I came to hate my child’s first high chair. It was huge, annoying to clean and not helping my oldest son to get in a proper position to eat comfortably. “While you’re feeding your baby, you don’t want them to have to work,” says Dr. Mary Aitken, pediatrician-in-chief at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. “If they’re struggling with trying to sit up and also eat at the same time, it’s too hard for them.” After using some of the newest and most popular models, I’ve learned how the best high chairs help babies sit in an ideal position for meals.
To find the top options of 2026, seven other parents and I put 20 high chairs to the real-life test with our kids. After sifting through all our feedback, our winner is the for its overall ergonomics, hassle-free cleaning and sleek design.
Our testers’ insights reveal there’s no one-size-fits-all high chair, so, I’ve recommended nine top high chairs with the aim of meeting the needs of a wide range of kids and homes.
I give this chair high marks for being both ergonomic and easy to clean, and other testers agree. I’ve used the for nearly three years with both my older son and younger twins, and it’s still my favorite. The brand recently rolled out a new range of colorways, including black, mint green and light pink.
Easy Ergonomics
Child health experts usually recommend that new eaters sit in what’s called a “90/90/90” position. “We would start by having feet flat on the footrest (this may be difficult for 6-month-old babies), ankles at 90 degrees, knees at 90 degrees and hips at 90 degrees,” says Danielle Zold, a pediatric registered dietitian. “This posture allows for the best support so babies can focus on the food in front of them, not on staying upright.”
Getting that posture is dependent on an adjustable footrest, and the Mockingbird has one that’s particularly easy to move as your baby grows—no tools required. I found this process significantly easier than other chairs, like the Stokke Tripp Trapp, which is also excellent for ergonomic positioning but requires more unscrewing and effort to change the footrest position. In its highest position, it comfortably supported the feet of my youngest as early as 8 months. In lower positions, my older son sat ergonomically until he outgrew the bucket.
When your child is big enough, remove the bucket and convert the Mockingbird to a youth booster chair. This gives little kids a place at the table that still has a footrest to support shorter legs and a rounded back that might encourage some to stay seated.
In high chair mode, the bucket seat runs a little small, something other testers noted (my three boys are on the smaller side). That means some families may need to transition their little one to the toddler seat mode before caregivers are ready to go without a harness and tray.
Quick Cleanup
Every part of this high chair is easy to clean, and the rounded seat leaves fewer crevices for crumbs and spills to hide in. The straps are a smooth silicone that makes them fast to wipe down, and there’s a spot to hook them out of the way when you need to clean up the rest of the seat. It has a detachable tray liner that’s dishwasher safe, although many parents I spoke with say they typically prefer to simply wipe off the high chair tray.
Sturdy And Slides When Needed
The has a sturdy base and an anti-scratch surface to protect your floors, but no wheels or the ability to fold. All high chairs in the U.S. must meet baseline anti-tip standards, but this one is exceptionally solid and robust. That’s something I appreciated when I accidentally moved the high chair close enough to the table for my son to be able to grab it—he could slide the whole chair around, but he didn’t seem in any danger of tipping over.
The base is not overly wide, and it fits pretty well in my narrow New York City kitchen. One of our testers praised how easily she could slide it across the floor. It might not be the best pick for families who want a chair that can fold up or be put away when not in use. “Once I got this set up, I wanted to leave it set up,” says a third tester.
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Your Best Shot At A Perfect 90/90/90 Position
The is an extremely popular chair and a close runner-up to the best overall high chair. It’s recommended by many parents and specialists like Zold and , a baby gear expert. It has lots of footrest and seat positions, allowing nearly every child to get ideal posture from the introduction of solid foods onward. It not only grows with your child physically, but it is also durable enough to last for many years. “We’ve been using it for five years and counting and it’s still in pretty pristine condition,” says one Forbes Vetted editor.
You have the option to get it with or without a fabric cushion, and it’s available in several different finishes. The base model is designed to be pushed right up to the table, so if you want , you have to purchase it separately or get . Designed by a Norwegian industrial designer, it has a somewhat minimalist look that best fits with Scandi or mid-century décor, but if you have a more traditionally decorated home, at least this chair is low-profile and doesn’t scream “baby.” It also has a fairly compact footprint.
