Why I designed the Terra 2-in-1 High Chair & Booster Seat

Disclaimer: I love ChatGPT and most of the benefits that it has to offer. But, as the owner of this brand and the author of this article, it’s important that you know that every single word has come directly from me. This is 100% authentically from the heart and I hope you enjoy reading it! 

I’m Sara, co-founder and CEO of Paperclip, but most importantly a mom of three. I’ve dedicated my life to building this brand, creating innovative and eco-friendly products that have been designed from first-hand experience. We started this company back in 2017 and launched with our Willow diaper bag (which is still our best-selling product to date). Our bags feature a patented, integrated, fold-out changing station, and are made using 45 recycled water bottles pulled from our oceans and rivers! We also launched the first-ever color-changing silicone dinnerware collection that changes color when activated by hot foods. 

Today, we’re celebrating the launch of our brand new Terra 2-in-1 High Chair & Booster seat, and I couldn’t be more excited to tell the world about it! 

B.T. (Before Terra)

Flash back to 2016 when I was finally ready to introduce solids to my then-6 month old son. I couldn’t wait to finally put that $400 high chair to use that had since been collecting dust in my kitchen (because let’s be honest, I was so excited about motherhood and all of the exciting milestones that there’s no way I could keep it boxed up in the closet). 

Naturally, during my first few attempts of using it I was utterly confused. ‘This thing reclines?’’ How do I take this tray off?’ ‘I need to move it to the kitchen table, but how?’ I thought I’d figure it out over time. But honestly, the more I used it, the more annoyed I became. Mealtime with an infant was already stressful enough. 

The tray was difficult to remove, and could only be handwashed. The seat had so many cushions that food would constantly build up in the crevices. I had tile floors in my kitchen, and every time I tried to move the high chair I feared I would rip the wheels off of the frame. It was heavy, bulky, and complicated to use. 

From One Extreme to Another

In 2018 I had my second child, and instead of pulling the original high chair out of storage, I donated it instead. I couldn’t fathom torturing myself again. I went online and looked for the cheapest, simplest high chair I could find. It was from a brand that was known for mass-producing cheap furniture, but I didn’t care. It was inexpensive, and it was simple. I used it, and honestly, I loved it. But I didn’t like the way it looked and I didn’t feel good about the ways in which it was manufactured. I even questioned how something so cheap could actually be safe for my child to use on a daily basis. 

The Ah-Ha Moment

By this point, Paperclip was a well-established brand that was recognized for creating diaper bags that were fashionable, functional and innovative. And I thought to myself, if we can make a diaper bag from scratch, we can make a high chair too. 

So for the last 2 years, we’ve been working tirelessly to design a multi-functional high chair that is made with eco-friendly materials, is simple, lightweight, easy to install, and seamlessly blends into any home. 

And Now We Present, The Terra 2-in-1 High Chair & Booster Seat!

The Terra is unique because unlike other products on the market, it’s truly a 2-in-1 high chair, meaning there’s no conversion kits or expensive add-ons needed. You make one purchase, one time, and you have yourself a utility product that grows with you and your child from 6 months up to 5+ years. 

It’s also super lightweight (less than 10 lbs, compared to the first chair I owned which was 25 lbs)! I love this because I can easily pick it up and move it around the house. I can move it to the table for mealtime, place it next to me in the kitchen while I’m cooking, let my daughter sit in it and color or play, and so much more. It’s also so easy to break down that I’ve even tossed it in the trunk and brought it with me for a road trip. 

Another really important feature for me was having hassle-free installation. Let’s be honest, no one (and I mean no one), likes staring at an instruction manual while searching for 4 different screws in 4 different sizes, hoping that you don’t find out you put the leg on upside down once you’re done. The Terra installs with no tools in under 1 minute! You simply click the 4 legs in, and attach the footrest and tray. That’s it. And to convert it to a booster, you just remove the legs and add the booster straps and you’re done! 

Finally, as a parent who cares deeply about the footprint we’re leaving on our planet for our future generations, I wanted to make sure that we designed this product with the environment in mind. That $19 high chair is most definitely still sitting in a landfill somewhere, and will probably be there for several hundred more years. The Terra uses the highest level of sustainable materials, including GRS-certified recycled straps and FSC-certified beechwood legs. 

The Best Money You’ll Ever Spend

When I tell you that this is the best money you’ll ever spend, I mean it! Yes, it’s $329. I know that’s a lot more than $19. But if you’re like me, I’d rather invest in products that are good for the environment, can last for many many years, and can make my already chaotic life a lot simpler. 

If you decide to choose the Terra for your next high chair, I hope you’ll find comfort in knowing that a real mom created this specifically for you. 

To learn more, please visit https://papercliplife.com/collections/high-chair. 

Written By: Sara Baxter, Founder & CEO of Paperclip