TweetA popular question people ask when thinking of buying this chair is “Can I wash the Chicco Polly highchair?” The easy answer is, yes.

One of the great features of the Chicco Polly highchair is that it’s a doddle to clean. It is well-built and each part of it can be cleaned either in place or removed. There is no place where food can go that you cannot get to it. The guide that follows shows you how easy it is to remove the necessary parts for cleaning the Chicco Polly highchair. Click the images for larger views.

Step 1 – The Outer Padding

If you are wanting a really good clean we are going to have to remove some parts. The first thing that comes off is the outer jacket, which provides extra padding for smaller children.

To remove the outer padding simply un-clip the shoulder straps from the waist straps. The four straps and the crotch strap can then be fed through the holes and the padding lifted from the seat.

By pushing the padding out from the rear all the crevices are revealed for a proper clean.

Step 2 – Remove the Seat Cover

The seat cover is just as easily removed as it is held on in the same way as the outer padding. Simply thread all the straps through the holes and lift the cover away from the chair back by pulling it upwards.

Again, by pushing the cover out from behind you will reveal some hidden creases and seems that may need a good brushing out to release hidden bits of food or dried milk.

You can see in the photo that it is held in place with elastic around the top of the chair.

Step 3 – Remove the Straps

Another question people like to know the answer to is, “Can the straps on the Chicco highchair be removed?” Again, the answer is yes.

In the photo below you will see the seat cover removed. Attached securely to the seat back are two small straps with plastic loops. The waist straps simply clip onto these loops. Detach them and remove.

The shoulder straps simply attach themselves to the seat back by threading the buckles through two slots in the plastic (see photo from rear). They will be held there securely but are easily removed by an adult by twisting the buckles and threading them through.

Cleaning tips:

Here are the straps ready for cleaning. I have found there are two products that really do the job well. There is Napisan (available from most supermarkets), which is a stain remover come nappy treatment powder. Simply soak fabrics in warm water with a small amount of Napisan and the stain come right out.

The other product is Dr Beckmann travel wash and its the best thing I have used on soiled baby clothes ever! It is a gel that comes in a tube and you can simply rub it into the straps with some warm water and work it for a couple of minutes. It beats some of the other stain removers I have used on baby clothes within seconds and its great for these straps.

Step 4 – Clean the Shell

Here you can see the highchair with almost all the removable components taken away. Other parts that can be removed are the netting underneath, the side tray and the foot rest. The latter is a common place to find food debris but is easily removed in about 2 seconds for a quick brush off or wipe.

Owing to the way in which the highchair is made it has a number of ridges and recesses. Most of these are easily cleaned with a brush that will flick the bits out; you can also use a vacuum cleaner on this section if you have the appropriate attachment.

TweetHaving used the Chicco Polly highchair for almost two years I can thoroughly recommend it. After this length of time I have I have discovered a few things that might be useful for other parents using this highchair. Here are my top tips for getting the best out of the Chicco Polly.

By following some simple tips your highchair will last longer, be easier to use and serve you well. These are just some of the things I recommend and a happy owner of this Chicco highchair.

• When not in use I fold the highchair up and lean it against a wall or kitchen cupboard. The best way to do this is to lean the highchair with the seat facing the wall. If you have the model with castors only on the rear legs, by leaning it this way the wheels are off the floor and the chair is less likely to slide to the floor with a crash on a tiled or wooden floor.

• When the highchair is folded up for storage adjust the height to its lowest setting. This achieves the smallest size possible, which may help if you don’t have much room

• To prevent excessive soiling to the straps get your child securely fastened then put their bib on over the straps. We use the little smocks with arms and they generally cover our daughter’s body along with the straps and most of her lap too.

• One of the few places where food debris can gather is in the groove around the edge of the removable tray. I have found the best way to clean this area is with an old toothbrush and soapy water. It only takes a few seconds to give it a quick brush round instead of letting it get to the point of no return after a few weeks.

