We have a Stokke steps and LOVE it! It looks stylish, It’s easy to clean and has a foot rest. Highly recommend!” Loved by Mumsnetter AfternoonTea12 Our verdict The large and luxuriously comfortable Polly Magic Relax begins with a bouncer mode for newborns and then converts to a highchair with a generously-sized tray, which can be completely removed to allow a toddler to sit at the table. We spend hours researching, speaking to parents, analysing data and listening to experts before we test out the products on our shortlist. An almost 50-year-old classic, the robust and intelligently designed Stokke Tripp Trapp continues to perform well for kids of any age. Solidly constructed from high-quality wood and available in a dizzying array of colours, the Tripp Trapp is a firm favourite on our forums – especially second-hand.

Transitional-style chair – can be used from birth with a baby bouncer attachment, from six months with a baby set, and indefinitely as a chair after three years or 15kg If your child no longer fits in a high chair or no longer wants to be placed there, you might consider other options like a booster seat. What is the point of a high chair?We asked Charlotte Stirling-Reed what features bewildered first-time parents might watch out for, here are her top tips: Now, all chairs are required to have a passive crotch restraint and a three-point restraint system that goes around a child's waist. If you can find a five-point restraint that also goes over the shoulders as shown in our photo, even better. Testers found the different configurations easy to use but said that the high chair has a large footprint, about ‎30 x 24 inches. If you'll be keeping it around for some years, note the space needed in your kitchen. Also, any high chair with comfortable padding like this one takes longer to clean; food crumbs get in the crevice where the cushion meets the plastic seat. Many reviewers say you have to take the padding off to clean it thoroughly, but the good news is that it's machine-washable.

They position a young child safely at adult level, which makes it easier for adults to help with the feeding process. Type: Freestanding chair which converts from baby seat to a highchair | Materials: Faux-leather; fabric; BPA-free plastic | Suitable from: Birth | Harness: Yes | Wheels?: Yes What we love Convertible. Some high chairs can convert into booster seats, toddler chairs, or step stools. Parents who choose this type appreciate that the dual purposes make the chair a little more eco-friendly. Plus, it saves them the time and money of purchasing another item.

Babies often learn what and how to eat by watching their parents and siblings eat too”, she says. “It’s more likely that they will happily accept foods that they see you gobbling up yourself.” Some parents want to plunk their baby down in a reclining high chair as soon as the infant can hold their own bottle. Others would rather wait until baby foods are introduced, then get a chair with an easy-to-clean tray that helps them serve homemade purees or begin baby-led weaning. For still others, gathering around the table is important, and they want a high chair that pulls up close to the family. And pretty much everyone these days wants a high chair that will be useful for more than a few months to save money and help the environment. There's a premium put on products that transform to last for years.

unfolding: We rated, on a scale of 1 to 5, how easy a high chair was to fold and store, as well as how easy it was to move around our test kitchen. Some high chair options are not meant to be stored away at all; others not only fold, but they also have wheels that make them easy to move. How much space you have. Depending on where you live, this might be the most important consideration. If you’re short on space, consider a chair option that clips onto an adult chair or the table instead of the more traditional standalone option. Portability. If you’re traveling with your child, or need a high chair that you can take on the go, you’ll want to put some thought into the chair’s weight, whether it has wheels, and its ability to fold. These ensure that your child always has somewhere safe and age-appropriate to eat when they’re not at home – whether that’s at a grandparent’s house, a friend’s, or away on holiday – although many are designed so well that people use them at home too.

Five products were then awarded a Mumsnet Best badge – these are the products that we feel offer the best value for most parents. We also gave honourable mentions to three others. It’s a good idea to read up on their specs before choosing one to make sure you’ll be able to use it safely. It’s helpful when travel chairs collapse to a portable size and many come with their own carry cases or shoulder straps to help with this. Type: Freestanding highchair which converts into a toddler chair | Materials: Not stated | Suitable from: 6 months+ | Harness: Yes | Wheels?: No What we love The robustness of the safety harness (is it three-point or five? Does it seem secure when attached?)