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When it comes to stuff you need for your baby, your must-have list might be shorter than you think. The best diapers, baby formula, and best baby bottles are some items that spring to mind (and maybe a little something for mom for, you know…giving birth.) And then there’s furniture like changing tables–where you’ll end up changing over 3000 diapers in your baby’s lifetime. (What?!) After you’ve made it through not even a quarter of these diaper changes, you’ll find yourself out of the newborn phase and into the solid food phase. (What?!) For this stage, you’ll need some good baby bibs and yummy purees, but you’ll also need a reliable high chair.
What is a high chair?
You’d think the name would be a giveaway, but your baby’s high chair is much more than simply a chair that sits up higher. A high chair is a safe and secure place for starting your little one’s solid food journey. This practical chair has long legs, a footrest, and a connected tray/table, and studies show that sitting a little one in the proper position can reduce the risk of choking while exploring solids.
A high chair’s removable tray table makes all the difference when it comes to quick clean-ups and your baby starts pummeling their sweet potato purees or coloring outside the lines between their courses of banana and avocado. Your baby and/or toddler’s high chair can also be a safe sanctuary for looking at books or observing nature while you meal prep, bottle wash, or answer grandma’s text nearby.
What are the types of high chairs?
- Standard High Chair: This type of high chair is what we picture when the word “high chair” is mentioned. Meant to remain stationary, these chairs have a super wide base which makes the chair very stable. A standard high chair is typically large, so it will more than likely occupy a permanent place in your kitchen. On the plus side, this chair is more durable and longer lasting than other types of high chair, and will fit your child until they’re ready to graduate to the “big kid table.”
- Foldable High Chair: If you’re looking for a space-saving option, a foldable high chair it is. Lighter than your standard high chair, these chairs fold easily so you can store them in a closet or behind a door to create more room in your home. Because of its lightweight transformer-like design, these also make good travel high chairs so go ahead and pop it in your car for a visit to grandma’s. Some chairs even come with detachable legs to make them smaller.
- Convertible High Chair: This high chair starts like a traditional or standard high chair, but then changes and grows along with your little one. A convertible high chair will transform from an infant high chair into an infant booster and a toddler booster. So, no need to invest in many different sizes and shapes of high chairs, because this one is all you need. (In some cases, boosters are detachable and these short seats attach to an existing chair.)
11 Best High Chairs of 2024
Best Easy-To-Clean High Chair: The Mockingbird 2-in-1 High Chair
Babies are messy, and this easy-to-clean high chair is ready to help a tidy parent out. The parents that developed The Mockingbird spent years working on a “silicone-coated high chair strap” that really wipes clean and is dishwasher safe. So, no crusty milk stuck to your baby’s safety straps never to be removed for years to come. The tray liner is always ready for the dishwasher, and the best part is there are no tiny crevices for you to find month-old cracker crumbs—which means neither will your baby. Each high chair is designed with smooth, curved shapes for easy cleaning. This 2 in 1 high chair converts to a child chair when ready, and the littles can enjoy an ergonomic high chair seat plus, a comfy footrest.
Best Affordable High Chair: FUNNY SUPPLY 3-in-1 Folding High Chair
This chair is great for babies already sitting up on their own, and the ergonomic design is the best high chair for baby if you’re looking to continue encouraging the correct feeding posture. Recommend for kids 6 months up to 55 lbs, this chair has a dishwasher-safe removable tray, safety harness, and I mean, c’mon–it just looks super cool for a chair under $100. It’s on the lighter side for a standard high chair weighing in at only 11 pounds, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s not high quality. Moms on Amazon rave that it’s durable and can be folded easily and put away when not in use.
Best Multi-Use High Chair: Peg Perego 3 in 1 Tatamia Recliner, Swing and High Chair
Made in Italy, when it comes to top-of-the-line high chairs this one is truly Bellissimo. With its no-scratch wheelbase and break-blocking system, you can move it from room to room without a teaspoon of worry. Use the Peg Perego as a recliner, high chair, or rocking chair, to instantly soothe your infant. For meal times, it has a double tray for quick cleaning ups and its eco-leather seat cover provides comfort and a no-mess surface that wipes clean with a damp cloth. The seat adjusts to 9 different heights and comes with a safety harness and removable protection front bar. The only thing the chair doesn’t do is turn into a rocket for fun trips to the moon. Full disclosure: This was my kiddo’s one-and-only high chair, and I loved it. If only made a matching adult-sized chair for all the comfort and safety it offered us. From birth up to 32 pounds.
Best 3-in-1 High Chair: Lalo The Chair Convertible 3-in-1 Wooden High Chair
If you’re a mom on IG, you know The Chair. There isn’t another that looks better in your influencers kitchen! And there’s function, too, as you can use this as a high chair then booster seat then play chair. The easy to clean surfaces look and feel good, so whether you’re wiping down mushed avocado or later on, waterpaint, you may not even mind all that much.
