Baby High Chairs 2018 Buying Guide and Reviews

You know what those adorable pics of babies with chubby cheeks and mashed fruit and veggies plastered all over their face have in common? There’s a high chair in every one of them. When it comes to starting solid foods, it’s crucial to have a spot for your little one to nosh in that is safe and easy to clean.

Do You Need a High Chair?

If you opt not to get a high chair, you can use your lap, stroller or other piece of baby gear with a seat. But (and this is a biggie), prepare for a gigantic mess to be made all over it. We recommend that you add a high chair to your registry because it’s not only more convenient, but also will be easier to keep clean and will offer the best upright positioning for your child depending on age.

What kind of high chair you choose depends on where you eat most of your meals, how much cleaning you’re willing to do on a daily basis and how much space you have in your kitchen or dining area. There are larger, standalone high chairs that you can sit around your table, or anywhere really, that come with their own tray. You can get a basic, plastic model that’s super easy to clean or go for one with more bells and whistles, like wipeable cushions, wheels, footrests, a reclining seat (think: bottle feedings) and a chair that adjusts to various heights.

If space is an issue, you might want to consider a full-size high chair that can be folded and stored when not in use, or a portable high chair that attaches to one of your kitchen or dining room chairs or the edge of the table―these are great for those who often eat out, too. There are even high chairs that grow with your child by converting to a booster seat for toddlers and later, a kid-sized chair.

When Do You Need a High Chair?

Because you’ll be nursing or bottle feeding with your baby nestled in your arms or in a bouncy seat or swing, you won’t need a high chair until your baby starts eating solid food—usually around six months. But you’ll get good use of it until your child is two or three years old.

How We Chose Our Best Picks

We asked thousands of real Babylist families about the baby products they love the most. We took the top high chairs they shared with us and added our own research and insight. We think you and your little one will love at least one of these items, too.

A recent study found that the cost spent on raising a child in America, up until the age of 17 years was an eye-watering $116,805. Taking the average price of a baby high chair a rough calculation shows that you could purchase 1,116 high chairs if you wanted.

It is thought that the average family in the U.S is destined to purchase four high chairs in their lifetime so it is little wonder that people are searching the internet for the best high chair reviews.

Sometimes you can get a little bit puzzled by the amount of choice that is on offer in the baby product market and this inevitably leads to confusion and a poor purchase choice.

Just sit back and read our 10 Best Baby HighChair Recommendations which we are confident will help you make a better buying decision.

What Features You Need To Focus On

Portability

When looking for a high chair one important feature to look out for is how portable the chair is, especially if space is at a premium.

You may be looking for the best foldable high chair which will mean it is easy to use and often easy to store away. Quite often if grandparents are looking after their grandchildren at their own house then the high chair will need to be easy to transport.
Also if you are going away on holiday or on a day trip you may need to purchase the best travel high chair to suit your needs. There are a few different models within this article that are portable and suitable for travelling.

Easy To Clean

We all know babies and toddlers are all cute and huggable when they are nice and clean. But when it comes to mealtimes staying clean is not possible as their food more often than not gets everywhere.

With this in mind, it is important to purchase a high chair that is easy to clean. Within this article, there are a number of models which are easy to clean and some which have removable covers and trays that are machine or dishwasher friendly.

Weight Capacity

Like with most products that you sit on or in there is a maximum user weight capacity. More often people this if the weight capacity is high then the product is well built, this may be the case.

However, you have to consider if the weight capacity is higher the overall weight of the product is often heavier, meaning it will be harder to move.

How Long Will The High Chair Last?

Like with any product this often depends on the quality of the materials used to build it. However, within this article, some of the products featured are suitable for young babies right up to children of school age.

Therefore, it is safe to assume that these products are built to last longer than the ones that are purely meant to suit young babies.

Multi-Purpose Chairs

Within this article, there are many chairs that can be converted into a child’s booster seat as well as being a baby high chair. If you want to save money and space you may want to consider buying one of these multi-purpose chairs.

At some point while your child is growing, you will end up needing a high chair especially one of the best high chair for counter height table. Not only can it keep them in one spot so they’ll actually eat, but it also let’s them learn to feed themselves.

While there are many types of high chairs on the market, the one that has been gaining popularity is the counter height high chair. This article will talk about 3 of the top of these high chairs, as well as show you a buying guide.

