Choosing a highchair: classic, adjustable or compact

Three kinds of highchair

A classic highchair has its own tray, often an adjustable height and sometimes a recline or wheels. Many models fold. An adjustable chair, often wooden, has a seat and footplate you move; with it, your child sits at the ordinary table.

There are compact options too: a booster seat you strap to an ordinary chair, or a clip-on seat that clamps to the table top. Handy for small kitchens, travel or the grandparents. For a clip-on seat, check which table thickness it suits.

Growing with your child

An adjustable chair goes from baby to child, and some even to adult. For the first period, many brands have separate parts: a baby set with a bar and backrest, a cushion or a tray. These are often sold separately.

Some brands also have a newborn set, a kind of bouncer on the highchair, so your baby can join the table from birth. It is not meant for eating in; follow the weight and age the manufacturer states.

From when?

For sitting without a newborn set, manufacturers usually say ‘from about 6 months’ or ‘once your child can sit unaided’. When your baby is ready for solid food is something to discuss with the consultatiebureau, Kind en Gezin or ONE.

Safety

Highchairs fall under the European standard EN 14988. Many chairs have a five-point harness or a crotch piece, so your child can’t climb out or slide under. Use the harness as the manual says, and don’t place the chair so close to a table or wall that your child can push off it.

Everyday use

A highchair gets messy. Check whether the cushion comes off and can be washed, whether the tray is dishwasher-safe and whether there are seams where food gets stuck.

Measure your kitchen too: the width of the chair, the height of your table and whether you can store it folded. A footrest for the feet to rest on comes as standard with most adjustable chairs.