minui HandySitt: The Handiest Little High Chair in Town

My parents’ house has had a big high chair smack dab in the middle of the dining room for four years. But since we’ve been using our new minui HandySitt ($149) — an incredible portable high chair — there’s suddenly a lot more space in there when we visit. And my daughter couldn’t be happier now that she gets to join everyone at the table.

This ingenious wooden high chair, suitable for children from 6 months to 5 years, attaches to almost any dining chair and is an absolute breeze to set up. About five minutes after opening the box, I was sitting my daughter down to dinner with the rest of us. And when dinner’s done, the chair can stay in place (it takes up much less space than a traditional high chair) or it can fold down flat and tuck away.

It’s portable, too. So it’s a great high chair to bring to restaurants and dinner parties. (Well, if you’re still brave enough to go to either of those with your kids in tow.)

The minui HandySitt — which counts Amanda Peet’s daughter Frances, 2, amongst its users — comes in seven stylish finishes (I’m partial to the pretty Antique finish) and has some great optional accessories, too. We tested the Basic Cushion ($27.50), which makes the seat nice and soft without taking away much of the seating space, and the StandAlone ($32.50), a set of legs that quickly and easily convert the HandySitt into a stand-alone chair for an older toddler, and loved both.

Compact, modern and truly beautiful, the minui HandySitt folding high chair offers the best of both worlds: It enhances your child’s eating experience while enhancing the look of your dining room. Now that’s a high chair worthy of high praise.

– Stephanie

CBBDeal: Save $10 off orders of $149 or more using code ‘celeb’ (expires April 20, 2009, 9 p.m. PST).

Comments

I much prefer the phil and ted metoo chair (I have both) It’s much more portable and the handysit really doesn’t work on all chairs

- eleanor on April 13th, 2009

Does anyone have an idea of what the weight limit is on this chair? My toddler is 42 pounds and easily outweighs some 5 year olds. I would like to order this but want to make certain we are not close to being too big.

- Heather on April 13th, 2009

Good, Eleanor. I’m glad you posted this. I just ordered the Phil & Ted one and it should be here any day. I was thinking, “Oh, no! Should I have gotten this one instead?” Glad you think the Phil & Ted one is better!

- Angelique on April 13th, 2009

Heather, I just reviewed this seat for my blog (http://uggamugga.blogspot.com/2009/03/minui-handysitt.html) and asked the questions about weight. I was told there is no weight limit. If I were you, I’d go by the overall size of your child…is he as large as a 5 year old overall? Because my son just turned 5 and was uncomfortable in the seat (he’s 50% for height and weight). That’s my two cents!

- UggaMugga.com on April 14th, 2009

Oh, and the one thing I don’t like about the Phil and Ted Metro chair is that if you’re planning on using it for everyday highchair duty (which is how I’m using the Handysitt with my youngest…and LOVE it), it’d be difficult to clean under the attachments and the seat. But as a portable, travel chair, I think it’d be great!

- UggaMugga.com on April 14th, 2009

These are actually good. I was at a resturent on the weekend, with a friends little girl, and we used one for her. It was handy not to have a highchair, and she felt like she was more a part of the meal, and it was easier for us. Great idea.

- Vicky24c on April 14th, 2009

LOVE IT!!!

- SouthernBelle on April 14th, 2009

I saw somewhere that the weight limit on these is over 100lbs, but no 5yr old is ever going to be that heavy. I’ve got a 4yr old boy who’s nearly 50lbs and he uses one every day. It’s solid wood, so is super sturdy. I think the Phil and Teds is pretty smart, but I can’t handle how it would look in my kitchen and it doesn’t look safe.

- Kai on April 15th, 2009

Just one comment about the Phil and Teds, it is practical, but it doesn’t work on every table and it can leave marks, but I guess that goes for every chair.

- MiB on April 15th, 2009