Chicco Polly Magic Relax Baby High Chair, Cocoa | Birth to 3 Years (15 kg), Adjustable Highchair, 4 Wheels, Fully Reclining, Compact Closure, Play Bar and Reducer Cushion

Product Information

As reliable as it is ubiquitous, in our extensive tests the IKEA Antilop excelled, living up to its reputation as the king of all highchairs. While it may not look like anything special, our Mumsnet users rave about this highchair for being budget-friendly, functional and easy to clean up after mealtimes. The iconic Tripp Trapp highchair was originally launched in 1972 by Peter Opsvik so I was curious to see what has made its 50-year-old design so enduring. After a somewhat frustrating assembly process, I finally got it up and was impressed by how stylish it looked around my kitchen table. It’s also the exact height of the table which none of the other highchairs I tested were – a small but quite important detail. We asked Charlotte Stirling-Reed what features bewildered first-time parents might watch out for, here are her top tips:

The life-span of your chair will depend on the type of model you choose, as some are intended to be used throughout childhood and beyond (see section below). You’re likely to find a chair with a tray essential from first weaning up to the age of three. Most highchairs are designed to be used when babies can sit with minimal or no assistance, which is around six months old. This is also the time when babies start to eat solid food and begin their weaning journey. Do babies need a footrest on a high chair?Kimberley: Love the fact it’s so easy to clean. The adjustable footrest isn’t something I have seen before and is a brilliant idea for a growing child. The adjustable recline for me wasn’t as useful as my daughter is 10 months so really wants to sit up all the time but I could see the benefits for a resting area for a younger baby. The adjustable height is a lifesaver as a mum. It means I can get it in line with the dining room table if we are eating there together as a family or can adjust it lower if she is eating on her own and I’m sat on the sofa. The table is easy to put on and take off and the removable top is brilliant and makes it really easy to clean. I used it without the attachable table and just as a seat at our dining room table and it’s perfect for that, that is one of the most attractive features of it in my opinion that it grows to be a seat at the table. Would you recommend this to other mums?

Highchairs are a safe and supportive place for your baby to eat before they’re old and tall enough to sit on an adult-sized dining chair. Most come with a plastic tray so your baby can see and reach their food easily – especially useful when first weaning.

2. Best budget highchair: IKEA Antilop

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. 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. We spend hours researching, speaking to parents, analysing data and listening to experts before we test out the products on our shortlist.

Lauren: Comfortable for my child, padded seat. Easy to clean. Very logical design to fold away/put up again. Easy to adjust the position. Easy to adapt to the baby recliner/add on the baby toy bar. Love the inclusivity of all baby ages, to get them to the table for family mealtimes. Acceptable price for such a good piece of equipment with such a good age range. I love the IKEA antilop. Little ones make SO much mess when they eat and I loved how easy it was to clean." Recommended by Mumsnet user swaziscot Our verdict

Shona: The flexibility of this is amazing, especially as it can be used from the newborn stage with the fun toy bar and reclinable seat. It can fold down so small which is great when you need space at the table. It is easy to wipe down and keep things as hygienic as possible. Would also be handy for mums who have had c-section to have somewhere higher up and safe to put their baby to ease the pain of bending. Michaela: The buttons which are used to move the armrests and to move the seat up and down are quite stiff. To make them more fluid would help when trying to adjust the highchair. The toy bar is also quite difficult to put on and to take off. When taking the toy bar off you have to pull it which sometimes feels like it might break. The chair can be folded down to an utlra compact size, with the tray being easily fastened to the high chairs rear legs for storage even when folded. Main highchair suitable from 12 months, from six months with starter set, or from birth with the newborn insert

Three available modes, with all accessories included in the price: newborn bouncer with toy bar, weaning high chair and toddler seat 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 verdictThe type of highchair you choose is very much down to personal preference as the range of designs is vast. Some are super stylish and look like an expensive piece of furniture that you’ll be proud to keep on display, while others aren’t so aesthetically pleasing but fold down neatly and do the job well. Others can be adjusted into a range of different seating options so they will accommodate your child from newborn to toddler. You should also consider the height of the highchair – you might want it to be a tall as your breakfast bar, for instance, or pull up neatly to the kitchen table. But in addition to these expected functions, the seat can also be switched into booster mode so that it can be used as a portable seat for dinners out or trips to see the family. This means that you could take it in the car if you were travelling somewhere without a highchair and use it on the move. It also transforms rather cleverly into a toddler seat and play table when they’ve totally outgrown it. We had the Oribel Cocoon. It was brilliant, so sturdy, height adjustable and it will recline if you need to keep your baby out of the way of the dogs while you cook and they nap or something." hubbletelescope Our verdict Type: Freestanding, fold-away highchair | Materials: Not stated | Suitable from: 6 months+ | Harness: Yes | Wheels?: No What we love