The Best Portable High Chair Options, According to a Mom of Two

At the top of our list is the Inglesina Fast Table Chair, which checks all the boxes for the best portable high chair. Parents will appreciate that it’s easy to carry, set up and clean. Whether you’re looking for a space-saving, counter-height option in your home or need something that’s travel-friendly, the Inglesina has you covered. Chelsea G., our product tester, told us, “I felt confident by how fastened our 8-month-old was [when] strapped into the high chair…she fit comfortably but not too tight.”

At just 4.2 lbs., this option is effortless to transport—plus, it comes with an attached carry bag. It quickly clips onto nearly any surface (from 0.8 to 3.3 inches thick) without leaving any damage behind and has a weight capacity of 37 pounds. You can also count on the chair’s high backrest and padded seat to keep your little one comfy and secure during mealtime. Bonus: An optional add-on dining tray with a cup holder snaps right over the Fast Table Chair’s arms. As a result, the seat is protected from grime, and baby has a clean surface to eat off while containing inevitable crumbs and potential spills.

It’s worth noting that this portable high chair is just as helpful at home as it is elsewhere. Several parents in The Bump community forums say that this is the only high chair they use with their little ones. In particular, parents like being able to clip it onto their countertops as well as their dining tables. “We have a more narrow/long kitchen with a pretty long island in the middle that doubles as our table we sit around, so we got the Inglesina Fast Table Chair,” said one forum member, Tulips29.

Dimensions (open): 14" (L) x 17" (W) x 11" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 14" (L) x 17" (W) x 4" (H) | Weight: 4.3 lbs. | Capacity: 37 lbs.

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For families who love to travel, the Bombol Pop-Up Booster is essential. The unique origami-inspired design folds down to the size of a book and is ultra-lightweight, so it’ll take up almost room in your luggage. Better yet, it’s so compact that you could even tote it in your carry-on bag. Pro tip: The versatile silhouette is wonderful to whip out when your little one needs a bite to eat at a crowded airport lounge or while you’re waiting to board at your gate. Our product tester, Brittani K., was a big fan of its versatility, telling us: “It worked on every chair we tried. I didn't think it would work on our chairs as they’re slightly curved, but it did!”

When needed, this portable high chair pops up into a 3D structure that’s both sturdy and comfortable. Your little one will love the comfort of the padded, upholstered seat and backrest—and you’ll appreciate the secure five-point harness. If that’s not all, the fabric is stain-, abrasion- and odor-resistant—perfect for when you don’t have access to a washing machine.

Dimensions (open): 11.8" (L) x 11" (W) x 10.6" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 11.8" (L) x 11.8" (W) x 1.4" (H) | Weight: 2.1 lbs. | Capacity: 75 lbs.

While floating clip-on high chairs can make the handiest among us feel utterly insecure, the Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-On Highchair’s C-shaped clamp system is literally turn-key. Just open both clamps wide enough to fit around any sturdy table between 1 and 3 inches thick, twist until you can no longer turn and rest assured that your child’s seat will remain suspended. It’s that simple! I’ve used this model for years, and the super simple set-up has always made me feel confident about my installation abilities—and when you put your child in a high chair, you don’t want to worry about whether you set it upright.

Ease of installation isn’t this chair’s only merit: The deep, lightly padded seat makes for comfortable meals as the three-point harness keeps your kiddo in place. Meanwhile, the fold-and-go design means you can zip in and out of meals—a good thing when your little eater is particularly hangry.

While fabric seats can sometimes pose problems for messy eaters, this one wipes clean so easily that I installed it at home to use as a primary high chair. For the worst stains and spills, the seat zips right out of its lightweight aluminum frame to toss in the washing machine as needed. In between washes, crumbs can be swept right out of the leg holes or emptied the old-fashioned way: By turning the seat upside down once it’s detached from the table. Speaking of disassembly, this portable high chair folds flat and fits neatly into a lightweight carrying case, which is just spacious enough to stuff in a place setting and bib.

Dimensions (open): 10" (L) x 11" (W) x 10" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 12.2" (L) x 13.4" (W) x 1.5" (H) | Weight: 2 lbs. | Capacity: 37 lbs.

Getting active toddlers to pause and break for meals at the beach, park or campground can be a battle, but Bright Start’s Pop ‘N Sit Portable Booster Chair is here to save the day. This travel high chair gets them excited to take a seat, thanks to the mini-me design that’s “supew” cute, according to my toddler.

