Eye Level - A High Chair Review

Showing some leg as she sat drooling during a test run of the seat.

After a few "test runs" of just having Baby L sit in the First Years miSwivel Feeding Chair seat for practice, followed by several sit-down meals with Baby L watching us eat, I am officially declaring this purchase a success.

1) Cheap.
It was only $70ish, which is but a fraction of the $400 I was thinking I'd need to pay for a full-blown high chair.

2) Fits.
Baby L sits comfortably on this thing so that she is at eye-level with Hubbs and I when we're eating, and it has easily adjustable straps for when she gets bigger.  The miSwivel also fits well on our bonded leather parson dining chairs.

3) Swivels.
Hence the name, right? It is super easy to turn and there are quite a few different positions that Baby L can be turned to face.  I am a fan of swiveling things (which is why we own an Orbit).

4) Reclines.
We're nearly at the full-upright position since Baby L doesn't like being reclined nowadays, but the fact that the option is there for her to be reclined is good to have.  It will also serve us well one day when/if we are blessed with #2.

5) Big Tray.
You could seriously fit a lot of food on that tray, plus it has 2 cupholder spaces too.  Perfect for food explorations that begin next month a la Baby-Led Weaning.

6) Safe.
It feels sturdy, and there's a 5-point harness for my squirmy wormy when she's being strapped in.

7) Pretty.
I like how it looks.  It's not too ostentatious and it certainly doesn't take up any extra floor space.

 The cons?
* 2-handed tray release
* It's nearly impossible to do a recline change while my 18-pounder is sitting on the seat.
* It's not super easy to do a recline change even when the seat's empty.  There are no visible "indicators" to let you know which recline you're on, or when you've successfully found the 4th recline position.
* Even at its lowest setting, with our current chairs the booster is too high to fit under the table, so Baby L is not quite "at" the table when she sits with us.
* It's not really a "portable" seat since it's pretty clunky.  I'll still probably buy a booster seat for when we dine out.

Overall, Baby's happy so we're happy.  She will suck on Sophie or some random toy while we eat, and for the most part she's happy as a clam in the chair, and will only fuss if we're ignoring her or she's tired.  All in all, I'm glad we made this purchase.  Thank yous to everyone who chimed in with feedback!