Top 5 Best Baby High Chairs | 2017 Reviews
Your first reaction when looking at baby high chairs for the bundle of joy that’s on the way, may very well be: “$300??? I’m just buying a chair, not the whole baby!”
That’s completely understandable – there’s sticker shock associated with buying the best baby furniture in any category. Don’t worry, though; there are a number of very good alternatives to the top-of-the-line options which always rank highly online. And if you do choose to go all-out on buying your baby’s first high chair, you’ll find there are some very good arguments for paying what may at first seem to be ridiculously-high prices.
If you’re a first-time high chair shopper there are a couple of obvious qualities to look for in the very best, expensive model, and several that might not seem quite as obvious. The biggest “no-brainer” is that the chair should be well-built, stable and safe (look for a safety sticker from the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association, or JPMA); close behind is that it should be easy to put the baby into the chair, buckle him in, and take him out.
Here are the considerations which you might not think of immediately. The chair should be comfortable for the baby and it should be height-adjustable, so it can be used throughout the child’s development into a toddler. And if you’ve ever seen a baby eat, you’ll kick yourself for not thinking about this quality: it should be easy to clean. Those who live in small homes or apartment will also be concerned with the footprint of the high chair and how easy it is to store. You might also consider the ease of putting the chair together initially, but here’s our advice: you’re going to be putting together a lot of baby furniture, and it will all be a pain. Once it’s done, though, it’s done, so don’t make ease of assembly your number-one requirement.
You may check our detailed and comprehensive Best Baby High chair Buying Guide here.
Now that you’re a full-fledged expert, let’s get to our list of the top 5 best baby high chairs.
Quick Comparison Table
|
Peg Perego Siesta High Chair |
Graco Blossom 4 in 1 High Chair Seating System |
Boon Flair Pedestal High Chair |
Joovy Nook High Chair |
Baby Bjorn High Chair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
|
25 pounds |
31 pounds |
32 pounds |
15 pounds |
10 pounds |
|
2 years warranty |
1 year warranty |
1 year warranty |
1 year warranty |
1 year warranty |
 |
|
|
|
|
Peg Perego Siesta High Chair
We’ll start with the big ticket item and the one we were alluding to at the start; the Italian-made Peg Perego is a fabulous baby high chair – and it sells for $300. You do get one fabulous chair for the money, though.
As mentioned, our first considerations are quality and safety, and the Siesta easily surpasses all of the other products in our rankings. The frame is made from sturdy metal, and not only is the chair going to stand up for the long term, it won’t move an inch once it’s in position thanks to the terrific auto-lock feature on its wheels. Our other major concern, ease of use, is impressive as well. The baby goes in and comes out without having to struggle, with a crotch-support that holds him in place while you attach the five-point harness.
Your baby’s comfort is also not a problem with the Peg Perego; it’s well-cushioned with lots of support for a small child’s body, and boasts an adjustable footrest and 14 different height and recline adjustments (which even let you use the chair to bottle-feed an infant while lying down, or let him relax when it’s not dinner time). The huge selection of height adjustments, plus the dishwasher-safe removable tray, makes the Siesta a piece of baby furniture which will be with you for a long time. It’s suitable for newborns and can hold 45 pounds of weight, taking the child well into his toddler years before he has to transition to a booster or a full-fledged seat at the table. We also love the padding on this high chair, because in addition to being comfortable it is removable, strong, stain-resistant and easy to clean.
The Peg Perego is somewhat large and heavy, but it has wheels for easy movement and folds down flat for storage or transport. And while we said we weren’t particularly concerned with how long it takes to initially set up a high chair, this model was noteworthy in that it takes just minutes to snap in the wheels and attach the tray with no other tools, physical exertion or frustration required.
You may not have the budget, or the stomach, to spend $300 on a baby high chair. But if you do – keeping in mind that this will last long after you’ve switched your child from baby food to steak and potatoes – this is the one to buy. It’s modern-looking and beautiful, too.
|
Details of the Peg Perego Siesta High Chair |
|
|---|---|
|
Age/weight range |
Newborn to 45 pounds |
|
Harness |
5-point |
|
Adjustments |
Height 9, Recline 5, Footrest 3 |
|
Tray |
Snap-on |
|
Wheel Locks |
Yes |
|
JPMA Approved |
Yes |
|
Weight |
25 pounds |
|
Footprint |
29 x 23 inches |
|
Folded Size |
23 x 12 x 34 inches |
|
Warranty |
Two years |
Graco Blossom 4 in 1 High Chair Seating System
Why get a baby high chair when you can get a “seating system,” right? The fancy name is actually justified, though; after your toddler has grown enough to be able to sit at the table without a high chair, this Graco model can be used as a booster seat and even as a “youth chair.” Even better, you can use the high chair and the booster separately to accommodate two children at different stages of development. That makes the $190 price tag a lot more palatable.
The Blossom is well-built and sturdy so there are no worries when it comes to safety and longevity. The only issue is that you can’t safely remove the tray while baby is in the seat, because the crotch strap that holds the infant attaches directly to the tray. The child goes in and out of the seat without difficulty, but most people get fed up with the five-point restraint system because you have to individually attach all of the straps every time you buckle the baby in; thankfully, you can convert it to a three-point harness without sacrificing safety. There are locks for the wheels, although they’re not quite as reliable over the long term as those on the Peg Perego.
The Graco seat is comfortably padded, with six height adjustments, three recline positions and three footrest positions to fit your baby’s size and needs. The seat cushion can’t be removed, but it washes easily while in place and can be lifted up to clean underneath it. You can’t fold up the Blossom and it takes up a lot of space next to the table, so this may not be the best choice for apartment-dwellers. It moves well on its wheels, however.
