Just when you think you’ve grasped feeding your baby – whether it’s pumping, bottle feeding, breastfeeding or a combination of all three – they reach that big six-month milestone and it’s time to embark on the wild ride that is weaning.
Moving your child onto solid foods can be a minefield for even the most seasoned parents, inevitably involving thrown spoons, avocado-stained clothes and a few tears (and that’s just from mums).
Thankfully, the latest generation of high chairs are designed to make the journey a whole lot smoother. From rotating chairs to ‘seats’ you can stash in your changing bag for on-the-go (yes, honestly) the smartest homeware, baby and toddler brands have got your back.
How do you choose the best high chair?
Chef and author of ‘How to Grow your Family’ Adam Shaw – who is also a regular expert speaker at The Baby Show – explains what to look for in a high chair, and why it’s such an important purchase. "The dinner table is a focal point of the house and a place where baby and parent will spend so much time together. The right high chair can help with the development of many different skills.
"A foot rest is important as it strengthens muscles and makes the child feel more supported, which can aid digestion. Just think of the discomfort you can feel when your legs are dangling from a bar stool!
"The chair should be easily movable and have a detachable tray so you can bring your baby right up to the table, for social interaction, or close to you.
"You should be able to adjust all aspects of the high chair so it can change as your child grows. Some are designed to last from newborn right up to five years old or even adulthood. It also needs to be secure.
"Finally, look for something that’s easy to clean. Weaning gets messy, but it’s also really fun! You’ll find yourself and your child enjoy the experience a lot more if you’re not having to worry about stains all the time."
Here, we narrow down the best high chairs for all budgets, spaces and ages – whether you’re at home or out and about.
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Stokke Tripp Trapp
Age range: From newborn, when you purchase the Newborn Set, to adulthood or 136kg
There’s no denying it, this high chair is expensive with everything from the baby support, £52, to the cushion, £42, coming in at an additional cost. How, then, has the Tripp Trapp earned itself a place as one of the best high chairs of all time with Chrissy Teigen and Kim Kardashian in the fan club?
It’s all in its longevity (it’ll last you longer than any other chair on the market) as well as the fact it has your child’s development in mind throughout.
For our tester – a mum-of-two – the cult status was warranted. Her niggles were how fiddly the harness was along with the fact the leg holes in the baby seat were pretty snug. But she applauded the fact it doesn’t scream ‘high chair here!’ (there are 12 classy colours to choose from) nor take up a huge amount of space.
The seat height and depth can be adjusted to fit seamlessly at any table; it doubled up as a step for her three-year-old to reach the sink and her 18-month-old seemed much happier in it, probably due to the boost the carefully-engineered ergonomics gave his posture.
Buy now £219.00, Stokke
Ziza Highchair and Tray
Age range: From when baby can sit up unaided to three years, or five years when you purchase the convertible legs
Consider this Scandi chair the IKEA Antilop’s cooler and savvier sister. It boasts a very similar
design (albeit much chicer-looking in five colourways) but with some important add-ons. There’s the footrest that can be adjusted to two different heights and the five-point harness instead of IKEA’s three-point.
The seat is roomier, allowing toddlers to be more comfortable although our tester did notice the tray was a little smaller. She loved that there is the option of converting it into a play chair as your child gets older by adding the Ziza Set of Four Legs, £19.99.
With a detachable and dishwasher-friendly table, it remains one of the best high chairs for ease of cleaning, aesthetics and even eco credentials since it’s constructed from sustainable beech wood and recycled aluminum.
Buy now £139.00, Amazon
Munchkin 360° Cloud High Chair
Age range: From six months to three years or 15kg
When it comes to making mealtimes go without a hitch (well, as hassle-free as can be when you give spag bol to anyone under two), this is one of the best high chairs around. The unique 360° swivel seat was a feature our tester didn’t know she needed. It allowed her to get baby involved at the family table then spin him around to be spoon fed the messier foods. If you prefer your child to have their own table, you’ll appreciate the removable tray insert, that can be popped off after the carnage of their first course. Both are dishwasher-safe.
The smooth padded seat offers the perfect combination of comfort without the crumb-attracting craters many cushions seem to possess. Our tester also rated the transparent design that made it less obtrusive and, crucially, repelled stains brilliantly.
It’s a chair more suited to larger spaces, however, since the legs – while sturdy – flare out considerably, creating a bigger footprint.
Buy now £188.99, Amazon
My Little Coco My Little Everything Chair
Age range: From six months to three years or 15kg
When presenter and mum-of-three Rochelle Humes gave her Instagram followers a sneak peek of the debut chair in her popular baby range, everyone from celebrities to parenting influencers and nutritionists remarked on the beautiful design. Think a diddy camping chair in an achingly cool hessian-effect fabric.
But, after road-testing the new product with a 13-month-old, we can confirm it’s not just a style statement.
Our little tester was all smiles when sitting in it, both on the floor or when secured to a dining chair. We liked how lightweight and compact it is, and how easy it was to set up. It would even fit into a suitcase, thanks to the handy carry case, making it the best portable high chair for holidays – from beach picnics to BBQs back at the villa.
The only gripe? The wipe-clean fabric will show up every splodge although there is the option to remove it and wash it in cold water for those extra mucky moments.
Buy now £50.00, Boots
Nuna Zaaz High Chair
Age range: From when baby can sit up unaided to adulthood or 100kg
This is undoubtedly one of the best high chairs when it comes to longevity, rivalling the Stokke Tripp Trapp in its ‘grow with you’ design that makes the price seem justified.
The advantage of Nuna’s version? It’s more easily adjusted, with the seat and footrest all moveable without tools. Despite its hefty 10kg weight and industrial aesthetic, it boasts a footprint smaller than many other chairs.