• When cleaning the straps the best two products I have ever used are Napisan and Dr. Beckmann Travel Wash. Napisan is a non-biological stain remover in powder form, which can be dissolved in warm water. Simply leave the straps to soak for an hour or so for a thorough clean. The Dr. Beckmann gel is good for soiled baby clothes but just as good on most fabrics. Just squeeze a small amount on to the straps and work it in with some warm water for a few minutes. Brilliant for 80p at Asda!

TweetThe Chicco Polly Highchair has been billed as having “the slimmest fold in its class!” This is a quote from Chicco themselves. Both in the UK and the rest of the world this Chicco highchair is highly recommended and well rated baby highchair. It represents value for money, quality and superior design. Compared to other similar highchairs it is superior in many ways. It is fully adjustable, well-built and comes in a variety of colours and themes. Best of all it represents value for money.

Since I bought it this Chicco  model range has come down in price and there are some great deals available.

I have been using the Chicco Polly highchair for about 2 years since the birth of our baby daughter, Sophia. We had a list of must have baby items we were working through, including baby changing bags, baby clothes, baby feeding bottles as well as a good highchair.

I was always taught that you get what you pay for and I have always bought the best that I can afford at the time. I have certainly not been disappointed so far with this highchair. Here are just some of the reasons why you should consider getting one…

• available in a range of themes and colours
• five-point safety harness keeps your child secure in their seat
• seven height positions & three recline positions
• adjustable leg rest and foot plate
• removable padded seat cover
• easy to adjust components even with one hand

This model of highchair comes in a variety of colours and themes as you can see below. This is great because there is something to suit most personalities and tastes. The theme I chose was the Chicco Polly highchair ‘Seventy’. I love the fun, funky colours and the way it just jumps out at you.

Take a closer look at the range.

This range is also known as the ‘Chicco Polly 2 in 1 highchair’. It is designed for children from 6 months to 3 years old and can adapt to suit any stage of that age range. Three years old is probably about the age that a child will no longer need a highchair so I am happy about not having to replace it as my daughter grows.

OK, this highchair is not the smallest or lightest but then it is not designed to be portable or taken out of the home for visits to Nanny’s house. This chair’s footprint is larger than most. Sometimes it feels a little cumbersome but there are design features that help with that, such as the wheels on the feet that enable the highchair to glid across most floor surfaces with little effort from me.

It is an easy chair to put together with minimal effort required. A few push fit connections and a couple of things to push into place and that’s it. Here is a link to the Chicco Polly highchair instruction manual.

Chicco Polly Highchair Seat Cover

One way that this highchair adapts to a growing child is with the removable seat cover. I like this feature because when Sophia was a small baby she needed some extra padding to keep her comfortably positioned in the chair.

The cover provides extra padding, mainly on the sides and this can be removed when she gets bigger and needs more room in the seat.

Something that I always do is try to keep things clean and tidy. A further benefit to the padded cover is that whilst I am using it the seat underneath remains ‘as new’ so when I eventually stop using and remove the cover it’ll be like having a nice new chair again.

3 Position Adjustable Reclining Seat

I love this part of the chair – this feature is a definite winner for me. Sometimes the timing of our meals can be important, especially when we are trying to stick to a schedule or when we were getting Sophia into a routine.

There were times when we had to wake her for feeding but this wasn’t a big problem because we could put her in the highchair and recline the backrest so she was comfortable and could still doze while food was being prepared.

When she was younger she would often have a bottle milk in her chair in the mornings. I found that whilst sat up she found it difficult to raise the bottle enough to get all the milk out. I liked the idea of being able to recline her backward, which helped tilt the bottle further without effort from her so she could finish her drink.

We also got some really cute photos of her when she dozed off in the chair. There were some great little moments captured for our baby photo albums.

7 Height Positions

This feature is particularly useful when using the highchair in different places around the house. We have a breakfast bar in the kitchen, which is higher than a normal table top. At the highest position the chair is at just the right height that we can eat our meals in the kitchen with Sophia and she doesn’t feel left out.

