Best High Chair For Your Baby

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best high chair for your baby is, I’d recommend the JOOVY Nook High Chair.

Is it time for your baby to join you at the dinner table? They probably aren’t ready for the old “phone book as a booster seat” trick yet, so a high chair is a must for several reasons. They’re super convenient and are the safest way for your baby to eat.

Picking the best high chair for your baby can be hard, though. Regardless of space or personal preference, there is a design and pattern out there to match.

In this article, I am breaking down the best high chairs for babies, and in the end, I’ll choose the winner.

Here are the baby high chairs I will be reviewing:

• JOOVY Nook High Chair
• Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair
• Infantino Grow-with-Me Convertible High Chair
• 4moms High Chair
• Asunflower Wooden High Chair
• Skip Hop Sit-to-Step High Chair
• Inglesina Fast Table Chair
• Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
• Keekaroo Height Right High Chair
• OXO Tot Sprout High Chair
• Antilop High Chair from IKEA
• Baby Jogger City Bistro High Chair
• Safety 1st 3-in-1 Grow and Go High Chair
• Evenflo 4-in1 Eat & Grow Convertible High Chair
  

Benefits Of Using Highchairs

While they aren’t required gear for child-rearing, high chairs come with a slew of benefits. Among them, perhaps the most prominent advantage is its convenience. Trying to feed your baby while holding them in your lap can prove to be quite tricky. Believe me—I’ve tried.

Having your little one in a high chair means you won’t need to worry about yucky food stains on your clothes when they swat the spoon away. It means you can look at each other in the eyes and interact to make feeding time more fun. High chairs provide a better opportunity for bonding with your baby.

But what other ways can these inventions prove their convenience?

Hands-Free Safety

When purchasing any baby product, safety is one of the biggest things parents consider. When strapping your baby into their high chair, it allows you to have your hands free to get things done without worry. However, you should still never leave your baby unsupervised while in their chair.

To ensure your baby’s safety while in their seat, there are a few helpful tips to guide you:

• Make sure it won’t tip easily.
• Ensure it’s locked when in use.
• Always use the safety straps on your child.
• Don’t set the high chair by counters or tables to avoid pushing over.
• NEVER leave your child unattended.

Allows Baby To Join In On Dinner

There are so many benefits to eating dinner as a family, and there’s no reason your littlest one shouldn’t join in on the fun. Eating dinner together has been proven to increase self-esteem, improve academic performance, and lower the risk of depression, among other things.

Even if your baby isn’t ready to eat solid foods, you can still include them in the dinner festivities. You should, however, wait until they can support the weight of their head on their own before putting them in a high chair.

Not only will this give everyone a bonding experience together, but it helps establish a routine with your baby too.

Something For Everyone

Another great thing about high chairs is that there are so many variations. Having so many options may make shopping seem intimidating, but as long as you know what you’re looking for, then it’s not so bad.

Whether you need a space-saving option or you want an all-natural look, you’ll be able to find a chair to fit your needs.

Choosing The Right High Chair

Because there are so many different types of high chairs, it’s helpful to know each kind. This way, you’re better suited to choose one that fits your needs.

Space Savers

If you live in an apartment or you don’t have a ton of space at home, space saver high chairs are your best option. These will strap on to your regular dining room chair rather than freestanding on the floor. Space-saving high chairs are also excellent if you like a minimalistic look in your home.

They come with straps to wrap around the back of your dining room chair and underneath. The straps should both be used at all times to maximize the safety of these seats.

Wooden Chairs

The minimalist/natural lifestyle has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. With that growth, a preference for wooden toys and chairs for babies and children has risen. They look like most traditional style chairs but are typically smaller. These chairs are also commonly found in restaurants as wood is more durable than plastic.

Traditional Style

Traditional style high chairs are what you see regularly. They’re bigger than other types and have comfortable cushioning for your baby’s bum. Their practicality is their best feature. These usually come with a storage basket underneath and a removable tray too.

However, if you’re tight on space, this type isn’t very accommodating. Traditional seats don’t fold and tend to take up a lot of space.

Foldable Chairs

If space is something you worry about, but you still want a standalone chair, you can consider an option that folds. These are built similarly to traditional style chairs, but with folding capabilities. They’re also much lighter and are slightly smaller than their traditional counterparts.

Hook On High Chairs

These attach right to the side of the table. One of the biggest benefits of hook on high chairs is that they save a lot of space. They are also fairly portable, and good ones can be attached to lots of different types of tables relatively easily.

Things To Keep In Mind

Before deciding, there are a few things you should keep in mind when looking for a high chair for your baby. It’s important to educate yourself before jumping in to avoid frustration and disappointment.

Style Needed

Use the quick guide above to determine which chair you think would best suit your child—factor in the amount of space you have in your home. If you want to stick to a certain aesthetic, you should also consider the patterns of the chair’s cushion. This way, you don’t need to compromise the interior of your house just for a high chair.