Great For Big Babies And Growing Toddlers
Our parent testers noted that many high chairs don’t accommodate bigger-than-average little ones. However, this chair is a good match for older babies and those toddlers who aren’t quite ready to go without straps and their own tray.
Younger babies are equally comfortable in this chair. The mom of a 6-month-old also called the Tripp Trapp her favorite, and several other parents I interviewed told me they had no problems getting their kids under the age of 1 year old into or out of the chair.
A Seat From Toddlerhood To Adulthood
By age 3, many kids are ready to sit in a seat without straps. My son is now 4, and he’s used this Stokke high chair in its boosted child seat configuration for over a year. He can sit at the table with the grownups but still have his feet supported and get in and out of the chair himself. It slides easily in and away from the table on the hardwood floor.
Assembly Required
Myself and another tester found that the does require more assembly than some of the other chairs we’ve used. When it’s time to reposition the footrest or seat, you need to unscrew more of the high chair to make adjustments than the Mockingbird, our best overall pick.
Finally, Montell notes that some baby dishes and plates that rely on a suction cup don’t stick as well to the Tripp Trapp’s slightly matte tray. If you run into this issue, she recommends considering one of the that are sold on Amazon.
If you’re looking for a sturdy, multifunctional high chair that’s generally more affordable, I recommend the . For under $200, it has many of the same features as more expensive chairs, including an adjustable footrest, a compact footprint and easy to clean surfaces.
Grows With Your Kid Easily
I had no problem fitting my 3-year-old into the chair with the tray and harness, although he’s also old enough to use the toddler seat—which means a lot of options for growing kids. His feet were well positioned, despite fewer footrest positions—but I do plan to gather more data about how well this chair works with younger children.
Not only does the EvenFlo Rightseat convert to both a boosted toddler chair or a big-kid youth chair, it’s easy to make the switch. You remove the baby bucket seat by unscrewing a nice big knob at the back of the chair and sliding it right off. To move the seat and footrest, there are easy-to-grasp knobs that you pull inward to release—then they pop right into place when you line them up with the slots of your desired height. I really like how easy both these two elements are to adjust.
On the other hand, the high chair’s tray is a little harder to remove and put back on. It requires two hands and pushing hard on tabs on each side to release the tray. To put it back on, you need to be precise about lining up the tray’s groove with the outer rim of the bucket seat. The tray is “top rack” dishwasher safe—but that takes up a lot of real estate. I’ve found it easier to keep the tray in place and simply wipe it down with a shop rag. The opening is still big enough to lift your child out, even with the tray attached.
Many Good Seat Options
If you’re looking for a high chair that does a lot, the is a good choice. As the name suggests, it not only has six potential configurations, but there are a few setups that let families separately seat both an older toddler and younger baby at the same time—effectively giving you two chairs at once.
In addition to being a traditional high chair, it offers a backward recline for infants, you can strap the tray and five-point harness configuration to a regular dining chair, use the toddler booster on its own, or use the base on its own as a youth seat that holds up to 60 pounds.
The footrest has several positions, and one of our testers tried the high chair with both a 6-month-old and an 18-month-old and reported that both kids could sit in the ideal 90/90/90 position. However, it’s worth noting that attaching either seat version to an adult chair means your child won’t have access to a footrest.
Some Small Drawbacks
Although we found this chair wheels around the room quite easily, the Graco Blossom does have quite a big footprint and doesn’t fold for storage. So, it might not be the best bet for smaller homes. Additionally, one tester didn’t love that some of her kid’s dishware didn’t fit nicely with the tray’s divided sections. In terms of cleaning, the tray liner can be put in the dishwasher (although it’s pretty big).
The fabric cover is easy to remove and throw in the washing machine, reliably coming out of the wash stain-free. But after a year of use and many laundry cycles, our tester noted the clips that hold the fabric to the seat began to show wear and warp.
Seat Upgrade
If you want a chair that looks and feels high-end, the Maxi-Cosi Kiskadee is worth a look. It lets parents rotate the seat.
