What to look out for when buying high chair?
Do you find yourself googling what’s the best high chair available in 2022? Or, when can my baby sit in a high chair? What’s the best newborn high chair? What’s the best high chair for toddlers? What about easy-to-clean high chairs, reclinable high chairs or foldable high chairs?
There are so many options, styles and sizes out there that shopping for a high chair can be overwhelming. But there are only three essentials you really need. A good high chair should be safe, simple to use and easy to clean.
Here’s the PishPosh Baby Highchair Buying Guide: how to pick a high chair that will work for you, your baby and your home.
When Do I Need A High Chair?
Most high chairs are suitable from six months, which is roughly when your baby is able to sit up on their own and starts weaning. Be led by your child, and make sure they’re ready, there’s no rush.
There are also reclinable newborn high chairs that are safe to use from birth, which are ideal if you’re bottle feeding or have other children to keep an eye on. Reclinable options are not recommended when your child starts eating solid foods, however, as this could create a choking hazard.
What Should I Look For And Consider When Buying A High Chair?
Do You Need A Space-Saver High Chair?
If your kitchen is compact, you’ll want a high chair with a small footprint or one that folds easily. Or, you might want a high chair that easily stows away to keep at the grandparents’.
If you like the foldable high chair, consider where you’re going to store it. If it’s staying in the kitchen, you’ll need one that can stand up by itself. The problem with it leaning on a wall is that it could be pulled over by your little explorer.
Another consideration with foldable high chairs is that you may need to remove the feeding tray each time you flatten it.
How Easy Is It To Lift Your Baby In And Out?
The best way to solve this conundrum is to take your little one high chair shopping and test them out! Some high chairs are flexible, enabling you to remove or pull the tray forwards to pop your baby in. Others don’t have this option.
While you’re there, practice removing the tray, doing up and undoing the safety straps and folding the chair down to see what works best for you.
If you're near our boutique in Lakewood NJ, please feel welcome to pop in and chat to our store assistants. We're always happy to help with honest baby gear advice and hands-on experience for parents!
Do You Need An Easy To Clean High Chair?
Think about your lifestyle. If both parents work and you need to quickly feed your baby before rushing out the door, a smooth, wipe-clean plastic or wooden option with vinyl or PVC padding/covers would be best.
Fabric covers need to be removed to clean and may not always be machine washable, leading to stress if you’re pushed for time. Remember that extra padding is lovely and comfy for your baby but creates more nooks and crannies for food to get stuck into.
After a particularly messy meal, it might be easier to just pop the feeding tray straight into the dishwasher. Look out for a removable, dishwasher friendly trays for hassle-free mealtimes. A removable tray also means you can pull your baby right up to the table so they can join in with family meal times.
Do You Need A Portable High Chair?
You may want the convenience of moving your high chair from room to room at home. A lightweight portable high chair on caster wheels will make life much easier than having to pick up and move the chair each time. Ensure that there is a solid brake function to keep your little one safe and sound.
Or, you may need a travel high chair that can be folded easily and stowed away in the car. Compact booster seats or hook-on high chairs are also great for travel or going out to restaurants.
Do I Need A High Chair That Grows With My Child?
A flexible high chair that grows with your child are a great choice to save money in the long term. Features such as adjustable seat heights and foot-rests that can be adapted as your baby develops into a toddler are much more useful than having to buy a new chair to suit different needs.
Some high chair models turn into a pre-schooler chair and are designed to seat your child into their teens. However, your toddler may not agree with your carefully thought-out plan. Lots of little ones are keen to leave their ‘baby’ chair behind and move straight on to a ‘grown-up’ seat – you have been warned!
What Safety Guidelines Should You Look Out For?
The Consumer Product Safety Commision has clear safety guidelines for buying and using a high chair:
Look for the ASTM F404-21 High Chair Standard.
Always use the safety straps and adjust to fit the child snugly.
If a high chair includes a tray, do not use the tray to hold the child in the high chair. Instead, use the restraints.
Stay near and watch the child during use.
Do not let children climb into or stand on the high chair.
How Much Do I Need To Spend On A High Chair?
