Our Favorite High Chairs
As pediatric feeding therapists and busy moms to babies and toddlers, we have come in contact with so many baby products over the years. But not all baby gear is created equal. As a general rule, we recommend skipping most items in the baby aisle in lieu of a blanket and time spent freely on the floor, but there are a few practical items you will want to have on hand during that first year.
What worked for both of our families and what we recommend for others is investing in fewer, higher quality pieces that you will use over and over again as baby grows.
A supportive high chair that will grow with baby is high on our priority list when making our short list of must-have baby items. As your baby nears his/her first birthday, she will likely be spending hours each day eating. A quality high chair is key to making mealtimes more comfortable and enjoyable for your baby.. Please be sure to read our posts on how to choose a high chair to learn about ideal high chair positioning and when should my baby start solids first so you know what your goals are in purchasing a high chair to support baby’s feeding skills.
Our Top Pick
Top of our list is the Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
Why we like this chair:
Highly adjustable to get babies of all sizes into that desired 90-90-90 (90 degree angles) at the hips, knees and ankles
5 point harness for good trunk support in new eaters
Small removable tray that is easy to clean with a cloth or in the sink
Table height so baby can be seated right at the table with the family at mealtime
Lightweight and easy to move around the house
Fits children from 5-6 months through childhood (rated up to 300lbs!)
Cons:
The price tag is more for this chair than others on the market
It requires an allen wrench to change the height of the footrest and chair
Straps are not removable/able to be washed in the washing machine (but do wash up nicely in the sink with dish soap and a little elbow grease
There are similar options available on Amazon, but neither of us have personally tried these to know if they are comparable. The price tag is lower, so might be worth a shot if you want a lower price point.
Our Top Travel Pick
For travel or smaller spaces, we recommend the Fisher Price Space-Saver highchair.
Why we like this highchair:
Small, easily fits on most dining room chairs, and is lightweight for travel
5 point harness and smaller seat hugs baby with good trunk support
Comes with a tray that can be easily wiped or washed in the dishwasher
Padding and straps can be washed in the washing machine
Cons:
Feet sit straight out with younger babies, and does not achieve the desired 90-90-90
Only fits babies until about 18 months (younger if baby is on the larger size)
Will not fit on dining room chairs that do not have an absolutely flat seat.
How to modify a chair you might already have
Many of our clients love the Ikea Antilop Chair because of it’s price.
Why we like this highchair:
Small, reasonably priced, and aesthetically pleasing
Comes with a tray that can be easily wiped or washed
Light weight and can be moved around easily
Cons:
Feet dangle so it does not achieve the desired 90-90-90
If you have this chair, we recommend getting an after market foot support here
Has a deep seat so can be too roomy for younger babies
Only has a 3 point harness so does not give great trunk support
To modify this chair or another chair that is too roomy for your baby, try rolling up hand towels or swaddles and placing one on each side of baby so they sit up tall next to his/her body. This should give baby less room to topple side to side and helps if he/she is sitting without a 5 point harness. You can also try placing a roll behind his/her spine to push baby more forward in the seat and closer to the tray. As always, shoot us a note if you have questions.
Now that you have your baby in a safe and ergonomic feeding position, it’s time to make a mess and explore new foods! Check out our post on When should my baby start solids? and our list of favorite feeding supplies from developmental feeding experts including utensils, high chairs, bibs and more.
We truly hope you enjoy your feeding journey. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions along the way, we’re here to help.
-Bree & Jaclyn
*We participate in the Amazon Affiliates Program. If you click on a link above and buy the product, we earn a small referral fee without any additional cost to you. These products are genuinely our favorites as therapists and moms. We won’t recommend anything we haven’t tried or don’t fully stand behind.
We’re Bree & Jaclyn
Pediatric therapists and moms with a mission to empower you with knowledge to encourage your baby’s development and continue confidently into your parenthood journey.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below and we will get back to you. As always, the information we share is meant to provide general education and tips and is not intended as medical advice. If you have a specific question or concern about your child’s development, please speak directly to your child’s doctor or therapist.