Short Buying Guide on the Best High Chair for Counter Height Table

When trying to find the best high chair for counter height table, there are a few things to be aware of before you buy. This buying guide is here to help you figure out the different features and figure out which features are best for you and your child.

Cleaning

This is probably the biggest aspect that most people look at when buying a high chair that is counter height. Messes are to be expected with kids and, of course, it’s going to get everywhere you get to feed them. You want to make sure that the chair you get is easy to clean and doesn’t take a super long time to clean.

When going to buy the new chair, you want to give it a good look over and see which parts might be hard to clean. You should also look at areas where your child will be able to reach because, at some point or another, the messy food will get on those areas.

The next thing to look for when assessing how easy it is to clean, is what material it is made of. Some materials are going to be easier to clean than others. For example, plastic and wood are going to be much easier to clean than fabric.

You also want to look at the material of the straps to see whether or not food might get grounded into them, making it harder to clean. The last thing you want to do, is spend all your time cleaning the chair, especially if you have a little one running around!

Features

The next thing most people look at are the different features that accompany the high chair. You want to make sure the features the chair has are going to fit well with your child and family. There are many different options and these are what you should pay attention to when making your comparison.

The first is the seat. You want to make sure the seat has at least some kind of padding so your child can be comfortable in it. You don’t want to have to deal with a baby that’s cranky because they aren’t comfortable while eating. Keep in mind, though, that cloth padding is going to be harder to clean than padding that has a plastic insert.

The next thing is the safety harness. This is one of the most important parts of the chair because it helps prevent your child from falling out of the chair. There are usually 2 kinds of harnesses.

Those are

5 point harness system

The 5 point harness is made to hold the top and bottom parts of your child in. It has 2 straps that go over the shoulder, 2 that go over the thighs, then they meet at the buckle on the bottom. The 3 point has 2 straps that go over the thighs and meet in between the legs at the buckle.

The next aspect is the crotch post. This little piece is there to help stop your child from slipping out of the chair. The child puts a leg on each side of the post and that keeps him from slipping.

Next, we have the actual trays. Some high chairs don’t come with trays so, if that’s something you definitely want, make sure you find a chair that has one included. Another thing to consider is that some are built into the chair while others are removable. When looking at a tray, you should get one that has a raised lip because this can help keep stuff from rolling off.

The final feature to look for is the foot rest. Although this might seem negligible, it’s actually one of the most important things you should consider when looking at features. With children, you want to make sure they have some kind of support so they can stay sitting up. This will also help them have somewhere to put their legs and not have to deal with numb legs while feeding.

Storage and Stability

For most people, storage and stability are 2 very important aspects of choosing a chair. These things help them have a peace of mind, as well as relief that they don’t have to worry about these things if there is a small space to store the unit or if they intend using it regularly.

The first thing in this category is the storage. A lot of times, you might not have a whole lot of space to store the chair. Therefore, if space is an issue, then you’ll want to find a chair that can fold up and take up very little space. Some of them only fold up a little bit, while others fold up completely. Depending on your needs, make sure you research what the specific chair does.

The other thing is stability. One thing to keep in mind is that most high chairs will raise your child up off the ground about 3 feet. A fall from this height can cause serious damage so you want to make sure the chair you choose has strong and even stability.

The first thing you want to look at with stability is how many feet are touching the ground. Some chairs only have 4 legs touching while others use an entire base. The other thing to look at is the wideness of the base. The wider the base then the harder it will be for the chair to topple over.

There are many things to consider when choosing a counter height high chair. You want to look at all the features and look at what options they have for the age and side of your child. You also want to make sure that the chair is safe and easy to clean.

Remember, as long as they have the features you are looking for, it all comes down to preference. What works for one family might not work for another. With that being said, the 3 products listed in this article are some of the top Best High Chair for Counter Height Table in the category and they would all be great choices.

If your baby can sit up on his own and is eating solid food – it’s time to check this list again and choose the best baby high chair for your needs. Not only a baby high chair is a great way to reinvent your kitchen decor, it is also a choice that saves you from a lot of frustrations and gives you and your baby the best comfort possible.

The bottom line is that as long as the baby high chair you choose is easy to use, certified to the standards, easy to store and solves your needs – you are good to go and purchase it. But before you make the decision, it is always good to think about when, how and why you need that baby high chair in the first place.

