No matter if you’re buying a booster seat, clip-on chair, or standing chair, safety should always be of the utmost importance. Select a seat that has a three- or five-point harness, can be locked or secured in place, a crotch post so your baby can’t slide through, and no pinchable or foldable parts that can snag a baby’s finger or chubby rolls. Other features to look for include ease of cleaning and durability, so you know it will last through any mess or accident. We researched the top high chairs from leading brands with these features in mind. Below are the best high chairs for your little one. It’s hard to find something this high chair can’t do, and that’s why we named it our top pick. The foldable chair has seven different settings and can grow with your baby from infancy through school age. For young babies, the seat reclines for safe eating, while the five-point baby harness is easy to clip and unclip. If your baby prefers to sit at the table, the seat turns into a reclining infant booster that can be attached to any kitchen chair and can sustain toddlers. As your baby grows, the seat can be used as a traditional high chair—with five height adjustments to fit any table, a booster seat, and a toddler chair. If that isn’t enough, the seat also becomes a toddler table and chair, hoisting young kids up to 6 years and 60 pounds. If your family is growing, use it with two kids at once with the infant booster and the toddler chair. Parents will love the wipeable plastic tray, parts, and machine washable cushion for those mega messes. It also folds to be relatively flat and weighs 17.4 pounds, so it is possible to store, and the wheels on the front legs make it easy to move around. Price at time of publication: $190 Product Weight: 17.44 pounds | Weight Limit: 60 pounds | Age Recommendation: 6 months to 6 years old The reclining seat and five-point harness keep your baby safe and secure. It grows with your baby, so eventually, it can be used as a toddler booster. As the name implies, this is a space-saver but does require the use of a kitchen chair. While some families would prefer a stand-alone seat, for those with limited space and a bigger baby, this high chair provides major benefits. Price at time of publication: $47 Product Weight: 4.47 pounds | Weight Limit: 50 pounds | Age Recommendation: Not Listed For parents of twins, the seats can stack for easy storage and the legs quickly pop off if you want to travel or put the high chairs away. Pull this IKEA wonder right up to the table or add a simple, inexpensive tray for your baby. For younger babies, IKEA sells inflatable support pillows to add some cushioning to the seat. Parents of twins are inundated with expensive gear that takes up lots of space and room in your budget. Make your life easier and purchase two of these high chairs to keep your sanity and budget balanced. It’ll support babies up to 33 pounds. Price at time of publication: $30 Product Weight: 8 pounds | Weight Limit: 33 pounds | Age Recommendation: Not Listed The simple wooden seat is easy to clean but can be hard on a baby’s bottom, so many parents purchase a cushion to go along with it. The straps, infant seat, and tray are a bit harder to clean since there are lots of nooks and crannies that are ripe for spills and crumbs. The chair has a small footprint, but at 17 pounds, it’s not exactly portable and does not fold. With its iconic design, this is a piece of furniture that is made to last, has numerous accessories to add on, but it comes at a higher price point. Consider your high chair priorities and if you’ll use this one into childhood (or beyond) before buying. Price at time of publication: $399 Product Weight: 19.5 pounds | Weight Limit: 242 pounds | Age Recommendation: 6 months to 3 years old For babies who are self-feeding, magnetic plates, bowls, and utensils are sold separately, so they stay on the tray while baby eats. With three height positions, this high chair can work with most kitchens and will support children up to 60 pounds. It’s recommended for babies 6 months and older and doesn’t recline, so it’s not an option for the youngest babies. Product Weight: 15 pounds | Weight Limit: 60 pounds | Age Recommendation: 6 months and up If you dine out, travel a lot, or eat your meals at a high counter or kitchen island, this seat is the perfect way to let your little one join in on the fun. There’s something very inclusive about baby being able to sit at the table with everyone else and not be isolated in a high chair away from the action. Price at time of publication: $79 Product Weight: 4 pounds | Weight Limit: 37 pounds | Age Recommendation: 6 months and up Designed so that it can be folded up and stored in an over-the-shoulder bag, the Summer Infant Pop and Sit Portable High Chair features a three-point harness, a BPA-free hard plastic tray, and machine washable fabric. It also accommodates children up to 40 pounds. Price at time of publication: $55 Product Weight: 5 pounds | Weight Limit: 40 pounds | Age Recommendation: 6 months and up The tray, which you can remove with one hand, features a cupholder and an extra holder for any other snacks or mealtime necessities. There’s also a removable tray insert that doubles as a dishwasher-safe plate. As for recline, your child can enjoy three different recline positions while resting their feet on the sturdy footrest. And if you need to move the high chair, you’ll find two front wheels to help make your life all the more easier. Price at time of publication: $90 Product Weight: 17.61 pounds | Weight Limit: 40 pounds | Age Recommendation: Not Listed To ensure your child’s high chair doesn’t tip over while they are sitting in it, never leave them unattended. If they’re close enough to a chair or table, they may be able to push off those objects, tipping over their high chair and possibly causing serious injury. For high chairs that fold, it’s important to ensure they are fully locked before putting your child inside. And, as fun as your child may think it is, never let them stand in the high chair.
Booster vs. Standing vs. Clip
As you start shopping for a high chair, you will more than likely notice how many options you have for style. First, you’ll notice there are booster-style high chairs, which strap onto a regular kitchen chair. These are perfect if you want to save space or easily transport it from one chair to another. They usually come with their own tray that can be removed as your child gets older. Standing high chairs typically have four legs or are simply free-standing. They don’t connect to a table or chair and are their own chair. These types of high chairs are great for everyday use and, depending on the type of chair, they can fold down and be put away after mealtime. However, they’re usually not very travel-friendly. For a high chair that is portable and travel-friendly, check out clip-style high chairs. These connect to tables and don’t feature legs like free-standing high chairs do. Clip-style is useful for outings at restaurants or a trip to grandma and grandpa’s house. However, because these small clip-style chairs have to support the full weight of your baby, the age and weight limit are typically pretty low. If you plan to use a clip-style high chair, be sure it locks onto the table and check if your child can touch the table with their feet. If your child is able to kick the table, they may dislodge their seat from the table, which could cause an injury.
Longevity
Consider how long you will be using the high chair and how often before purchasing one. A helpful tip to getting the most out of your money in a high chair is to check the weight and age recommendations. Some high chairs have a low weight range, which means your child won’t be using it for long, and we all know how fast kids grow. Opt for a high chair with a higher weight limit and age recommendation. Then you’ll be able to keep the same high chair for years without breaking the bank for another one. Another factor to consider is where you’ll be taking the chair. If you plan on using it during many vacations, check out high chairs that are easy to clean and made with durable material. Traveling with littles can be hard enough, so there’s no need to make it harder on yourself.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s a mom of a 9-year-old son, a 6-year-old son, and a 2-year old daughter. As a mom of three (mostly) ravenous kids, she’s been gifted and has borrowed, bought, and shared many high chairs. She has yet to find one that makes dinner and cleans up messes after eating. It’s simply important to wait until your baby is ready, as rushing may be a safety issue. Keep an eye on how their stability is with their head and overall body, and wait until they don’t need support sitting up. Additional reporting by Dwyer Frame. Dwyer Frame, Verywell Family’s senior editorial director, has two boys and owns the Fisher-Price SpaceSaver at her primary residence (a cramped Brooklyn apartment), the Ikea Antilop at her beach house, and the Graco Table2Table lives at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
