Option #1: Stokke Tripp Trapp

• The Tripp Trapp’s seating recline is not adjustable and keeps the child very upright, and there are many different settings for its footrest, providing lots of options for different leg lengths as the child grows. It also has a 5-point harness, which is considered the gold-standard for safety.

• It is made of solid beech and oak wood finished with either non-toxic paint or stain. While it does have minimal plastic components when used in the infant configuration, I trust the non-toxic quality of the plastic as Stokke is a European company (European products have to pass much higher safety standards than American ones). The Tripp Trapp is actually made in Europe as well, as opposed to manufacturing being outsourced to China.

• Compared to many high chairs, it is easy to clean—while there are some tiny seams where the seat and footrest can be adjusted, they are very tight so we haven’t had a problem with food getting wedged in them. The straps are a little difficult to completely clean, but not more so than the vast majority of high chairs on the market.

• The Tripp Trapp is easily adjustable and grows with the child—so much so that it can even be adjusted into an adult chair. It is also made out of solid wood, which not only looks nice but is durable as well. The only reason I don’t give it a perfect score is that the paint on the seat of ours is cracking; it is water-based paint for safety so I suppose this should be expected to some extent, but we are always very careful to quickly wipe up spills and still have experienced it. Thus, I recommend getting one of the stained wood options instead of a painted one.

• The Tripp Trapp is the most expensive high chair on the list, thus its low pricing score; however, given how long it can be used and that it won’t have to be replaced with booster seats as the child grows, it was a worthwhile investment for us.

• I like that the use of the tray is optional, because I personally think it’s really important for a child to feel included in mealtime. We don’t use the tray and push Miss F right up to our table to eat. I have heard that it can be difficult to find children’s dishes that will suction to the tray, but EZPZ makes a silicone mat to specifically fit it.

• A disadvantage of the Tripp Trapp is that it takes up a fairly large footprint and is not easy to disassemble, so it is more difficult to store and nearly impossible to travel with.

• Finally, the Tripp Trapp is a very aesthetically pleasing high chair and can easily blend in with normal dining furniture.

Option #2: IKEA Antilop

• The Antilop’s seat is very upright; however, the seat is very deep, so small children easily slouch. You can purchase an inflatable cushion to place behind the child which works well but can be difficult to clean. We found it easiest to roll up a towel behind Miss F to position her correctly. The Antilop also does not come with a footrest, but many adjustable after-market ones can be purchased inexpensively online (like this one). It only has a 3-point harness (not a 5-point) so that should be taken into consideration before use.

• It is made primarily of plastic, including its tray, which is not my first choice of materials. However, the plastic type used is polypropylene, which is generally considered safe. I still prefer to avoid it, but unless you’re running it in scalding water or soaking it in acidic tomato juice, it should leech minimally. Like Stokke, IKEA is a European company so many harmful substances found in American plastics are banned in the Antilop, making me even more comfortable with it. The high chair can also be used without the tray pushed right up to the table.

• The Antilop is very easy to clean—the plastic wipes off very easily and doesn’t have any crevices where food can hide. The tray snaps off so that it can be fully washed in the sink. While some bright acidic foods such as tomatoes can leave stains, I have found them to fade very quickly.

• With modifications, the Antilop can be somewhat adjustable. As I mentioned previously, a pillow or towel can be added/removed to adjust the seating position, and an after-market adjustable footrest can be added. However, because the seat of the Antilop cannot be adjusted, it doesn’t grow well with children. Miss F is on the small side and can still use it at two years old, but it would likely be a tight fit for a larger child. Finally, the plastic tray is difficult to snap on and off of the high chair, so it is easy to accidentally break off the prongs that hold it in place.

• The price point of the Antilop cannot be beaten. Even after the after-market additions to make it safer, it is still by far one of the least expensive options available.

• The Antilop’s legs can easily be snapped off for storage or transportation, so it’s a great option as a second high chair at a grandparent’s house (how we use it) or to take on a road trip.

• The tray is quite large and most suction bowls and plates stick well to it, which I appreciate.

• Finally, as would be expected for the price point, the Antilop is pretty lightweight and somewhat “cheap”-feeling compared to the other high chairs on this list. However, it seems very sturdy, so it seems like only its aesthetics are affected.

Option #3: BABYBJORN-like high chair

Unfortunately, BABYBJORN has discontinued its high chair. A very similar knockoff exists (linked), so I thought it could still be helpful to hear my review. Keep in mind, however, that I have not tested the knockoff.

• The Baby Bjorn’s seat was very upright and snug, positioning the baby straight. It did have a footrest, but it was not adjustable, so it had to be modified with a piece of pool noodle or tissue box (note: the footrest of the knockoff looks adjustable). While it only had a 3-point harness, it is still recommended by Consumer Reports (organization that tests safety);because the tray was so snug, it acted as an additional restraint.

• As with the Antilop, the Baby Bjorn was primarily plastic, including its tray, which I don’t typically choose. The knockoff is made from polypropylene. As with the Antilop, as long as common sense is used with its care, I would not personally be worried about significant leaching. The tray was not completely detachable, so it had to be used with the tray. As with the other two high chairs, Baby Bjorn is a European company; the knockoff is made in China.

• I found the Baby Bjorn to be the easiest option to clean; the top portion of the tray snapped off easily to be hand-washed, and there were no crevices or seams where food could hide in the seat. It looks like the knockoff has a cupholder, which could either be convenient or provide a place for food to hide.

• The materials of the Baby Bjorn were very durable—after nearly a year of use ours still looked nearly new—it did not grow at all with a child. The only adjustable features were that the tray could be slid in or out a couple inches to make room for growing bellies, and the straps could be tightened or loosened. Miss F has always been quite short for her age and outgrew the chair (both seat and footrest height) by about 15 months. Since the knockoff has an adjustable footrest, you might be able to use it longer.

• For a high-quality high chair, the Baby Bjorn was reasonably priced. However, because it could not be used long and would need to be replaced with a booster seat or different high chair as the child grows, it was not the most cost-effective option. The knockoff is less expensive, so it would receive a higher rating for price.

• One of the best features of the Baby Bjorn was that its back legs easily folded in, to give it a very small folded profile for storage. It could easily be stored in a coat closet in between meals. It also was relatively lightweight (despite the materials feeling nice), so it was easy to transport to grandparents’ or friends’ houses—we often walked it over to neighbors’ houses for dinner. The knockoff looks similar.

• I didn’t love that the tray couldn’t fully detach, but the tray was very small so it was still easy to push Miss F right up to the table.

• A disadvantage of the small tray was that some dishes would not fit will on it. My favorites that worked were the EZPZ mini mats, but they were even a tight fit. Suctioned bowls and plates did stick well to it, though.

• When we could still use the Baby Bjorn, it actually was my favorite high chair. It was so easy to clean and transport, and I felt like Miss F was very secure in it.

• If you’re looking for a higher-quality replacement instead of the direct knockoff, I have heard good things about the Lalo. It also claims to be made with non-toxic materials.