Best High Chair for Successful Eating

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Best High Chair for Successful Eating

When your baby gets to the age and developmental level that it’s time to introduce foods, it can feel exciting but also overwhelming trying to decide on the best high chair. As an occupational therapist and mama of two boys, here are my suggestions and top picks for choosing a high chair or adapting the one you already have.

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When is the right time to start food?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be introduced to foods when they are around 6 months old (this would be adjusted if they were born premature or if they had medical conditions). The reason is that typically around this age the baby is able to sit up mostly by himself (he needs to be stable to safely eat), bring his hands to his mouth, and show interest in food. This time or slightly before is a great time to buy a high chair to prepare for those first foods. My babies loved starting with softer foods like avocado and mashed potatoes on their high chair tray so they could feel the food with their hands and take little tastes themselves.

High Chair Positioning

There are several different factors to consider when picking the best high chair for your baby including being easy to clean, look at, and easy to transport. But one of the most important considerations should actually be positioning! So often we see babies in high chairs without foot support, the tray is too high or they are leaning back or to the side.

Why does this matter and what can we do to help them? 

Babies need stability for eating.

Have you ever sat on a tall stool and tried to find a place to put your feet? Often we cross our feet, put them on a stool rung, wrap our feet around the bottom sides of the stool or try to find a wall or edge in front of us to place our feet. This is because we all need stability, especially when it comes to using our hands for activities like eating. Furthermore, if we feel stable and supported, we are able to sit for longer periods of time. Babies need this too but often high chairs either don’t have foot support or the foot support is too low that the baby can’t reach. The baby’s hips, knees, and ankles should be at 90 degrees for proper support and with a foot rest.

Sometimes the high chair is too big for the baby causing him to lean back or to the side which decreases stability. Just as we typically lean forward when completing activities, the baby will need to lean slightly forward to reach the food. If we can choose an ergonomic high chair with adjustable positioning, foot support, and an appropriate depth and width, it will improve the baby’s success with feeding. You should also consider the height of the chair so you are able to bring the baby next to you at the table to be involved with family meals.

Favorite high chairs

These high chairs are all easy to clean, can be used with a baby, toddler and beyond, look nice, and put the baby in a stable position for feeding. Since they can be used with older children, they also eliminate the need for a booster seat later on.

1. Abiie Beyond High Chair

Price: $199.95 

This is the high chair I use with my boys.

Pros: 

  • The seat and footrest easily adjust to get the right position. 
  • The tray can be removed and the cover can be placed in the dishwasher.
  • Since the tray can be removed, you can push it up to your table as the baby gets older which eliminates the need for buying a booster seat.
  • Use a 5-point harness for younger babies for safety and can change to a 3-point for toddlers.
  • Stain-resistant and waterproof cushions for back and seat.
  • Multiple color options.

Cons:

  • Can’t be folded for easy storage. 
  • Requires both hands to remove the tray.

2. Keekaroo Height Right High Chair with Tray

Price: $199.95

You can purchase the Keekaroo Height Right High Chair here (affiliate link).

Pros:

  • Seat and footrests can be adjusted as well as seat depth. 
  • The tray cover can go in the dishwasher. 
  • The tray can be removed so the chair can be pushed up to the table.
  • It has a 3-point safety belt.

Cons:

  • It can’t be folded for storage or transport. 
  • Maybe a little low for higher tables.
  • You may have to buy a separate infant insert to go with it.
  • The tray may be heavier.

3. Stoke Tripp Trapp

Price: $279-$379 depending on the features

Purchase the Stoke Tripp Trapp high chair here (affiliate link).

Pros: 

  • It has an adjustable seat and foot plate. 
  • 5-point safety harness. 
  • Gliders improve chair stability and help slide it on the floor.
  • Pretty design. 

Cons:

  • It is more expensive. 
  • It can’t be folded for storage. 
  • Cushions are purchased separately. 

4. Ikea Antilop High Chair

Price: $24.99

Purchase the Ikea Antilop High Chair here.

This is an honorable mention as it’s a very popular high chair at an affordable price. It does not have all the adjustments as the other recommended high chairs, but there are many things you can do to make it more ergonomic.

Pros:

  • The price is affordable.
  • The smooth plastic tray and seat are easy to clean with no hidden crevices.
  • You can leave the tray on while putting the baby in the high chair. 
  • Easy to assemble and also take down for storage.

Cons:

  • The seat is not adjustable.
  • It doesn’t come with a footrest but you can buy one from Ikea. However, it could be too low.
  • The baby may be too far away from the tray.

Already bought a high chair or prefer a different chair? 

Read on for hacks for better high chair positioning for any chair, including the above-mentioned Ikea Antilop high chair.

Add a footrest.

If the high chair doesn’t have a foot rest you can add one. Try tying a resistant exercise band around the front legs of the chair where the baby can rest their feet, or secure a pool noodle with zip ties at their feet. If you have a shorter dining room chair you can also slide this under the high chair for baby to rest their feet. This is a common hack from the Ikea Antilop chair. If there’s already a footrest but the baby’s feet don’t reach it yet, Velcro or duct tape a box or phone book wrapped in duct tape to build it up. 

Add back and side support.

If the baby is too far away from the table or tray or leaning backward, first make sure their hips are back in the chair. Then if needed use a rolled-up towel behind him. Ikea sells an Antilop support pillow that can go behind the baby bringing him closer to the tray and also providing lateral or side support. You can also roll a hand towel, pillow case, or cloth diaper on the sides to prevent the baby from leaning.

Make sure their tray or the table is at an appropriate height.

The high chair tray, or dining room table if not using a tray, should be at chest height or a little below (above the belly button) to get their elbows on the tray. This makes it easier for the baby to reach the food. If the tray is too high, you can put a small towel underneath the baby so they can sit a little higher up. You don’t want the tray too low either as they could slouch forward. 

Don’t use the recline feature.

I’ve seen more high chairs coming out with a recline feature. This is not necessary. Babies should never be reclined for feeding as this is a significant choking hazard. It seems the main purpose of this feature is to recline your younger baby at a higher level to see you versus being laid on the floor. It could also be used for short periods if the caregiver has difficulty bending to the floor to get the baby off a mat. However, consider limiting the amount of time your baby is in a container as being able to move around is important for development. 

There are lots of factors to consider when buying a high chair and making sure the baby is sitting with good stability to try food will help the process be more successful! 

If you have another favorite high chair hack, please let us know in the comments!

Need more ideas for feeding? Check out my next post on favorite cups and utensils.

Whitney Alaniz, MOT OTR/L

Whitney Alaniz, MOT OTR/L

Whitney Alaniz, MOT OTR/L is an occupational therapist turned (mostly) stay-at-home mom. She has worked with adults to young toddlers and has a special interest in early childhood development targeting fine motor skills, feeding, sensory processing, and coordination. She loves incorporating this knowledge with her own two little boys through play. When she’s not running after her little ones she enjoys traveling, cooking new recipes and eating chocolate from her secret stash.

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