Restaraunt High Chairs

My kids are older now, but I brought along my wipes. Good luck and I like the health department idea. Also, we bought plastic disposible placemats (at a store at Somerset) that stuck to the table and put food on that.

I agree with you. I even think they don't clean once a day either!! I always bring antibacterial wipes. But get me more is when there aren't working seat belts. Do they really want a lawsuit. You aren't over-reacting.We should all conplain much more
T.

I use one of those shopping cart covers in the high chairs. If works great, I just throw it in the washing machine. No more gross high chairs.

Buy a seat cover for restaurant chairs. They are inexpensive and cover the whole area your child would touch. Keep a small package of Clorox wipes in your diaper bag if it needs de-fooding, or ask a restaurant worker to clean it before you put your child into it. Its hard to keep track of kids seats sometimes, as often they are stored in a corner of the store and parents self serve. However if there are a stack of dirty ones, then ask for it to be rectified or choose to avoid this restaurant. I don't think this is a concern for the health department.

I have a friend that is a general manager in the business and he told me that they are required to clean them after each use. He also told me you should report each and every one of them to the health department.

A.,
When we go to restaurants, we do bring our own chair. I think the restaurant ones are gross as well, and, because they are larger to accomodate older children, she is able to turn in them and climb out. So, we like to bring our own. Another plus, is the tray , so she doesn't have to eat off the equally germy table. The one we have is great. it's light weight and can be used on a chair or booth, and the strap and be used for a shoulder strap, so you don't have to use a hand to carry it. Check out the Fisher Price Healthy Seat. The back folds down so it is small and can be kept in the car for when you need it. I also use this at friend's houses, and it is a lifesaver, because I know she has a place to eat that will work for her and she eats better!

Hi A., yeah, it is gross. As customers we get the privilege of teaching the businesses quality customer service. I believe this comes better from the customer rather than the government(health department). I have a background of educated in Public health so I get that side of it too. As Christians that can be a great opportunity to influence as well.

Baby wipes would work if you came into the restaurant ready for whatever. They're not disinfectant though. Have you heard that bleach based and triclosan-based antibacterials are toxic to our little ones? I have access to a disinfectant wipe that is safe ...and environmentally good too. May I get that information to you?

Have a great day!
M.

I agree with you. which is one of the reasons we stopped using them and had our child sit on a booster while sitting on their coat. very gross, I agree...

My son is out of a high chair now, but when he was in one we never went out to eat without our Floppy Seat! You can get one at Babies R Us, or Buy Buy Baby.

It's a fabric cover you can use in both high chairs and also in shopping carts (which are equally disgusting!). We pretty much used the Floppy Seat until he could sit in a booth or chair, even though he was a little big for it. Give it a try.

Contact them, but for a while find new places to eat. It truely sounds like a viovation.

We use the floppy seat as well, mentioned by several others. But I agree it's a problem. Our other problem is that the seatbelt is almost always broken, even when I specifically ask for one that works. Good luck!

I agree. I usually wipe the chairs down with a sani wipe before putting my son in them. I also use a high chair cover as well. You can find them at Babys R Us or Toys R Us.

Well, I would say the best way to get your point across to the restaurants is to walk away. If you get to the table and your own table isn't clean or a high chair you plan to put your child isn't clean, walk away. I've done it. Why start your experience there on a bad note! How about your silverware, your glass.. is that dirty too? When you walk thru a restaurant and turn back around and leave, someone is going to take note. Especially in these times, keeping customers is important. Word of mouth can help business...or hurt it badly. There's always someplace else to go that will value your patronage!

Agree. It has been a while since I have needed one. But I had a blow up one (just the seat part blew up), but it would zip into a square about the size of a lunch box and it had a strap to carry it (you could leave the air in it and is still closed up fine. It was even air approved for flying. I can't think of the brand, and I passed it on to a friend when I was done with it or I would share the name. Shop around, there are some products out there that are not too inconvenient. Good luck! I also found these really cool disposable place mats that had like post it glue on the sides so they couldn't move it. Great for finger foods and you know they are clean because you use a new one each time. I actually kept them tucked inside the zipper part of the portable chair.