When we have guests for dinner the highchair can be pulled up to the dinner table so that we can all eat together at the same time. A quick adjustment using the brightly coloured buttons makes the seat lower and Sophia can come closer to the table with the rest of us.

Brightly Coloured Buttons

At this point it is worth mentioning the buttons or adjusters, as my wife calls them.Whichever theme you choose each component of the highchair that can be adjusted or changed is highlighted by using a colour that contrasts against the rest of the chair.

In my photos you can see all the adjusters are in orange. Pushing or lifting them allow things like the backrest to recline, the seat height to be elevated or lowered, the chair to be folded. Most of them are easy to adjust with one hand too.

Slimmest Fold In It’s Class

Something that the Chicco highchair has is something called a slim fold. I was surprised, given the overall size of the highchair, that it actually folds up very well. Although we have a large kitchen we don’t have many places where the highchair can be hidden away. The way I see it is that we use it every day so why store it away? For a foldable highchair this Chicco chair does quite well. The tray attaches to the back legs of the chair, the leg rest folds down and the legs fold together. With the chair height at its lowest, this highchair takes up very little room at all.

5-Point Safety Harness

Safety is paramount in anything you do with your young child. You will not be disappointed with the safety features on this high chair.

Fully adjustable straps are securely fitted through the frame of the backrest and can easily be removed for cleaning. Both these aspects are important to me. The straps are made from a tough woven material and can get messy if things are spilled on them. Vomit tends to leave a horrible smell too!

The straps that make up this harness are easily removed as they anchor through the seat itself and thread through the seat padding that conceals the anchor points. Just last week I removed our straps and gave them a good soak in Napisan, a brilliant powder that removes most stains with just a soak. When they were dry it took me about 1 minute to re-attach them to the chair. Look here for more information on how to clean the Chicco Polly highchair .

The straps are adjustable around the waist and over the shoulders using standard buckles. This means that as your baby grows the highchair grows with them.

3 Position Adjustable Tray

The eating surface of the highchair is removable. This means that Sophia doesn’t have to be penned in all the time if she wants to kick her legs out or play with a toy on her lap. The sliding tray is sturdy and solid. Underneath is a crotch bar that goes between a baby’s legs to keep them in a secure position, complimenting the safety harness.

The question of how to stow away the tray of the Chicco Polly highchair is designed into the slim fold aspect of this chair. There are two plastic lugs on each of the rear legs. The underside of the tray has two recessed parts. These are simply hung over the lugs which keep the tray attached until needed. The tray can then be lifted off and slid over the chair arms for use.

The arms are locked into position when down so the tray is not accidentally tipped. This is something I had even noticed until recently and is a good safety feature.

I like that the tray can be removed as it allows us to have Sophia at the dinner table with us. The plastic insert that clips over the tray is dishwasher safe, although I have yet to see a dishwasher large enough to house it!

The insert is a nice addition, though as is has raised contours that give a place setting with a place for a drink too.

Conclusion

When we went to buy a baby highchair we didn’t really know what to look for, nor what there was available. We managed to find three or four that we liked in the store and lined them up in the aisle. The ‘Seventy’ theme really stuck out and we prefered it to the others straight away. I am not saying this is the best highchair ever made but i am confident that it is one of the better ones.

Click on the product links above and read some of the reviews by happy customers who have used the highchair. The majority of them rate it quite highly. So do I, which is why I want to share my experience with you.

If you are anything like me you will leave this page then forget about why you came here in the first place. So, don’t delay, click here to take a look.

Use the contact page to drop me a line if you want to know more about the highchair or have any other feedback.

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There are guns in between 1 in 2 and 1 in 3 homes in America. Official numbers waver between these two figures but whoever you go to for your stats that’s an awful lot of guns! But are they in the right hands?

Thankfully it seems that millions of Americans are keen to be responsible gun owners. Law enforcement instructors have noticed a significant increase in those attending gun safety classes since 2008 and the National Rifle Association has certified an additional 5,000 instructions since 2011 to cope with demand.

