If you’re a new parent, you might be wondering which baby floor seat to choose for your little one. Two popular options are the Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up chair and the UpSeat Floor Seat Booster Chair. In this article, we’ll compare the two chairs and help you decide which one is right for you and your baby.
Baby floor seats are designed to support babies with head control in a seated position before they are able to sit independently. They allow babies to look around and play with toys, while giving parents a few minutes to themselves. The Sit-Me-Up and UpSeat chairs both offer babies a safe and comfortable place to sit while maintaining healthy positioning.
Key Takeaways
- The Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up chair and the UpSeat Floor Seat Booster Chair are both popular options for baby floor seats.
- Both chairs offer stability, ease of use, and accessories, but differ in positioning and portability.
- When choosing a baby floor seat, consider your priorities, such as stability, ease of use, and portability.
What is the Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up Chair?
The Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat is a baby chair designed to provide support for babies who can hold their head up but cannot sit independently. The sit is made of fabric attached to a plastic frame and acts like a sling under the baby, offering more give and movement than other chairs.
The Sit-Me-Up chair is ideal for parents who want to involve their babies in the action but cannot hold them all the time. It allows babies to sit up and see, providing a comfortable positioning and space for body movement. The chair has a wide, stable base for stability, which is good for better posture and hip safety.
One of the key features of the Sit-Me-Up chair is its portability. It folds down flat, making it easy to store and perfect for those living in small spaces or who don’t want baby gear all over their house. The chair also has a machine-washable fabric cover, which is a great feature for inevitable blowouts.
Accessories such as trays and toys are available for the Sit-Me-Up chair, making it even more versatile.
However, there are some cons to the Sit-Me-Up chair. It can be awkward to get the baby in and out of the chair, and it does not allow for completely free movement. Also, it has a short period of usefulness before the baby outgrows it, which means more baby gear to buy.
In conclusion, the Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat is a great option for parents who want to involve their babies in the action but cannot hold them all the time. It provides a comfortable and safe seating position, with a wide, stable base and a machine-washable fabric cover. While it has some cons, such as its short period of usefulness, it is still a popular choice for parents who want a portable and versatile baby chair.
What is the UpSeat Chair?
The UpSeat Floor Seat Booster Chair is a baby chair designed to promote safe sitting posture and hip positioning. Unlike the Bumbo chair, which it resembles, the UpSeat was designed by a physical therapist. The chair features a flat sitting surface, wide splayed leg holes, and space to freely move the upper body and arms. It is made of soft foam that supports babies before they can sit independently.
The UpSeat can be used once your baby has good head and neck control, usually around 4 months. It is a portable chair and includes a tray that is easy to clean. The smooth seat surface makes it super easy to clean.
Using the UpSeat as a booster seat secured to an adult chair extends the length of time you’ll be able to use the chair. It can be used as a booster into toddlerhood.
Pros of the UpSeat Chair
- Good posture and hip positioning
- Easy to clean and includes tray
- Can be used from about 4 months to 2 years old as a booster seat
- Portable
- Easy to put baby in and out
Cons of the UpSeat Chair
- Less stable base and possible tipping
- Does not allow for completely free movement
- More baby gear to buy
- No toys
Overall, the UpSeat is a great option for parents who want to promote safe sitting posture and hip positioning for their babies. It is easy to clean and includes a tray, making it a great early high chair option. However, it is important to note that the chair has a less stable base and possible tipping, which may require using it as a booster seat secured to an adult chair instead.
Sit-Me-Up Seat vs. UpSeat Stability
When it comes to stability, the Sit-Me-Up seat appears to have the upper hand. Its wider base makes it less likely to tip over, which can be a concern for parents of active babies. On the other hand, the UpSeat may not be as stable, and parents may need to watch their babies closely to prevent tipping. While the UpSeat still has its benefits, it may not be the best fit for very active babies. It’s important to consider your baby’s activity level and choose a seat that provides adequate stability.
Ease-of-Use & Putting Baby In the Seats
When it comes to ease-of-use, the UpSeat is the clear winner. Placing your baby in and out of the UpSeat is a breeze since you can do it from above. Getting your baby out of the UpSeat is just as easy – simply lift them up.
On the other hand, the Sit-Me-Up chair requires you to angle your baby in slightly to get them around the top support and into the leg holes. Getting them in is not too difficult, but getting them out is more awkward. Since their legs are sticking straight out, you have to finesse them out while lifting them up around the front support bar.
Another important factor to consider when putting your baby in the seat are the leg holes. The UpSeat leg holes are approximately 4.25 inches wide, while the Sit-Me-Up seat leg holes are approximately 4 inches wide. These should accommodate most babies, but those with very chunky thighs may have a snugger fit.
Overall, the UpSeat is the easier option for putting your baby in and out of the seat, but both seats should work well for most babies.
Sit-Me-Up vs. UpSeat Positioning
Both the Sit-Me-Up Chair and the UpSeat Chair position babies safely on a flat surface, which encourages better posture and proper pelvic tilt. This design feature reduces hip dysplasia concerns. The UpSeat has leg holes that are spread apart wide to the side, in line with the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, while the Sit-Me-Up chair allows for freedom of movement and a wide positioning of the baby’s legs.
