The Best High Chairs for Babies and Toddlers

A good high chair should be easy to use, functional, adjustable, and easy to clean. Let’s be serious, feeding babies and toddlers is a messy job! There are so many options on the market with a wide range of features and price tags. I’ve narrowed down the list with my favourites. In this article you’ll learn how to choose a chair your child will be comfortable and well-supported in and what features to look for in a chair, whatever your budget is. I’ll review my top 5 high chair picks for babies and toddlers.


Comfort & Support

Your child’s comfort is priority. If they don’t feel comfortable, they aren’t going to want to stay in their high chair for long, which leads to tantrums and them seeking escape exits. For your child to be comfortable, their chair needs to fit their body when they start out on their eating journey, and be adjustable as they grow.

Look for a chair with an adjustable footrest to support your child’s needs while sitting at their chair. The goal is for your child to have their feet flat on the footrest with a 90 degree bend at their ankles, knees, hips. Essentially you want your child to be as comfortable as you are when you sit in your chair for meals.!

Kids also need to have their seat at the right height so they can easily reach their food, whether it is being offered on a tray or directly at the table.


 Top Picks

These chairs are the Top Picks because these chairs are adjustable and the footrest can be modified to fit the average 6-month old. The other bonus with these chairs is that they are easy to clean and your child can grow well into toddlerhood akipping the need for a booster.

Stokke Tripp Trapp

Keekaroo Height Right

Abiie Beyond

Stokke Steps 

Other favorites

The chairs listed below promote generally good sitting dynamics but may need to be modified with a foot rest until baby’s legs are long enough.

A word about the IKEA high chair…

Many families love the IKEA ANTILOP high chair because it’s inexpensive (around $23) and easy to clean. However, the seat on this chair is deep so baby is far away from the edge of the tray when their back is supported, and the tray is difficult to maneuver and remove. It’s just too big for many babies if not modified. If you decide to use this chair we recommend adding rolled up towels around your baby (or using one of the support pillows IKEA sells) and using one of the hacks shown below to add a footrest.

Some companies have created ANTILOP accessories that help add stability and comfort to this chair.

IKEA ANTILOP Hacks: Making the Budget Favorite Work

Since the IKEA chair lacks an adjustable footrest, it often leaves baby’s legs dangling, which can lead to fidgeting and "leaning" during meals. Here are the best ways to bridge the gap:

  • The Footrest Hack: Use heavy-duty industrial rubber bands to secure a wooden footrest (available from many Etsy sellers) or even a sturdy piece of PVC pipe to the legs.

  • The Support Pillow: IKEA’s ANTILOP support cushion is a must-have for smaller 6-month-olds to prevent them from "slumping" in the wide seat.

  • The Tray Trick: If you find the tray impossible to remove, try applying a tiny bit of food-grade mineral oil to the clips to help them glide.

 

Safety First: Don’t Forget the Harness

Regardless of which chair you choose, safety is the non-negotiable. As babies become more mobile (and motivated to reach for your water glass), the risk of falls increases.

  • Use the 5-Point Harness: Especially in the early days, a 5-point harness prevents "submarine-ing" (sliding under the tray) or trying to stand up.

  • Stay Close: No high chair is a "babysitter." Always stay within arm’s reach while your child is eating to monitor for gagging or choking.

  • Check the Stability: If you choose a folding chair or a clip-on like the Phil and Ted’s Lobster, ensure it is locked into place every single time you use it.

 

Summary: Choosing What Works for You

There is no single "perfect" chair for every family. If you have the budget and want a piece of furniture that lasts until they are ten years old, the Stokke Tripp Trapp is a legendary investment. If you are tight on space or travel often, a clip-on chair with a DIY footrest might be your best bet.

The goal is simple: Feet supported, back straight, and tray at the right height. When your baby feels stable in their body, they can focus all their energy on the hard work of learning to eat!

Which chair are you leaning toward?

Still feeling unsure about which model fits your kitchen? Comment below with your table height or budget, and I’ll help you narrow it down!

