Child recliners are becoming increasingly popular as a gift. These recliners mimic the styles and functionality on adult reclining chairs in most ways.

I’m writing this to answer some of the most common questions we get about this wonderful gift.

By far the most frequently asked question is “what is the right size recliner for my child,” “will my child fit in this chair,” or some other variation. The good news is that it’s a pretty simple question to answer. Child recliners vary in size only slightly. Almost without exception they will work for kids between the ages of 2 and 8 years old and under 100 pounds.

It’s not a good idea to purchase these recliners for children under 2. Children under 2 often want to stand on the seat of the recliners while holding onto the chair back. This can cause the recliner to tip over backwards. Children over 2 are more able to understand this tipping concept and the problem is negated.

Over 8 years old and/or 100 pounds the chairs tend to be too small for the child. You might ask why someone doesn’t make a larger or in-between size chair to bridge the 9 year old to adult range. This is most likely due to shipping costs. Child recliners for small children can be shipped via ground service. Chairs made larger would have to be shipped via freight carriers that would make the chairs expensive.

Another frequently asked question is “does this chair recliner.” Yes, they do. Although, they generally do not have lifting mechanisms like adult recliners have. That is why there is no lever on the right hand side of the chair. To put the chair in the reclining position the footrest has to be pulled up manually. Most children can accomplish this themselves, but very young children may need an adult’s help.

Finally, parents and grandparents often want to know “how well made is this recliner?” The answer to this is more complex. Most of the recliners you find for under $100 are made of a pine frame, inexpensive batting and thinner upholstery. You can expect these chairs to last 2 or 3 years if used by a single child, depending on the child. I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised to find that girl’s chairs tend to last longer than boy’s chairs. More expensive models are made with hardwood frames, springs and leather or faux leather upholstery. This upholstery may be tacked in like adult furniture instead of sewn on. Some of these chairs can be considered heirlooms and will last generations if treated well.

I hope this helps you with your search.

Craig J. Clark, owner of numerous child product and furniture web sites, reviews products for children on a continual basis. Find information about Child Recliners, Rocking Chairs, Play Tents, Puppet Theaters and many other items on his web site: Child Recliners

Caring for a child recliner is a simple matter. There are a few things that you can do to make your child’s recliner last for years.

There are two things that you should consider when you first receive your child recliner. First is the fabric type. If you have a cloth type recliner you will want to consider applying a scotch-guard type product to the recliner before allowing kids to use it. Scotch-guard can protect the fabric from minor stains and spills. It’s easy to find, easy to apply and inexpensive. You can get fabric protector from any supermarket and most of the superstores that abound. Applying the fabric protector is simply a matter of spraying the product onto the chair and letting it dry. If you have vinyl, faux-leather or micro-fiber cover on your recliner then there is no need to apply fabric protection, as these covers do a good job of resisting stains and spills.

The second thing you should look at is how difficult it is to raise the footrest in your recliner. The footrest controls the reclining mechanism and on occasion can be too tight for your child to raise on their own. To correct this, place a drop or two of oil on the hinge joints. Some hinges are hidden behind a fabric or plastic covering. This covering can usually be pulled back easily to allow access to the hinges. In most recliners there is no covering on the hinges and applying oil is a simple matter.

Ah, but what do you do when little Johnny spills that Hawaiian Punch all over the chair? Well, if you’ve applied your fabric protection, then most of the spill will glide right over the material and make it all the way to the floor. In this case, just use a damp rag to wipe down the chair. Let dry and you should be in business. However, if the spill has soaked into the cover, then I recommend using one of the little steam cleaning tools that are now available. If you don’t have one of these, then use carbonated water with a rag. The carbonation in the water brings out the stain, allowing you to wipe most of it up. Be sure to let the recliner dry fully after a soaked in spill. The foam underneath the covering can become wet and may need some extra time to dry.

With a little prevention your child recliner should make it through your child’s formative years and will be a great source of pride and joy.

Craig J. Clark, owner of numerous child product and furniture web sites, reviews products for children on a continual basis. Find information about Child Recliners, Rocking Chairs, Play Tents, Puppet Theaters and many other items on his web site: Child Recliners