Both chairs also allow babies to move their upper torsos and arms, which helps them work on movements, balance, and stabilization. The UpSeat comes with a tray that is much bigger than the Sit-Me-Up tray and can fit a full meal, clocking in at 16 x 9 inches. The Sit-Me-Up chair allows you to buy a model with a tray or without, but the tray version is worthwhile.
For more information on UpSeat positioning, please see here and for more information on Sit-Me-Up positioning, please see here.
Sit-Me-Up vs. UpSeat Portability
Both the Sit-Me-Up and UpSeat are lightweight and easy to move around the house. However, the Sit-Me-Up has a slight advantage in portability because it can fold down flat. This feature makes it easier to carry and store away. Additionally, the Sit-Me-Up is one piece, so you don’t have to keep track of extra parts.
On the other hand, the UpSeat chair does not collapse at all, so you have to store it as is. While it is light and has a handle in the seat, if you are using the UpSeat with tray, you’ll also have to bring the tray and the base as separate pieces. This makes it more awkward to transport and store.
Overall, the Sit-Me-Up is the winner in terms of portability due to its ability to fold down flat and its one-piece design. However, if you prefer the UpSeat for other reasons, its lightweight and handle still make it easy to move around the house.
Cleaning the Upseat vs. Sit-Me-Up Chair
When it comes to cleaning, both the UpSeat and Sit-Me-Up chairs are easy to maintain. However, the UpSeat has a slight edge over the Sit-Me-Up chair. You can simply wipe down the foam seat of the UpSeat, while the Sit-Me-Up chair’s fabric cover needs to be removed and washed in a washing machine. Although the fabric cover can be easily washed, it needs to air dry, which can take a few hours. This makes the UpSeat a more convenient option for quick cleanups. One minor issue with the UpSeat is that there are two small holes for the straps that can get food in them, but they can be cleaned without much trouble.
Accessories for UpSeat and Sit Me Up Chairs
When it comes to accessories, the Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat wins over the UpSeat. Both chairs offer a tray option, but the Sit-Me-Up also has hooks for toys and a model with a sun shade.
The tray is an important feature for both chairs. The Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up seat offers a version with a tray or without, but the tray version is recommended. The UpSeat comes standard with a tray. The UpSeat tray is larger than the Sit-Me-Up tray, measuring 16 x 9 inches, and can fit a full meal. However, it is slightly awkward to attach, and if not snapped in properly, the baby can tip the tray. The Sit-Me-Up tray is smaller but has borders all around, making it easier for babies to grab snacks without pushing them off the tray.
In terms of toys, the Sit-Me-Up has two hooks where you can add toys to help entertain the baby. It comes with two toys standard, and you can rotate them using the clips. The UpSeat does not have any toy space, but you could buy a separate high chair suction toy to attach to the tray.
Lastly, Fisher Price offers a model with a sun shade for the Sit-Me-Up seat. While this is not necessary for most people, it could be a great addition if you plan to be outside often.
Overall, both chairs offer good options for a tray, but the Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat has the advantage with its hooks for toys and sun shade option.
Baby Floor Chair Alternatives
While the UpSeat and the Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up are popular choices for baby floor seats, there are alternative options to consider. Here are some baby floor chair alternatives that you may find useful:
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Box or Laundry Basket: Using a box or laundry basket that you already have at home is a minimalist option instead of buying a floor seat. The sides of the box offer support for a wobbly sitter. However, this option is better for supervised sitting as it may not be as stable as a floor seat.
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Boppy Pillow: If you already have a boppy pillow, you can use it as a positioner once your baby is getting close to sitting. You simply put the U-shape around them in a seated position so there is padding if they fall over.
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Hugaboo Infant Chair: The Hugaboo is similar to a boppy in that it provides pillow support around your baby in a seated position. It has leg holes and 360° pillow padding fully around the baby, which also helps keep a mobile baby better contained.
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Galt Playnest: The Galt Playnest is an inflatable inner tube inside a fabric cover with multi-sensory toys. You can put your baby in the middle of it, and the inner tube acts as cushioning if they fall over from sitting. It can also be used as a recliner for smaller babies. Since it’s inflatable, it is good for travel too.
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Standing Activity Center or Jumper: You can skip a floor chair in favor of standing options instead. There are tons of activity centers and jumpers for babies with head control that are not yet walking.
Keep in mind that while these alternatives may be useful, they may not provide the same level of support and safety as a dedicated floor seat. It’s important to always supervise your baby when using any of these options and ensure they are safe and comfortable.
Conclusion
Both the Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat and the UpSeat Floor Seat have their strengths and weaknesses. Deciding which floor seat is right for you will depend on your priorities with your baby.
In terms of stability, the Sit-Me-Up is the winner, while the UpSeat is easier to use. When it comes to positioning, both seats are winners. The Sit-Me-Up is more portable, while the UpSeat is easier to clean. The Sit-Me-Up has more accessories available than the UpSeat.
It’s worth noting that both seats are easy to resell once your baby outgrows them, with the UpSeat commanding a higher resale price due to its rarity. Sit-Me-Ups regularly sell for around $10 secondhand, while UpSeats list for around $50 on Facebook Marketplace (as of Feb. 2023).
If you’re interested in reselling baby gear, check out our article on 10 Baby Items That Are Easy to Resell for more information. Ultimately, the choice between the Sit-Me-Up and the UpSeat will come down to your personal preferences and priorities for your baby.
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