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I tested the top-selling high chairs with my daughter (15 months). These are my top picks for sustainable, nontoxic high chairs with a low footprint that are comfortable and make mealtime a bit easier. Some convert to kid chairs and toddler towers too!
My daughter started eating solids around six months, and let’s just say she’s never been a huge fan of high chairs. We’ve tried countertop options, simple IKEA-style chairs, and fancy ones with all the bells and whistles. She’d much rather eat on our laps, sit on the floor, or wander around the house and come back to me for a bite.
I have not, however, given up on the high chair battle. Mostly for my own sanity, but also because I’d really like her to sit somewhere safely while she eats. When we first started trying different chairs, we landed on Lalo’s original high chair. I didn’t love it, but I stuck with it because it did the job, even if that meant tears and a fair amount of cursing under my breath while wrestling with the fabric straps. Thankfully, Lalo listened to parents like me and recently launched The Chair II, which addresses many of the things I didn’t love about the original (it’s so much better; more on that below).
Since then, we’ve tested five more of the top high chairs, from simple, streamlined designs to high chairs that act like transformers and can be used for various stages of your child’s life. In my testing, I’ve found my requirements are fairly simple: Is it easy to adjust? Can I clean it without taking the whole thing apart? Can I move it around the house without dinging the walls? Am I going to stub my toe on it every time I walk by? And, most importantly, does my daughter like it?
As for materials, most high chairs are pretty plastic-heavy, so I looked at fabrics and finishes, paints and what brands disclose about VOCs and other potentially concerning chemicals. For me, sustainability also comes down to how long something lasts. Can we use it through different stages? Will it work for another baby? Can I eventually pass it along to a friend or family member instead of sending it to the landfill? To me, that kind of longevity is one of the most practical forms of sustainability for baby gear.
So, I really put these chairs through it. I assembled them, moved them around the house, wiped them down after messy meals, adjusted the straps approximately one million times, and, of course, used them at the table with my toddler. Below, I’m sharing what I loved, what I didn’t, and which chairs I’d actually recommend for different families, spaces, and stages of parenthood—including the one we ultimately kept for our home.
Testing criteria:
- EASY TO CLEAN | I looked for simple designs with minimal crevices, wipeable surfaces, removable parts, washable fabrics, and trays that don’t require a full disassembly after every meal.
- COMFORTABLE & ERGONOMIC | I focused on fit, adjustability, proper foot support, and easy-to-use harnesses, including how comfortable and secure my daughter actually seemed while eating.
- PRACTICAL & SPACE-SAVING | I considered what matters in everyday life: how easy each chair is to assemble, adjust, move around, and store, and whether it takes over the kitchen.
- DURABLE & SUSTAINABLE | I looked at materials, finishes, construction, and longevity, prioritizing chairs that can grow with your child, hold up to daily use, and eventually be passed along.
Looking for more baby gear reviews? Here are our favorite brands for nontoxic car seats without flame retardants, convertible cribs, nursery gliders, and pack n plays.
Table of contents:
Best overall, and the high chair we ultimately kept for our daughter: Mockingbird High Chair, $249
Smallest footprint, best for space saving, and the high chair we are keeping for our son: Lalo The Chair II, $250
Most durable and versatile for long-term use: Momcozy DinerPal High Chair, $250
Simplest and most aesthetically beautiful high chair: Nuna BRYN, $450
Most ergonomic high chair and best footrest: Stokke Tripp Trapp, $354
1. Mockingbird, The High Chair, $249
Standout features | ergonomic support, magnetic harness, large footrest, tool-free adjustments and conversions, becomes a table-height child chair, strap hooks
Sustainable and nontoxic materials | sustainably sourced FSC-certified solid beechwood (legs); non-toxic, BPA-free plastic (seat, tray, and tray liner); FDA-approved food-grade silicone (straps)
High chair size | width: 16.5″; length: 24″; weight: 16.5 lbs
We are quickly becoming a Mockingbird family. We’ve tried and loved a few pieces from the brand so far, including the double stroller we’ll be using when baby number two arrives this winter. Now we have the high chair, and it checks every box on my list—truly! I love how minimal this high chair is. It reminds me a lot of the infamous IKEA high chair, which is a compliment. I’m a big believer that baby gear doesn’t always need all the bells and whistles. It just needs to serve its purpose and be a reliable tool for parents. Mockingbird has mastered that while also making the high chair gorgeous to keep in your home.
The design also makes a big difference when it comes to cleaning. There aren’t a bunch of little crevices where food gets stuck, so I don’t find old crumbs or hard pasta noodles hiding in the chair weeks later. One of my favorite details is the little clips on the back that hold the straps out of the way while you clean. Talk about a gift to overstimulated parents.
My daughter likes sitting in it, too. It’s easy to get her in and out (hallelujah for a magnetic harness), the straps are simple to adjust and wipe down, and the tray comes off easily when it’s time to clean.