Sometimes as a busy mom, I need my little one to stay safely strapped into his high chair while I can get something done—like finishing up dinner. In our apartment’s kitchen, I can keep him happy longer if I turn him toward me so he can watch me cook and we can chat, and then I turn him back to the table when it’s time to eat. The lets me do that without moving the base or picking up the whole thing. It’s not the only high chair on the market with this feature, but it does it exceptionally well on top of having several other premium features.
Multiple Conversions
This chair has a few conversion options. You can strap the entire seat and tray to an adult chair and then use the base as a bigger-kid stool that supports up to 50 pounds (another tester did note that it’s truly not able to support an adult, however). The fabric feels premium and can be thrown in the washing machine, but the seat is still fully usable and comfortable if you prefer to not deal with a cushion. The tray can be removed one-handed, has three possible positions and also a liner that’s dishwasher safe. It has a magnetic harness that’s easy to fasten and undo.
I appreciate the slightly retro vibe of the rattan caning that’s safely encased in the clear plastic seat—and along with simple wood-look legs, this chair might fit better with the aesthetics of more traditionally decorated homes.
Not The Best For Smaller Babies
My biggest issue with this chair is that it doesn’t have a footrest that adjusts. As a shorter-than-average 3-year-old, my older son’s feet were comfortably supported. But it’s too far down for younger kids. “My toddler is nowhere close to reaching it but doesn’t seem to have any issue happily eating,” says another tester, who has a 1-year-old.
At 9 months old and ready to start solids, my twin babies were just too small for this seat—even with the straps as tight as they can go. The smaller of the two just slumped over to the side, while his slightly bigger brother could sit upright but seemed to get uncomfortable and fussy faster than in other chairs. The seat does tilt slightly back and has a cushy padded insert for infants. But this high chair won’t work for families who want to prioritize ergonomics for babies just starting solids.
A Special Seat At The Table
This pricey pick is also worth considering for some unique features and premium materials. We had several caregivers and parents test the , and all of them have lots of favorable comments. The chair’s wheels lock automatically, but they unlock with a button near the top of the frame so a seated parent can use their hands to pivot or move the chair. The chair can be folded in half to tuck away, the tray is easy to remove and there’s also a handy place to stow the tray on the back.
This chair has several fabric options, and although it shouldn’t be put in the washing machine, our testers found the material wipes down easily and praised the cushion for its plush quality. “The stuffed leather seats are very padded,” notes one mom tester. “It’s like a luxury sports car.” The straps unclip easily, and parents found it easy to get their kids in and out.
Lots Of Adjustments—But Still Less Ergonomic
The biggest issue with this chair is that it doesn’t provide as many adjustment options to achieve an ergonomic eating position. The whole seat—including the tray and footrest—can be moved up and down the frame so your baby can sit at different heights of countertops or tables. The back of this chair reclines deeply so that you have a place for the youngest babies to lounge. Finally, the footrest does pivot from the seat to three different angles, but it doesn’t move up or down.
That means this chair has a more limited window where they can sit at the ideal 90/90/90 posture. For example, we found that one 6-month-old couldn’t get an ideal seat and that the tray was too high. However, an 8-month-old and an 18-month-old were both able to sit nice and comfortably for eating.
Folds Easily
In many ways the is very similar to the Peg Perego Siesta, but it is considerably more affordable. The whole seat and tray assembly can move up and down, and it folds into a more compact package. Much like the Peg Perego, the footrest just pivots in and out instead of moving downward to accommodate a growing little one’s leg length.
However, our tester gave it high praise for its folding function and overall comfort—so we think it’s a good option if you want a high chair that’s easy to fold away. When folded, it can stand unsupported. Although it doesn’t have wheels, it’s lighter than the Peg Perego Siesta, which makes it easier to move. Our tester says her 18-month-old sat in it comfortably—as did a few other little ones who came to visit. The frame has a place to hook the tray to the back.
Wipe With Ease
The padded seat cover can’t be washed in the laundry machine, but our tester didn’t find this to be a big drawback. “It’s almost surprising how easy it is to clean this chair. At first glance, you might think it’d be tough, given that it’s upholstered for the most part in a vegan leather,” says our tester. “But it’s super easy to remove and wipe clean as needed.” She also appreciated that it’s easy to remove the tray.
