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High chairs that receive a poor score of 45% or lower are Don't Buys and should be avoided - these are likely to have safety issues, be extremely difficult to set up or adjust, or be difficult to clean. Great Value high chairs We asked Charlotte Stirling-Reed what features bewildered first-time parents might watch out for, here are her top tips:
It’s a good idea to read up on their specs before choosing one to make sure you’ll be able to use it safely. It’s helpful when travel chairs collapse to a portable size and many come with their own carry cases or shoulder straps to help with this. We had the Oribel Cocoon. It was brilliant, so sturdy, height adjustable and it will recline if you need to keep your baby out of the way of the dogs while you cook and they nap or something." hubbletelescope Our verdict Type: Plastic booster seat with tray that attaches to adult chair with straps | Materials: BPA-free plastics; canvas straps | Suitable from: 6 months+ | Harness: Yes | Wheels?: No What we love Although some of the chairs we tested had extra accessories making them suitable for smaller babies, children should only use a highchair to eat once they’re able to sit unaided. Instructions We rate the quality of the instructions and how long it actually takes to put the high chair up and screw everything together – things you can't really tell just by looking at a high chair in the shops.
Configurable Elements
The seat Getting a wriggly baby or a feisty toddler into the high chair seat is no mean feat, but that's exactly what our parents do. Is there enough space or are the gaps too narrow? How easy is it to clean? Look over the seat pads or cushion. Stains or fading patterns are fine, but look out for holes where a nimble-fingered baby might pull out foam, as it can be a choking hazard. Five products were then awarded a Mumsnet Best badge – these are the products that we feel offer the best value for most parents. We also gave honourable mentions to three others.
The large and luxuriously comfortable Polly Magic Relax begins with a bouncer mode for newborns and then converts to a highchair with a generously-sized tray, which can be completely removed to allow a toddler to sit at the table. Depending on whether you intend on using the Breezi at an existing table or not you might want to consider getting a tray. A tray not only provides a work surface for eating, playing, or doing homework, but it can also be utilised as a postural support in that the user can use it in conjunction with arms to aid upper body positioning and stability. Cleaning With cloths and brushes at the ready, our experts wipe and scrub Bolognese sauce and banana purée from the covers, trays and harnesses to see which ones are easy to clean. We pay particular attention to those hard to reach places where food can get trapped, such as seams and tray inserts. These ensure that your child always has somewhere safe and age-appropriate to eat when they’re not at home – whether that’s at a grandparent’s house, a friend’s, or away on holiday – although many are designed so well that people use them at home too.
1. Best overall highchair: Stokke Tripp Trapp
A beautiful, intelligently designed chair with lots of thoughtful details, the Oribel Cocoon missed out on our transitional award as it’s still only suitable up to age three. But it’s a stylish and flexible model, available in four attractive colours, that will complement your kitchen and make mealtimes a breeze. They are also, of course, the most expensive – and be aware that, in this group in particular, you’ll need to pay extra for everything except the chair frame itself (including newborn accessories, baby seats, trays and even safety harnesses), so make sure this is included in your budget. Tray Retaining Straps – If you are concerned that the child might be able to lift the tray off themselves and hurt themselves or those around them then we offer tray securing straps that can only be opened by someone not sitting in the chair.
I had a mimzy highchair and it was fab, but it was recommended to me as little one has hip dysplasia and its really wide. It could be a pain to clean but all the padding comes off and goes in the washing machine which I used to do once a week (normally Sunday after dinner and then it would be dry by Monday dinner time after nursery)."(Recommended by Mumsnetter ItsSnowJokes) Our verdict Make sure the high chair has a working harness that's not frayed – ideally a five-point harness with over-the-shoulder straps. Most travel highchairs either attach to an adult dining chair as a chair-mounted booster or clip onto the table edge (sometimes called a hook-on or clip-on highchair) like a vice. In both cases, you need suitable furniture to make it work – though, anecdotally, the chair-attaching kind fit more universally than the table-attaching kind. Three available modes, with all accessories included in the price: newborn bouncer with toy bar, weaning high chair and toddler seat Can be reclined, used with a small tray for a just-weaned child, a larger tray for a child feeding themselves, or without the tray for a toddler sitting at the tableIt seems like only yesterday you were shopping around for the best breast pump or baby bottles for feeding your little one, now they're ready to graduate to sitting at the table and eating solid foods. But there's more to weaning than just making sure there's an Ella's pouch in your changing bag at all times, and thankfully Mumsnetters are on hand to help you navigate this messy time. Big gap between tray and the baby, even in its closest setting – a little inconvenient for mealtimes We have a Stokke steps and LOVE it! It looks stylish, It’s easy to clean and has a foot rest. Highly recommend!” Loved by Mumsnetter AfternoonTea12 Our verdict Highchairs are a safe and supportive place for your baby to eat before they’re old and tall enough to sit on an adult-sized dining chair. Most come with a plastic tray so your baby can see and reach their food easily – especially useful when first weaning.
Keep scrolling to see which baby high chairs we recommend – we've tested big-name brands including Ikea, Joie and Stokke. You'll also find information on shopping for second-hand models, high chair safety and how much you should expect to spend. Best Buy high chairs for 2023 It's probably not the first thing on your mind when choosing a high chair, but once you get it home you've got to get it up. Sometimes it's easier said than done. Harness A good harness will be easy to get onto your child and hold them safely and securely. Parents give their view on how easy it is to use the harnesses on their children and highlight any fiddly bits or frustrations. Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about how we tested the products we recommend. We won't always recommend the cheapest products, or the ones with the most extra features. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the one's we'd recommend to our own friends and family.Can’t be used without an adult dining chair to hold it – not convenient for everyone’s dining situation While it may just seem like just a place to pop your child while they eat, there's more to what makes the best highchair than just how it looks. Parents want one that is easy to clean after messy mealtimes - because food will get into every little nook and cranny! - as well as straps that are safe and a good size tray. But there are a host of other extra features that you can look out for too. As reliable as it is ubiquitous, in our extensive tests the IKEA Antilop excelled, living up to its reputation as the king of all highchairs. While it may not look like anything special, our Mumsnet users rave about this highchair for being budget-friendly, functional and easy to clean up after mealtimes.
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