Figures for gun ownership haven’t significantly changed over this period so it seems that what has changed, thanks partly to many both local and national campaigns, is people’s understanding of the potential danger of gun ownership and their willingness to take their responsibilities seriously. Do you?

When asked why they own a gun the vast majority of citizens respond along the lines of for protection, for safety, to protect my family. But protecting your family and your home means more than owning a gun and knowing how to use it. Your very means of protection could be the creator of your own devastating tragedy.

Allowing your gun to fall into the wrong hands could literally be a matter of life and death. It is important to teach children, even toddlers, gun safety.

• If they see a gun they must
• Stop
• Don’t touch
• Move away
• Tell an adult

Practise these steps with your children and spread the message to neighbor’s friends and family. But even if you repeatedly reinforce gun safety with your children it might not be enough. Many young children don’t distinguish between fantasy and reality and their imaginations can easily run away with them. They naturally want to play and even, terrifyingly, a toddler has the strength in their thumb to pull a trigger. Are you sure that your child would follow gun safety if they found your gun? Would you bet your life on it? Would you bet theirs?

No matter how sure you are that your child would do the right thing if they found a gun the responsibility is ultimately yours. It’s your gun and you’re the adult.

Where do you store your gun? Where do you store your ammunition? Do your children have access? It’s not enough to simply hide your gun or put it up somewhere high. Children are naturally inquisitive and are excellent climbers. Every day, on average, 3-4 children are killed by a gun by either accident or suicide. 22% of middle school children say that they could get hold of a gun. In 2001 there were 14, 571 children injured by a gun.

Whereas you, with gun safety lessons, can take steps to lessen the chance of your child becoming one of these statistics you can pretty much ensure that your gun isn’t used by your own children, or by anyone else’s.

• Always remove the ammunition from your guns.
• Store ammunition in a locked container completely separate from your guns
• Store unloaded guns in a locked cabinet, storage case or safe.
• Keep the keys safe, hidden and away from you daily use key.

This may all read like common sense but as my Granny Evans says, common sense it’s that common.

In homes with children, 28% of people admitted that they don’t always keep guns locked away and 30% said that, at the time of being asked, their gun was both unlocked and loaded.

Invest in a gun safe and use it.

An increasing number of gun owners with families are now opting for a gun safe for storage. They provide the greatest security and it could be the most important purchase you ever make. Don’t risk a life be gun safe with a gun safe.

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Over the past decade there have been some extraordinary medical discoveries. One of these discoveries is the uses of umbilical cord blood. Today, more and more parents are realizing the benefits of storing this blood.

What is Cord Blood?

Cord blood is blood that is taken from the umbilical cord when a woman gives birth. Women who want to store this blood will need to instruct their doctor to collect it. The blood will then be sent off to storage.

Understanding How to Store Blood

There are now countless blood storage facilities. Parents can choose the company that best suits their budget and needs. Initially storing this blood can be quite expensive. Most parents will need to pay a one off fee of approximately $2,000. Once this has been paid, the cost will be reduced to $100 to $200 per year for storage.

What Are The Benefits of Storing Umbilical Blood?

Blood that comes from the umbilical cord has many medical benefits. One of the most impressive features of this blood is that it has the potential to cure serious illnesses. For example, doctors have used birth blood in bone marrow transplants. This was beneficial as Leukemia patients did not have to wait for donor marrow.

Many parents are reluctant to store blood due to the high storage fees. However, those who have used the blood in medical procedures will state that storage was well worth the cost. When push comes to shove, this substance can save the lives of children and young adults. While storage may be expensive, one cannot put a price on the life of their child. Those who are interested in storing blood should consult their doctor. The doctor will discuss the collection process and storage procedure with you. They will also be able to recommend local storage facilities.

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I learned something from my five-year-old the other day. As I observed she taught her stuffed animals some lessons she’d been learning at school. The first thing she did was whip out her trusty magna-doodle and wrote a chart of the things they needed to get done for the day.

As I continued to watch, she systematically went through each item. She reminded the ‘students’ what they’d already done and then moved on to the next thing on the schedule. A gigantic light bulb went off in my mind.