Budget

Depending on the style and materials of a chair, the prices will vary. You’ll likely spend more on wooden high chairs because these are more top quality than plastic chairs. If budget is a significant concern, space saver high chairs are typically the least expensive style.

Extra Features

Keep in mind any extra features the chair comes with too. Is the tray removable? Do they come with additional cushion covers? Some seats may even have a feature that allows you to adjust the position as your child grows.

Ease Of Cleaning

Babies are a mess. When you put food into the mix, it will take no time until they manage to get something sticky stuck in the deepest cranny of their high chair. Check with the manufacturer on any cleaning instructions for their seats.

Some cushion covers might be machine-washable to make cleaning easier. It’s also worth checking how many cracks and nooks the seat’s skeleton has. The more tiny areas a chair has, the harder it will be to give it a thorough cleaning.

If you don’t have access to a dishwasher, you can clean your baby’s high chair with a mixture of baking soda and water.

My High Chair Reviews

Now that I’ve covered everything you need to know to find the best high chair for your baby, it’s time to choose. To make your search easier, I’ve come up with five of the best options for you.

JOOVY Nook High Chair

This foldable high chair is an excellent choice because it’s compact and has an easy one-hand fold technique. It can hold up to 50 pounds and comes with four different adjustable tray positions. I like that this one has an adjustable five-point harness because this tells you that it’s safe for your baby.

The tray swings open, which makes getting your baby in and out a million times easier. The tray can also be removed and cleaned by hand or through the dishwasher. The cushion is made of leatherette material and can be cleaned by wiping it down with a damp washcloth.

All materials used in making the chair are BPA and phthalate-free and doesn’t contain any flame retardants either. This is nice because it means your baby won’t be exposed to unwelcome toxins.

You won’t need to worry about matching your aesthetic either because these are available in five different solid color options. It’s super lightweight as well, and since it folds, it’s a perfect option for anybody who likes to go on picnics or other events.

Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair

This space-saving chair is a popular choice among parents. It can easily strap onto any dining chair, as long as the chair has a backrest. I like this one because it can grow with your child. The seat has three adjustable heights, and the back can be removed to make a booster seat.

The chair has a three-position recline ability as well, so your baby will be able to find a comfortable position. This one also has a five-point harness and comes with a link to easily strap toys and cups to when you’re on the go.

The Fisher-Price chair is a good choice because the cushion is easily removable so you can run it through your washing machine and dryer. The padding comes in five different color patterns as well, so you have more choice in the design.

This product is also convenient because the tray is easily removable and can go in the dishwasher. However, there are a few nooks and crannies that may trap food if you aren’t careful.

Infantino Grow-With-Me Convertible High Chair

If novelty is your jam, this convertible high chair comes in an adorable orange fox design. It’s convenient because you can use it in four different ways: traditional style, space-saving, toddler-size, or as a booster.

You’ll be able to use this seat up until your child reaches 50 pounds. You do need to be careful, though, because the weight limit depends on which mode you’re using.

The functional eating mat, along with the removable tray are both dishwasher-safe. The eating mat is nice because you can use it on the tray or a regular table. On top of that, the seat’s cushion is low-density padding, so it’s easier to wipe clean.

4moms High Chair

For those of you looking for a high-end option, this is one to consider. This high chair comes in two different color options and is made by the same company as the mamaRoo. Unlike other chairs that require snapping the tray on, this one has unique magnetic technology to place its tray.

Because the tray is equipped with magnets, it’s also effective at keeping bowls and plates from slipping around the area. The magnetic properties come in handy when your baby is learning how to feed themselves. The tray liner is removable and dishwasher safe, and the seat’s foam insert can be cleaned easily with a cloth.

This chair is also practical because it has three adjustable heights to grow with your child. It can hold up to 60 pounds, which is more than most other high chairs.

Asunflower Wooden High Chair

This high chair is excellent for anybody looking for something with a natural look. The legs are high-quality beech wood, and the seat is an off-white color to avoid a flashy look. The chair itself can be used from infancy to toddlerhood and beyond. This one can technically be used up until your child reaches 88 pounds.

It has a footrest that can be adjusted into seven different positions and has T-shaped harness straps to keep your child secure. The feeding tray is removable, and the seat consists of food-grade material, so it’s safe and long-lasting.

The seat doesn’t have any crevices, which is super convenient when it comes time to clean the chair. It doesn’t come with a cushion, but you can purchase a cushion separately if you’d like one.

You do need to assemble this seat yourself, but there are Youtube videos to help you put it together correctly.

Skip Hop Sit-to-Step High Chair

The Skip Hop Sit-to-Step is an interesting twist on the modern high chair. It packs a lot of functionality into a modern design and it’s great for young babies as well as toddlers. It’s sturdy, easy to clean, and adjustable with three recline positions.