As for footprint, the Y-shaped frame takes up less space than some of the other high chairs. It converts into a child chair that can pull up to the table, which I’m looking forward to using as my daughter gets older. When we’re ready to make the switch, it’s a quick, tool-free conversion. The footrest is easy to adjust, too, and it’s nice and roomy.
Overall, the Mockingbird high chair is easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to love. It’s the one we ultimately kept and now use daily, and it’s what I recommend to any parenting friend who asks.
2. Lalo’s The Chair II, $250
Standout features | ergonomic support, seven configurations that work from newborn to a big-kid chair, fun color options, easy to clean, no fabric
Sustainable and nontoxic materials | sustainably sourced beechwood, non-toxic BPA-free plastic, and FDA-grade silicone straps, finished with water-based paint
High chair size | width: 20″ in back/14.3″ in front; length: 24″; weight: 14 lbs
The first high chair we tried with my daughter was Lalo’s The Chair, which, honestly, I didn’t love. While lightweight and cute, the fabric insert and straps always got messy, and the harness was difficult to adjust and constantly twisted. There were lots of tears from my daughter and, many nights, we ended up eating on the floor because I didn’t want to deal with it.
But if there’s one thing I love about Lalo, it’s that the brand listens to parent feedback and keeps redesigning its baby gear to improve it. The Chair II launched earlier this year and, as soon as it arrived, I knew we’d have a better experience. It’s a 7-in-1 high chair with a much smaller footprint than the original. I love that it’s narrower in the front and has three backrest positions, so you can adjust the fit as your child grows. It’s also simple to assemble, with a sturdy adjustable footrest and silicone straps that are so much easier to clean than fabric. It’s also easy to take apart, and I can see us breaking it down, tossing the pieces in the trunk, and bringing it with us to my parents’ house when we drive. Oh, and colorway options can’t be beat! We love the Slate, which is a gorgeous gray-blue.
A few things I wish were better: The high chair only supports up to 30 pounds before you need to convert it to the booster chair. My daughter is on the smaller side, but I could see this being an issue if you have a larger toddler. I’m also still frustrated with the harness. While the silicone straps are much easier to adjust and clean, the five-point buckle is more cumbersome than the buckles from other brands. The Nuna, for example, has a self-guiding magnetic buckle that locks into place automatically.
Those trade-offs feel small considering the price point, compact footprint, and how easy this chair is to wipe down after messy meals. Lalo says its materials are safe and nontoxic, and the chair meets or exceeds applicable ASTM safety standards and is Prop 65 compliant. Most importantly, my daughter is happy in it and actually sits still, which is a win. (The Chair II also has a cushion add-on, but I’d skip it. My daughter seems perfectly comfortable without one, and that’s one less thing to wash.)
Overall, this is our second favorite chair on the list, and we’re keeping it for our second baby since we’ll have two under two soon and need two high chairs. I’m looking forward to testing the infant attachment for those solo-parenting nights when my husband’s at the fire station, and eventually converting it to the play chair option, too.
3. Momcozy DinerPal High Chair, $300
Standout features | ergonomic support, five seating modes, doubles as a learning tower, built-in carry handles, extra-wide tray, converts to an adult chair and supports up to 300+ lbs
Sustainable and nontoxic materials | FSC-certified beechwood and FDA-approved plastic
High chair size | width: 27.99″; length: 22.13″; weight: 21 lbs
I know I said we’re a Mockingbird family, but we’re also a Momcozy family! We just upgraded to the brand’s new DeepClean Baby Bottle Washer and Sterilizer for baby number two (if you’re having a baby, add it to your registry—just trust me!), and we also have the Triple-Seal Diaper Pail. I’ve even relied on the brand for nursing bras. I’ve loved everything we’ve tried from Momcozy, so I was very excited to try the DinerPal High Chair.
The DinerPal is the most robust high chair on this list. It feels much more like a piece of furniture than typical baby gear and is made from solid wood. It’s designed to grow with your child through five different configurations, eventually converting into an adult chair. I’ll be honest: I’m not sure how many families keep their high chair around long enough for it to become an adult chair. I’m much more interested in the fact that it also converts into a learning tower for toddlers, which I think is one of the biggest selling points here.
My biggest complaint: the weight. Some parents will love how sturdy this is (this thing isn’t tipping or shifting), and the handles built into the sides do make it easier to carry. But this isn’t a high chair I’m casually picking up and moving from our dining room to our kitchen. It’s 20+ pounds, and with our narrow doorways, a toddler attached to my leg, and a growing belly, it’s staying put. Also: the straps are fabric, which we know how I feel about fabric and high chairs.
As for things I love: the seat and footrest are both adjustable, and it has an extra-wide tray, which is great because my daughter refuses to eat without her sippy cup sitting right there within reach. It’s also a beautiful chair and just nice to look at, which I can’t say about every high chair we’ve tried.
