Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
The Sit-To-Step High Chair from Skip Hop is big on versatility, going from infant chair to step stool with a few easy adjustments. Read More
With an upper weight limit of 300 pounds, this thing is built to last. It's a pain to put together, but we believe it's worth the extra effort. Read More
The tray is easy to remove with one hand, the seat and footrest adjust, and the overall design is compact without sacrificing sturdiness. Read More
The Chair from LALO is a minimalist lover’s dream, with a clean design, five stylish color options, and beechwood legs. Read More
Of all the chairs we tested, this one features the easiest tray to remove and replace. Read More
New parents can be marketing magnets, desperate for any product that promises simplicity and ease. While one could certainly make do without a great swath of the baby gear available today, there are indeed some truly must-have items. A good high chair tops that list.
Sturdy, well-made, and user-friendly, the right high chair can make all the difference at mealtimes, providing a safe way to bring baby to the family table. But with endless options on the market, how can parents even hope to choose the right one? That’s where we come in.
We put seven of the best high chairs to the test, looking for durable items that are easy to clean, simple to use, and grow with your little one from babyhood through the toddler years. Our top pick, the Skip Hop Sit-to-Step (available at Target for $157.99) , earned high marks for its versatility as well as how easy it was to use.
For something that's more high style and can be used long past the toddler stage, you won't be disappointed with the Stokke Tripp-Trapp (available at Amazon for $199).
The Skip Hop Sit-to-Step high chair has features that make it useful from the baby stage through the toddler years.
The Stokke high chair is the most versatile of all the chairs we tested.
Compact design
One-handed tray removal
Dishwasher-safe tray
Does not fold
Does not recline
Stylish design
Machine-washable straps
Easy to assemble
Converts to dining chair and play chair
Tripping hazard
Requires lots of floor space
Height isn’t adjustable
Two-handed tray removal
Magnetic tray
Dishwasher-safe
Easy assembly
Plastic frame
Not very sturdy
Affordable
Folds flat
Easy assembly
Basic design
Thin cushion
Finicky tray
Tough to clean
Cool 3-in-1 concept
Dishwasher-safe tray
Difficult to assemble
Rocking chair doesn’t work
Tough to clean
We evaluated each product from assembly to clean-up, giving each high chair at least one week of continuous use. Through breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and all the necessary cleaning in between—we relied on each item for feeding our toddler (and, at times, our niece).
As we lived with these chairs, we took note of how difficult it was to assemble and clean them. We looked for simplicity in both strapping a child in and removing them from the seat. We noted options for customizing and adjusting. And we considered sturdiness, portability, design, and each item’s overall size.
I’m Lizzie Duszynski, a writer and mom of two who, for years, has had the pleasure of reviewing baby gear and gadgets meant to simplify parenthood. Studying these high chairs was a months-long family affair, as everyone from my husband to my toddler daughter to my baby niece had a hand in putting them to the test.
Any parent who has chiseled old food from a high chair’s crevices will tell you that finding a product that’s easy to wipe clean is paramount. Look for chairs that have a smooth seat design, machine-washable cushions, and dishwasher-safe trays. Check measurements to ensure the tray will fit inside your dishwasher. It's worth noting, however, that just because a tray is billed as "dishwasher safe" doesn’t mean you’ll be able to put it in your dishwasher. Not all of the trays will fit in either shelf of a standard-sized dishwasher.
Some high chairs don’t include footrests, or those that are included are not adjustable to your child’s height. A proper footrest offers stability and support, and is recommended by health experts.
If you’re counting on bringing the high chair right to the table, make certain you measure. Not all high chairs will be height compatible, so it’s worth checking that the bottom of your dining table allows enough room for your child’s legs. If you use a tall table (or a shorter-than-average one) you’ll want to measure from the bottom of your table to the floor and check the high chair’s seat and tray height before ordering.
Safety No matter what kind of high chair you decide to purchase, you need to ensure that it has adequate safety features, specifically a harness to keep your little one safely secured. While this may not seem like a big deal when they’re first starting to eat solid food and can’t walk or crawl yet, curious toddlers are apt to attempt to climb right out, which can cause serious injury.
Durability As with all baby gear, your high chair is going to take a beating. If you’re planning on having another child (or two) and expect your high chair to last through quite a few baby and toddler years, you’re going to want a high chair that’s durable and can withstand heavy duty use. Look for quality materials, surfaces that can be cleaned easily, and adjustable height seats and footrests to take you from baby to big kid, and back again.
Adjustability A high chair that promotes good posture will help your child to be calm and focused during mealtime. Look for a chair that can adjust as your little one grows.
Portability Standard full size high chairs aren’t all that portable. Sure, you can move them from room to room, but you’re not going to be putting them in the back of your car for your next road trip. If you want a truly portable high chair that you can take with you to grandma’s house or on your next vacation, you’re going to want to spring for a second high chair that’s more compact and designed for just such use case.
Cleaning Babies are messy and high chairs are collateral damage. Don’t waste precious hours scrubbing a difficult-to-clean high chair; opt for one that wipes down easily and that has dishwasher safe parts. Life is too precious to spend time scrubbing caked-on peas out of nooks and crannies.
Lizzie Duszynski-Goodman is a journalist living in the Midwest with her husband and two young children. Her work explores the intersections of mental health, wellness, and parenting. When not behind her computer you can find her on a yoga mat or with her nose in a good book.
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