There’s a high chair out there to suit all budgets. Cheaper plastic models may not look as good as some high-end alternatives but they do the job perfectly well.
Top-of-the-range high chairs are more likely to offer a stylish option that also ticks all the necessary safety, comfort and ease-of-use boxes.
It all boils down to the best option for you and your baby’s needs – not what your besties have!
Which High Chair Is Best For Me?
PishPosh Baby has a wide range of quality high chairs to suit all styles, needs and budgets. Whether you prefer bright colors, a sleek contemporary look or a classic wooden feel, rest assured that our high chairs are safe, comfortable, simple to operate and a breeze to clean.
Use From Birth/Newborn High chair
Stokke Tripp Trapp Newborn Set
Designed to encourage family bonding and interaction from the very first days of your baby’s life, the Stokke Tripp Trapp Newborn set is comfortable and ergonomic. Cradling your newborn, it lifts them to a table height, which helps you bond.
Mima Moon 2G
The Mima Moon 2G boasts a multi-angle seat recline system that’s perfect to use from birth and beyond. It goes from a reclined position for newborns to a highchair for toddlers and then converts to a junior seat that holds children up to 99 pounds. Oh, and it’s sleek, contemporary and will add sophistication to your space.
Oribel Cocoon Z
Oribel Cocoon Z’s iconic cozy shell keeps your baby comfortable at every stage, from newborn to toddler. You can adjust the height as your child grows, while concealed wheels allow you to ‘glide’ from room to room with ease, keeping your baby close at all times. Pantone colors keep this high chair super-cool.
4moms Connect
The 4Moms Connect High Chair is a great all-rounder. Sleek and sturdy, it blends beautifully in modern kitchens, while reclining to allow your baby to take a seat at the table and enjoy family mealtime moments. Adjustable features seamlessly adapt with your little one as they grow.
Peg Perego Siesta
The Peg Perego Siesta High Chair is a multi-functional, ultra-compact high chair that follows your child’s growth. From birth, it can be used as a recliner, or or as a high chair for feeding and playing. The removable tray also allows your baby to sit with you at the table. It comes in an array of trendy colors.
High Chairs For Toddlers/Big Kids
Children of Design Deluxe High Chair
The Children of Design Deluxe High Chair transitions with your child. The removable tray and legs make it easy for this high chair to be used from ages 6 months to 6 years old as a high chair, booster seat or kids chair. From bottles to eating solids, three positions adjust to your child’s age and food ability. The sleek and sturdy design will look great in your kitchen, too.
Peg Perego Siesta
Suitable from birth to 3 years, the Peg Perego Siesta’s height can be adjusted in three positions. As your child grows, they can eat at the table just like an adult by removing the tray.
Phil & Teds Poppy 20/21
Available in metal and wood, this classic high chair with a twist is hygienic and versatile. The Phil & Teds Poppy 20/21 seamlessly converts to a toddler sized ‘my chair’ without the use of tools. It’s compatible with a whole family of accessories, for years of use far beyond your baby’s feeding days.
Nomi High Chair
The Nomi High Chair was developed from an ambition to create a seating solution from newborn to the teenage years and beyond. It will fit your child from approximately 6 to 24 months and then seamlessly transforms into the Nomi Chair for the teenage years. It’s designed to enable your child to safely climb in and out from the age of 24 months: just remove the crotch restraint and harness.
Melo Revel
The Melo Revel looks cool in black or burnished brass – a real seat for sore eyes! It comes with two foam cushions, providing comfort and support. As your child grows, replace these with a seat cushion to provide more space for your toddler.
Space Saver High Chairs
Stokke Tripp Trapp
With a small footprint, the Stokke Tripp Trapp doesn’t take up significant space in the kitchen. This chair isn’t bulky in the least, and the compact and classic design is a plus for both aesthetics and as a space saver.
Chicco Snack Booster Seat
Save space in your kitchen and streamline meals with the Chicco Snack Booster. This high-back booster seat offers all the convenience of a standard highchair in a footprint that fits your space. Simply secure it to any dining chair with the straps. Rubberized pop-out feet stabilize the seat and protect your chair. Snack includes a large, snap-on tray, a lift-off liner and a machine washable seat pad to make cleanup a breeze.
