She also spoke to Karen Sherr, a child psychologist, former play specialist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, and founder of Musical Minis (a preschool music group focused on child development), to find out what parents should be looking for when buying a baby seat and how to use them safely. It can be used as a bouncer up to 9kg, which is somewhere between eight and 10 months of age, after which it converts to a toddler chair to be used until your child is around two years old.

She considered how entertaining and soothing any toys, music, lights, or vibrations were. Luci also marked the bouncer on how big it was and whether it was portable. Extras: Decide whether you want a basic seat or one with fun extras like toys, music, lights, and vibrations to soothe and entertain your baby. Then, depending on the size and independence of your child, you may want to switch to a booster seat on an adult chair. Many multifunctional and transitional highchairs adjust in height, so you can bring the chair right up to the table. How much does a highchair cost? An almost 50-year-old classic, the robust and intelligently designed Stokke Tripp Trapp continues to perform well for kids of any age. Solidly constructed from high-quality wood and available in a dizzying array of colours, the Tripp Trapp is a firm favourite on our forums – especially second-hand.Highchairs are a safe and supportive place for your baby to eat before they’re old and tall enough to sit on an adult-sized dining chair. Most come with a plastic tray so your baby can see and reach their food easily – especially useful when first weaning.

Bouncers are not suitable for sleeping in – it is recommended that a baby sleeps on a firm, flat surface. Visit The Lullaby Trust for advice on the best places for babies to sleep. Fisher-Price advises that parents use the harness until their child can climb in and out of the bouncer by themselves.

Best baby bouncers at a glance

At the inexpensive end of the spectrum are the budget chairs. These tend to be standalone highchairs (intended to be used by themselves using a plastic tray, instead of being pulled up to a table), short on adjustability features and elaborate design – favouring instead a functional simplicity that often, incidentally, means they’re much easier to clean. Inspired by Scandinavian design, this Juice Highchair from Mamas & Papas comes in pastel green, cream or dark grey. The sturdy seat is wipe clean as well as comfortable, thanks to a cushioned inner. It’s a good idea to read up on their specs before choosing one to make sure you’ll be able to use it safely. It’s helpful when travel chairs collapse to a portable size and many come with their own carry cases or shoulder straps to help with this. There are several styles of infant seats available, from basic bouncers to high-tech swings with toys, lights, and music. 1. Basic bouncer Transitional-style chair – can be used from birth with a baby bouncer attachment, from six months with a baby set, and indefinitely as a chair after three years or 15kg