How to Pick a Highchair

Whereas all highchairs need a sturdy base to avoid tipping, high chairs vary as to their fit, features, cleanability, look and how long (and how) you can use them. Let's take a look at the most important factors to consider when choosing the best highchair for your apartment.

TLDR

Fit, cleanability, safety, adjustability, and portability are the five things to check before buying a high chair. Beyond the obvious - does it fit your space, does the harness actually hold baby securely - one real value differentiator is longevity: a newborn attachment on one end and a toddler/desk chair conversion on the other can turn one purchase into years of use instead of months. 

The Five Factors

The fab five factors you should look at when shopping high chairs are fit, cleanability, adjustability, portability, and, of course, safety. Let's take a look!

Fit

First of all you want to think about how the chair fits into your space. Where are you planning to feed the baby? How much space is available? That will help you get a pulse on the "practical" fit to your space. Then you want to think about aesthetics. Would you rather a wooden chair? One with color? As the high chair sits in full view in your apartment, it's best to get something that looks cohesive in your space. 

Cleanability

Next up: how easy is the chair to clean? Look at the material that it's made out of and see if the tray is dishwasher safe and if the chair itself appears to be easy to wipe down. If there's a cushion, be sure it's machine washable.  Look for nooks and crannies where food can get stuck, as well as the straps. Some straps are made out of material that's easier to clean than others. 

Safety & Harness

When your baby is sitting in the high chair, they'll be strapped in. Take note of the harness mechanism and whether it's a three point or five point harness. The five point will keep them more secure. 

Adjustability

Some high chairs work for children from the moment they can sit up (around 6 months) to about 3 years old when they're ready to sit at the table. However, other high chairs have extended use giving you even more value for the purchase. There may be a newborn set that allows your baby 0-6 months to lounge (lofted) in the chair. This is a particularly nice option if you have pets or other kids. On top of that, many chairs offer extended use after 3 years old, as the chair can be used as a kitchen chair or desk chair. 

If you're really fond of the chair's design, it's a great option get even more use out of it. 

Portability and Fold

Then there is the question of portability - how heavy is it? Is it a chair you'd travel with?  Or is it truly a piece of furniture for your kitchen, pulling its weight as a design point for the room. Children eat so often throughout the day, it's not necessarily practical to think you'll be tucking the chair in a closet between meals. Travel-readiness is most key when we're talking a high chair for a grandparents house or second home. 

Shopping High Chairs with Babesta

At Babesta, we carry high chairs that check every one of these boxes at different price points and aesthetics - from the Stokke Tripp Trapp's decades-long adjustability to the Inglesina Fast Table Chair's zero footprint portability for tight kitchens. 

Come see them in person at our Tribeca shop, where you can actually see how a chair would work with your table height and feel the harness and tray for yourself before you register. You don't have to lose your cool shopping for your baby. Shop Babesta, we'll always have your back.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a high chair will actually fit at my table?

Measure your table's underside clearance (most trays need roughly 25-28 inches to tuck in comfortably) and the floor space around it for pulling the chair in and out. A clip-on table chair sidesteps this question entirely, since it has no floor footprint and doesn't sit at a fixed height.

What's the difference between a 3 point and 5 point harness?

A 3-point harness secures at the waist and between the legs. This is fine once baby sits well unassisted, but it offers less restraint overall. A 5-point harness adds two shoulder straps, holding shoulders, hips, and crotch all at once, which keeps a wriggly or younger baby from sliding down or climbing out. It's the stronger standard, especially early on. 

Do I need a newborn attachment?

Not necessarily. It's really only worth it if you don't already have another safe, off-the-floor spot for baby (a bouncer, rocker, or lounger) and you specifically wan that function built into your high chair. With pets or other kids at floor level, it's a nice-to-have; otherwise, it's an extra, not an essential..

Can mold or mildew build up in the seat padding?

Yes, especially on fabric or foam-cushioned seats that trap moisture from food and drool, exactly why cleanability matters as much as it does. Wipeable materials like wood, molded plastic, or vinyl-covered foam hold up far better than absorbent fabric over daily use.

What factors matter most for a small NYC kitchen?

Fit and portability/fold lead the list. Measure before you buy, and lean toward a compact or fold-flat model (or a clip-on chair with zero floor footprint) over a bulky full-size chair if counter space is tight. Multi-stage use matters more here too, since a high chair in a small kitchen is a real square-footage commitment, not just a quick-replace item.