You see, I’ve been struggling with getting my kids to listen when I ask them to do something (a rather common issue, I hear). From putting their toys away to getting ready for bed, it always feels like a fight. We have a bedtime routine, but we don’t really have a schedule or a chart posted anywhere.

It’s brilliant and I feel like an idiot for missing this simple tool for nearly six years: A schedule or in other words, a plan.

Sit down with your family and talk about the things that need to be done each day, from chores to showers, meals, religious study, exercise, homework and bedtime. Help your kids understand that it’s important everything gets down so that the home runs better and mommy doesn’t go insane. Promise them less sniping, and they’ll likely jump right on board.

After talking about it, let your kids help you create a chart. A laminated chart works best and if you use photos to illustrate the tasks, your younger kids can participate as well. As each task is completed, remind everyone what has gotten done and what you still need to do.

It’s best to keep it simple for younger kids. As they get a little older you can create their own charts they can mark off with a dry-erase marker. If they complete everything they can have time to watch their favorite show or an extra story at bedtime.

You may not be able to plot out the family’s entire day this way, but specific routines (chores, bedtime, dinnertime or before school preparation) are ideal for a routine chart.

I have noticed that my children function much better under a routine. They know what is coming next so they are prepared when they have to stop playing or when they have to get out of the tub. Bedtime routines are much more relaxed and there is less fighting to get out the door in the morning. I’m also always thankful to individuals like Sheri Dew who provide great tips on interacting with all my family members.

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There are few things that are as terrifying as potty training a toddler. It can be unbelievably frustrating and embarrassingly exhilarating, getting that little body to pee in a toilet.

When my daughter’s were potty training, I found myself making up words to tunes about going to the bathroom. For example: Pee-pee in the potty to the tune of ‘La Cucaracha’. My kids still walk around the house singing it. I pray every day that I don’t start singing it while walking down the street.

We tried a variety of different ways to get our kids to say farewell to the diapers. We bribed, begged, scolded, cried and covered our couch cushions with garbage bags to avoid perma-pee cologne.

The one thing that helped us survive was patience. For some reason, parents have started expecting their 14 month old kid to be potty trained. Next thing you know they’ll be handing out driver’s licenses to three-year olds.

There may be some miracle babies out there who do manage to go to the bathroom in the potty chair when they are barely over a year old but they are ether genetic freaks or their parents are insane. It’s really not normal. With both of our kids it was like a light switched flipped on around their third birthday.

What had once been exhausting, smelly days with kids running around buck naked with a cup of juice super glued to their lips and an egg timer set to explode every 10 minutes, turned into one week of few accidents and amazing success.

I won’t lie, we bribed our oldest. If she peed in the toilet she got a sucker. If she wet her pants she lost a movie. One by one her movies were removed from the shelf and locked in our room. She could only get them back by using the toilet. It was brilliant really. She’s never looked back.

Know that your kids are different. What worked for one, probably won’t work for another one. While one child may take to potty training like a fish to water, others will take to it like cats to water. Taking time to think about your child and what motivates them will make the process much easier.

Even published motherhood author Sheri Dew understands the difficulties of Potty Training.

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Being a parent should be a joyful experience, and it can be if you learn the proper skills needed to effectively do the job. The purpose of this article is to provide you with tips on how to parent most effectively.

Starting up and making regular contributions towards a 529 Plan is among the best courses of action. This is a college savings plan that is run through the state government. They also have positive tax consequences.

Activities that require tickets or a large amount of preparation should be planned out well in advance. If you plan ahead, you can show your children how much fun it is to be outdoors, while avoiding the stress of an unplanned activity.

Try to analyze your child’s problems from their point of view. While a broken crayon seems like a trivial concern to an adult, it can carry a great deal of disappointment for a child.

Set a goal for yearly savings and make sure to meet it. Most importantly, parents need to resist any urges they get to take any money out of the savings for their own use, because they may have difficulty paying it back, and may be tempted to do it again in the future.

