Graco Slim Snacker High Chair Review
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Graco Slim Snacker High Chair | |||||
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Awards | |||||
Price | $80 List Check Price at Amazon | $330 List $329.99 at Amazon | $220 List $219.95 at Amazon | $230 List Check Price at Amazon | $90 List $89.97 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Price, folds for storage, wipe clean | Quality materials, easy to clean, folds for storage, auto-lock brakes | Long lifespan, quality construction, useful features | Looks like furniture, grows with baby, easy to clean | Easy clean-up, inexpensive, reclines, 2-in-1 booster, durable |
Cons | Large footprint when open, stiff tray, fabric not machine washable | Heavy, expensive | Harder to assemble, heavier | Complicated assembly, small snack tray, doesn't fold to store | Tray does not lay flat, does not fold, tray can be tricky |
Bottom Line | An inexpensive chair that folds for storing out of the way and offers the features you need for basic feeding of babies and toddlers | A well-built, easy to clean, foldable high chair that both you and your baby will enjoy | Functional high chair with long term potential as adult chair and step stool with useful features for feeding baby | After jumping over the hurdle of assembly, you won't be disappointed by the functionality and ability to blend right into the kitchen table | An affordable sturdy option that will get the job done |
Rating Categories | Graco Slim Snacker... | Peg Perego Siesta | Abiie Beyond Wooden | Keekaroo Height Rig... | Graco SimpleSwitch |
Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
Ease of Cleaning (25%) | |||||
Quality (25%) | |||||
Ease of Set Up (10%) | |||||
Footprint/ Portability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Graco Slim Snacker... | Peg Perego Siesta | Abiie Beyond Wooden | Keekaroo Height Rig... | Graco SimpleSwitch |
Use Range | Up to 3y (no minimum age) Max weight: 40 lbs |
Recliner: Birth to 19.8 lbs Upright: 6mo to 45 lbs |
6mo-12y+ Max weight: 250 lbs |
6 mos to 250 lbs | Highchair: Up to 37 lbs Booster: Up to 60 lbs |
Harness | 3 and 5-point | 5-point | 3 and 5-point | 3-point | 3 and 5-point |
Dimensions | 35"L x 21"W x 41"H | 29.2"L x 23.5"W x 41.2"H | 21.5"L x 17.5"W x 35"H | 23.5"L x 20"W x 33.3"H | 28.5"L x 23.5"W x 43"H |
Footprint | 5.1 sq ft | 4.8 sq ft | 2.6 sq ft | 3.3 sq ft | 4.7 sq ft |
Weight | 14 lbs | 23 lbs | 18.3 lbs | 21.1 lbs | 16.3 lbs |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Graco was founded in 1942 by two men in Philadelphia, PA, specializing in car parts fabrication. When one partner left the company, the remaining owner shifted the company toward baby gear and hired an engineer to help with designs. Graco's first baby gear was an infant swing inspired by outdoor gliders common in that era. Seemingly overnight, Graco became the leading manufacturer of baby goods, offering strollers, high chairs, car seats, and more.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
The Slim Snacker is a mixed bag when it comes to ease of use. Some features are easy enough, like the folding of the chair to store and the storage hammock for essential items you may need for entertainment or assistance while feeding. However, other things are somewhat more challenging.
The 5 straps on the harness all need connecting, making the process longer and could be harder if your little one is squirming. The tray is also somewhat stiff and harder to get on and off the chair than some of the competition. We do like the recline feature that is easy to use with a lever on the back of the seat (below right).Nothing is terrible or prohibitively difficult, but it isn't as straightforward simple as some of the other contenders we tested. The chair will stand on its own when folded (above left), but you need to remove the tray when folding. What do you do with this tray? You'll need to store it somewhere other than with the high chair, which is a bummer.
Ease of Cleaning
Unfortunately, this Graco has seat fabric that is not machine washable and can only be cleaned with a damp cloth. The seat pad can be washed in cold water on a delicate cycle, but it needs to drip dry, which will take time and could result in no pad during some feeding. Cleaning the chair is primarily a damp cloth wiping experience, and there are many places for food and gunk to hide or get trapped. There is no easy way to get the chair apart for cleaning, but the main open surfaces are quick to wipe clean with soap and water. In general, it pales compared to other chairs that have covers you can machine wash or fewer places for food to hide.
Quality
The Graco chair is similar to the quality you'd expect from the budget brand. While adequate quality-wise, it struggles to compete next to much of the higher-end competitors. It is likely good enough to get you through the toddler years, and we think it could last for more than one child, but we suspect it won't survive in the same level of style or functionality as a new chair or some of the nicer competition in this review. Things like the stiff tray could potentially become stiffer, and the unwashable fabric could grow too gross to use.
Ease of Set Up
Everything with this chair snaps together easily and is fairly intuitive. However, nothing is labeled, and the instructions are subpar compared to some of the competition. We think most parents will manage just fine, but the lack of labeling is frustrating.
Footprint and Portability
While this chair folds quickly in half into a self-standing chair that is relatively slim for storing, it is pretty huge and takes up a significant amount of floor space when open. It measures 35"L x 21"W x 41"H when open, and when closed, the larger base and feet prevent it from fitting anywhere truly narrow. Also, remember you need to remove the tray before folding and storing, which means having a dedicated location for the tray if you plan to hide the chair in a closet or pantry regularly.
The chair is fairly lightweight and easy enough to move around the room with a weight of 14 lbs, making it one of the lightest we've tested. The feet glide smoothly on flat surfaces.
Manufacturer Video
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