Peg Perego Siesta Review

Since 1949, the Perego family has been designing and manufacturing baby equipment out of their Italian-based company. After they experienced great success selling their products in Europe, they decided to test their luck in the USA market and began selling products out of New York in the early 1960s. Today, their United States Headquarters produces more than 4,000 units a day and features an in-house customer service center, as well as a distribution center, warehousing, and business offices. The company takes pride in the fact that from beginning to end, from design conception to shipment, its products never leave the Peg Perego family, ensuring their top-notch quality and craftsmanship.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Peg Perego Siesta was one of our favorite chairs to use.

Right from the start, it proved to be an alluring seat for placing the baby. Once we sat baby inside, she was temporarily supported by the passive crotch restraint that is built into the seat while we got her buckled up in the 5-point harness.

The straps were nice, wide, heavy-duty, and slightly more challenging to adjust. On the flip side, we appreciated that the adjustment wouldn't loosen once we got it where it needed to be. Some users reported that the straps were difficult to get on to a squirmy toddler, but we did not find them any more difficult than any of the other 5-point restraint systems. Yes, it is going to take a couple of seconds to buckle, but we don't think this is something to be concerned about as it will happen in any seat. We also appreciate that after you buckle in your baby, there is a one-hand release feature that allows you to press and release when mealtime is over.

Our toddler tester didn't have any complaints when it was time to sit down for dinner. The padding of the seat cushion sufficiently supported the baby's back and bottom. There was even padding on the sides and under the knees to provide optimal comfort and perfect positioning. Although our tester was too short to reach the footrest, we were able to adjust it straight out so she could still rest her legs. Moreover, with five recline positions and nine different height positions, you'll easily find the setting that's just right for you and your baby. This chair truly does grow with your child from infant to 45-pound toddler with ease.

Ease of Cleaning

The upholstery is something special, and it's easy to see why Peg has dubbed it “first-class” material.

Not only is it nice to look at, but it is also stain-resistant, easy to clean, removable, and quite durable overall. Simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth and neutral detergent. Users report having no issues with long-term durability, even after heavy use and multiple daily cleanings. Be aware that there are slight folds along the edge of the seat for food and crumbs to get stuck in, much like any other chair with a seat cover.

The tray and tray liner are both dishwasher-safe, although we always recommend washing plastic parts by hand in warm, soapy water to avoid any potential chemical leaching. One minor gripe we had with the snack tray was its abrupt pop-off. No matter how slowly we tried to remove it, it always came off with a jolt. Just be sure there's nothing on the tray that could hurt your baby or spill on the floor before you go snapping it off only inches from your little one's face. Other than that, the tray was a decent size, plenty large enough to hold a plate and cup.

Every once in a while, you may want to wipe down the chair's frame to keep it looking tip-top shape, using the same rag and neutral detergent you would use to clean the seat.

Quality

The quality of the Siesta is truly unsurpassed. From the auto-lock, mar-resistant caster wheels all the way to the rubber net storage pocket on the back of the seat, the beautiful craftsmanship of this piece of furniture shines throughout.

Its alluring blend of metals that make up the frame of the chair is not only nice to look at but serves to keep the chair quite sturdy, especially while adjusting to one of the nine different height options. You will find that the chair slides easily up and down the frame and can be adjusted to fit anything from your dining table (or lower for an infant seat) up to the countertop bar. Our baby loved sitting at our kitchen island to join her brothers for breakfast.

The 5-point restraint harness, as we've mentioned before, was comprised of thick, adjustable straps that did a great job of keeping the baby fastened securely in place. We appreciated that the restraint post was attached to the seat rather than to the tray, allowing us to set the tray flat on the countertop as well as helping keep the baby in place while we were buckling the harness.

The evolved tilt-in-space seat was another favorite feature of ours. This fancy feature means that the chair can recline to a flat position, which is ideal for resting or bottle-feeding newborn babies. It also means that the entire seat moves with the recline, not just the back, which ensures that even while reclined, the baby will not be slipping down/out of the chair. We believe this is perfect for accommodating sleeping babies. And to top it off, the recline can be operated with one hand, making it super convenient and easy to use. We are confident that you will instantly love this feature for all the versatility it brings to the chair.

Ease of Set Up

Sometimes, when you're excited about the arrival of a new baby product, you forget that the products usually come in several pieces rather than ready-to-go out of the box. If the prospect of an hours-long, multiple-tools assembly makes you cringe, have no fear! Our total set-up time for this chair was a swift 3 minutes and 43 seconds. Assembly requires snapping in the wheels and attaching the tray, and you're good to go. The pictures-only instruction manual was clearly illustrated and easy to follow.

Footprint and Portability

Our footprint and portability metric measured the size of the chair's footprint and how portable it was.

In this category, the Siesta fell in the middle of the group for two main reasons. First, the footprint measures 689 inches, which is larger than other high chairs we tested. Second, it weighs 25 pounds, which is also a bit heavy in comparison to other seats. All in all, despite its heavier weight and the fact that it takes up a slightly larger amount of floor space, the Siesta also folds flat, a feature many of the others did not offer. It also has extremely efficient wheels, so you will never have to carry the entire 25 lbs unless moving it up or downstairs.

Should You Buy the Peg Perego Siesta?

Yes. If you need a portable option and your budget allows, the Peg is one of our favorite seats. This chair has been around for ages, and it is easy to see how the compelling and useful design choices have helped it maintain its award-winning status no matter how many competitors come and go.

What Other High Chair Should You Consider?

If you want less plastic in your life or are hoping to spend a little less money, we also love the Abiie Beyond Wooden and the Munchkin 360° Cloud. Both seats have a longer life, converting to toddler and child seats as children grow, and both combine more wood into their designs. However, the Peg might still be the clear winner, depending on your available space and goals.

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