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Pros:
Cons:
Review Summary
The Chicco Polly Single Pad is one of our best buys due to it’s versatility and functionality. This high chair was an essential baby furniture for us that made our little one’s food journey more fun and hassle-free. It also offers lots of useful features that tick all the necessary boxes: straightforward to use, not hard to clean, compact for storage, just to name a few.
This high chair has been used by my little one since she was five and a half months old when we first introduced her to solid foods. She is now almost 2 years old and is still able to sit in it comfortably to enjoy her meals together with us at the table.
Ease of Use
Ease of Cleaning
Chair Design
Tray Design
Versatility
Durability
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Why I chose it
Before choosing the Chicco Polly Single Pad, we went to many stores and tried multiple high chairs, from simple and affordable ones such as the Ikea Antilop to mid-range ones such as the Target Mealtime high chair. We also looked at some expensive high chairs at Baby Bunting and Baby Kingdom stores. However none of them checked all the boxes I had for a high chair.
On our search, we came across the Chicco Polly Single Pad highchair and it seemed like it fit all the requirements we were looking for.
My first thought with this high chair was that it has a great design with a very sturdy build. Before I started introducing solids to my daughter, I wanted to start having her sit with us at the table during mealtime, just so she could see us eating. Because of this, I was looking for a high chair for her to be able to sit comfortably for this purpose.
The Chicco Polly Highchair has a premium soft-padded seat that does not feel like plastic. It also has multi-position adjustability which will allow the chair to transition with my daughter as she grows. These factors made this high chair perfect for me.
Key features and specs
- Soft and wipeable padding seat
- 5 point harness with shoulder pads
- Tray can be stored on rear legs
- Removable tray cover
- 4 lockable swivel wheels
- Fold-away armrests
- Adjustable footrest, height and reclined seat
- Full sized dimensions: 83cm x 54cm x 104cm
- Folded dimensions: 27cm x 54cm x 104cm
- Weight: 10kgs
Adjustable positions
Similar to some high chairs in the Australian market such as the Joie Multiply 6 in1 Petite City (reviewed here), the position of this high chair can be adjusted to suit my child during different life stages. There are seven height adjustments, three reclined seat positions, and three footrest settings.
In the infant seat position, the seat can be reclined all the way, so my baby could sit in the chair even though she wasn’t able to sit upright unassisted. This is great since I could have her up at eye level, rather than close to the floor like a baby rocker. With this, she could also observe what we were doing during mealtimes, one of the ways that we got her ready for solids.
In the upright setting, my daughter can sit in the chair comfortably and enjoy her food for long periods of time. The height of the seat can also be adjusted easily to the level of our dining table or coffee table, depending on whether we’re in the kitchen or in the living room. This makes it really versatile and convenient.
Once my daughter was old enough (around 15 months old), we were able to easily have her join us for meals at the table by lifting the armrests, folding the footrest down and removing the tray table. With the Chicco Polly Single Pad, we were able to turn the high chair into a booster seat, contributing to its longevity.
My favourite features
Assembling the Chicco Polly Single Pad was fuss-free. I didn’t have any trouble putting it together and we started using it right away.
For us, the Chicco Polly Single Pad is the winner among other high chairs due to its compact and ultra-slim fold design that allows for easy storage. This was a big selling point for us as we don't have much storage room to keep a full-size high chair in our apartment when it’s not in use. It also has an extra large tray that can be stored on the rear legs of the high chair if it’s not needed.
On top of that, cleanups after mealtimes are a breeze. The seat cover is removable and easy to clean. I usually wipe down the padding with a damp cloth after every meal. However, I do notice that food tends to get stuck in between the padding and the seat. Having said that, it’s not too much of a hassle to take the padding out to give those areas a proper clean.
Another feature I love about the Chicco Polly highchair is the ability to adjust the height, seat recline and foot rest as mentioned earlier. In comparison, the Childhood Evolu 2, that’s at a similar price point, has no reclining features. This makes the Chicco Polly Single Pad a better choice in our eyes given its adaptability and ability to grow with our child.
There are also some other features we found really useful, such as the foldaway armrests if you’d like to have your child closer to the table to join you for mealtimes. The detachable tray liner also keeps the tray from getting dirty.
Some flaws but not dealbreakers
One of the downsides of the Chicco Polly Single Pad is that it is quite heavy. This can make it a bit tricky to lift or transport. Compared to the Ikea Antilop high chair that only weighs 6.57kg, this chair is on the heavier side at 10kg. However, this does make it more sturdy and multifunctional. It’s heavier weight is also understandable given all the extra features it offers. Despite its weight, it shouldn’t take much effort to move the chair around because of its four lockable castor wheels, even if you have carpet floors in your house.
Although the seat pad is easy to spot clean, it would have been even better if it was machine washable. I did put it in the washing machine for a better clean once and it came out totally fine. However, I contacted the customer service team and they confirmed that the pad should only be wiped clean with a damp cloth and mild soap if needed.
Also, this high chair is designed with a big seat and a very large tray, so it might not be suitable for smaller babies for baby-led weaning. My baby’s size is in the lower percentile so in the first few months, we found that it was a little difficult for her to reach her food on the tray and it looked a little like she was sunken in the seat. So if you plan to go with baby-led weaning when introducing solids to your little one, it might be a bit tricky at the start. We ended up lowering the highchair seat to the height of our dining table and removing the tray, so that she could use the dining table’s surface until she could use the tray properly.
In terms of safety, the Chicco Polly Single Pad uses a five-point harness, which provides more security, and prevents your child from escaping out of the high chair. However, I found that the straps do not fit smaller babies well. They are not easy to adjust and do not stay in place. As my daughter was smaller and quite active, she was easily able to pull the straps off her shoulders. However, the straps eventually fit her better now that she’s bigger.
It would also have been great if the infant pads were attached to the straps better. There was nothing to keep them in place and had the tendency to slide down every time I put my baby in, so I had to constantly pull them up to the right position.
Conclusions
The Chicco Polly Single Pad is a great option for parents who are looking for a multifunctional and comfortable high chair for their little one. It is compact and easy to store, perfect for small apartments or units. You won’t find it difficult to manoeuvre from one room to another as it has lockable wheels. However, as it is on the heavier side, I wouldn’t recommend it if you are looking for a high chair that you can move from one floor to another in a multi-storey house.
In addition, this high chair features multiple seat recline positions, so it can be used from young babies to toddlers up to 18kg. The lowest recline setting is great for little ones for bottle feeding while the upright position is ideal for infants and toddlers during mealtime. Therefore, if you have more than one child, you’ll definitely get a lot of use out of this high chair.
Considering the high price tag, this high chair is best if you’re looking for something for regular use over a longer period of time. If you are looking for a temporary solution or a second high chair to have at nana's, it might make more sense to go with a simple and more affordable high chair like the Ikea Antilop.
In my opinion, the Chicco Polly Single Pad is one of the best high chairs due to its versatility in comparison to the other choices.
Even though this high chair is at a higher price point, I think it is worth every cent. I have no major complaints about this high chair and would recommend it to others if budget is not a constraint.
It has been well used by my daughter since she was little and I’m sure it will continue to be with my second child when he gets started on his food journey.