Our reviewer did note the detachable tray table couldn’t be pulled closer, however, resulting in a couple of very messy laps where her seven-month-old was involved since the gap was fairly large.
The foam seat is comfortable for bottoms of all ages, and everything’s easy to clean with various parts able to be chucked into the dishwasher – a godsend whether you’re dealing with a pint-sized foodie or the morning after your 18-year-old’s birthday party.
Buy now £160.00, Mamas & Papas
Joie Snacker 2-in-1 Highchair
Age range: From six months to 15kg
Joie offers a few variants of kiddie dining chairs, all with slightly different names, but – ticking off a medley of boxes – this is the best mid-priced high chair you can buy. The two busy prints might not be the last word in ‘contemporary kitchen cool’ but it’s a great choice for grandparents who will likely want something functional, foldable and reasonably priced.
The chair doesn’t lie completely flat so can’t be used for newborns, but it does offer three reclining positions, perfect for post-grub naps. That’s alongside the five height positions and adjustable tray table that can be pulled closer for smaller tots – all easily customised with the touch of a few buttons.
Unlike others we tried, it comes with a large storage basket that doubled as a handy food catcher. Thanks to the padded seat cover that’s thicker than most (and removable, hallelujah), our tester’s seven-month-old was seriously chilled in her armchair-like throne.
Buy now £75.00, John Lewis
Mamas & Papas Bug 3-in-1 Floor and Booster Seat with Activity Tray
Age range: Three months to three years
This ingenious accessory offers a solution to so many parenting problems from where to pop your little one when you shower (while watching them like a hawk, of course) to on-the-go feasting, it’s a multi-tasking marvel.
Designed to be used on the floor (from three months), strapped to a dining chair (from six months) or as a booster seat (from 12 months, thanks to the removable insert and crotch post) it’s just the ticket when an ordinary high chair isn’t to hand. Our tester found it equally useful when stashed in her car or under the pram for day trips, or left in her lounge.
The twist-out feet and chunky design make it sturdy (albeit not the most compact). But it’s the detachable sensory toy tray that really sets the Bug apart, making it the best portable high chair for playtime and a useful ‘next step’ once your baby has grown out of their bouncer.
Buy now £75.00, Mamas & Papas
Jojo Maman Bebe Pack-away Pocket Highchair
Age range: From six months to 30 months
A ‘high chair’ small enough to fit in your changing bag? This fabric harness sounds too good to be true but our reviewer found it really delivered when testing with her 10-month-old. Measuring 12cm x 12cm when folded and available in three vibrant prints, it can be tied to almost any dining chair in just a minute, keeping your baby sturdy, comfortable and secure.
It gets messy easily (although it washed well in the machine) and our tester wasn’t sure it would be able to handle a headstrong two-year-old but it gets our vote for the best ‘high chair’ around on the portability front. One to keep in your bag for spontaneous pub lunches when high chairs aren’t available – or they’re suspiciously grubby-looking.
Buy now £16.00, Jojo Maman Bebe
Cosatto Grubs Up Table Chair
Age range: From six months to 15kg
Clamp chairs were all the rage in the 1990s but, hear us out, this little number still has a place in 2022. While it’s marketed as being a solution for travel, we wouldn’t necessarily use it while out since it doesn’t work well with every surface. Tables need to be sturdy, without a lip at the edge and between 2cm and 7cm thick.
Instead, it boasts a different super-power in our book. If you can see past the in-your-face designs (the others are emblazoned with unicorns, avocados and dragons), this table-top seat is one of the best high chairs for using with high breakfast bars or as a space-saving solution, especially for childminders and parents of multiples.
Our tester liked the fact there were no legs to constantly dodge and was surprised at just how secure it felt with its almost vice-like grip. The material is machine-washable, too.
Buy now £74.95, Cosatto
Silver Cross Buffet Highchair
Age range: From newborn to three years or 15kg
Many nutritionists advocate introducing a high chair from birth for the social element and to get your baby excited about eating. This is the best high chair for exactly that function since it’s one of the few that can be used with a newborn. Offering an incredibly comfy cushioned seat cover (that’s removable), it kept our tester’s teary eight-week-old very content thanks to the lie-flat option.
With a whopping seven height positions, it will slot against every dining table, allowing your child to really get involved, although it also comes with its own detachable table, including a dishwasher-safe insert.
Despite the plush and cosseting design, the Buffet is actually lighter than many more simplistic chairs at just 5kg. The dark grey and candy pink options have timeless appeal but we’d love to see a slightly wider colour range.
Buy now £149.00, Silver Cross
IKEA Antilop Highchair with Tray
Age range: From when baby can sit up unaided (you can also purchase a separate cushion) to three years or 15kg
There’s no doubt about it, the IKEA Antilop is the best high chair on the market for value. It’s lightweight, stackable and unbelievably easy to clean, which is why it’s such a firm favourite in restaurants around the world.
There are no nooks and crannies for food to get stuck in and both the table and seat can be put in the dishwasher. It isn’t foldable but the legs can be whipped off in seconds so it’s easily hidden away come bedtime.
The elephant in the room (kitchen) is the lack of footrest – a crucial element of a high chair, according to pediatricians. However our tester did manage to fashion one from a piece of fabric and other devotees have been known to make their own (or buy one on Etsy) from a small piece of wood. It’s also worth noting it’s not height-adjustable although it’s a small sacrifice when you consider the awesome price tag.
Buy now £15.00, IKEA
Verdict
We’re all for getting children involved in the family table from birth so, along with its unrivalled ergonomics, durability and level of customisation available, the Stokke Tripp Trapp is our winner.
If storage is an issue, or you’d happily do away with any child-related equipment beyond the age of three (we see you), look to the Silver Cross Buffet, also newborn-friendly.