Best Foldable High Chair: City Bistro High Chair by Baby Jogger
This chair is perfect if you need a storable high chair that can be quickly tucked away. The website boasts the folded footprint of the high chair is 80% smaller than when it is unfolded, so it’s going to fit into the tiniest of places. Bobbie Mom, Alyssa says, she bought this because it truly does fold and fit into small spaces. “It’s easy to clean, comfortable, and has an adjustable height for use at a table or counter once they’re older,” adds Alyssa. The City Bistro has a plush seat pad, 4 different adjustable height positions, and accommodates kiddos up to 40 pounds. It also comes with a 5-point harness to keep your child safe while they try their smushed bananas or goldfish crackers.
Best Convertible High Chair: Primo Cozy Tot Deluxe Convertible Folding High Chair
This safe and comfortable high chair easily converts to a toddler chair when you’re child is ready. While still in high chair mode, the feeding tray folds down with no issues so you can lift your baby in and out quickly, and with this high chair you’ve even got all the bells and whistles of a foldable chair. Because, yep…you guessed it, this one folds down to “a slim 9 inches for storage and travel.” The toddler chair is no less impressive as it becomes your kid’s fav chair due to its comfort and movability. Let your child put this chair next to a coffee table or near a window for snack time and smile time all while safely seated in a chair that fits just right—Goldilocks would approve.
Best Toddler High Chair: Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
This “chair for life” sits at your table through all the phases–including adulthood. Yeeesss, you read that right. The sleek look of this high chair resembles something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey with its smooth high-quality beech wood design. This Climate Pledge Friendly chair is a sturdy and comfortable addition for the toddler crowd—and will even support your kid even into adulthood. No joke! Bobbie Dad, Ben, says, “I like that the footrest is adjustable…makes it great for a growing infant to have a good footrest while we introduced solids.” The footrest and back supports make this a great choice for baby-led weaning since your tiny eater is seated in the best posture possible. From infant to toddler to teen, it’s a relief to know that with this chair, your child will always have a seat at the adult table.
Best Newborn High Chair: Chicco Polly2Start High Chair
One of the most trusted names in baby products, this Chicco high chair will keep your newborn safe and snug. Easy to set up and then move from room to room, the Polly2Start will start your newborn off fabulously. This durable high chair has a snap-on tray that comes off with one motion and a removable liner making it easy to clean up all those extra Cheerios and milk spillages. For newborns, it reclines to 4 different positions and as your child grows it can adjust to 8 different heights. Good for up to 40 pounds, the tray even stores nicely onto the rear legs for more compact storage.
Best Under $100 High Chair: Cosco Simple Fold High Chair with 3-Position Tray
With over 28,000 positive reviews on Amazon, Cosco’s Simple Fold is lightweight and portable. Its compact size and easy to fold function makes it a wonderful option for day trips or longer travel. When you’re ready to unfold, know that your hangry baby will be able to sit and enjoy a meal in seconds because that’s all the time it takes to set up this chair. It comes with a washable seat pad, and 3-point harness, and sits kiddos up to 50 pounds.
Best Travel High Chair: Chicco Caddy Hook-On Chair
If you’re ready to take your high chair on the go, then this travel chair by Chicco is all you need to pack. For use with children 6 months up to 37 pounds, the lightweight metal frame folds compactly to make your adventures out and about in the world that much easier. The seat cover comes off for easy washing and the “easy twist-to-tighten” design fastens securely to tables. Bobbie Mom Mallory and Bobbie Dad Ben, both use this one for traveling and love the ease it brings to their travels. Trust us, this is so much better than the restaurant high chairs. And WAY cleaner!
Best Cheap High Chair: ANTILOP High Chair IKEA
Slide your little one up to the dinner table in this lightweight high chair for only $20! It’s suitable for kiddos up to 3 years and 33 pounds, and you’ll love the sleek design from IKEA (without complicated put-together instructions). Bobbie Mom, Mallory loves this chair saying, that it’s easy to take apart and bring along so your child sits safely whether you are at home, at your friend’s place, or at a restaurant.
Moms we know love this as a second chair, perhaps one to keep at grandma’s or the sitter’s house. It’s cost-effective and safe for your baby’s meal times— well-made and overall a super cool chair.
Buying Guide: High Chairs
- Weight limit: Each high chair is different when it comes to how much weight it can hold. Many toddler chairs will hold up to 33 pounds, however, it’s always a good idea to check the Manufacturer Guidelines for your favorite high chair. These will list all the weight and safety requirements.
- Price: Like anything baby-related, the price for your high chair will vary depending on what you’re looking for. The simpler the chair the more cost-effective your purchase can be, ranging from $19.99 upwards of $400.
- Height limit: For the most part, kids can transition out of their high chair between the ages of 2 and 3 years old. When they can sit on their own without a harness is a good rule of thumb. When it comes to a height limit, each high chair will have their own suggestions and their website or instruction booklet will let you know their limits.
In Conclusion: Which high chair is best for my baby?
Just like so many items you choose for you baby, a high chair is all your personal choice. If you live in an apartment, something foldable may be the best choice. If you want to invest in a sturdy chair that’s not going anywhere–your standard high chair might be the best for you and your baby. The good news is, your high chair is going to lift you and your kid up during some of the most fun bonding times of the day–meal times.