Eggplant Parmesan

Growing plants you can eat, in your own garden, can be so rewarding. I particularly like doing this with kids. They can help pick out the plants, help plant them, water them and care for them and see them grow into something edible right before their eyes. This year, in addition to our usual herb garden, we picked eggplant, tomato, and strawberries to grow.

When it was time to harvest the eggplant, I wanted to make my favourite eggplant dish - the classic eggplant parmesan. I ended up making it on the BBQ because we’ve been in a heatwave, but this can also be prepared in the oven.

Transforming a homegrown plant into a dish the whole family can enjoy can be very rewarding, and may even have more of an impact on getting that less adventurous eating to even take part. Our kids took a whole slice of this dish and ate every last bite! Give this one a try and I hope your family loves it as much as mine.



Eggplant parmesan

Author: Andrea Carpenter, RD

Recipe Type: Entrees

Serving: 4

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 large eggplants, cut into ¼-inch-thick rounds

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • 1 cup panko

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

  • olive oil for drizzling, about 1 tablespoon

  • 1 jar marinara sauce

  • 6-8 slices of mozzarella (either from a fresh mozzarella or a mozzarella ball)

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat your oven or BBQ to 400 degrees.

  2. Prepare the eggplant by slicing into 1/4 inch thick rounds, salt on both sides and let sit for about 5-10 minutes. Rinse off then allow to dry for another 5-10 minutes. This step should not be skipped - it helps to draw out moisture and helps to create a more creamy, less bitter and less oily eggplant.

  3. Prepare the dredge. In one bowl, beat the egg and set aside. In another bowl, add the panko, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper and mix. Take each eggplant round and dip into the egg then dip into the panko mixture. Set on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Repeat until all eggplant rounds have been coated.

  4. Drizzle olive oil over the eggplant and place in the oven or on the BBQ at a 400 degree temperature. Cook both sides for approximately 10 minutes per side, until slightly golden brown.

  5. Next, to a casserole dish (I ended up using a pie dish which works well, too!) add about 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce on the bottom then evenly layer all the eggplant (you will likely need to stack the eggplant into two layers).

  6. Top the layered eggplant with the remaining marinara then layer with mozzeralla.

  7. Return the dish to the oven or BBQ at 400 degrees and cook for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese has melted and sauce is bubbling.

Protein Requirements for Children

What is protein?

Protein is an important macronutrient that helps repair cells and make new ones in the body. It’s particularly important throughout childhood because of the role it plays in their growth and development. Proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids. 20 amino acids exist; of these 20, the body can make 11 but the remaining 9 amino acids are considered to be essential, because they need to be obtained from food.

Protein (and the amino acids) can be found in animal-sources and plant-sources. Animal-based proteins are all complete proteins, meaning they contain all the essential amino acids. Plant-based proteins, however, do not always contain all nine essential amino acids. If you or your child eat a plant-based diet, you may need to combine different foods at a given meal, to ensure all essential amino acids - the building blocks for protein synthesis - are consumed. For example, if you are offering a meal where the main protein source is legumes (beans, lentils etc.) the limiting amino acid is methionine. By adding a grain (which are limited in the amino acid lysine) that contains methionine, such as rice or pasta, the meal now contains all essential amino acids.

How much protein is needed?

The current protein guidelines for children is based on eating “good quality” protein meaning protein sources that provide all amino acids. Most children will eat a variety of protein sources each day - some to be complete proteins and others which are incomplete, Consuming a balanced diet that includes animal- and plant-based protein sources should be sufficient to supply the essential amino acids to prevent deficiency and ensure proper growth and development.

Children need about 20% of their energy intake to be provided by protein. The guidelines that are established are based on their age and weight.

Infants ages 0-6 months: 1.52 g/kg

Infants ages 7-12 months: 1.2 g/kg

Children ages 1-3 years: 1.05 g/kg

Children ages 4-13 years: 0.95 g/kg

Children ages 14-18 years: 0.85 g/kg

Where can I find protein?

What about protein supplements?

Protein supplements are a great way to get more protein in the diet, however the majority of children who are eating a balanced diet just don’t need it. If you have concerns about your child’s specific protein intake, reach out for a consultation for a nutrition assessment with tailored advice for your child.