The Polly Armonia highchair has won me and my granddaughter over
29.8.2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Stephan Lamprecht
The "Polly Armonia" from Chicco is a highchair that grows with your child and can be tidied away quickly. It has been part of my everyday life for a few weeks now.
The first meals with your baby at the table are wonderful moments to share. And with the onset of toddlerhood, they are also an important step towards independence. However, not every household has enough space to leave a highchair at the dining table permanently.
Or it's like me. I only need a highchair when my granddaughter is visiting. So the offer to test the «Polly Armonia» came at just the right time, because it should be easy to store away after use.
Unpacking and assembly
The highchair is delivered pre-assembled and folded. I only have to assemble four elements: the two foot sections (one of which has castors), the table and a footrest. The tubes of the foot sections have a quick-release fastener that prevents incorrect assembly. Anyone who has ever used a highchair will be ready in five minutes. Even without looking at the instructions.
This is brief, but explains all the steps and functions clearly. When assembling the chair, I also familiarise myself with the main operating elements of the chair.
If the child is already big enough to sit directly at the table, the chair's little table can be easily removed.
First visual impression
Still without my granddaughter, I take a closer look at the chair. The supporting structure is made of metal, while the controls and seat are made of plastic. This makes the «Armonia» potentially easy to clean. However, my experience with three children and four grandchildren tells me that porridge, juice, ink or finger paints end up in exactly those places that are hard to reach and difficult to clean.
Since I need a highchair that I can quickly put out of the way after use, the piece of furniture doesn't «have to fit harmoniously» into my interior. Functionality comes first. Of course, there are also elegant wooden highchairs. But then you have to dig deeper into your pocket.
Suitable up to the age of 36 months
The «Armonia» is designed for all stages of life up to the age of three. In the first few months of life, it can be used in a similar way to a cradle. The baby then lies next to me at the table. For better support and more safety, a seat reducer is pre-installed, as with car seats.
Since my granddaughter has long since passed this age, I remove the seat reducer. The seat belts can be pulled through without any problems. This makes it easier to wash the cover when the reducer is in use.
As your baby gets older, they can gradually switch to an upright position. As soon as it sits independently and holds its head and back upright on its own, the recline of the seat can be adjusted to the appropriate position using a lever on the backrest.
The straps are adjustable. I find the transparent insert for the tray practical. I can clean it separately in the sink. This means there's a chance that the tray will stay looking good for longer.
The tray is optional. I can pull it off at the touch of a button. This brings the chair closer to the dining table.
Chicco specifies a maximum weight of 40 kilograms as the maximum load capacity. According to current development tables, only schoolchildren reach this weight. And at that age, the offspring are guaranteed to no longer want to sit in a «baby chair».
Granddaughter sits comfortably, grandad is happy
The highchair has proved its worth in everyday life with my almost three-year-old granddaughter. As she's just about «Hey-look-I-can-climb» old, she only sits in my highchair when she's strapped in. That way, I can quickly pop into the kitchen to get a refill of drinks or change the water for the mascara.
If the little one develops less climbing ambitions at some point, I can also remove the straps completely. They just need to be pulled out of the rear slots in the backrest. Don't worry: only an adult can do this mechanically.
Test judgement of my little visitor: She sits safely and comfortably and finds the chair «nice». If that's nothing, right? In everyday life, it's more comfortable for the child if the plate and cup are closer to her. Within a few seconds, I can put the table back on the chair.
Speaking of climbing: although the chair has a footrest, it is not intended as a step and is only hooked in. So I have to lift her up and put her in the chair. She now thinks this is stupid («Grandad, I can do it on my own»), but she is also familiar with most high chairs in the catering trade.
Saving space out of the way
When the granddaughter is on her way home again, it's time to take a deep breath and tidy up. The chair is the quickest way to do this. I have to pull two levers on the side at the same time to fold the legs together. Then move the armrests downwards and the chair is only around 30 centimetres deep.
So it fits behind a door or in a niche next to a cupboard. I like the fact that you can simply push it to its new place thanks to the castors. I have more work to do with the rest of the flat, but that's not the chair's fault.
The folding mechanism is designed in such a way that the chair doesn't unfold by itself or need to be leant against. Wherever you push it, it stays securely in place.
I would like stronger brakes
One of the foot ends is fitted with two castors, like on cupboards or office chairs. To prevent an older child from simply pushing off the table (or older siblings from chauffeuring their little one around), the castors have parking brakes. They lock into place with a kick, just like a pram.
On carpet or carpeted flooring, the chair is also really firm for me. On my laminate, however, the wheels still have too much play for my taste when the brake is applied. Maybe that wouldn't be the case if the tyres were made of rubber. I would feel more comfortable with harder brakes.
In a nutshell
A practical and budget-friendly high chair for children
With the exception of the brakes, I have nothing to complain about with the "Polly Armonia". The chair is quickly ready for use and can be stowed away when not in use. If there is enough space in the car, this Chicco model can also be taken on a journey.
Pro
- grows with the child
- Can be stowed away easily and takes up little space
- Easy to adjust in height
Contra
- the brakes could be stronger
- Larger children cannot sit in it alone
Hamburg local, bookworm, and ice hockey fan. Dad and granddad. Constantly tinkering around with my smart home setup. I love DIY, the outdoors, fashion, and cosmetics.
Baby
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