The Best High Chairs for Baby-led Weaning (According to 100 Moms)
If you’re like me then you’re probably going through what I call analysis paralysis trying to find good quality baby-led weaning high chairs.
There are so many high chair options on the market and it can seem like an impossible task to find the right one for you.
Especially since most of them are expensive. So finding one that fits your space, has great reviews and cost effective is very important.
That’s why I’ve put together a list of the best baby-led weaning high chairs on the market, after doing extensive research and surveying over 100 moms.
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How We Found The Best High Chairs and Booster Seats
Since there are so many options of high chairs to chose from, there’s no way to test all of them before deciding.
So I used the help of 100 moms who are part of my baby-led weaning private Facebook group.
I surveyed and interviewed these moms who are currently doing BLW and asked them what high chairs they were using, what they liked about their chosen high chair and why they chose it.
I then combined their top choices with the knowledge from my research as well as the high chairs I personally tested to create this comprehensive list.
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Things to consider when choosing a high chair for starting solids
High Chair Footrests
Although footrests aren’t a necessity in a high chair, having one could be the difference between a comfortable eating experience for young babies and a frustrating one.
Many occupational therapists and feeding therapists agree that footrests help babies maintain good posture, core stability and proper trunk support when seating.
The safest eating posture creates a 90-degree angle at the hips, knees and ankles, which helps to support a baby’s feet.
This ensures that the trunk muscles are fully engaged and ready to assist with gagging if necessary, which in turn reduces the risk of choking when eating solid foods. That’s when getting a high chair with an adjustable footrest would be ideal when looking at different options.
You should also read – The Ultimate Baby-Led Weaning First Foods Guide + Recipes & Sample Menu
Type of Safety Straps Present
Another important thing to consider when choosing a high chair is what type of harness it has. A chair with a five-point harness will be more secure than a chair with a three-point harness.
Likewise, a chair with a three-point harness is more secure than a chair with just a waist strap. For my first kid, I used a high chair with a five-point safety harness, and it was a life-saver.
My baby used to try to climb out of his high chair every feeding, to the point that it became a safety hazard. That’s when we started using the harness to keep him secure in his seat.
My second child was even worse of a climber. We inherited a heirloom high chair with just a waist strap, and used that with him.
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It was a nightmare.
My kid would climb out at every feeding. One day he climbed out and fell, and my husband was forced to modify the harness by adding extra straps to create a five-point harness.
So learn from my story and get a high chair with a proper harness from the start.
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The Size of Your Space
One of the most important thing to consider when buying a high chair is how much space you have in your home.
High chairs tend to have wide feet that spreads to create stability to prevent it from tipping over.
This means that people who live in small spaces should consider buying compact high chairs or booster seats that are built for small space living.
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Ease of Cleaning
Babies get messy during baby-led weaning. That’s a fact that you have to get used to. So getting a high chair with a removable tray that is dishwasher-safe will be important for making clean-ups easy.
Food can also be served directly on a dishwasher-safe tray to help reduce dishwasher load because you’ll use less dishes.
When it comes to ease of cleaning, another thing to consider is whether the high chair is covered in fabric.
Fabric-covered high chairs are more difficult to clean and require more frequent trips to the washing machine.
You should also read – Baby-Led Weaning: The Most Comprehensive Guide
Is the High Chair Convertible?
High chairs aren’t going to be used forever, so it’s best to get one that can double as something else.
You can get a high chair that can be converted into a booster seat when your child is ready to transition.
Some high chairs can also be converted into a toddler chair and table for them to write on. I’ve even seen some that double as a high chair and a kitchen helper tower. The possibilities are endless.
The Best Overall High Chairs for Baby-led weaning
What We Love:
- Adjustable height that allows it to grow with your child
- Detachable tray that’s dishwasher safe
- Has a five point harness
- Has footrests
The Downside:
- Not the clearest assembly instructions
- High price point
Out of the 100 moms that I surveyed for this project, 30 percent of them recommended the stokke tripp trapp chair as one they used and loved.
A lot of moms specifically said that it has lasted them through multiple kids. Some of them have passed it on to other members of their family who’ve used it with no problems.
This high chair can be used from the newborn age (with an insert) all the way to 3 years old. Even an adult can sit on it at the diner table. That’s how well made it is.
Get the Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
What We Love:
- Slick and simple design
- Affordable and good value
- Lots of placemat options for it on Amazon
- Easy to wipe down to clean
The Downside:
- The tray is difficult to remove
- Legs are not adjustable
- No footrest
- Only a three-point harness
- Doesn’t grow with your child
Over 50 percent of moms recommended the kea Antilop chair as the best one they ever used. It’s raised edges make it hard for food to easily spill to the floor.
Moms also love it because it has curved edges and no crevices that food can get trapped in. So this makes it easy to wipe down after family meals.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, then the Ikea high chair is for you.