A Shorter Lifespan
The chair’s back fully reclines for infants who aren’t ready for eating but might want to have a place to lounge at the table and feel close to the family at meals. But because the footrest has more limited adjustments, it may not allow for babies starting solids to get an ideal 90/90/90 position.
At the older end of the high chair age range, the doesn’t convert to a toddler chair in the sense that the bucket seat can be removed. The brand’s website does suggest this can be used as a “toddler chair” by just removing the tray and pushing the chair up to the table. However, it’s important to note that the max weight limit for this chair is 33 pounds, a weight many kids reach between 2 and 3 years.
Cleaning Is A Breeze
Cleaning high chairs is one of the most mundane and frustrating tasks of parenthood. Because babies and toddlers eat so often, it can feel like I’m cleaning mine every time I turn around. What makes the so nice is that there are hardly any crevices for food to get trapped in and the tray is dishwasher-safe and easily pops off.
“This is one of the smoothest high chairs to clean that I’ve ever tested,” our tester said. She found it easy to wipe down even when food was left on the chair overnight and noted that the straps were easy to clean, too. “After using this high chair every day for six months, I have always been able to clean the straps with a cloth and spray,” she said. If you ever find yourself needing to do a deep clean on the straps, however, they’re machine washable.
As an added bonus, the chair is designed to prevent mold. It has vented channels and drainage holes that allow it to dry quickly when it gets wet.
Easy To Move Around The House
This chair weighs the least among our winners. This, along with its relatively compact size, makes it easy to move from the kitchen to the dining room. Our tester frequently moved it to her deck so her baby could enjoy mealtime outside.
Comfortable, But Not The Most Ergonomic Option
Our tester had no problems getting her 97th percentile 11-month-old in and out of the chair even without moving the tray. The five-point harness also keeps babies and toddlers safe and comfortable in their seat. It doesn’t come with a cushion, which is part of what makes it so easy to clean, but if you want a little padding for your baby, you can purchase a separate .
While both babies and toddlers are comfortable in the chair (our tester tried it out with her 3.5-year-old, too), the footrest is a bit low for younger babies and toddlers. Even though our 11-month-old tester is on the taller side, her feet still couldn’t reach the footrest. For the best ergonomics, it’s better when kids’ feet don’t dangle.
Folds Up, But Also Compact When Open
The Baby Jogger City Bistro not only packs up into a smaller package, but it also doesn’t take up too much real estate when it’s open and in use. In particular, we like that you can fold it one-handed and that the resulting shape is more compact than other foldaway high chairs like the . It’s one of the most lightweight high chairs we recommend.
The families that tested this high chair gave it the thumbs up for easy cleaning, both of the fabric seat and of the removable tray. One said this was their favorite of the three they evaluated for Forbes Vetted, and they summed up its benefits like this: “It’s stable, comfortable, easy to use, pretty easy to clean, lightweight, compact and portable.”
Fewer Seat Adjustments
This is another chair that allows caregivers to move the seat up and down to fit your table or counters, but it doesn’t have an adjustable-height footrest. The calf support can pivot outward and the tray can be placed in three different positions, to fit a growing baby. But there’s no way to change the footrest height, so smaller babies may not be able to get their knees into a 90-degree position.
Although the Baby Jogger City Bistro doesn’t convert into a toddler chair, it does have a 40-pound weight limit and a wider seat. So, it’s a good pick for bigger babies or parents who prefer to keep their child in a harness for a little longer. Considering how high-quality it is, it’s also a nice choice for families who want to store it away for a second child.
Other High Chairs We Tested
: This pricey chair nearly made our list, but the competition edged it out. One tester found that her larger-than-average 18-month-old baby had already outgrown the seat, and we wish it had a 5-point harness. However, the chair got high marks for looks, quality, ease of cleaning, ease of use, ergonomics and stability. It doesn’t convert to a booster chair or have as many configurations as others we tested. Still, the Nuna Bryn might be right for you if you love the way it looks, are willing to splurge and aren’t worried about a bigger baby outgrowing it while they still need a harness.
: We previously recommended this chair, but after testing more models, we feel there are better high chairs for most families. Many parents shared that’s it very difficult to move this chair. That said, there is the option to convert this chair to a kitchen tower (with an attachment that’s sold separately), so if that’s an important feature to you, it might be worth considering.