Phil & Ted's Lobster
Lightweight and portable, Phil & Teds Lobster packs flat for you to take anywhere, from restaurants to vacations to the grandparents’. Or just use it as a massive space saver at home! It quickly and easily clamps onto any table, is easy to clean, has a washable fabric seat and a removable, dishwasher-safe food tray.
Easy To Clean High Chairs
4moms Connect
Easy to clean with a removable EVA foam seat insert and dishwasher-safe tray liner, the 4Moms Connect High Chair has rounded edges and none of those hard-to-get-to nooks and crannies. Cleaning up will be a pleasure, not a chore!
Oribel Cocoon 3-stage
The Oribel Cocoon 3-stage high chair is super-easy to clean. Just wipe down the waterproof EVA seat after a messy meal. There are no crevices for tiny crumbs or food to get trapped in, whilst the top tray insert pops off easily and is dishwasher-safe. Easy cleanup after dinner – what could be better?
Melo Revel
From its soft and supportive seat to the easy wipe-down surfaces, the Melo Revel chair is guaranteed to add a touch of luxury to any kitchen. Plus, the extra-smooth surface of the entire chair leaves no place for dirt to hide, for easy cleanups and peace of mind.
Children of Design Deluxe High Chair
Toddlers are messy, so the Children of Design Deluxe High Chair has an easy-to-clean removable tray. Simply unlatch the tray and rinse off quickly or place in the dishwasher for a deep clean. You’ll spend less time stressing about the mess and more time being there for your child’s precious moments.
Booster Seats
Peg Perego Rialto
Allow your baby to sit right at the table with the Peg Perego Rialto. Suitable for children nine months and up, this booster seat has five height positions and an adjustable seat. Plus, it folds easily and super-compactly for travel and storage.
Phil & Teds Lobster
Once your little one is able to hold their head up, they’re ready to sit in the Phil & Teds Lobster and join the rest of the family at the table. It’s a compact, lightweight feeding solution for smaller households, and also makes eating out with your child really easy.
OXO Tot Nest
The OXO Tot Nest Booster Seat will bring your child to the family table from as young as nine months. Designed with a soft cushion, as well as a high back and sides, it will make any grown-up chair comfortable for your little one.
Bombol Pop-Up Booster
Weighing just 5 lbs, the Bombol folds down to a small packet the size of a book! This makes for super-easy storage when mealtime is over, ideal for travel, meals out and as a space saver at home. It’s designed to fit most adult chairs and locks instantly into a safe, sturdy 3D structure.
Need more inspiration? Shop the
PishPosh Baby high chair range
and find your perfect high chair today.
Do you find yourself googling what is the best high chair available in 2020? Or, what’s an easy to clean high chair? What’s the best foldable high chair? What is the best high chair for small spaces? These are all questions I’ve had myself as a mom! I know how overwhelming and confusing it can be with the abundance of high chair products that are out there on the market!
Especially as moms, sometimes we feel like we have to provide the latest and greatest for our children… and we do this out of love! But googling the “best baby high chair 2020” may not exactly do this for us when it comes to getting your kid a comfortable, easy to clean, and safe high chair. Fact of the matter is, the best high chairs out there aren’t necessarily the most expensive, or the “fanciest”!
In this blog post, I hope to simplify this search for you!
Seating position for a baby
Did you know that having your baby and toddler positioned correctly during feeding is crucial for safe and focused feeding success? And to get us started, it wouldn’t be a blog post about high chairs without first going over the proper seating position for feeding a baby!
Here is a list of things that your baby should be able to do in their high chair to achieve optimal feeding success!
- They should be able to hold their head upright and steady without tiring.
- Their torso should be positioned upright and airway unrestricted. This means their bum and pelvis are positioned directly under their hips (at a 90 degree angle).
- Their shoulders are angled just slightly in front of the hips. They can also lean forward if wanted and turn slightly to the left or the right without restriction.
- Their arms are freely movable and not restricted in any way.
- Feet are supported with a footrest appropriate for their height, with their ankles also resting at 90 degrees under their knees!