Essentially a mini version of a classic camping chair, this lightweight, portable seat features a small clip-on tray. It may not be large enough to hold a plate, but it offers its own surface to eat off of, since it’s dishwasher-safe and can be easily wiped clean. A three-point harness helps contain antsy kiddos and keeps them secure during mealtime. Plus, a rear mesh pocket is the perfect place to stow utensils or even a book to keep your little one entertained while adults enjoy their own food. Although the seat’s fabric isn’t machine-washable—it doesn’t detach from the frame—I found it easy enough to wipe down. The bright green seat and black straps conceal most spills, and there aren't many deep crevices for food to manifest. The best part? The entire thing collapses into a tiny travel bag to be slung over your shoulder or tossed under a stroller at the end of your adventure—easy peasy.

While the seat can also be installed on a chair (if one’s available), I found it to be a bit tricky. The high chair comes with separate straps designed to loop around the chair legs, unlike other models where the straps are already affixed. Moreover, I found that the four-point base didn’t feel super secure on a chair with a gap between the back and seat. With that in mind, I strongly preferred placing it on the ground.

Dimensions (open): 14" (L) x 11" (W) x 15" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 15" (L) x 5" (H) | Weight: 4 lbs. | Capacity: 37 lbs.

If there’s one thing parents need when feeding their kids out and about, it’s storage. Somewhere convenient to neatly stash a pack of wipes, a spare diaper, a bottle and a bib can make all the difference. With a storage cavity ingeniously tucked in beneath the seat, I was thoroughly impressed with how this booster basically doubles as a diaper bag. After all, you don’t want to carry a ton of toddler gear into a restaurant—especially if you’re bringing multiple kiddos. Thankfully, this multipurpose booster seat can make dining out with little ones a bit more streamlined. That’s why I can’t recommend the Munchkin Brica GoBoost enough.

Essentially a 5.5-inch-thick diaper bag with an exterior pocket, the clever design unfolds to reveal a seat. The travel high chair is equipped with a three-point harness and three belts to secure it to a chair. If that’s not all, this genius contraption measures less than a square foot and weighs in under 3 pounds despite its generous weight capacity of up to 50 lbs. With a sturdy, non-slip base and seat sides that do the noble job of keeping a tush firmly planted in a seat, the only thing it’s missing is color options. (The outside is black with blue embroidery, but the bright blue seat is anything but subtle when you’re dining out and don’t want extra attention on your pint-sized party member.)

My biggest hang-up with this chair involved installation. Initially, the angle of the third belt threw me for a loop. And while the three-point harness worked like a charm for my 1-year-old, it sat a little low on the lap of my 4-year-old, who was just as happy perching on the seat sans buckle. That being said, don’t let this—or the fact that the entire unit is covered in fabric—deter you. It’s easy to wipe clean, I promise!

Dimensions (open): 11.5" (L) x 11.5" (W) x 5.5" (H) | Dimensions (folded): N/A | Weight: 2.5 lbs. | Capacity: 50 lbs.

There’s nothing quite like seeing your baby’s face the first time they try a new food. Chicco’s Fast Lock 360 Rotating Hook On High Chair secures your front-row seat by enabling you to rotate your baby in any direction while securely clamped to a table or countertop. The rotating feature isn’t just unique—it’s convenient, whether you’re buckling your kiddo in, spoon-feeding them, wiping their face or taking them out.

The seat itself is plush enough to feel inviting to adults. I appreciated how the fabric is really luxe—it's like a faux leather car seat in the least cheesy way. It comes with a generously sized, easy-to-wipe tray with raised edges to contain messes, which is yet another perk despite the crumb nooks and crannies I dreaded cleaning. While I felt like the seat was tight and shallow for my 4-year-old, it positioned my 18-month-old daughter perfectly for mealtime. I don't think she has ever enjoyed her food with her eyes as much since she can really look down on her plate.

I encountered a few slight drawbacks: It was a little tricky to install, it was tough to fish out the three-point harness and the 360-turning radius isn’t ideal for feeding kids who self-feed off their trays. However, I wished I had this model for the earliest days of feeding when you really need—and want!—to face your child.

Dimensions (open): ‎24.5" (L) x 16" (W) x 14" (H) | Dimensions (closed): N/A | Weight:** 8.5 lbs | Weight capacity: 37 lbs.

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