: This is a perfectly serviceable chair that’s easy to clean and assemble, according to our testers. It also comes with interesting add-ons like legs that convert the seat to a play chair. But it has no options for ergonomic positioning, and both testers who tried it simply ended up liking other high chairs much better.
: This chair is the most similar to the Stokke Tripp Trapp, but our tester still wasn’t able to get her child into an ideal sitting position because of the deep seat. However, it’s easier to assemble than the Tripp Trapp and has many of the same options to convert to a big-kid chair.
: When it was first introduced, this high chair earned a spot on our list as a runner-up for the best convertible high chair, in part because it can also be used as a toddler chair and learning tower. But with additional testing, we feel babies outgrow its core function as a high chair too soon: One tester found it was difficult to fit her 12-month-olds’ legs into the seat.
: Our tester liked how easy it is to assemble and clean this chair, noting that it’s faster to wipe down than either the Stokke Tripp Trapp or the Ikea Antilope. However, with just two footrest positions, it didn’t support the feet of her tall 7-month-old who is 90th percentile for height. It did fit our tester’s almost 3-year-old older child, but with a 33-pound weight limit and no ability to convert to a toddler chair, other options simply beat it out.
: As the name suggests, this chair has three configurations but the footrest also doesn’t adjust. I tested the version with wheels on both the front and back, but found its wide footprint (34.5 x 21.5 inches) cumbersome. Cleaning it annoyed me, with crumbs collecting in hard-to-reach crevices at the rear of the chair.
: We tested an older model of this chair and didn’t name it a winner. That version appears to be discontinued at this time.
: We tested this as a potential candidate for a best value chair, but our tester ultimately has concerns about the quality. She says it seems like a tip risk, and the tray is easy to knock off. Plus, the wheels don’t work well.
: This is a very popular high chair, in no small part because it only costs $25. However, it doesn’t have a 5-point harness and the footrest is sold separately—so it’s hard to get an ergonomic position for your child. One tester reported that her 6-month-old was “flopping all around” in it. Plus, a pediatrician we interviewed volunteered that she doesn’t recommend it. It’s not Baby Safety Alliance verified and several parents noted that the wide base is a trip hazard for grown-ups. We concluded other options are simply safer.
: We tested this chair in our first lineup of high chairs. However, it doesn’t have a footrest, which is essential to ergonomics.
How We Test High Chairs
Our Tester Panel
Forbes Vetted began testing high chairs in 2022 with a single tester who evaluated an initial batch of 10 chairs. Since then, we’ve expanded our high chair testing to a full panel of eight parent testers who used the chairs with 14 kids. Most of our top-choice chairs were evaluated by multiple families.
Our Process
Each of our parent panelists—nearly all of whom are Forbes Vetted staff—used at least two high chairs in their own homes with their own kids. I then asked them to answer detailed questionnaires about their real-world experiences. They evaluated:
- Ease of use: Is it easy to get the child in and out of the high chair? Put the tray on and take it off? Buckle the straps?
- Ease of cleaning: How easy is it to clean? Are any parts of the high chair dishwasher safe? If there’s any fabric, is it machine washable?
- Portability: Is the chair easy to move around when your child is in it and also when they’re not in it? Does it have wheels? Does it fold for storage? Does it seem heavy?
- Ergonomics: Are your child’s feet supported by a footrest? Are they able to sit up straight? What parts are adjustable as your child grows? Does the child seem comfortable?
- Quality: What are the materials like, and do they seem durable? How does the high chair hold up over time?
- Other features: Are there any special features, and if so, how useful are they?
- Each tester also assigned the chair a rating from 1 (worst) to 10 (best).
For the purposes of this article, we did not evaluate portable high chairs, including the kind that clip to counters and tables.
Keeping Our Recommendations Up To Date
As of 2026, we have tested 20 high chair models total. We tested chairs that have recently come to the market and carefully reviewed the specifications and features of our previous winners to make sure our recommendations keep up with product changes. We also favor high chairs that have Baby Safety Alliance verification.
Testers keep winning chairs for long-term use, and we continue to gather feedback on durability. We also plan to review new high chair models as they come to market.