*PS Babies should be able to sit upright unassisted without tiring easily before starting solids. Unassisted means without your help, or the help of a seating device or high chair. For these exact reasons, I never recommend using a Bumbo chair to feed your baby!
If you want to learn more about the proper seating position for feeding and check out the reasons behind this, check out my blog post on safe and effective seating positions!
Why is proper seating so important?
One of my biggest tips for how to help your toddler sit and stay at the table is to ensure proper and comfortable seating!
Proper seating is often skipped over, but is sooo important for feeding success!
If a toddler or baby isn’t seated comfortably and with good stability, you may start to see things like:
- Wanting to skip meals to leave the table early
- Being fidgety/squirmy or trying to eat in odd positions
- Struggles with developing fine motor and eating skills – for example, using utensils!
You’ll especially see these signs start when your baby isn’t held upright and has no footrest. Think about what it’s like when you eat off a really tall bar stool… do you struggle with your feet dangling with no support? How does this impact your chewing, coordination, maintaining your posture, and your comfort? It all becomes sooo much harder!! Notice often in these scenarios we try to find something to naturally rest our feet on, or we wrap our feet and ankles around the legs of the chair.
These are all reasons why you want to find a comfortable seating position for your toddler or baby! My Feeding Toddlers online course and Baby Led Feeding course both equip you with the knowledge you need to feel confident through this process (and to solve the above problems you may be having!).
What to look for in a high chair
A proper high chair is the most beloved and most important feeding gear to get! Remember that a proper or good high chair doesn’t mean it has to be the most expensive one! Though some add-ons can be helpful if you can spend the money on them, add-ons are not necessary.
Here are my top 5 necessities that you should be looking for in any high chair that you buy:
- Safety harness. This is essential to keep your baby safe from slipping or falling out of the chair, by strapping your baby into the chair.
- Allows baby to sit at 90 degrees. The golden rule is 90-90-90! This means a 90 degree angle at the hips, 90 degree angle at the knees, and a 90 degree angle at the ankle with feet flat. You want to find a high chair that will allow you to easily put your baby in this position when feeding.
- Has a footstool (adjustable is best). Dangling feet while eating is no good for your baby’s trunk and core support and stability. Not having proper foot support can cause your baby to be inattentive and less focused at meal times.
- Easy to clean. As a fellow mom I know that you don’t want a high chair with a lot of fabric. To purchase an easy to clean high chair, find one that has a wood, plastic, or metal frame.
- Removable tray at the level of baby’s elbows. Having your baby’s tray at the height of their elbows allows for proper range of motion when eating. A removable tray is another addition that can be good if you want to remove it and have your baby join you at the dinner table for a meal! Sometimes this can be tricky if the chair height matches the height of your kitchen table, so keep this in mind. However, you can mitigate this by finding a high chair that has adjustable legs. Having a high chair with an adjustable height is also beneficial for when your baby grows and transitions into toddlerhood!
- *Honorable mention* You don’t need to buy a high chair with a recliner. While reclining can be okay for bottle feeding, reclining your baby when eating solids is NOT safe for your baby!
My personal fave high chairs:
Stokke Tripp Trapp
Price: $269 USD
Grows with baby? Yes! Your child can grow with this chair for years since it is highly adjustable!
Adjustable footrest? Yes!
Links: Amazon US, Amazon US tray, Amazon Canada, Amazon Canada tray
Other cool features: The weight for this high chair is up to 300lbs. They also have a version made for toddler! (Amazon US, Amazon Canada (white)). You can also buy an add-on tray from Stokke for this chair for ($49 USD, linked above).
Keekaroo Height Right
Price: $189.95-199.95 USD
Grows with baby? Yes, since it is highly adjustable it can grow with baby into toddlerhood!
Adjustable footrest? Yes! Both the seat and the footstool are adjustable
Links: Amazon US, Amazon Canada
Other cool features: Can hold up to 250lbs in weight
Costzon Wooden High Chair
Price: $129.99 USD
Grows with baby? Yes, since it is highly adjustable and has a removable tray which allows it to grow with your child into toddlerhood!
