Choosing the Right High Chair and Baby Feeding Gear for Mealtimes

The high chair is one of the more heavily used pieces of baby kit, often in service daily for two or three years, which makes it worth choosing carefully rather than grabbing the first option that fits the budget. Here’s what actually matters when comparing high chairs and the feeding gear that goes with them.

What UK safety standards require

Freestanding children’s high chairs sold in the UK are covered by the British Standard BS EN 14988, which specifies safety requirements and test methods for chairs “that elevate children to dining table height usually for the purposes of feeding or eating,” designed for children “up to 3 years of age who are capable of sitting unaided.” The standard’s testing covers areas including load-bearing capacity, resistance to tipping over, and durability under repeated everyday use.

High chairs aren’t one of the product categories that carry a mandatory CE or UKCA safety mark in the UK — that marking scheme applies to specific categories such as toys, electrical equipment and machinery, not general nursery furniture, so a CE or UKCA logo isn’t something you can rely on as proof a high chair meets BS EN 14988. Buying from a well-known retailer doesn’t automatically guarantee compliance either, since retailers vary in how rigorously they vet suppliers and their products. A more reliable approach is to check whether the manufacturer publishes its own compliance information or a declaration of conformity to BS EN 14988, favour established manufacturers with a track record over unbranded or marketplace-only listings, and check the specific model against GOV.UK’s product safety alerts and recalls database (covered below) before buying or using it.

Checking for recalls before you buy secondhand

High chairs aren’t immune to product recalls. UK safety authorities have issued recalls covering issues such as tray components that could detach and pose a choking risk, and frame or leg attachment faults on specific models. If you’re considering a secondhand high chair, or already own one and aren’t sure of its safety history, it’s worth checking the model against GOV.UK’s product safety alerts and recalls database before use, and registering any high chair you buy new with the manufacturer so you’re notified directly if an issue is identified later.

Key features to compare

• A secure harness. A five-point harness offers more secure support than a three-point one, particularly once a baby becomes more mobile and wriggly during meals.
• A wide, stable base. Chairs with a wider footprint are generally more resistant to tipping, especially important once toddlers start pushing against the tray or table.
• Adjustable height and recline. Useful in the early weaning stage when a more reclined position may suit a younger baby, and later as they sit up fully independently.
• Easy-clean surfaces. Removable, dishwasher-safe trays and wipeable fabric or moulded plastic seats make a genuine day-to-day difference, given how messy early feeding tends to be.
• Fold-and-store options if space is limited, though it’s worth checking that folding mechanisms are simple enough to use one-handed, since that’s often when you’ll be using them.

Beyond the high chair: other feeding gear worth considering

A handful of other items tend to make the early feeding stage considerably easier:

• Weaning bowls and suction plates that stay in place better than standard crockery, reducing the number of times a bowl ends up on the floor.
• Soft-tip weaning spoons, which are gentler on developing gums than harder cutlery.
• A splash mat under the high chair, which makes cleanup considerably faster and protects flooring.
• A selection of sippy cups or open cups appropriate to your baby’s stage, since preferences and coordination vary considerably between babies.

Buying new versus secondhand

High chairs are a reasonable category to consider buying secondhand, given how briefly some are used relative to their price, but it’s worth being more cautious than with, say, clothing. Check that all original parts are present (trays, harnesses and any locking pins are the most commonly missing components), inspect the frame for cracks or excessive wear, and confirm the specific model hasn’t been subject to a safety recall before use.

Thinking ahead to how long you’ll use it

Some high chairs are designed purely for the weaning and toddler years, while others convert into a junior chair that can be used at the family table well beyond toddlerhood. If storage space is limited, or you’d rather not buy a second piece of furniture in a couple of years, it’s worth weighing up a convertible option even though it’s often a larger upfront cost. Families who move house or have limited kitchen space, on the other hand, often prefer a simpler, foldable chair precisely because it’s easier to store or pass on once it’s no longer needed.

Getting the positioning right at the table

Beyond the chair itself, where you position it matters for both safety and mealtime experience. Keeping the high chair a reasonable distance from the table edge, hot surfaces like an oven or hob, and trailing appliance cables reduces the chance of an older baby or toddler reaching something they shouldn’t during a meal, when attention is often divided between feeding and everything else happening in the kitchen. A high chair positioned so a baby can see and engage with the rest of the family at the table also tends to make mealtimes considerably calmer, since feeling included is often as important as the food itself in the early stages of learning to sit through a meal.

The bottom line

A high chair that meets recognised safety standards, has a secure harness and stable base, and is easy to clean will cover most families’ needs well. Beyond that baseline, the “best” choice comes down to your kitchen layout, storage space and budget rather than any single universally superior model.

Sources

• BS EN 14988:2017+A2:2024 — Children’s High Chairs: Requirements and Test Methods
• GOV.UK — Using the UKCA Marking
• GOV.UK — Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls