If you’re on the hunt for the best baby booster and floor seat, the Ingenuity Baby Base is a top contender you may be considering. I’ve tested it with my own kids at home so I could compare it to other boosters we’ve used. In this article, I’ll go over all the pros and cons of the Ingenuity Baby Base 2 in 1 Seat as well as some alternatives you may want to consider.
I also recommend this article about the best high chair alternatives.
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Let’s take a look at all the features of the Ingenuity Baby Base 2 in 1 floor and booster seat to see if it might be the right fit for your family!
Ingenuity Baby Base 2 in 1 Seat
Pros and Cons
- Pros
- Can be used as floor seat or as a booster
- Tray for feeding and playing
- Built in tray storage
- Dishwasher-safe tray
- Compact size for travel
- Built in strap storage for booster seat function
The Ingenuity Baby Base works well as an infant floor seat. The tray is helpful for playtime; it gives your baby a surface to put their toys on top of. It has a wide base and a removable foam insert that supports wobbly sitters before they’re ready to sit up completely unassisted.
You can also use the removable tray for feeding time. It has a built-in indent for a cup, and a nice wide flat surface you can use to suction silicone bowls to if you’d like. The tray is dishwasher safe and stores conveniently in the base of the seat.
The Ingenuity Baby Base is a nice compact size for when you’re on the go and has a built in handle for easy transport. It also has built in strap storage so the straps can be neatly tucked away when they’re not in use, instead of dragging on the ground like some other similar seats.
- Cons
- Only fits certain sizes of chairs
- Crumbs get stuck between foam liner and plastic base
- No built in storage for foam insert
- Not an optimal hip position for long term usage
Like every booster seat, the Ingenuity Baby Base only fits certain sizes of dining chairs. You can see from my diagram below how to measure your home chair to ensure it will have a nice snug fit. If your adult dining room chair is too small, the adjustable straps won’t be able to tighten completely and the Ingenutiy booster seat will slide around on top of it and be unsafe.
Because the Ingenuity Baby Base has a removable foam liner, sometimes crumbs get stuck between the liner and the plastic base of the chair. This makes it slightly harder to clean than some of its competitors like the Upseat you can read my review of here.
You can remove the foam insert when your older child needs a bigger seat with more space. Unfortunately, there is no built-in storage for the foam insert pieces. You’ll have to store the insert separately and be sure not to lose it for use with a future child, or when you’re reselling it or giving it away later.
Most floor seats, bouncers, and other infant ‘containers’ aren’t great for baby’s safe hip development. Using them for long periods of time can put your baby’s legs in an unnatural position that could cause strain on their hip joints or put them at risk for future hip dysplasia. Plan on using the Ingenuity Baby Base for short periods of time. Consider the Upseat as an alternative floor and booster seat that has been built with healthy hip development in mind.
Longevity, how long can you use it for? What are the Ingenuity Baby Base age restrictions?
The Ingenuity Baby Base 2-in-1 Seat is recommended for babies who are able to hold their head up on their own. Every child is different but this usually happens around 6 months of age. The seat is usable for babies ages 6 months up to 3 years of age or 50 lbs (22.7 kg).
That’s quite a wide age range; you’ll be able to use this product for a good amount of time, into the toddler years. You should take into account your own infant’s muscle tone and development. If you’re unsure if your baby is ready, you can ask a pediatrician or pediatric physical therapist.
Price
The Ingenuity Baby Base 2-in-1 booster seat is usually around $45 USD when it’s not on sale ($65 Canadian). Check the current price here to see if it’s on sale.
It’s on the lower end of price for products that have similar functions like the Upseat, the Bumbo Multi Seat and OXO Tot booster seats.
Is it easy to clean the Ingenuity Baby Base?
The Ingenuity Baby Base is fairly easy to clean, but some of its competitors are better. To clean the Ingenuity you:
- wipe surfaces clean with a cloth.