You can pull it up to the table or the counter, because it adjusts to enough variations in height that you’ll find it’s easy to have your baby with you no matter where you are. This is a feature you’ll love because you can prep meals or clean up while still having your baby next to you.

Remove the tray when you pull it up to the counter or table and eliminate the need for cleaning an extra surface. Your child can eat right off of the table with the rest of the family.

The shape of the seat is also unique. It cradles your baby and helps to minimize messes. Once your child is a toddler and doesn’t need a high chair anymore, the seat converts to a step stool, making it a multi functional item that you won’t have to get rid of just yet.

It comes with an infant seat and soft head support for extra safety and comfort for your little one.

Inglesina Fast Table Chair

This high chair is a fantastic alternative solution for parents who don’t have room for a traditional high chair or don’t want to have another large piece of baby gear floating around the kitchen all the time.

Especially if you travel or eat out a lot and you find that you won’t be using a high chair in your own kitchen, there’s really no reason to have something full size.

The Inglesina fast table chair is an awesome option because it’s so lightweight that you can take it anywhere, and it fastens to the end of nearly any table or countertop. It’s small, so it won’t take up much room in your bag or at the end of the table.

The features it packs are large compared to its size, like the comfort of a padded seat and a high backrest.

You can use it at home while you’re there, but when you vacation or go out to eat, you can take it with you anywhere. The fabric is also easy to wipe down and wash, making it the perfect travel companion.

Some parents aren’t too keen on their child dangling at the end of a table, but when installed correctly, the Inglesina fast table chair is completely safe. It does have a maximum weight limit of 37 pounds, but that will get a lot of parents through at least the first year.

It comes with a storage pocket on the backside and its own carrying case.

Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair

You may feel a bit of sticker shock when you first take a look at the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair. It’s pricey, but if you divide those dollars by the number of years you’ll be able to use it, it’s well worth the investment. It truly is a chair for life.

It’s a unique Scandinavian design that’s been popular since 1972. It’s durable and stylish, and it will last for years. While the classic beachwood design doesn’t exactly look like your traditional baby gear, it will fit seamlessly into your modern home decor.

It pulls right up to the table so that even your baby can eat with you. It transitions from a baby seat to a toddler seat to a kid seat, so your child will be able to use it throughout their entire childhood.

The greatest benefit to this seat is that your child will be eating with the family from the beginning. The small footprint of the chair and the ability to pull it right up to the table makes it easy to keep in any kitchen.

Rather than your child being in their own separate chair and eating apart from the family, your baby or toddler will be able to sit right with you.

Everything on the chair adjusts, so as your child grows, you can adjust the seat plate and foot plate. It has ergonomic spine support, it comes in plenty of colors and finishes, and it holds up to 300 pounds, so even adults can use it.

It’s super easy to wipe clean and adjust as they grow. It’s also well-made, with sturdy construction, so it really will last, but there’s no way to deny it’s largest downside, which is cost.

Buying the seat alone is expensive enough, but with all of the extras like the tray, the cushion, and the baby set, it adds up. You can get other modern high chair designs that look similar and cost less, but they won’t last as long either. Check out the Clikk high chair if you’re interested.

Keekaroo Height Right High Chair

Not only does the Keekaroo Height Right high chair have a cute name, but it has a super cute design, too. It’s a great alternative to the Stokke, because it has the same modern design, but it comes with all the accessories you’ll need at a lower price point.

What I love about this one is that it comes with a seat insert that looks kind of like a Bumbo (which I also love, by the way). This holds your baby in place even better than a regular high chair harness. Plus, it comes in such a wide variety of cute colors that really seem to jazz it up.

This seat also grows with your child and will eventually convert to an adult chair, which makes it just as versatile. It’s also easy to wipe down and keep clean.

The wood design makes it look modern and sleek, the tray liner is easy to remove, making it a breeze to clean food, and the seat pad comes clean with just a quick rinse.

One downside worth considering is that the wood is fairly soft and will show dents and scratches easily. It’s also not very easy to adjust, so you’ll want to be sure your child is ready to move on to the next phase before dragging out your tools.

OXO Tot Sprout High Chair

The OXO Tot Sprout high chair is another wooden high chair, but this one is a hybrid. It has a plastic seat rather than a wooden one. It has a detachable tray that allows you to pull it right up to the table, giving you some versatility.

When you remove the tray and place it on the counter, it lays flat, eliminating the extra mess that you’ll find with other high chair trays that tend to tilt, spilling the mess everywhere. You can also adjust it with one hand, so if you’re multitasking, as most moms do, you can ensure you’re not making an even bigger mess.

As your child enters toddlerhood, you can convert the Tot Sprout to a chair for children up to five years old. This makes it a versatile chair for your child until they’re ready to sit in a big kid chair with the grown ups.