I take a high chair cover to put on the chairs and wipe them down with a baby wipe.

I would have to agree with you. That's why we bring this with us whenever we eat out. http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Care-Booster-S...

It's the Fisher Price portable booster seat. I especially like it because my youngest one can eat off the tray and not off the nasty table!

Ugh...I have spoken to managers about this one before, and it's the reason we'll never set foot in a Brann's again. I am sorry, but I don't even believe those things get wiped down ONCE a day. That's bull. I bring my own Clorox or Lysol disinfectant wipes with me now, and I go through a couple of them per high chair. You can't tell me that that chair is sticky and has changed color already, and you wipe it down daily? I just don't believe it. No one gets paid extra to clean the highchairs, and no one wants to do it (because it's probably right up there with the bathrooms in regards to chores people like to do). You are NOT overreacting. We ought to start a whole campaign forcing area restaurants to focus more on child seats. (I enjoy writing letters of complaint, so let me know if I can be of any help!)

A.

A.,

I can't agree with you more. It is beyond irritating and incredibly disgusting. Our solution was to use one of those cushy fabric things meant for a shopping cart. Covers the whole touching areas of the high chair great and so much easier to throw in my own washer than to beg a restaurant employee to wash it down with a dirty rag.

L.

I dont think your over reacting at all!! I used to work at a Ruby Tuesday and honestly I don't think those things were really ever cleaned. When I was there (I was 19) I was a Barthender, and it was the hostess's job to clean them, most of the time they would just brush the crumbs off and call it a day. I really don't think we start to think about these things untill we have children, now the thought of a dirty highchair makes me sick. If you really want to do something, I dont think the Dept. of health or OSHA will really help you, they are more concerned with kitchen cleanliness(sp)and food born illness- Plus- they give you a heads up when they are coming (or used to) so we would clean like crazy to avoid violations. If you really want to get this out there pick the worst place you have been and call problem solvers, or one of the other tv stations. Maybe even organize a group of Mom's to spread awareness about the germs and nastyness. I am sure there are a lot of Mom's, myself included that would help.

Good luck!

Take some portable wipes in that case.

Yes of course restaurants SHOULD have extremely high standards, being they work with food and serve it to people. Sadly it isn't always the case that they fulfill all the standards. Everyone has to cut costs and that's how they justify some of the regulations.
The call is yours. Either take a handy pack of sanitary wipes with you, or take your own chair in, or you don't go out much. There has to be a happy medium somewhere. Not everyone can make everyone happy.

Not overreacting at all, Go For It!

Not over reacting. High chairs are gross. Buy a shopping cart cover, most fit high chairs as well!

U are not overreacting. We bring a high chair cover and one of those "dine out" placemats. Plus I wipe down high chair with a wipe.

I agree, But I also work in a very busy restaurant. Ours are cleaned twice a day. It's not enough! When parents let their children throw food every where and make a disaster, we are concentrating on the visible mess in the middle of the rush, not the germs on the seat of a high-chair. Use a chair cover to be safe. If every parent would clean up after their children like they do in their homes,( lg food pieces off the floor, in the chair etc.) it really would make a difference. You wouldn't believe what some people leave behind! As far as my little one is concerned...I take a shopping cart cover with me to all stores and restaurants. And the play places at fast food restaurants... Yeah right! Go to the park! :o)

I worked at a restaurant where we cleaned them after each use but it depended on the server on how clean they really got. That being said I always bring clorox wipes with me to clean the chair and the table.

Better yet bring a highchair cover!

It is so gross - and your right not all restaurants care.

I agree they are so gross and falling apart.
And I've worked in a lot of restaurants and I'm here to say - you are lucky if they are cleaned at the end of the night.
For a shower gift, someone gave me a high chair cover. I used it all the time.
Fast food play lands also gross me out. When was the last time those were cleaned?

Hello A., You have a very good point, and now that my grandson is old enough to be in a high chair at a restrant, I will be paying close attention. Lemons are another health hazard. Gloves are not required to handle them in restrants, yet they get cut up and put in our drinks. Studies have been done, and the results are discusting. Thanks for the heads up.

