Inglesina Zuma Highchair

The Inglesina Zuma is a high chair parents praise primarily for its attractive, modern design. It folds to fit under a table and reclines easily so infants can join the family at mealtimes. It does have a lower weight rating than most high chairs, which is a drawback considering its higher price.

Safe and stable

The Inglesina Zuma has maintains stability thanks to its Z-shaped base. Most parents like this design, but a few say that the back legs pose a tripping hazard. The Zuma has a deep, bucket style seat with a five-point harness that converts to a three-point harness. The seat has a bar between the child's legs, but it is too short in older models, leaving a space for a child to slide through. The horn has been made taller for 2012 models, so that is less likely. The Zuma's bucket seat reclines securely for comfortable napping or bottle feeding.

Simple set up, easy cleaning

The Zuma comes almost entirely preassembled and needs no tools to set up. The seat comes with two removable, machine-washable seat pads -- one that covers the entire seat for babies and a smaller pad for older babies and toddlers. Parents say the bucket seat wipes clean easily, and some don't bother with the seat pads. The Zuma comes with two tray inserts that are dishwasher safe, but parents and reviewers complain that the tray itself is positioned too far away from the child and food spills are an issue with older models of this chair. Inglesina has responded to these complaints by redesigning the 2012 Zuma with a tray that is wider and closer to the baby and a more vertical seat that positions the baby closer to the tray. Parents and reviewers alike describe the Zuma as easy to adjust and easy to maneuver with its two front wheels.

Nice modern looks-and it folds

The Zuma is a good choice for parents who want a high chair with a sleek modern design that is also foldable -- a feature missing on many of the modern style chairs. Inglesina has designed the Zuma so that it folds to stow beneath a table, which makes it a good option for apartment living and in homes where closet space is limited. The biggest drawback to the Zuma is its relatively low weight rating of 33 pounds. This chair will not see most children through to more than 3years of age. And, with its higher price tag it would be nice if this chair could convert for tableside dining.

Inglesina listened to consumers

In addition to redesigning the Inglesina Zuma's tray and seat in response to complaints from consumers, Inglesina also made the removable tray insert snap into place so that babies couldn't pick it up on their own. All Inglesina products carry a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

The bottom line

The Inglesina Zuma is a good choice for parents who need a chair that stows under a table and is easy to clean; however, it is difficult to reconcile the Zuma's relatively high price with its more limited life span. Its low weight rating of 33 pounds means that many children will outgrow it sooner than other high chairs, which keeps the Zuma a runner up in this category.