the Astro only weighs 15 lbs., it is ridiculously easy to store it in a closet, move it to another room, even take it to Grandma’s for the day. Quite simply, this is the best on-the-go chair I’ve found—and also a darn good leave-at-home one. If you’re looking for a simple, easy, attractive place for baby’s meals, you’ve found it!
Also worth noting are the fact that the seat doesn’t recline—not a huge deal in my opinion, since most babies can sit up pretty well by the time they start on solids—and the setup, which was extremely easy: The highchair was pretty much ready out of the box, with just a simple unfold and snap on of the tray. The Astro is currently available in four different color options.
Buy it: letsgostrolling.com