So, yes, it’s heavy. If you have a small space, narrow doorways, or need to move your high chair around frequently, that’s something I’d keep in mind. But this is a solid piece of furniture that can serve multiple purposes and stay with your child for years—even, theoretically, into adulthood.
4. Nuna BRYN High Chair, $450
Standout features | MagneTech secure snap™, one-hand tray removal, no-tool assembly, GREENGUARD GOLD certified
Sustainable and nontoxic materials | FSC-certified black walnut and maple wood, BPA- and DEHP-free materials
High chair size | width: 21.6″; length: 26.75″; weight: 14.8 lbs
Talk about a gorgeous high chair! Nuna has done it again with the BRYN, creating one of the most stylish and timeless pieces of baby gear I’ve tried. With its warm wood, clean lines, and minimalist silhouette, it looks more like dining furniture than a high chair. Even the hardware is hidden once it’s assembled to minimize visible screws.
As a forever Nuna car seat and stroller fan (they just get it), I wanted to love this high chair so badly. The BRYN has a functional design and a small footprint. The MagneTech secure snap™ (a self-guiding magnetic buckle that automatically locks into place) is my absolute favorite. It grows with your child and converts into a chair, has a three-position adjustable footrest, and an easy-to-remove tray for cleanup. The tray can also be removed with one hand, which is honestly genius. It also has innovative tool-free assembly, making it easy to travel with when we visit friends and family by car. Nuna has some of the best nontoxic certifications as well, including GREENGUARD GOLD, meaning this chair has been thoroughly tested and certified to meet stringent emissions standards for over 360 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and chemical emissions.
But I can’t get over the fabric seat as much as I’ve tried. I want to love the tweed seat pad—the quality is exceptional and my daughter looks so comfy in it. But I just know the constant washing will make me lose my mind. Even though the seat pad is removable, machine washable, and easy to spot clean, it’s not the same as being able to wipe down a plastic chair. I mean, can you imagine the yogurt and berry stains this would have after one week?
I’m honestly hoping Nuna eventually makes a fabric-free version because this would certainly be a top pick for its minimalist design, small footprint, and MagneTech strap. The rest of the BRYN feels so thoughtfully designed, and is perfect if you’re seeking a high chair that adds style to your home. For now, the fabric and price point keep me from loving this one fully.
5. Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair, $354
Standout features | ergonomic design, can be used with newborns, side support for added safety, extended warranty options, personalized engraving and color/fabric options
Sustainable and nontoxic materials | FSC®-certified wood and EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) wood
High chair size | width: 18″; length: 19.3″; weight: 15 lbs
If you know high chairs, you probably know the Stokke Tripp Trapp (it’s been around since 1972!). It has a bit of a cult following, and after trying it, I can see why. I also have a bit of a soft spot for Stokke because we have Norwegian family, and Norway is one of our favorite places in the world. So maybe I’m a little biased, but something about the brand’s Scandinavian design and approach really resonates with me.
To me, this high chair is more like a transformer than a traditional high chair—it has numerous configurations and add-ons. For example, it has an infant attachment for those early days, then becomes a toddler tower, and later a kid’s chair. The design isn’t minimalist, but that’s also what makes it so recognizable. It has a substantial wooden frame and can be personalized with different colors and accessories, and even engraved with your child’s name, which is a unique feature and makes it great for gifting.
My hesitations with the Tripp Trapp come down to the fabric seat (again, the fabric). It’s heavy, although not nearly as heavy as the Momcozy DinerPal, and has a fabric insert and fabric straps. The difference is that the Tripp Trapp is much easier to use without the insert, and once you take the cushion out, it feels more like the simple, wipeable setup I prefer for toddler meals. Of all the high chairs we tried, this one gave me the best impression of my daughter’s seating position, too. She was not going anywhere. I loved how supported her whole body looked, and she seemed really comfortable and secure sitting.
It’s not the high chair I’d pick for our family because, as I’ve mentioned, I’m very much in the keep-it-simple-and-minimal camp. But I can absolutely see the appeal. It’s a workhorse, it grows with your child, and it’s designed to stick around long enough to potentially be handed down to the next generation. Stokke even offers an extended warranty option, which makes sense for a chair that can theoretically stay in your family for decades.
Kayti Christian is a Senior Content Strategist at The Good Trade. With an MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing, her work has appeared in TODAY, Shondaland, and The New York Times. Since 2017, Kayti has been uncovering and reviewing the best sustainable home brands and wellness products. Her personal journey through four years of fertility treatments has inspired her to write extensively about women’s healthcare and reproductive access. Beyond her work at The Good Trade, Kayti is the creator of phone notes, a Substack newsletter with 7,000 subscribers, and the cohost of the FriedEggs Podcast, which delves into IVF and infertility.
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