Baby Chairs

A newborn baby, or generally any baby under 6 months, can’t sit up in a high chair. The child needs to be able to keep their head stable and have enough torso strength not to slump sideways when sitting in a chair.

Many high chairs have an infant insert that can be purchased to help with this. Using the insert, you can place the baby in the chair level with the dining table so they can participate in meals.

The recommended age for a baby to start sitting in a high chair is about 6 months. With small children, it’s important to be aware of the risk of falls, as the child's large, heavy head makes it easier for them to tumble out of the chair.

Always use the high chair harness and make sure that the harness is firmly attached around the child's body. If the seat feels a bit big for your baby, you can often fill it up with a cushion or even just use a folded towel.

There are highchairs in all price classes and with different designs. When choosing a high chair, you should start from what functions you need. Will the chair be used primarily during the child's first year? Or do you want a long period of use and you need a high chair with a high maximum weight, which can easily be adapted to the growing child's body?

If you want to be able to take the chair on trips or visits to your friends or family, you need to choose a model that’s easily disassembled.

If you want more information, feel free to read our test of high chairs.

If the chair has a fabric cushion, this is often removable and can be washed, either in a washing machine or by hand. Follow the washing instructions on the cushion. The high chair itself is easiest to clean with a wet cloth with a little washing-up liquid on. It’s often easier to wipe the high chair after each meal than to wait until food spills have dried.

Some people change their chair when their first, more baby-friendly high chair feels outgrown. These often have a high-positioned seat that can’t be adjusted, which makes it heavy and difficult to lift older children up and down. Otherwise, you can change the high chair when you feel your child is big enough to be able to sit comfortably and safely at the dining table on a normal chair.

Stopping using a high chair depends on several factors. If the maximum weight of the chair is exceeded, it’s time to change. It’s also time to change if the child becomes so tall that they're no longer comfortable in the chair. By contrast, if you choose an adaptable chair with a high maximum weight, it’s not uncommon for a child to use their high chair right up to school age.