Best High Chairs

Ready to make junior part of the dining table conversation? Then you'll need a high chair. The right high chair can help turn mealtime chaos into enjoyable and quality family time. Baby Bargains and Consumer Report's Best Baby Products have the most comprehensive high chair reviews. Amazon, Target, Buzillions, and Viewpoints all had significant user reviews for high chairs.
Best High Chair Overall
Best overall pick in high chairs. Very positive reviews from Baby Bargains and from parent reviews. The Fisher-Price Healthy Care High Chair comes with seven height adjustments, lockable casters and a three-position recline.
estimated price: $99.99 - $113.99
buy at
Best Budget High Chair
Highly rated basic high chair. Easy to clean and assemble. The Evenflo Expressions features: seven height positions and three reclining positions. Because the tray and seat cover can be cleaned with a quick wipe down, the seating area is easy to keep clean. If not needed, it can also be easily stowed since it wheels out of the way or can be folded up and stored in a closet.
estimated price: $59.99 - $69.99
buy at
Best Booster/Portable High Chair
This innovative product straps to a chair and turns that chair into a high chair for your child. While not as full features as our recommended chairs, this product has all of the basics including: a full size tray, three-position recline, and it converts to a toddler booster. Many positive parent reviews who are constrained by small living spaces or who need a portable and easy to mount high chair.
estimated price: $24.99 - $54.99
buy at
Best Wooden High Chair
Great looking chair that updates a classic with some modern technology. There’s no doubt about the classic good looks of this high chair and combined with some modern niceties including plastic tray with removable dinner tray and vinyl seat pad (in the Babies R Us version). Some features are missing like: wheels, seat recline, and height adjustment.
estimated price: $129.99
buy at
Best High-End High Chair
This unique high chair features an innovative one piece molded plastic seat that is supported by a pedestal instead of legs. Height adjustment of the seat is accomplished thru a pneumatic foot pedal. Parent reviews rave about the ease of cleaning and movement. The streamlined design means there is no place for dirty food to hide. The pad provides the perfect level of comfort for your child while being easy to clean.
estimated price: $219.99
buy at
Safety
  • Surprisingly over seven thousand children are injured each year in high chair accidents. Many of these injuries occur when babies are not strapped into their high chair.
  • Over the shoulder safety straps and not just crotch straps. The cheapest high chairs only have a single strap around the waist. Higher end chairs have five point restraint harness systems for added safety.
  • Newer chairs now include a passive restraint – a post under the tray to prevent the baby from falling thru/underneath the high chair.
  • Look for the high chair with the widest base you can place in your dining area. Wider bases mean extra stability.
  • Check for small parts. Make sure that end caps or plugs are well secured. Small parts are a choking hazard.
  • Look for a high chair that is JPMA-certified. Although voluntary, the JPMA requires a slew of safety tests including: stability, anti-folding locking mechanism, secure restraining system, rounded edges (no sharp corners) and more.
Comfort
  • Look for a well padded seat that won’t tear or puncture easily.
  • Reclining position for bottle-feeding. Avoid the reclining position when feeding your child solid foods as the reclining position is a choking hazard.
  • Look for the right tray height position. The tray height of some high chairs is too high for some smaller babies. Make sure to get a high chair with a tray height that allows your child to see and reach the food on the tray. This is really important when your child is ready to feed him/herself.
  • Adjustable seat heights are great for accommodating parents of varying heights and allows the high chair to be used at the level of the dining room table.
Maintenance/Usability
  • Some high chairs are easier to clean than others. You will want to avoid high chairs with many nooks and crannies as food will eventually finds its way into the smallest of crevices.
  • Removable vinyl covers that are machine washable – cloth covers are harder to clean.
  • Easy one-handed tray release. Be aware of pull releases that are located underneath the tray. Some children have learned to kick the release thus ejecting the tray across the dining room table or floor.
  • Color: darker colors and patters are usually better. White and or lighter patterns are harder to keep looking clean.
  • Baby Bargains
  • Consumer Reports Best Baby Products
  • Amazon.com Reviews – popular ecommerce website
  • Target.com - popular ecommerce website
  • Buzzillions.com
  • Viewpoints.com