- do not fully submerge the seat in water.
- remove foam liners and wipe plastic base.
- the feeding tray is dishwasher safe.
The feeding tray is dishwasher safe but to prolong its lifespan you could wipe it clean in your sink instead. Dishwashers are hard on plastic products and over time, may cause issues.
It’s not quite as easy to clean as some of its competition like the OXO Tot Nest, or Upseat. The Upseat is easier to clean because it’s one continuous surface with no foam inserts or nooks and crannies for food to get stuck in. The OXO Tot Nest has a more wipeable seat because the foam insert is one continuous piece that is easier to pull out and clean.
Safety Features
- Non-slip base
- 3 point harness
- Straps to attach it to adult chair
The Ingenuity Baby Base has safety harness straps to help secure your child into the seat. In addition, it has straps that attach it to an adult chair securely. The base also has non-slip material to make sure it doesn’t slide around on flat surfaces.
Never use a baby chair on an elevated surface like a countertop, it is only safe to use on the floor, or strapped in properly to an adult chair with supervision.
Ingenuity Baby Base Alternatives
The Upseat is one of the best alternatives to an Ingenuity Baby Base. It can be used as a floor seat, or strapped to an adult chair and comes with a detachable tray for feeding or suctioning toys to. The most important difference between the two is that the Upseat was designed to keep your baby’s hips in a better, more ergonomic position. You can read my full review of the Upseat here!
The Bumbo Multi Seat has similar features. It can be used as a floor seat or booster, and the foam insert can be stored right inside the booster seat when it’s not in use. It’s easier to clean because the foam insert is one smooth piece, but it has a smaller tray for feeding which is a trade-off. You can read my full review of the Bumbo Multi Seat here.
The OXO Tot Nest is a similar price at around $59.99 USD when it’s not on sale ($109 Canadian). It has a 3-point harness included to secure smaller babies to the seat. It also includes the straps needed to attach it to an adult chair. It’s a simple design and does not include a feeding tray, but you might like it as a table booster for your toddler. Read my full review of the OXO Tot Nest here.
Standard highchairs and some portable high chairs have additional safety features to keep babies safe – like a harness that goes over their shoulders as well as their waist to keep them secure. They also usually have wheels on the back as an anti-tip mechanism. If your baby pushes away from a wall or table, the highchair with wheels will slide backwards instead of tipping over.
Toddler boosters for older children usually include less structured support and have a more simple design with just a booster bottom of an extra few inches of height and some straps to keep things secure. My older toddler prefers a regular booster instead of the Ingenuity Baby Base because it has more space for his hips and legs to move freely. You can read my full review of the Upseat Boost for toddlers here. For another toddler booster option, you can read my review of the OXO Tot Nest here.
Common Ingenuity Booster Questions
- Can you put the Ingenuity tray in the dishwasher?
- Yes, the Ingenuity Baby Base tray is dishwasher safe.
- Is Ingenuity baby seat safe?
- When used properly on the floor or strapped to an adult chair it is safe to use the Ingenuity Baby Base for short amounts of time.
- For an even more ergonomic baby seat option, check out the Upseat.
- How long will Ingenuity last?
- You can use the Ingenuity Baby Base booster from around 6 months to 3 years of age.
- Where is Ingenuity manufactured?
- The Ingenuity Baby Base is made in China.
- How do you clean ingenuity seats?
- Wipe clean the Ingenuity Baby Base booster with a damp cloth and mild soap, remove the foam inserts and wipe under them. Do not submerge fully in water. The tray is dishwasher safe.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an infant floor or booster seat with a built in tray for feeding and play time on the go, the Ingenuity Baby Base 2 in 1 Seat is an inexpensive option. For short-term use, or using occasionally when you’re visiting somewhere that doesn’t have a high chair, it can be quite handy to have a portable baby feeding seat.
For more reviews on baby floor and booster seats, check these out from Mama’s Buzz:
