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Breastfeeding, pumping, late night bottle feeds — to say that mealtime brings you closer to your baby is an understatement.
But soon enough your little one will begin to transition from feeding in your arms to a high chair where they’ll start on solid foods and purées. That means it’s time to buckle up for a new, fun, and inevitably messy bonding experience!
Whether you’re looking for the perfect high chair for your cramped apartment or need a quick-clean option for your twins, we’ve got a recommendation for you below.
If your baby is able to sit up by themselves and starting to eat solid foods, it’s probably time to consider adding a high chair to your kitchen set-up. This usually falls around 6 months of age (though you should always check your particular high chair’s age and weight limits for additional guidance).
So, if your baby is getting close to that milestone, it’s likely time to start thinking about your options.
When considering which high chair is the perfect one for you, you’ll want to consider the following:
How much space you have
Depending on where you live, this might be the most important consideration!
If you’re short on space, you may want to consider a chair option that clips onto an adult chair or the table instead of the more traditional stand-alone option.
Your budget
Prices for high chairs can vary greatly, ranging from around $50 to over $500. With such a range in price it’s important to think about how much you want to invest financially.
How long it can be used
Some chairs are designed for just the infant or toddler stages. Others are convertible models that are designed to grow with your little one.
Cleaning ease
Some high chairs come with specially designed trays that are easy to remove or have trays that include compartments to better hold cups or plates.
While probably not a make-or-break feature, this can be a very nice touch — especially considering how often you’ll be washing it!
Portability
If you’re traveling with your child, or need a high chair that can move throughout your house, you’ll want to put some thought into the chair’s weight, whether it has wheels, and its ability to fold.
Comfort for baby and your personal style
If your little one is always on the move, the last place they’re going to want to be is in an uncomfortable high chair. The right amount of cushion, leg room, or even proper back support can make a big difference in keeping them happy while they eat.
Likewise, you may be miserable if the high chair sticks out like a sore thumb in your beautifully designed kitchen.
While aesthetic and comfort may not be at the top of the list of must-haves, it can definitely be a factor that sways you toward one high chair over another.
When choosing a high chair, priority number one is making sure that your child is going to be safe.
If you’re buying a new high chair, you can rest assured that it has been safety tested and certified.
If you’re accepting a hand-me-down, make sure that everything is still in prime working order and that there are no sharp or broken parts or missing screws.
You’ll also want to check with the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association or the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make sure that it’s up to current safety standards and hasn’t been recalled.
You’ll also want to think about:
- The sturdiness of the legs/overall balance. Make sure that your high chair won’t tip over when your little one becomes bigger and is wiggling with all their might! If it has rolling wheels on the legs, make sure they’re locked in place before your baby is placed in it. You’ll also want to make sure that wherever the high chair is positioned, adults and other children won’t trip over it. If you choose a high chair that attaches to a counter, table, or chair, be sure the surface is heavy enough and properly balanced to support the high chair.
- Make sure that your child is never left unattended. A small child can easily choke on food or even find a way to topple the chair. You’ll also want to make sure that your little one is always buckled up when in their high chair, so they don’t stand up or slide out.
- Double check that your child is a safe distance from any hazards. Children can easily twist and reach out of their chair. High chairs should never be placed near hot surfaces, sharp utensils, lit candles, etc.
- Adhere to weight limits. They exist for a reason and aren’t worth testing!
We considered space, budget, special features, and of course, what other parents had to say when choosing our picks for the best high chairs on the market.
Bonus points were given for high chairs with extra comfort and being easy on the eyes!
Price guide
- $ = under $50
- $$ = $50–$100
- $$$ = $100–$200
- $$$$ = over $200
Chicco 360 Hook-On Chair
- Price: $$
- Weight limit: Up to 37 lbs.
This chair from Chicco is a great choice if you’re short on space. It can rotate 360 degrees and lock in 6 different positions to fit in even the tightest kitchen spaces. It uses sturdy rubber clamps to attach to counters and tables up to 5.25″ thick.
While the fabric is machine washable and the tray is dishwasher safe for easier clean up, many reviewers warn that this chair is mostly fabric and babies are messy. So if you have to hike up and down apartment stairs to the nearest laundromat to do your washing, this chair might not be for you.
Graco Blossom 6-in-1
- Price: $$$
- Weight limit: Up to 40 lbs.
If you’re looking for a high chair that will grow with your family, this option from Graco is an excellent pick. It can be converted six different ways, including an infant high chair, traditional high chair, and toddler booster seat.
As far as the high chair function goes, this chair is easy to move on (lockable) wheels, offers three different height adjustments, and three recline settings.
Most reviews of this chair are positive, but a few folks complain that while the tray removes easily, the chair itself is difficult to keep clean.
Buy the Graco Blossom 6-in-1 high chair online.
