How to Choose a High Chair for Starting Solids: A Feeding Therapist's Guide
You've got the spoons, the bibs, and you cannot wait to start making baby food! Then you start shopping for a high chair or pull out the one given to you by a friend... and suddenly you are wondering, is this a good high chair??
As a feeding therapist in Poulsbo, Washington I get asked this question by families all over Kitsap County: which high chair should we buy? My answer has nothing to do with color or brand. It comes down to one thing. Is supportive enough that your baby can comfortably and safely eat?
When babies start solids, they are learning to chew, move food the front to the back of their mouth, and swallow, all while holding their body upright. That takes work! A high chair that makes them feel secure in their body frees them up to focus on what skills they are building in their mouth. So we want a high chair that doesn't makes them work twice as hard.
First: can your baby sit up comfortably?
Before they are even ready to be in the high chair, look at your baby. They should be able to sit upright with little support, hold their head steady, and bring their hands to their mouth. For most babies that happens around 6 months, but every baby gets there on their own timeline.
If your baby slumps, leans to one side, or tires quickly in the chair, the chair may not be the problem. They may just need a little more time or support to get ready.
What a feeding therapist looks for in a high chair for starting solids: that it passes the 90-90-90 rule
When your baby is seated, you want to see three right angles:
Hips at 90 degrees. Your baby sits upright with their bottom all the way back in the seat.
Knees at 90 degrees. The seat is shallow enough that their knees bend at the edge of the seat.
Ankles at 90 degrees. Their feet rest flat on a footrest, or at least they can.
Two features make this possible:
Back support. A firm, upright back gives your baby something to lean into, so they aren't spending energy just staying up.
Foot support. This is the one most chairs miss. Think about eating dinner on a barstool with your feet dangling. Planted feet give your baby a stable base, and a stable body supports a stable jaw for chewing and swallowing. This is why I don't love travel seats that clip onto the counter; feet dangle, deep seat.
Always use the chair's safety straps, even with great positioning.
Pick a chair that's easy to clean
Starting solids is one of the messiest milestones! And the mess is where learning happens. Babies learn by squishing, smearing, and dropping food. So choose a chair you won't dread wiping down three times a day.
Go plastic, skip the upholstery. Fabric liners and padded seats are cute on day one. By week two they live in the washing machine. A plastic seat wipes clean in seconds.
Bonus points for a removable tray mat. Some trays have a silicone or plastic mat you can pull up and rinse in the sink without taking the whole tray off. It's a small detail that makes a big difference on busy nights.
Feeding therapist favorites: chairs that grow with your baby
Postural support doesn't stop at 12 months, but often babies get too big for their high chair and transition to a booser. But, toddlers need a stable seat and a place to plant their feet too! She when possible, look for a piece that can grow with them.
That's why feeding therapists love chairs that adjust as your child grows, like the Stokke Tripp Trapp or the Abiie Beyond. They come with an infant insert, and a seat and footrest that moves up and down, so you can keep that 90-90-90 position from first bites through the preschool years, and often well beyond. They cost more up front, but you'll likely only buy one chair.
A budget-friendly option: the IKEA high chair
If you want something affordable for the first months of your feeding journey, the IKEA Antilop is a solid choice. It's all plastic, it wipes clean easily, and there are many aftermarket options for making it more supportive and stylish (thanks to Yeah Baby Goods!)
It has two gaps, and both are easy to fix:
No footrest. Add an aftermarket footrest, such as the one from Yeah Baby Goods, made to fit this chair.
A deep seat. Most young babies can't reach the back of the seat and still bend their knees. IKEA's inflatable supporting cushion fills that space and brings your baby forward.
With those two add-ons, you've got 90-90-90 for a fraction of the price.
Already have a high chair? Easy fixes at home
You don't necissarily have to buy a new chair to get good positioning. A few household items go a long way:
Feet dangling or the footrest too low? Raise the footrest by taping a sturdy box on top of it, so your baby's feet rest flat.
Seat too deep for knees to bend? Roll or fold a towel and place it behind your baby's back to bring them forward, until their knees bend at the edge of the seat.
Leaning to one side? Rolled towels or washcloths along each hip can help your baby stay centered. Although if you notice they are frequently struggling to stay upright, it may be too soon. Try a week of good tummy time, and come back to the high chair.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best high chair for starting solids? The best high chair is one that gives your baby back support, foot support, and a 90-90-90 sitting position. Easy-to-clean is a bonus.
Does my baby really need a footrest? Yes. Feet planted on a footrest give your baby a stable base, which supports steadier chewing and swallowing. I also often find that babies are more readily putting food in their mouth when they feel stable in their body!
What does 90-90-90 mean for babies? It means your baby's hips, knees, and ankles are each bent at about a 90-degree angle while seated.
Can I make my current high chair work? Usually, yes. Raise the footrest with a secured box, and add a folded towel behind your baby's back if the seat is too deep.
Have more questions about starting solids? Here are some of our most popular blog post:
Are Retained Reflexes Interfering with Feeding Development?
Starting solids support in Kitsap County
If you are feeling nervous about starting solids or have concerns about how it's going, I would love to chat! At Nourish Therapy in Poulsbo Washington, I help families across Kitsap County from breast and bottle feeding to starting solids and throughout their first years feeding journey.
Book a discovery call and let's make get feeding off to a strong and confident start, for you and your baby!
Carissa Guiley, M.S., CCC-SLP, IBCLC, is a speech-language pathologist, lactation consultant, and founder of Nourish Feeding Therapy in Poulsbo, WA.
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