At a glance:
This clever highchair has five different configurations, allowing you to transform the seat as your child grows. That said, it is super heavy and our mum testers thought it wasn’t as practical as it first seems.
What they say:
“Polly Progress is the 5-in-1 highchair that grows with your little one. Newborns can use the spacious padded seat to sit, play or relax. As they grow it can be used like a traditional highchair with the tray attached or detached so your baby can join in with family meals. It then converts to a booster seat, which can be secured to a chair with the tray attached and later the tray can be removed so they can sit at the table. It can be adjusted to eight different heights, four different reclining positions, and also features an adjustable leg rest.”
Tested by mum Linda Parkinson for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Unfortunately I wouldn't. Weighing up the costs for a basic highchair, bouncer and seat cushion, the price is, ultimately, just too high. There's no doubt when people see this highchair in show rooms it will look great, but having lived with the product, it’s a no from me, as I can’t see what advantage this highchair can offer over the individual items. It’s as big as all three, weighs more than all three, and costs more at the end of the day. Sadly, I wont be giving my six-month-old dinner in the kitchen, and then laying them back into the bouncer position and leaving them in there alone while I relax in the living room. The misplaced wheels wouldn't allow me to push the chair without falling over it into the room, even if I could live with the trail of uneaten food falling from it.
How did the product make your life easier?
It doesn't, unfortunately, even though the clever design allows the product to cover many age groups and seating positions. Its limitations on what age can sit in each position, its overall weight and the amount of gaps, clips and buttons means cleaning takes longer. It’s a shame, as when the seat is sat on a standard kitchen chair the child's position is excellent, but £180 for a seat booster cushion is quite a lot, for me.
Would you choose this product to win?
There's no doubt the product stands out. If it’s not the clever design or the eye-catching colour scheme, the sheer size of the highchair will do it, without doubt. I can’t believe that this is really the best product out there in the price range. Maybe if the 0+ accessory pack was included it might be a different story, but the cheapest I could find was £69. Great item, but not a winner, sadly. I wont be giving up our basic (does one job well) highchair in a hurry.
What changes would you make to the product?
On receiving the package, it’s hard to ignore the weight of this chair, and after realising there really was only one in the box, the twenty-minute setup was a breeze. The wheels at the front really work when using the seat under a table, but otherwise only help you fall over the high chair while moving it around. They also stopped our chair standing independently. The tray with the removable clear top cover is one of the best ideas I've seen, but even with the tray pulled right up, my little one couldn't reach his bottle located in the bottle recess. The straps remind me of something out a car seat - very safe, but he’s eating his dinner, not travelling down the M1. They are fiddly, and when in the midst of a full-blown paddy, prove to be very tricky in getting everything clipped in the right way.
Tested by mum Vikki Hind for the M&B Awards 2017:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
As the mum of a newborn this highchair is a great product as it will last for a few years. I love being able to have my son next to us at the table and it gives him a head start on developing social and table skills with us. He finds it easy to fall asleep in if I add a blanket underneath him and with the highchair being easily moveable I can have him in the kitchen when cooking to keep an eye on him. The seat is easy to collapse and not too big to store. It's also easy to clean.
How did this product make your life easier?
The Chicco Polly Progress highchair makes my life easier because I have somewhere which isn't near to the floor that I can put my newborn baby in. This makes mealtimes easier because I can easily tend to him and he is already a part of a social family time. It also makes it easier to prepare food and have him close by a because the highchair can be easily moved into the kitchen.
Would you choose this product to win?
I love the newborn aspect and the adjustable heights. It's easy to clean and while not the smallest when folded I've not found it difficult to store when not needed. It is on the costly side though but as a long-term investment the pros would outweigh this con.
What changes would you make to this product?
I love the Chicco Polly Progress highchair but feel it needs an extra something to make it more newborn friendly, such as a softer snug and a play bar to keep baby entertained. It also misses a positive audible click when opening the highchair which all other moving parts have, such as the adjustable arms and footrest.
Tested by mum Becci Broome for the M&B Awards 2017:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The Chicco Polly Progress is extremely functional, lightweight and versatile. It caters for all of the needs of my child as she develops and grows. It folds and well and is compact. The seat can be dismantled and taken in isolation and is fab for eating out where you don't know what child seats may be available. Everything is wipe clean which is a bonus!
How did this product make your life easier?
My child is safe and secure whilst in this highchair. I can easily move it around the house on the wheels and the height can be adjusted to suit whether I am sat down or stood up - giving my back a precious rest! It's so versatile that it transforms as my child grows to cater for her very feeding need.
Would you choose this product to win?
The big plus with Chicco Polly Progress is without a doubt its many different functions and the way it grows with my child. I love the fact the it's sturdy and strong yet lightweight and easily moveable. The dark grey buttons are clear to see and have a positive click giving me confidence that my child is safe and the seat is secure.
What changes would you make to this product?
The handles to remove the seat are very close to frame which makes it slighter harder than it should remove the seat from the frame. Other than that I find it extremely difficult to find any other faults. The challenge will be cost as, at the RRP, this will rule out your average family on a stretched budget.
Tested by mum Rebecca Hannon for the M&B Awards 2017:
Would you recommend the Chicco Polly Progress to other mums?
This is a tough one. I like this highchair for so many reasons - it looks good. My little boy is comfortable in it and it does the job. But there are things I don't think are well thought out about it. My little boy is six months old and the tray is very high for him - an adjustable tray height would be good. It's massive - you couldn't have this in a small room. There's a footrest that I can't seem to attach properly and the instructions are pictorial so of no help.
How did this product make your life easier?
The fact that you can recline the chair is great. I also like that it's suitable for so many stages in my boy's life - eventually it'll be used as a booster at our dining table. The tray is massive and comes with a detachable bit for easy cleaning. The chair is well padded and the cover comes off easily for cleaning.
Would you choose this product to win?
Who has that amount of money to spend on a highchair? Great design, good ideas with regards to it reclining, being heigh adjustable and seeing him through all stages of life but I think it needs to be cheaper and less bulky.
What changes would you make to this product?
The size. It quite literally takes up a corner of my dining area. Folded it does get smaller but even then it's bulky. I would probably give it four wheels as opposed to two and put a brake on one set. I would also make the tray height adjustable.