Ingenuity SmartClean Trio 3-in-1
- Price: $$
- Weight limit: Up to 50 lbs.
This chair from Ingenuity converts from full-size high chair to booster seat to toddler chair. With features like locking wheels, a dishwasher safe tray, a 5-point harness, and a wipeable foam seat pad, the SmartClean Trio covers a lot of bases for a pretty decent price.
Fans of this high chair say that it’s easy to maneuver and lives up to its “SmartClean” name. On the negative side, it does have a rather large footprint and doesn’t fold up to store when not in use — if you’re short on kitchen real estate, this might not be the chair for you.
Stokke Ergonomic Tripp Trapp
- Price: $$$$
- Weight limit: Up to 242 lbs.
And oldie but a goodie, the Tripp Trapp has been around since 1972. Folks love it for its adjustability, secure 5-point harness, and footrest.
It can be pulled right up to the table, so you don’t need to worry about a tray, and it comes in a variety of neutral colors to match your kitchen.
Assuming that you don’t invest in the add-on cushions, this is one of the absolute easiest high chairs to clean — its simple design doesn’t leave a lot of crevices for food to get trapped between chair and table, and it can hold your child long past the toddler years.
This chair’s downfall? The price. At over $300, this is one of the most expensive chairs in this guide.
Buy the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair online.
IKEA Antilop
- Price: $
- Weight limit: Up to 33 lbs.
If you’re looking for a chair that’s easy to clean, doesn’t take up much floor space, and has a price point that can’t really be beat (currently $19.99), the Antilop chair from IKEA is the way to go.
This chair isn’t designed to recline or grow with your baby — truly, there are zero bells and whistles involved in this chair — but many parents say it does the job just as well as more expensive competitors. However, a few folks warn that the legs come out rather far and can pose a tripping hazard, and that the tray is difficult to remove.
Inglesina’s Fast Table Chair
- Price: $$
- Weight limit: Up to 37 lbs.
If you’re headed out to a restaurant or on vacation, the ultra-light Inglesina chair collapses to fold flat for easy packing. It clamps on to most restaurant tables or counters (up to 3.3″ thick) without leaving scratches, and leaves floor space free.
The seat itself is machine washable, which most reviewing parents seem to love. A few note that there’s a considerable gap between the table and the chair where baby can drop crumbs — one parent suggests sliding a thin plastic cutting board underneath to supplement the tray and catch dropping food (how savvy!).
Buy Inglesina’s Fast Table Chair online.
Summer Pop ‘n Sit Portable High Chair
- Price: $
- Weight limit: Up to 45 lbs.
This chair is another great portable option, but with the addition of legs. Perfect for taking to the grandparents’ house or a picnic in the park, this high chair folds up easily and slides into an over-the-shoulder bag.
Other features include machine washable fabric, a rear storage pocket, and a 3-point harness. Reviewers say the legs are sturdy and wide, and that it lives up to its claims of easy portability. On the negative side, a handful of folks say washing is a bit of a challenge and that the leg holes are quickly outgrown.
Nomi High Chair
- Price: $$$$
- Weight limit: 330 lbs (not a typo!)
This chair is designed to be easily adjustable so you can bring your little one up to the table and their feet up to a comfortable height. While definitely a splurge, parents love that this chair grows with their kiddos and can be used as a kid-friendly seat beyond the high chair stage.
Reviewers say the smooth plastic is easy to clean and that the chair itself looks great and doesn’t take up an excessive amount of space. However, you need to purchase the cushion and tray separately (although a handful of parents say they’re not necessary).
Bumbo Multi Seat
- Price: $$
- Weight limit: Up to 33 lbs.
The Bumbo multi seat can either be used on the floor or securely strapped onto an existing chair to use as a high chair without taking up any additional floor space.
This option can be a tight fit for bigger babies and young toddlers, but its smaller frame and adjustable seat makes it perfect for smaller babes.
The removable tray is also super easy to wipe clean — although many reviewers say its biggest flaw is that water gets trapped inside the tray when deep cleaning.
4moms High Chair
- Price: $$$$
- Weight limit: Up to 60 lbs.
Many features set this high chair apart, but perhaps the best is the magnetic tray which makes one-handed maneuvering a breeze. Plus, there are magnetic feeding accessories available to discourage your little one from throwing their plates and bowls.
This chair’s removable foam insert seat, a dishwasher-safe tray liner, and smooth nylon straps make it easy to clean. It can also be adjusted to multiple different heights and tray positions to grow with your child.
There are a wide range of options to consider when it comes to your child’s high chair. With so many to choose from, you’ll want to give serious thought to any restrictions and special needs you have.
But so long as the chair you choose is a safe one and being properly used, you should be able to take a deep sigh of relief as you deposit your wiggly little one into it for meals.