What To Look For In The Best High Chair
To find the best high chair for your child and home, here are some key factors to take into account.
Adjustability To Create Ideal Ergonomics
For babies who can sit up on their own (usually starting around 6 months), you want to make sure that they’re eating comfortably with their hips, knees and ankles all at 90-degree angles. To maintain this posture as your child grows, an adjustable footrest is ideal.
There are also chairs that tilt back and are intended for younger babies who are not yet sitting up on their own. This also means they are likely not ready to eat solids, too, according to the . Your pediatrician can help you decide when your baby is ready for food and how best to position them.
Ease Of Cleaning
Learning to eat is a messy process, so the best high chairs are easy to clean. A number of the best high chairs, like the Mockingbird, have a removable tray liner that’s dishwasher safe, which can be helpful—but it’s not a feature all our testers found they use.
Another factor to take into consideration is whether you want fabric covers on the seat. Most fabric covers are machine washable, and some parents feel their child is more comfortable with a pad of some kind. However, we’ve seen a trend toward chairs with no padding or fabric. “Normally, I recommend to go without it,” says baby gear expert Montell, because it’s an extra item to clean.
Straps that can be wiped down are best, but it’s also nice when they can be removed easily—sometimes you want to dunk the whole thing in water to get out any crusty grime. However, Lisa Trofe, executive director at the , notes it’s important to always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Blowouts and spit-up might have you reaching for the bleach, but in some cases, harsh cleaners can damage the integrity of the high chair’s materials (particularly the straps). Usually, a mild dish soap is enough to sanitize a messy chair.
Safety
It’s a good idea to look for chairs with shoulder straps in addition to a lap belt (and to always use them) because that a large percentage of child injuries associated with high chairs are . “They should be in a five-point harness in terms of being supported, just like in a car seat,” says Aitken. “This way they’re at the right angle, they’ve got the right harness on, they’re comfortable.”
Parents sometimes wonder about the safety of hook-on high chairs. While these can be convenient, we only recommend them for travel and occasional use. “These chairs don’t attach safely to all surfaces,” says Dr. Rosana Lastra, a pediatrician and founder of Heat2Toe Pediatrics in Florida. “They also lack foot support, which is really important for posture and feeding, so I wouldn’t recommend them as a child’s main high chair.”
Another way to ensure an extra layer of safety is to look for products verified by the Baby Safety Alliance. It’s also best to register your product so that you’ll be notified quickly if your high chair is recalled.
Longevity
“The biggest trend is high chairs that have the ability to grow alongside your child through the different phases,” says Emily Hosie, founder of the retail site , who provided me with insight about the most popular chairs available. This not only means you get more use out of the purchase, but it means fewer baby and toddler items to buy in the long-term.
It’s also a good idea to check on the upper weight limit of each configuration so you know when it’s time to transition to the next configuration—although many of our testers noted their toddlers were ready for a booster seat long before they reached the weight limit.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted baby and kids gear team closely follows the baby gear market, conducting deep research and rigorous testing.
- The author of this article, Margaret Badore, has been a journalist for over 18 years. A mom of three, she has professionally tested baby products in a lab setting and at home. As the baby and kids gear editor at Forbes Vetted, she oversees the testing of a wide range of parenting products, and recently wrote guides to the best baby clothes and the best baby swings.
- Baby and kids gear writer Alicia Betz also contributed research and reporting to this article. She is a mom of three and an experienced parenting journalist.
- The editor of this article, Rose Gordon Sala, is a deputy editor at Forbes Vetted, overseeing the baby and kids gear section. She’s a mom to three and has extensive experience testing and reviewing parenting products.
- We continue to test high chairs and regularly update this article. It was most recently updated in March 2026.
Our Experts
- is the pediatrician-in-chief at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and chair of pediatrics at UTHealth Houston.
- is a pediatrician and founder of Head2Toe Pediatrics in Florida.
- is a pediatric registered dietitian and certified lactation counselor.
- Lisa Trofe is the executive director at the (formerly JPMA).
- Emily Hosie is the founder of (formerly Rebelstork), a retailer that specializes in overstock deals on home goods, including baby gear.
- is a baby gear expert and founder of The Baby Planner, which offers concierge baby registry services and guidance.
High Chair FAQs