Sustainable Ergonomic Highchair Design for Toddlers with Environmental Responsibility

Abstract

Toddler highchairs are essential for parents, restaurants, and daycares to support children’s eating activities. However, products on the market have several limitations, including insufficient stability, limited height adjustment, and uncomfortable materials. This study aims to develop a safer, more comfortable, and flexible ergonomic toddler feeding chair using a structured product development approach supported by computer-aided design (CAD) in SolidWorks, digital structural analysis, and considerations of environmental responsibility. The research follows a phased product development methodology: needs identification, concept development, system design, structural analysis, digital validation, and production cost estimation. The chair incorporates an aluminum frame to enhance stability. The seat combines polypropylene and foam for user comfort, while folding and height-adjustment mechanisms ensure adaptability across different conditions. Static simulation in SolidWorks confirmed that the design withstands loads up to 30 kg, with stress, deformation, and safety factor values within acceptable limits. Environmental responsibility was considered at the material level through the selection of recyclable materials (such as aluminum and polypropylene) with anticipated long product life and efficient resource use; no formal life-cycle assessment was conducted. Although digital validation produced promising results, further work is required to develop prototypes and conduct physical user testing to evaluate ergonomics and usability under real conditions. With these improvements, the proposed design shows potential to outperform conventional products and achieve broad applicability, while further environmental validation remains necessary to substantiate sustainability outcomes.