I agree with you A.. I often times just hold my child because the chairs are so disgusting. Sometimes I even clean the chair myself. I carry a bottle of Clorox anytime spray with me at all times. Especially when we go out. I think you should contact the health board I'm sure this is breaking some health codes. I have never been told that they only clean the chairs once a day but now that you've said what they told you it makes sense why the chairs are so dirty. And this is a horrible practice that needs to be stopped!!! I think I'm going to complain also.

I worked at a restaurant for a number of years and while we did try to wipe down high chairs after each use, I'm sure they didn't always get the *best* cleaning job during busy hours.

I would say either make someone at the restaurant wipe it down (a good physical reminder that they may as well do it the first time to save the embarrassment of having to go back and do it while you are standing there - at the very least it will give your waiter/ess cause to have a chat with the bus person)

And if you are concerned, I've seen lots of adorable seat covers for the grocery store cart/restaurant high chairs that might be a good purchase for you.

I do think the best suggestion yet was to buy your own high chair / booster seat and take it with you. Then you never have to worry about it being up to your standards.

Again, I agree that this is not really worth a health department contact..

I keep lysol wipes in my purse and disinfect everything that I put my baby near. I don't trust their cleaning techniques regardless. Have you ever noticed that they often use the same rag over and over on the tables? I rather be safe and do it myself.

Hi A.,
I agree with Leslie. I, too, work at a restaurant and while we wipe down each high chair after each use they are sanitized twice a day. I would be proactive about it. Wipe the high chair down when you sit down or get one to hook to the table. I had one of those when my boys were little and I loved it. We also used it at our families houses. That way we had somewhere for them to sit. I personally think if you call the health dept. they wouldn't do anything about it except maybe make a surprise visit. When the health dept. comes to the restaurant where I work they don't even look at the high chairs, they don't usually go into the dining room.
Chris

I have contacted many managers at restaurants that we go to about cleaning the high chairs...and very rarely do I see it get done. I went out and actually bought a high chair cover by Boppy so I can have some piece of mind about the cleanliness. Now all I have to do is find one with working seatbelts...

i know, so gross, right? i mean, they clean the tables after each customer leaves, so why not the baby chairs?!?! i used to work in a restaurant before i even had kids and i would wipe down all the boosters/high chairs after they were used b/c it just seemed like the thing to do.
anyhow, i like to carry individually wrapped wet ones with me in case of things like that (or ask the server if it could be cleaned before you put your little one in it) also, i used to bring one of those cart/high chair covers (it folds us into it's own bag, can't remember what it's called) everywhere with me. yeah, it's another thing to carry, but it was before they had sanitizing wipes for carts and i wasn't about to put my kid in a cart that who knows how many kids had coughed/sneezed/drooled on!
anyhow, i never thought of contacting the health dept. not sure what would happen. but, you'd think with all the flu's going around it would be an obvious choice to clean them each time.
best of luck!

Highchairs are disgusting and sticky, even after they "clean" them. Get one of the cloth seat covers for grocery carts, like others have recommended. They are great, cover the whole chair and are easy to wash. I used to carry it everywhere...that, and plastic stick on placemats because the tables are disgusting too. I think I got both at Babies R Us... I don't think you're over the top w/ contacting the health department, but I don't know that it will change the laziness of the staff most places...
Good Luck! :)

I totally agree. In the restaurants where I have actually been able to FIND a high chair, they are usually rickety and not very clean. Half the time, there are either no straps to secure the baby, or, they don't actually work. It drives me crazy!

We have the Chicco portable high chair and take it with us everywhere. It lives in the trunk and we love it for just this reason. The thought of my daughter chewing on a highchair used by someone else makes me ill. I think they should be kept cleaner but honestly, even if they were, we would still bring our own.

HI, I cant agree more! They are germ breading grounds...lol! I just keep anti bacterial wipes in my bag. I wipe the chair and I use a shopping cart seat cover from Babies R Us. I cant tell you how much I use it. I use the one that is made for carts at the grocery. It can be used for both the cart and a high chair its larger so it covers a lot of a high chair:) so dont buy one for each. It is totally worth the cost. My daughter does not touch carts or high chairs and the cover just goes right into the washing machine:)