Svan High Chair

I LOVE the compact design of this high chair - it looks great in our home and our daughter loves sitting in it. It is easy to move around and it's the perfect height for our kitchen table. The only very disappointing aspect is that it seems we are constantly having to tighten various pieces to make the entire unit steady. At times the tray seems to dip forward, other times it moves from side to side. I still LOVE this seat, I just wish it stayed "tight" for longer than one week.

We have enjoyed this highchair for a little over 2 years now. We have had only 2 issues with our highchair (1) Tripping over the floor base and (2) When our son was about 2 years, we wished that the U-shaped part that holds the child in could be attached backwards so that my son could eat at our table sooner. He was still too wobbly without the side U-shape part, and too chunky to use the tray attachment. Plus when we put our son up to the table it left gashes under our table top. Our table is round and all wood. We still think it is worth buying! Our son now 3, can climb up into his chair when he wants to sit at the table. We are planning to buy another one for our daughter. All our friends and family just love how it blends well with our Table.

Just bought the Svan chair, replacing a Tripp/Trapp that did not quite work out. Had no real trouble putting it together, and once together, our baby is enjoying it. Only one feeding so far, but she seems to really like it. So changes I would make: 1. Eliminate the wood screws in the lower supports, and use allen bolts, this will help storage/reuse (for grandkids). 2. Same for the tray, embed nuts in the wood to receive the allen bolts, this way the tray can be tightened if it comes loose over time (since it is the most used part of the chair). Also, if it does come loose over time, a little loctite will hold it.

Very pleased with design and quality, with the exception of the plastic "braces" for holding the tray to the seat. Designed at a curve, it makes it impossible to use a drill or normal sized screwdriver...the plastic bracket on one side is constantly loose, and doesn't hold properly. I'm suprised that more people haven't had problems with this. I've had to re-screw in the one bracket so many times that each additional tightening becomes less and less effective.

Initially we liked the space saving, modern design of the Svan high chair, but when it came time to adjust it for our growing toddler, it was a hassle. Every so often, a bolt would fall out and we'd have to figure out where it came from. (Note: This chair can't be used for babies who can't sit up on their own since it doesn't have a reclining back.) Our toddler outgrew it long before he should have - and he's small for his age on the US growth charts. I bought a standard, $75 high chair for a 2nd home that I wish I had bought sooner for our primary home; it was so much easier to use and more practical!

Comments from The Staff:

Thank you so much for your review. Below is a response from the manufacturer:

The Svan Highchair is adjustable form 6 months, or when the child is ready to sit upright, to adulthood (holds 250 lbs). The Seat Height range from 18" to 22" and the Child Seat Depth from 6" to 9". The Footrest adjusts from 5" to 17". The small footprint in combination with the possibility to remove the tray, enables the chair to pull up straight to the table. This way the child can interact with the rest of the family, which has proven to be great for a child?s development. The chair can easily be adjusted with a set of allen keys that comes with the chair.

Hopefully this information is helpful!

Thanks,
Michelle
HighChairs.com

Love this high chair. it looks great and it's the safest chair on the market. my son actually enjoys sitting in it. it's very adjustable and actually easy to adjust. it's great that he sits at the table with us at the right height. it's easy to clean with the removable tray liner. my only complaint is the safety strap is pretty small, but it's not that big of a deal.

Flat plywood seat with no pad seems to make our child want to get up earlier then with her old seat. Cleaning is a nightmare, bolt holes, openings in wood, etc. I guess you just let it get dirty? The tray is the hardest of 3 high chairs we have to attach in then detach. Overall based on the three high chairs we have I would rank this one third. Style but not much function.

Comments from The Staff:

Hi there- Thank you for taking the time to write your review. We're always eager to hear the good and the bad from our customers. Here are some cleaning tips for the Svan. Being that it's wood, it should be treated like any other wood furniture in the home. We have found that the best way to clean it is to wipe if off using a damp cloth. The plastic tray cover was made to make cleaning a little easier, since that piece can be rinsed off and placed in the dishwasher. As far as the nooks and crannies, that can be an ongoing challenge with many high chairs and they do get dirty! Several of our customers find a small brush like a toothbrush works great on the nuts and bolts when they get dirty.

Typically, most Svan chairs are sold with an accessory cushion for comfort reasons which comes in a variety of colors and is machine washable. Our tip on attaching the tray easier is to position yourself behind the chair. It's much easier to line up. I hope this information helps. Again, thank you for your review.

Laurie, Site Manager

The Svan high chair was an excellent buy. It arrived nicely packaged and was easy to put together with the instructional DVD. My son has Down's Syndrome and this chair offers great support from his feet resting on the footrest (this is important for him because of his low muscle tone). The chair is beautiful and easy to use and it takes up less space than another dining chair. It will be a nice chair for years to come as well.