We hope our detailed baby high chairs review helped you make your pick – and order it directly through Amazon!

The best high chairs have come to the rescue of most parents allowing them to make a breeze of feeding times that in the past were filled with chaos, lots of chasing around and quite messy. Saying that the process was stressful and especially for the parent would be an understatement. However, this does not mean that just about any high chair would make for a great option for your situation and the comfort of your child. There are a lot of variables that have to be weighed to get the best high chair. Some of the factors that you have to consider include seemingly simple aspects like the comfort of the child since this is not debatable all the way down to personal preference.

It might also be quite helpful for one to know what comprises of a quality high chair and as much as a great deal of the high chairs reviews might classify a large number of them as good quality, it always good to have your own input and weighing scale. After all, your baby and yourself are the ones that will be using the chair. However, going through one or two of the best high chair reviews will definitely give you an insight on the chair and offer you more information. There are a number of features that make that make the difference and ones that you should be looking for in some of the top rated high chairs. For the best experience, you should seriously look into the following features to ensure the chair is able to fit your demands and requirements.

What to keep in mind when buying a high chair

• Type

First and foremost, it is important to make sure that you understand that ‘high chairs’ is more of a blanket term and that there are all kinds of high chairs. As such you have to make sure that you pick the right one. This can be based on personal preference or, it could also be based on the kind of use that you are looking to use the chair for. Some of the types of high chairs that are available include the modern high chair,  travelling high chairs, portable high chairs and fabric high chairs just to mention a few. Picking the right type for the right purpose will enhance the user experience and ensure that the chair is able to deliver as expected. Ensure that you research on all the types to find a chair that will fit your particular purpose.

You also need to consider the amount of space and other constraints that you may be facing and factor this in while making this choice.

• Versatility

It is always a nice surprise to have an item that can do more than one thing. Getting a high chair that you can use in more than one place around the house and also one that is light enough to take out could save you the time, money and space of having to buy two distinct high chairs. It is even better, if the high chair can convert into a booster seat or any other piece that can be used by the baby. It gives you the feeling of having gotten a better deal and more value for money.

• Adjustability

Being able to adjust the height of the chair is critical especially if you would like to get a chair that grows with the child. Also, you want to make sure that the tray is also adjustable to ensure it does not constraint the belly of the child as he grows. Adjustability allows you to get a chair that is significantly larger than the child and enjoy the benefits of being able to use it for longer. However, you should make sure that each adjustment level is able to lock securely in place to prevent slipping back which could cause injury to the child.

• Comfort

The comfort of the child is critical if the high chairs for toddlers are to perform their full functions. Some of the features that should hint you of this include the seat and the padding that has been used. The more the padding the better. The presence of a footrest is also a great addition especially for the older babies. You should also look at the seams of the front of the seat to ensure that there are no sharp edges that would cause discomfort to the back of the legs of the child. Ideally, there should be no sharp edges around the chair for the well-being of the child and to some extent your own.

• Ease of cleaning

You will need to be doing a lot of cleaning especially given the fact that it would be a mess after every feeding session. Being easy to clean means that you do not have to spend a lot of time battling stains and washing the cover. A great wipe down cover is a great place to start but if it is also removable and machine washable would definitely make it better since you might need to wash it every once in a while.

• Safety standards

Regardless of how comfortable the top high chairs are, any baby eating chair that is worth investing in should meet the safety standards that have been set by the different regulating bodies. This might differ from country to country and from one locality to another. For starters, a parental body, or a pediatric body could be good enough. But a JPMA seal of approval could be the best certification that you could get on the market.

• Sturdiness

Lastly, you should consider the sturdiness of the chair. The last thing you want is to have your child in a chair that you do not trust. It is important to make sure that the booster chairs for toddlers are able to hold the weight of the child sufficiently and remain well balanced. Sturdiness becomes even more critical as the baby gets active. As much as you need to keep an eye on them at all times, having chair that has a wide base and strong materials definitely does a lot to boost your confidence in the chair.

It seems that there is quite a handful of things that you have to consider and it might already start to feel overwhelmed. However, it is important to remember that going through this checklist will present you with the best baby high chair and ensure that you and your baby have a great experience for a long time to come.