Transitioning from feeding in your arms to exploring solid foods in a high chair is an unavoidably messy but exciting experience for both you and your baby. A high chair provides your child a safe, comfortable place to start their lifelong relationship with food.
The best high chairs evolve with your child as they advance from bottles to bite-sized snacks to dinners at the family table. And, with many companies placing equal importance on aesthetics and functionality, high chairs no longer have to be an eyesore. The best high chairs balance features, function, and design.
Do You Need a High Chair?
There may be plenty of unnecessary baby products, but a high chair is not one of them. A high chair makes feeding and cleaning easier, supports correct posture for your little one to eat safely, and encourages independent eating.
Self-feeding is an important developmental milestone for your baby. And a high chair offers safety and convenience—along with many other benefits—as your child quickly learns to eat independently.
When Can Your Baby Sit in a High Chair?
Solid foods are commonly introduced to babies between four and six months. Around this time, your child should start showing the following signs of readiness:
- Holds their head up and can sit with good head control
- Has hand-eye coordination and can look at, pick up, and bring food to their mouth
- No longer has tongue thrust reflex and can swallow food
If your little one can sit up without assistance and has started eating solids, it’s an excellent time to add a high chair to your dining area.
When Should You Stop Using a High Chair?
The parents and healthcare professionals from Verywell Family suggest transitioning from a high chair to a booster seat by eighteen months. Still, an older toddler can use a high chair as long as they are within the product’s size and weight limits. While the recommended size and weight restrictions vary depending on the chair model, many parents choose to keep their children in a high chair until they are two or three years old.
If your kid no longer fits or wants to be placed in a high chair, you may want to explore other alternatives like a booster seat or a child-sized table and chair set where your toddler can enjoy their snacks independently.
How Do You Choose the Best High Chair for Your Baby?
Because the chair must withstand about two years of heavy use, you should pick a model that is safe, sturdy, and easy to clean. Consider the following factors when looking for the best fit for you and your baby:
1. Safety
The best high chairs meet and exceed American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) safety standards. They are solid, secure, stable, and use non-toxic materials.
Safety harnesses and a belly bar keep babies strapped in and prevent them from slipping or falling out of the chair, while wide bases keep the chair from tipping over. If you find a high chair with wheels for portability, check that the wheels lock and the chair cannot roll away.
2. Easy to Clean
Babies frequently end up with more food on themselves (and everything else nearby) than in their mouths, so high chairs that are simple to clean are essential.
Choose a high chair with detachable parts or materials that you can easily wipe clean with a damp cloth. The fewer nooks and crannies there are for crumbs to hide in, the better. A removable, dishwasher-safe tray will also reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning up after meals.
3. Comfort
You want your baby to enjoy mealtimes sitting in a cozy chair. So, in addition to padded seats, pick a high chair with a footrest.
A high chair with an adjustable footrest can help your baby stay comfortable, balanced, and properly supported while they relish a bowl of pureed squash or a plate of sliced bananas.
4. Longevity
Many of the best baby high chairs are expensive, so you'll want to get the most value for your money. Whether it is made of plastic or wood, the high chair must be built to last. Most top-rated high chairs are convertible and multifunctional. Consider one that transitions to a booster seat or play chair.
5. Design
While this may not be your primary concern (safety should always come first), high chairs are essentially pieces of furniture. You want to buy a high chair that is not only safe and comfortable for your baby—it should also look great and fit perfectly in your kitchen or dining room.
Lalo’s The Chair: The Best High Chair for Your Baby
Ranked “Best High Chair Overall” and called “A Trifecta of Awesomeness” by Forbes, Lalo’s The Chair is stylish, functional, and highly versatile. It’s easy to assemble, easy to clean, and easy to match with your home decor.
The votes are in! Let’s find out why so many people love Lalo’s The Chair.
1. Safety Features Specifically Designed for Baby
“Premium placed on safety” -The Fascination
The Chair is made from BPA-free, non-toxic, food- and dishwasher-safe materials. It also meets and exceeds ASTM safety standards and complies with Prop 65.
The Chair includes a five-point safety harness and has a belly bar to keep your baby secured in place even when you remove the tray. It has a sturdy, non-tippy base that weighs only 10 pounds, making it light enough to move around your home.
2. Easy to Clean with Machine-Washable Accessories
“Best Easy-to-Clean High Chair” -The Bump
The Chair is designed to handle big and small messes. The cotton cushion is stain-resistant, water-repellent, and machine-washable. The tray is dishwasher-safe and detachable, and the nylon straps can be wiped down or machine-washed.
You also don't have to worry about mold or mildew growing in your child's eating space because there are no cracks, crevices, or goo-catching crannies that are extremely difficult to clean.
3. Comfort for Fun-Filled Mealtimes
“Lalo makes it so easy for you to have the best of both worlds – clean and comfy!” -Mint Arrow
The Chair is designed to support your child even before they are big enough to reach the footrest. Aside from a soft cushion for cozy comfort, The Chair has a reversible, elevated footrest that is ideal for younger babies. Simply flip the footrest over to make more space for your growing baby.
4. Longevity and Versatility to Grow with Baby
“I love that I’ll be able to use it as a toddler chair once my baby gets a bit older.” -Babylist
Motherly also listed Lalo’s The Chair in their top 10 high chairs that will stand the test of time.
The Chair is built with functionality, longevity, and versatility in mind. It’s simple to assemble and convert in three ways, adapting to your child’s needs as they grow and develop.
Use it as a high chair when your baby turns four months and can sit up without assistance. Convert it into a booster seat without the tray to give them a spot at the dining table. And when your little one is ready for more creative activities, transform it into a play chair they can use until they turn seven!
5. Aesthetic Design that Fits Your Style
Unlike many other baby furniture and accessories that stick out in a room, The Chair’s chic, sleek, and minimalist design blends seamlessly with any space. You can choose from five neutral colors to match the walls of your home.
Final Thoughts
Make mealtime a wonderful experience with the right high chair. Lalo’s The Chair goes beyond making mealtime fun—it offers your baby a place to safely sit, whether they’re enjoying their first solids or socializing with family and friends. You can even quickly pack and assemble the booster seat if your baby’s spending the weekend away from home!
Visit our shop and make mealtimes even better with The Chair + First Bites Full Kit bundle!
