13 Best High Chairs for Every Lifestyle
The high chair: Yet another big piece of baby gear that’ll overtake your home and clash with your decor, right? Not necessarily. More and more baby brands are committed to prioritizing aesthetic appeal alongside functionality. That’s why this year’s batch of the best high chairs may just surprise you. Our comprehensive list caters to every need, because we know how important convenience is. But many of these top-rated high chairs are also so good looking, you might actually want them to be the focal point of your kitchen. Before you add your top pick to your shopping cart or baby registry learn more about high chairs, from when baby can safely sit in one to what to consider when choosing one.
In this article:
When can baby sit in a high chair?
What to look for in a baby or toddler high chair
Best baby and toddler high chairs of 2019
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you shouldn’t introduce solid food until baby can 1) hold their own head up, and 2) sit without much support, if any. That’s also when baby can start sitting in a high chair, which makes the appropriate high chair age around 6 months old. That said, manufacturers provide specific age recommendations for their individual products. Whenever you introduce a high chair, it’s super-important to use it safely; the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following:
• Make sure the high chair has no chance of tipping. That means placing it far enough from the table or counter so baby can’t push off it. Don’t let other children play or climb on the high chair either.
• Always supervise your child when they’re in their high chair and never let them stand.
• Take advantage of the high chair’s safety straps. Don’t ignore crotch straps—they prevent babies from sliding out.
• When you unfold a collapsible high chair, make sure it’s locked so it can’t refold while in use.
• If you need to use a hook-on high chair, use extra caution. Not all tables are heavy enough to support those types of high chairs. Keep an eye on baby’s feet, too—if they can kick the table, they could potentially dislodge the seat.
Really, it all depends on your lifestyle. Keep the following things in mind:
• Size and shape: Will baby be eating most of their meals at home or on the go? That might help you determine whether you want a big high chair that stays out all the time or a portable travel high chair. Think about how big your space is, if you’re hoping to stow the high chair away when it’s not in use, and whether or not you want a travel or outdoor high chair in addition to a standard high chair.
• Safety: The best high chairs are sturdy, stable and secure. Safety harnesses keep babies and tots strapped in, while wide bases prevent tips. If you come across a high chair with wheels for portability, make sure the wheels lock so the chair can’t roll away.
• Convenience: What will make feeding time easier? Maybe it’s a really easy-to-clean high chair. Maybe it’s a foldable high chair you can collapse and expand in a breeze. Again, it’s all about your specific needs.
• Longevity: The best high chairs aren’t cheap, so get the most bang for your buck. Whether baby’s high chair is wooden or plastic, it should be built to last. Many top-rated high chairs have convertible, multifunctional designs. Consider something that transitions to a booster or toddler seat.
Without further ado, here are the best high chairs of the year. They boast impressive, design-forward features and lots and lots of happy parent reviews. We’ve broken them out by popular type so you can easily find what your family needs. Putting together your baby wishlist? Now’s the time to create an Amazon registry if you don’t have one already. That way, you can register for these products in a snap—even options not sold on Amazon (though the bulk are) can be added using Amazon’s Universal Registry Button.
Overall Best High Chair
First up: Our 2019 Best of Baby award winner. This wooden high chair isn’t just chic and refined; it comes with a super-secure five-point harness too. Plus, you can reconfigure the parts as baby grows. In fact, it can even transition into a regular adult chair!
Buy it: Stokke 2019 Tripp Trapp High Chair, $259, Amazon.com
Best Wooden High Chair
Love the look of a sleek wooden high chair? This is another all-time favorite of ours. It’s clearly a favorite of other parents too, since it continuously sells out! Lalo’s “The Chair” is actually a whole set, including a high chair, a removable plastic (and dishwasher-safe) tray, a stain-resistant cushion and extra wooden legs that turn it into a play chair.
Buy it: Lalo The Chair Full Kit, $195, Lalo.com
Best Convertible High Chair
You can’t argue with thousands of reviews that result in a near-perfect rating. (Especially since parents have, justifiably, super-high standards!) This versatile product includes parts for a traditional baby high chair, an infant booster and a toddler booster. That’s great news for parents of siblings: You get a seat for your babe and your tot all in one! Bonus: The high chair has six height adjustments and three recline positions—not too shabby. There’s also a mix of actually cute patterns to choose from.
Buy it: Graco Blossom 6-in-1 Convertible High Chair, $190, Amazon.com
Best Folding High Chair
Sometimes, an always-there high chair kills your kitchen’s vibe, even if it’s cute. In that case, opt for this foldable high chair you can stash in a closet or pantry. Notable features include the no-scratch floor pads, an adjustable five-point harness and a swing-open tray. And the machine-washable seat cover makes cleaning up simpler.