Adjustable footrest? Yes! The footstool is highly adjustable!
Links: Amazon US
Other cool features: Can hold up to 110lbs in weight
Nomi High Chair
Price: $380 – $460 USD (dependent on type of wood chosen)
Grows with baby? Yes! Highly adjustable, you can adjust both the footstool and the height of the chair, meaning you can bring this high chair to dine at the table with you and your family!
Adjustable footrest? Yes!
Links: Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Hudson’s Bay (will ship to Canada)
Other cool features: It can hold up to 330lbs
Stokke Steps Chair
Price: $388 – $427 USD (depending on color choice)
Grows with baby? Yes, this can be purchased as a high chair and can be used later in childhood as a chair that is child sized. Adjustable food support and trunk support.
Adjustable footrest? Yes!
Links: Amazon US (white/natural wood), Amazon Canada (white/grey)
OXO Tot Sprout
Price: $249.99 USD
Grows with baby? Yes! It adjusts in depth, height, and foot support height. The tray and safety harness can be removed for a toddler seat. It grows well into early childhood and can be a great investment.
Adjustable footrest? Yes, there is 4 adjustable heights for the footstool
Links: Amazon Canada (brown), Amazon Canada (grey or pink)
Other cool features: This chair can convert into a youth chair! And it can hold up to 60lbs.
Honourable Mention: Ikea Antilop
WITH FOOTREST ATTACHEDPrice: $19.99 USD
Grows with baby? No. For most babies, the seat is very big and can have a large gap between the baby’s chest and the tray, sometimes meaning that the baby will have to lean over to reach food or rest. I suggest buying the ANTILOP support pillow ($4 USD) that’s sold separately to help fix this issue.
Adjustable footrest? No, this high chair (while affordable) actually doesn’t have a footrest! So what I suggest is buying a footrest from Yeah Baby Goods ($25 USD) or Footsi ($25.39 – $49.97 USD depending on style chosen) to solve this problem!
Links: Ikea US, Ikea Canada
Links for footstool additions:
Footsi 3 color options
The Woodsi Footsi Bamboo Footrest
(Yeah Baby Goods ) Bamboo Adjustable Footrest
USE CODE MYLITTLEEATER FOR ALL FOOTSI PRODUCTS TO GET 10% OFF
Links for support pillow: ANTILOP support pillow (Ikea US), ANTILOP support pillow (Ikea Canada)
Other features I like: It’s super cheap!! A great option as a second high chair to keep at a family member/caregiver’s home where baby may often eat.
Travel options for you on-the-go moms:
Inglesina Fast Table
Price: $69.00 – $79.00 USD (depending on colour choice)
Grows with baby? No
Adjustable footrest? No, this one comes with no footrest. But, check out my three tips later in this blog post for how you can make foot support at home!
Links: Amazon US, Amazon Canada
Add on tray links: Amazon US, Amazon Canada
Other cool features: This can be a great option to take on the go, at restaurants, to clip onto a kitchen island, and more! It is easily collapsible for travel and you could purchase a separate dining tray to go with it, if desired.
Cozy Cover Easy Seat Portable
Price: $14.85 – $19.99 USD (depending on colour choice)
Grows with baby? Yes, to the extent that the straps can be adjusted if desired to use in toddlerhood.
Adjustable footrest? No footstool for this one. But, it can do the job in a pinch if you are visiting friends/family without young kids. Again, check out my three tips for making an at-home footstool below.
Links: Amazon US, Amazon Canada
Other cool features/things to note: This chair is definitely a hit for travel! Although note that your baby/toddler won’t be able to be pulled up to the a table so they can eat off of it/plate. They would need to eat on the chair, which is a downside, but this is a convenience option for special circumstances.
Booster Seat Recommendations
The purpose of the booster seat of course is to transition them from a highchair, to eating at the table. I highly recommend not transitioning your toddler to a booster seat any earlier than 18 months, ideally aiming to keep them in their high chair for 2+ years if possible! This is especially possible if you’ve purchased a highchair that grows with your baby into toddlerhood.
