Our pick for most families~6 months (sitting) to 10 years as a chair
Anko (Kmart / Target Australia) 2-in-1 Highchair
Adjustable footrest, removable tray and five-point harness at a mid price, then a toddler chair until 10.
Highchairs & solids gear
You will need a highchair once your baby can sit up with little support and is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. What matters most: a five-point harness you will actually use, a stable base that does not tip, and an adjustable footrest so feet are supported and your baby sits upright, not reclined. In Australia highchairs are tested against AS 4684; CHOICE's lab testing found some cheap chairs outscoring expensive ones, so price is not a reliable guide. Then think about cleaning: fewer cracks and crevices, a tray that comes off, and padding you can wipe. Bibs, a small open cup and baby spoons are the only other gear you really need to start.
Budget pick~6 months (sitting) to 3 years
IKEA ANTILOP highchair with tray
The lightest, cheapest, easiest-to-hose-down highchair — with no footrest and a simple belt.
Premium pick~6 months (with Baby Set) into adulthood
Stokke Tripp Trapp (with Baby Set)
A beech chair with an adjustable seat and footrest that pulls up to your table and lasts into adulthood.
Also good~6 months (sitting, starting solids) to 3 years
Nibble and Rest ANTILOP footrest & cushion (Woodsi Footsi)
A height-adjustable bamboo footrest, with optional cushion and mat, that gives the IKEA ANTILOP foot support.
Also goodAround 6 months (starting solids) to ~3 years
Subo The Food Bottle
A refillable, non-squeeze bottle for puree and yoghurt on the go. Handy for outings, not a swap for the spoon.
Also goodStarting solids (~6 months) until your child leaves the highchair
Catchy The Food Catcher
A wipe-clean catcher that fits around the ANTILOP, Tripp Trapp and others so dropped food stays off the floor.
Things we don’t recommend, and why
- Leaving the harness off or leaving a baby alone in a highchair — falls from highchairs are a known cause of injury, and stability and harness use are central to the safety testing. Source: CHOICE — How we test high chairs
- Feeding in a reclined seat or bouncer — babies should sit upright for meals. Source: CHOICE — How do cheap high chairs from Kmart and Ikea compare with pricier buys? (Feb 2025), My Little Eater — Open cups for babies
Price bands for this category: $ < $50 · $$ $50–200 · $$$ $200–450 · $$$$ > $450. Prices change — check the retailer.