Buy it: Joovy Nook High Chair, starting from $99, Amazon.com
Best Adjustable High Chair
Another high chair that grows with baby and becomes an adult-friendly seat, this one barely looks like baby gear in the first place. The no-crevice design means no trapped crumbs. And since each plastic part is dishwasher-safe, messes don’t stand a chance. Our favorite aspect? The smooth, gliding lift mechanism, which sets it apart from other adjustable models.
Buy it: Nuna ZAAZ, $300, Nuna.com
Best Modern High Chair
The ultra-unique, futuristic design makes this high chair a perfect fit for modern homes. But it boasts more than just sleek lines: Because the Boon Flair has the same mechanism as a chair at the hairdresser’s, it’s also super-easy to adjust to any height. And like many of the best high chairs of 2019, it’s less prone to crumb buildup courtesy of the rounded, crevice-free shape.
Buy it: Boon Flair Pedestal High Chair, starting from $209, Amazon.com
Best Camping High Chair
If you’re the outdoorsy type, get an outdoor high chair so baby can join you on all your adventures. This portable high chair has thousands of positive Amazon reviews, is lightweight and flexible for extra-easy transport, and even comes with its own carrying case. Better yet, you can pop the removable tray right in the dishwasher. The high chair also has the added luxury of a rear storage pocket.
Buy it: Summer Infant Pop and Sit Portable Booster, $35, Amazon.com
Best Reclining High Chair
Sit back, relax and enjoy mealtime together. The Siesta makes it happen, bringing baby right to the table with five recline positions, including a naptime-friendly flat position. What’s so great about a reclining high chair? You can keep your child close and comfy when you’re at the table, even when they’re not eating. Once mealtime is over for everybody, it can go sight unseen thanks to a streamlined, compact fold.
Buy it: Peg Perego Siesta, starting from $300, Amazon.com
Best Easy-to-Clean High Chair
It’s true: Many of the models listed above are easy to clean too. But this specific high chair comes with a magnetic tray that works with the brand’s magnetic feeding accessories, which helps prevent spills before they happen. If things do get (literally) out of hand, just pop the tray liner into the dishwasher and damp-wipe the chair foam insert.
Buy it: 4moms High Chair, $300, Amazon.com
Best Compact High Chair
This sleek-looking high chair boasts impressive versatility, which is definitely a trend when it comes to the best high chairs. Without calling for a single tool, the unique EZ-Seat system transforms from a high chair to toddler chair to dining chair that, yes, even adults can comfortably use. The seat is cushioned for comfort and stain-resistant for easy wipe-downs. Plus, the tray cover removes with one hand and is dishwasher-safe. The best part? Abiie managed to pack all these awesome features into a compact high chair with a manageable footprint.
Buy it: Abiie Beyond Wooden High Chair with Tray, $195, Amazon.com
Best Affordable High Chair
Really looking to save space? Look no further than the aptly named SpaceSaver: a super-small high chair that attaches to a regular dining chair. It’s great for seamless integration, as it won’t take up any extra space. And less plastic means it’s way cheaper than other top-rated high chairs. Thousands of Amazon reviewers gush about this cost-cutting option.
Buy it: Fisher-Price SpaceSaver High Chair, $50, Amazon.com
Best Hook-on-Table High Chair
One of the best portable high chair designs? A hook-on-table high chair, which you attach right to the table. It’s a favorite among those who frequently eat out, and especially those who worry about germy, unsafe restaurant high chairs. The clasps are specially designed not to scratch (so you won’t get any angry looks from your server) and it includes a three-point harness. It’s compatible with most tables and the twist-to-tighten design makes it simple to secure. That said, you should always read the installation instructions carefully to prevent it from detaching and falling.
Buy it: Chicco Caddy Hook-On Chair, starting from $45, Amazon.com
Best Travel High Chair
The Bombal booster seat won a 2019 Best of Baby award for a reason: Thanks to its genius origami-inspired design, it folds flat and stores in a slim carry bag, and is incredibly easy to assemble when meal time rolls around. Plus, it has a five-point harness and is a breeze is clean, due to its stain-resistant finish. All in all, this portable high chair is ideal for toting around on any trip.
Buy it: Bombal Pop-Up Booster, $145, Bombal.com
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, some of which may be sponsored by paying vendors.
Updated August 2019
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