Get the Ikea Antilop High Chair
Ingenuity SmartClean Trio Elite 3-in-1
What We Love:
- Easy to clean
- Grows with your baby. (converts to toddler chair and dining chair when they’re older)
- Tray sits close to baby which prevents over-reaching
- Removable and washable cloth parts
- Removable tray that’s dishwasher safe
- Wheels for easy transport (wheels lock for safety)
The Downside:
- Takes more space due to wide back legs
- The footrest isn’t adjustable
- Bulky to move around
A lot of moms that I surveyed loved this baby-led weaning high chair because of it’s ease of cleaning and the removable parts. Almost everything from the cushions, straps, and tray can be removed for washing. It also has wheels that make it transportable.
Get the Ingenuity SmartClean Trio Elite 3-in-1
Favorite Portable Folding High Chairs
Chicco Polly Foldable Highchair
What We Love:
- Foldable high chair
- Reclining high chair for younger babies to bottle-feed
- Grows with your child (Infant to toddler years)
- Removable and adjustable tray
- Wheels Lock for safety
The Downside:
- A bit pricey
- Footrest isn’t adjustable
About 25% of moms in the group I surveyed vouched for the Chicco Polly Highchair as one of their favorites.
The consensus was that it was very easy to clean, had great cushioning to support their baby’s backs, and was very compact.
Nothing beats being able to fold up your high chair after use and store it away. This feature alone makes the high chair worth the money.
You can also use it as an infant recliner for bottle-feeding. The adjustability of the seating makes it a great high chair for kids.
Get the Chicco Polly Foldable Highchair
Primo Cozy Tot Deluxe Convertible Folding High Chair & Toddler Chair
What We Love:
- Foldable for storage
- Dishwasher safe removable tray
- No crevices for food to hide
- Can be converted into a toddler chair when baby is older
The Downside:
- Might be too small for chunkier babies
If you’re looking for a minimalist and sleek high chair, then this is a great option. It comes with a removable tray attachment that can be washed in the dishwasher.
The best part is that it can be folded up and stored when not in use. You can also remove the tray portion when your toddler is older and convert it to a toddler chair that can be pulled up to the dining table directly.
Some moms mentioned that they struggled to put their chunky babies into the high chair, so it may be best suited for petite
Get the Primo Cozy Tot Folding High Chair & Toddler Chair
Best Travel High Chairs and Booster Seat With Tray
Ingenuity Baby 2-in-1 Booster Seat
What We Love:
- Easy to clean
- Takes up little room
- Removable tray
- Small enough to travel with
- Very compact (Tray stores underneath the seat)
The Downside:
- Very small tray (doesn’t hold a full-sized baby plate)
- Tray sits a little far away for smaller babies
This booster seat was rated very highly by the group of 100 moms that I surveyed in my Facebook group. Lots of people love how small and portable it is to travel with.
They especially love that the tray can be removed and stored under the seat to make it even more compact for storage.
The only issue with this booster seat is that it doesn’t fit a standard-sized suction plate. You’ll have to serve finger foods directly on the tray as an alternative.
Get the Ingenuity Baby 2-in-1 Booster Seat
Hiccapop OmniBoost Travel Booster Seat
What We Love:
- Folds up easy for travel
- Comes with a travel bag
- Dishwasher safe tray
- Wide feet for more stability
The Downside:
- The material is mostly fabric so it stains easily
- Less sturdy than a plastic high chair
- Tray is very small
I personally used this high chair with my second kid at the grandparent’s house. We also took it for traveling and to restaurants.
It was so easy to set up and take down, that it made outings much easier. The only issue I had with this infant high chair is that it’s entirely made of fabric.
This makes is slightly less supportive than other booster seats or high chairs made of plastic. Your baby may slouch on the seat depending on how small they are.
Get the Hiccapop OmniBoost Travel Booster Seat
FAQs About Baby-led Weaning High Chairs
– What if my baby’s high chair doesn’t have a foot rest?
If your baby’s high chair doesn’t have a footrest, you can create a makeshift one using some little tricks as follows:
Stretch a resistance band like this one on Amazon around the legs will create a place for your baby to rest their legs. You can also place a small chair or stool in front of the high chair for your little one to rest their foot on.
– What if the high chair seems too big for my younger baby?
Babies who have a more petite frame can seem to sink into their high chair. If you feel that your baby’s high chair is too big for them, there are things you can do to help modify it.
Fold a small blanket or towel behind your baby to help prop them forward. This will act as a back rest to prevent them from slouching or over-reaching for their food.
You can also place the towel underneath them to help lift your baby upward if their shoulder is below the level of the tray.
Final Thought About High Chairs For Babies
I know that parents feel a lot of pressure to buy the best high chair with the most features out there.
But I’m here to tell you that all that doesn’t matter at the end of the day. As long as your baby is fed, happy and loved that’s all that matters.
You can save so much money by using off-brand accessaries like chair leg boosters and extenders, to help convert your regular chair into a booster seat. You can also get cheaper brand high chairs or boosters with tray to use for your baby.
If all else fails, check Facebook marketplace for used high chairs or get hand-me-downs from friends and family.