When it comes to the best seating position for toddlers, you’ll want to make sure that the table lands halfway between their belly button and breast. At this height, their elbows should be able to comfortably rest on the table. Smaller kid tables are fine from time to time, but most times it’s best to keep them at the family table in order to model eating behavior and family style meals. You’ll learn all about the importance of this for preventing and managing picky eating inside my Feeding Toddlers online course!
It’s also important to avoid dangling feet when possible! Like babies, toddlers need proper support and grounding of their body to provide them with core stability that helps them stay focused and eat well. Just a reminder, like babies, we want them sitting with their hips, knees, and ankles all at a 90-90-90 angles from one another.
Some suggestions for stand alone booster seats I recommend include:
OXO Tot Perch
Price: $39.99 USD
Grows with toddler into childhood? Yes
Adjustable footrest? No footrest
Links: Amazon US, Amazon Canada
Other features: This one has a weight capacity of 70lbs, and can accommodate kids over 3 years of age. The harness can also then be removed for young children.
Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler
Price: $34.99 USD
Grows with toddler into childhood? Yes, harness is removable.
Adjustable footrest? No footrest.
Links: Amazon US, Amazon Canada
Other features: Weight capacity is 50lbs.
Unilove Feed Me
Price: $69 USD
Grows with toddler into childhood? Yes, height can be adjusted.
Adjustable footrest? It does have a footrest (though it’s not adjustable).
Links for purchase: Amazon US
Other features: Can hold up to 30lbs in weight and has a feeding tray!
The Upseat
Price: $99.99 USD (Use code MYLITTLEEATER10 for 10% off your purchase!)
Grows with toddler into childhood? No, this specific seat is designed for babies and toddlers, ranging from 4 months to 2 years old.
Adjustable footrest? No.
Links for purchase: The Upseat
Other features: Includes a tray, safety straps, and straps to allow it to become a booster seat. This seat is also something that can be used as a seat for your baby on the floor, as a great alternative to the Bumbo chair because it allows for proper positioning for posture and healthy hip development.
How to set up your high chair for feeding time
So then you may ask, once your high chair has arrived at your home…what are some actionable steps for setting up your high chair for feeding time? Especially if you have a high chair with some adjustable options, like a recliner and an adjustable tray?
- Set your high chair to the fully upright position. While some high chairs have the option to recline, for feeding time you want to make sure that your little eater is positioned upright for safety.
- To help a baby who gets tired easily after a few minutes of completely sitting independently, you can use a rolled up towel around your baby’s hips for support to prevent them from toppling over.
- Finally, make sure that the tray on your baby’s high chair is positioned around halfway between their belly button and breast.
Troubleshooting Seating Issues
If you don’t have an adjustable high chair (or booster seat) with a footstool, three options that you can do to help your toddler’s foot support are:
- Place a chair behind and under the high chair for foot support (could even be a kid-sized chair)
- Stretch an elastic fabric across the bottom of the high chair (exercise bands work great!)
- Place a phonebook stack of books (duct taped together), or even an upside down milk crate on a chair under the table for a booster seat
Take a look at these creative at-home footstool accommodations that some graduates from my Baby Led Feeding and Feeding Toddlers online courses have done!
Pool noodle tied with zip ties for a place to rest his feet! A simple exercise band does the trick here! A form keyboard wrist rest was used here along with some cut up Amazon boxes to help this guy’s feet reach the footrest! These parents got crafty and used some extra siding material, O-rings, and electrical tape to hold this foot rest in place!And there you have it, my top tips, tricks and recommendations for your high chair shopping and feeding needs! I hope this helped!
If you want to learn more about feeding your baby and toddler to have more enjoyable meal times, check out my Baby Led Feeding online course and/or my Feeding Toddlers online course! And, if you are looking for even MORE of my recommended feeding tools, check out my full Amazon shops (MLE Amazon shop US, and for my Canadians… MLE Amazon shop Canada)
*Please note that I do receive a small commission from the products purchased from my Amazon shops and many of the chair links provided in this blog post. But, this comes to no additional cost to you, and I only add items to my Amazon shops that I FULLY support and stand behind! These small commissions help me keep my website alive and kicking so I can continue to provide you with valuable feeding info.