HEIGHT CHARTS: Top Six

Kideko trio of height chartsby Jenny Dalton

HEIGHT CHARTS, believe it or not, are a must-think investment. Because you are going to be stuck with one for quite a number of years.

Unfortunately I’m lumbered with a gifted Dora the Explorer version (okay, okay, I have a soft spot for Dora - the independence, the monkey best friend) because all my four year old’s measurements to date are on it, and to get rid of it would be sacrilege!

The key height chart pointers to consider, according to Caterine Hooper of LittleBabyCompany, depend on whether you want to invest in a temporary record of the child’s growth for them to see and follow, or if you want a more permanent record that can then be stored and kept in their keepsake box. “A wooden height chart looks great on the wall and is available in endless designs, but it is more difficult to store once finished with due to the size and nature of the material. If you are looking for a focal point, there are lots of funky and stylish wallsticker charts on the market which would dress a wall beautifully, but they will not last if you want to keep them as a reminder of their growth. Textile charts looks great, but would you really like safety pins on the wall amongst toddlers?”

The alternative would be a height chart made from paper/card and LittleBabyCompany stocks a height chart by Australian brand Kideko. What Caterine likes about the Kideko height charts is not only are they “vibrant and colourful in their design, but they have a much longer lifespan than most on the market in that they are not supercute or themed, or anything that an older child will refer to as ‘babyish’. The design is meant to last for a while, which is the whole point of a height chart.” And once finished with, it can be rolled up and tucked away in the cardboard tube it is supplied with, amongst the rest of your child’s memorabilia.

Our favourite designs are below:

1. Kideko’s Monster, Love and Sunshine designs, £16.95, as seen above left, www.littlebabycompany.com

Basic Shapes growth chart2. Animal Growth Chart from Basic Shapes, c/o Present & Correct, £20.00. Brilliant grown up graphic animals on this stylish, minimal chart that measure up to 5ft. Recycled paper and soya ink.

Bold & Noble\'s height chart3. Bold & Noble’s Height Chart in Poppy Red from Custard, £34, and boldandnoble.com. Flora and fauna decorate B&N’s hand screen-printed chart that also comes in azure blue.

Giraffe chart by Spin Collective4. Spin Collective’s giraffe (what else?) height chart sticker, £30, is available in 20 fab colours to suit any colour scheme. Measures height up to 140cm.

Tape measure height chart from Graham & Green5. Graham & Green’s tape measure height chart, £35. A smart enough idea for anywhere in the house, and as it’s 232cm high, it’s perfect for adults too.

Totem by Hommu6. Hommu’s Grow-Grow Totem height chart sticker comes in inches and centimetres, so you can choose your favourite measurement system and ditch the other. Choose from four colours. 99 Euros. www.hommu.com