It comes at an awesome price and in plenty of different colors so you can match it with your current decor. It’s super easy to wipe down, just watch for food sneaking its way underneath the cushions.

Water can sometimes find its way into the small crevices of the tray when you wash it in the sink, which leads to mildew or other dirty areas that are hard to clean.

Antilop High Chair from IKEA

Can we all agree that when IKEA gets something right, they really get it right? The beautiful simplicity of their Antilop high chair is one of those times. At this price, it’s the perfect solution for multiples, or for saving money here so you can splurge somewhere else.

It’s a no-frills sort of chair, with a molded plastic surface. It’s lightweight, compact, and easy to clean. You’ll find that you can easily move it around when it’s in the way, or you can buy more than one to keep at Grandma’s house.

It’s modern and stylish, and it’s so simple that it fits in with almost any decor. Because it’s so simple, you will miss out on a footrest, but most kids don’t seem to mind letting their feet dangle.

The tray can be difficult to remove and the safety buckle only snaps at the waist. There’s no extra support, like a five-point harness for younger children. However, you can purchase a support cushion or seat cover for extra comfort. In keeping with IKEA’s other products, they’re also incredibly affordable.

Baby Jogger City Bistro High Chair

If you like the idea of a full-size high chair but you simply don’t have the room, the Baby Jogger City Bistro is a great option. It functions like a full-size high chair but has a smaller footprint.

It collapses to 80% of its size when folded down, so it’s easy to push up against the wall, put in a corner, or tuck away in a closet when it’s not in use. It also stands on its own, even when folded, so you won’t have to prop it up on anything. This is by far the best standout feature of this high chair.

The pad is comfortable, stain resistant, and machine washable, which is another huge bonus. Your child will also enjoy calf support for even more comfort. The five-point harness adds safety for smaller children.

The tray is dishwasher safe, making the whole thing easier to clean. There’s also a unique tray storage feature on the back of the chair so you can clip it away if you’re not using it, which keeps everything organized.

It’s durable and easy to clean, and it folds up really nicely, but you’ll find that it has quite the footprint when it’s unfolded. You may find yourself tripping over the back legs quite a bit. The Joovy Nook is also another great foldable high chair.

Safety 1st 3-in-1 Grow and Go High Chair

The Safety 1st 3-in1 Grow and Go high chair is another collapsible high chair that rolls right up to the table without a tray if you want your baby to join you. What I love about the Safety 1st brand is that it’s well-known and trustworthy, but still super affordable.

This high chair is on wheels, so it’s ultra convenient. You can roll it around the kitchen wherever you need it, even when your baby is in it. When you don’t want it to roll, just lock every wheel for added safety.

The five-point harness keeps your baby even more safe. As your child grows, it has three modes of use. It converts from an infant recliner to a toddler high chair. You can eventually use it as a child seat at the table.

The tray insert is easy to remove with one hand and it’s dishwasher safe, so you can more efficiently clean up the mess. The seat cover comes right off so you can wipe down the mess quickly.

It folds down and stands on its own for storage. The wheels are a nice touch when it comes to storage as well because you can fold it down and roll it out of the way quickly, then roll it back out and unfold it when you need it.

Evenflo 4-in1 Eat & Grow Convertible High Chair

Evenflow is another reputable brand that offers affordable baby products, and the 4-in1 Eat & Grow convertible high chair is a fun and easy solution to your high chair woes. It’s something you can use from about six months old until your child reaches 50 pounds.

While it doesn’t have an infant feeding position, it does start your child out in a full-size high chair that you or a caregiver can use at the kitchen table or the countertop to feed your child. It has a 5-point harness to keep your child safe and secure.

Position two converts the chair to a mini meal chair lower to the ground. It’s a comfy toddler chair that your child can use to eat while being a bit more independent. Their feet may even touch the ground, and you can still keep them strapped in if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Position three removes the tray and allows your child the freedom to get in and out of the chair on their own while reading books, socializing, or eating, while position four converts the bottom of the hair chair into a mini kid table so they can enjoy snacks or crafts at their own level.

The legs feature rubber pads so it doesn’t damage the floor, and the seat cover comes off and is completely machine washable. The tray can also be removed for easier cleaning in the sink.

It comes in several different patterns for a fun and stimulating eating environment that your child will love for years to come.

Feeding In Style

While high chairs certainly aren’t a required part of parenting, they’re certainly essential to make things easier and more convenient. As intimidating as it can be trying to find the right chair for your home, keeping in mind the style you want will go a long way.

My favorite is the JOOVY Nook High Chair because it’s so practical. You can fold it up when you aren’t using it, which is a total space saver. Plus, the swiveling tray is convenient when you only have one working hand. Of course, this is my personal preference, but any of the other chairs on the list are good too.