This is a very good medium-priced baby high chair, which can become a very good booster seat as your child grows. We have no hesitation in recommending it.
|
Details of the Graco Blossom 4 in 1 High Chair Seating System |
|
|---|---|
|
Age/weight range |
Infant to 60 pounds |
|
Harness |
5-point (convertible to 3-point) |
|
Adjustments |
Height 6, Recline 3, Footrest 3 |
|
Tray |
Snap-on, crotch support attached |
|
Wheel Locks |
Yes |
|
JPMA Approved |
Yes |
|
Weight |
31 pounds |
|
Footprint |
29 x 22 inches |
|
Folded Size |
Does not fold |
|
Warranty |
One year, limited |
Boon Flair Pedestal High Chair With Pneumatic Lift
Those who favor high-tech design or have a home with modern décor will fall in love with the Boon Flair. It doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles, or even a few of the niceties, that make our previous choices the most functionally-desirable on this list of top 5 best baby high chairs. But wow – this thing is cool.
The high chair seems solid (it’s very heavy) and safe to us, with a safety post included with the harness, but be aware that it does not have JPMA certification and the tray can be a little rickety. What sets the Boon apart, though, is the way you adjust its height. It has (as you’ve no doubt seen in the title of this section) a hydraulic lift that is controlled with a foot pedal attached to the base. It lets you perfectly set the chair’s height to accommodate your child. However, there are no recline options, and you can’t adjust the footrest either, so what you see is what you get – simple, barber chair-type operation.
The Flair has a pedestal with casters instead of wheels, and moves easily so you can position it right up against the table (or across the room) with a foot brake included. The seat is one-piece and easy to clean since there are no crevices, although you’ll find you do have to clean crumbs out from the 5-point harness.
Many believe that a baby high chair doesn’t need to have a million adjustments and features; they feel it just needs to seat baby comfortably long enough to let him get food all over everything. If you fall into this category and want a modern conversation piece at your table, the Boon Flair is your chair, for $230.
|
Details of the Boon Flair Pedestal High Chair With Pneumatic Lift |
|
|---|---|
|
Age/weight range |
Infant to 50 pounds |
|
Harness |
5-point, included safety post |
|
Adjustments |
Pneumatic lift for height |
|
Tray |
Snap-on |
|
Wheel Locks |
Yes |
|
JPMA Approved |
No |
|
Weight |
32 pounds |
|
Footprint |
23 x 23 inches (circular pedestal) |
|
Folded Size |
Does not fold |
|
Warranty |
One year, limited |
Joovy Nook High Chair
“Can’t I just find a good baby high chair for about $100?”
Yes, you can. The Joovy Nook sells for just over that price point ($106, but often cheaper when found on sale) and while it doesn’t have tons of features, it’s a roomy and safe product that does the job just fine.
First, here’s what you will get with the sleek-looking Nook: a 5-point harness with safety bar and JMPA certification, an easy-to-clean machine-washable seat, a swing-open tray that makes it extremely easy to put baby into place (but is a small distance away from him while eating), and durable construction. Here’s what you won’t get: adjustability (height, footrest or recline), wheels, or a scary price tag.
We haven’t yet mentioned the best part, though. This is an extremely lightweight chair that you can fold up flat with only one hand required – and folded is exactly the way it is shipped, so you open the box, unfold the chair, and you’re ready to go with absolutely no assembly of any type required.
Nothing fancy, nothing adjustable; the Joovy Nook is just a simple baby high chair that you can take anywhere at any time, but is still safe, functional and easy to use.
|
Details of the Joovy Nook High Chair |
|
|---|---|
|
Age/weight range |
Infant to 50 pounds |
|
Harness |
5-point, included safety post |
|
Adjustments |
None |
|
Tray |
Snap-on and swing-out |
|
Wheel Locks |
No |
|
JPMA Approved |
Yes |
|
Weight |
15 pounds |
|
Footprint |
24 x 28 inches (circular pedestal) |
|
Folded Size |
24 x 9 x 28 inches |
|
Warranty |
One year |
Baby Bjorn High Chair
This seems like an inexpensive, minimalist high chair at first glance, but the details of the Baby Bjorn (as well as its price tag, about $200) tell you that there’s some meat on the bones as well.
When we say minimalist, we mean it. The seat is made from one piece of chemical-free plastic, so there’s literally nowhere for food to get stuck. There are no adjustments for height, recline or footrest. There aren’t even shoulder straps connected to the 3-point restraint system (the tray snugs up close to the baby to act as an extra restraint).
However, the Baby Bjorn is as stable as any competitor you’ll find despite its small size, your child will go in and out easily (you twist the knob underneath the tray to lower it), and the chair is designed to be ergonomically efficient for nearly any size of infant or toddler; surprisingly, the lack of height and recline adjustments doesn’t seem to matter because of the near-perfect design of the chair which provides a snug fit and good support. It also folds up to a convenient size, although you’ll need two hands to do it.
This seat isn’t meant for your child to hang out in all day; it’s not padded and doesn’t become a recliner. But it’s almost perfect for dinnertime.
|
Details of the Baby Bjorn High Chair |
|
|---|---|
|
Age/weight range |
Infant to 3 years (38 inches) |
|
Harness |
3-point |
|
Adjustments |
None |
|
Tray |
Snap-on and drop-down |
|
Wheel Locks |
No |
|
JPMA Approved |
Yes |
|
Weight |
10 pounds |
|
Footprint |
21 x 21 inches (circular pedestal) |
|
Folded Size |
21 x 10 x 378 inches |
|
Warranty |
One year |
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