Teaching your child where things should go will teach him or her how to be organized. Your child’s things will end up everywhere unless he or she knows where those things are supposed to go. However, if you show him where each item they own lives, then your child will learn to place his things back in their appropriate spots once he is done playing with them.

Set a good example for your children by regularly eating fruits, and vegetables. Exposing your child to healthy foods makes them more likely to choose those foods as a snack when given a choice.

Extracurricular activities like sports teams or clubs are important for childhood development. These kinds of activities help your children to build their social skills and craft friendships, which can help them in adulthood. Keeping your children busy with after-school programs will also stop them from getting into trouble instead.

Clearly, the more that you know about parenthood, the more you will be prepared to discover the joys of spending time with your children. Life is made easier when one can learn from the mistakes that others have made in order to avoid repeating them, and using those lessons to build success. Don’t be afraid to try out the suggestions from this article.

Know about youth bunk beds!

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Having children and caring for them is one of life’s most exciting and fulfilling adventures. What follows is some tried and true advice to guide you through the maze of being a parent.

On the occasions when calming your baby is elusive, apply lavender oil to your neck and cuddle the baby. The smell of the lavender oil will immediately soothe your little one. Lavender oil can also be used to help a child fall to sleep when nap time arrives because the oil is very calming.

If you were to encourage your child to take part in team sports, it will help to develop their self-esteem. Support your kids and encourage them by showing up at their games. This will make strong memories for them and help to develop their character.

As a rule, you should not argue with your child. Only fight over things that are critically important. Children do need structure, but too much structure can be stifling.

Being a successful parent is helped immensely if you and your spouse have a solid relationship. Your relationship will more than likely serve as a model for your child’s future relationships. This will be helpful to him during childhood, as well as in adulthood. You will feel tremendous pride in the type of man that he will become.

Not every child is extroverted, and as a parent, you need to realize that. Some children can be shy and withdrawn, and that is normal behavior for them. If you believe your child avoids contact with others, then there is cause for concern. You should take your child to their doctor if you notice that your child is too withdrawn to rule out any health issues.

Clear off a space on the kitchen counter, lay your child back on a rolled towel, and run water from the faucet over the hair and scalp. Doing this can help alleviate the anxiety countless toddlers have about being submerged underwater.

The best way to keep the peace among your children is to establish family rules that are both clear and positive. Rather than saying no hitting try touch gently and see if this doesn’t encourage more constructive measures of interaction.

After reading the above advice, you now have a good foundation on which to build upon throughout your parenting journey. Remember that parenthood is different from one family to another. There are no hard and fast rules to child-rearing. After reading these tips, find which ones work best, and try them out. Bringing up a child is exciting for you and your children, so take the time to enjoy it; it won’t last long!

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Bringing Up A Child is one of the toughest jobs there is, and the training is on the fly. If that on-the-job training has some holes in it, have a look at this article and take some of its advice. It will help you face all of the challenges of being a parent with an informative approach. Encourage your kids to participate in extra-curricular activities like sports and clubs. These social activities will help your child to make new friends and better socialize in general; two skills that will be used throughout his or her life. Positive social activities also help minimize the temptation that negative ones have for your child.

Choose your battles wisely. Do not fight over every little thing that comes along. Determine which things are worth arguing over and which are not. While it is true that children need to have certain boundaries, it is also true that they need freedom to express their individuality. When taking your children on an outdoor excursion, make all your plans in advance. Planning this time can show your kids that they need to leave the house and enjoy the outdoors, along with making sure that you don’t forget or put it off.

If you want to be able to be a good parent to your child one of the things that you can do is to learn how to listen to them. Allow them to openly express their wants, and desires to you. Developing this open communication will make it easier for them to talk to you in the future.

After reading this article, hopefully you see that you can take more initiative in being a parent than just dealing with new issues intuitively. You have the ability to make a decision on your own to better your parenting by utilizing the information, and turning them into strategies that can be used for dealing with the struggles of parenting. See cool kids bunk beds and learn more parenting advice!