Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
Once your baby starts solid food, a high chair gives them a steady, upright seat with a harness, keeps meals in one easy to clean spot and lets them sit with the family at mealtimes. It does not replace supervision: you still need to stay with your baby every time they eat.
Sitting upright to eat
The NHS guide to your baby's first solid foods says solids should start when your baby is around 6 months old, and that one of the signs they are ready is being able to stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady. It also says your baby needs to be sitting safely in an upright position so they can swallow properly. A high chair with a supportive back and, ideally, a footrest makes that position easy to keep up meal after meal, which is harder on a lap, a sofa or a cushion on the floor.
Some high chairs recline for younger babies. A reclined seat is not a feeding position, so sit the chair fully upright for meals and follow the maker's age guidance for each setting.
Safe use, every time
A high chair is only as safe as the way it is used. The American Academy of Pediatrics' high chair safety tips and the NHS weaning guide together cover the essentials:
- Use the full harness. Buckle the safety straps, including the crotch strap, every time. The NHS also says to always use a securely fitted harness in a high chair.
- Stay with your baby. Never leave a young child alone in a high chair, and always stay with your baby while they eat in case they start to choke.
- Check the chair is stable. Choose one that cannot be tipped over easily. If it folds, make sure it is locked each time you open it.
- Place it with care. Keep the high chair away from counters and tables, because a child can push off them and tip the chair.
- No standing. Do not let your child stand up in the seat, and keep older children from climbing on it.
- Clamp on seats should lock onto a sturdy table and are not a substitute for a freestanding chair.
The NHS also notes that gagging is a normal part of learning to eat solid food and is different from choking, which is another reason to stay close and watch.
A place at the family table
At table height, your baby can watch everyone else eat, reach for their own food and take part in meals rather than being fed separately. Give them a spoon to hold, a cup to practise with and soft finger foods on the tray, and let them explore at their own pace. A suction bowl from the baby feeding bowls range can stop dishes being swept onto the floor.
Easier cleaning
Early meals are messy. With a high chair, most of the mess lands on one wipeable tray and seat instead of the sofa, the bed or your clothes. Look for a removable tray, a seat cover you can wash and as few deep crevices as possible. Wipe the tray after every meal and check the straps and seat folds regularly for trapped food.
What to look for when buying
- a wide, stable base
- a five point or three point harness that is easy to buckle
- a footrest, ideally adjustable
- a tray that is easy to remove and wash
- a reliable folding lock, if it folds
- age and weight limits that suit your child now and for the next year or two
You can compare styles, from compact folding chairs to boosters and chairs that convert as your child grows, in the baby high chair collection.
If space is tight
In a small flat, a folding chair that tucks into a corner after meals, or a booster seat that straps to a dining chair, can work. Check each product's age and weight limits, use the straps, and make sure a booster is fixed securely to a sturdy chair.
