In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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We tested portable high chairs from top brands like Inglesina, OXO, Fisher-Price, and others to find the best
For our review, we purchased all products for hands-on testing and side-by-side comparisons.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Molly Bradac ⋅ Senior Research Analyst ⋅ May 28, 2024
The Best Portable High Chairs
Looking for a portable high chair for your child? We've researched over 30 options and ranked the top 8 portable high chairs available today in this review. Knowing there's more to a high chair than meets the eye, we evaluated factors including weight and size, portability, and ease of cleaning. Our review breaks down the details you need and the pros and cons of each chair to make your decision-making easier. Whether you need a travel-friendly or space-saving chair, there's likely a contender in our lineup that meets your needs and budget. Read on to see which portable chair is right for you.
The Inglesina Fast Table is a sturdy, portable highchair that keeps a baby's comfort in mind and doesn't skimp on user-friendly features for parents. The chair is relatively easy to attach to a table or bar using the twist-tight clamp system, and sleeve-like covers zip and enclose the hardware. We appreciate its lifted backrest, high-quality canvas, and sufficient seat padding, making the Inglesina experience a comfortable one for babies. Plus, it has a rear pocket to store thin and compact items, like baby bibs and utensils. The fabric is easy to wipe clean, but the canvas seat is removable for hand washing if a deeper clean is needed. Thanks to an attached carry bag hidden within the seat, the chair folds flat and is conveniently contained and ready for travel. A tray accessory is available for purchase.
The Inglesina compactly collapses, but its weight and dimensions are not the smallest in our lineup, so it might not be the right one for you if the smallest is your main criterion. Despite this, we love the quality and functionality of this versatile seat and highly recommend it. If you want a similar style for a less expensive price, the Mountain Buggy Pod is a good option that costs less, hooks onto the side of tables and weighs less, making it more portable.
Important Safety Information:
Your baby's safety should be a top priority when using a portable high chair. Before placing your child in the chair, always be sure to fasten the attachment mechanisms securely. There should be absolutely no give or movement in the booster or hook-on. Always monitor your child when using the chair, and if you're using a booster, do not allow them to push against a table, which can result in tipping chairs and injuries.
The hiccapop OmniBoost is a travel booster seat that looks similar to a foldable camping chair but has some attractive features that can make mealtime away from home more enjoyable. It is easy to pop and close with very few steps, and it includes a handy carry bag to grab and go. The removable tray is easy to click on and conveniently fits in the carry bag. There is a mesh pocket on the backside of the seat that we like to use for essentials, such as baby utensils or an extra bib. The chair includes “duck feet” that slide over the chair's standard feet for added stability. Use this chair outdoors or inside, on the ground, or at the dinner table, as it has straps that can attach to an adult chair. Not only is this option budget-friendly, but we think it is sturdy and functional.
The tray is wide yet narrow and will not catch everything your little one drops. Also, some users report the chair's fabric seat can stretch over time. While testing, we did notice some “give” in the fabric. However, the hiccapop will not be your primary highchair, and we think it is satisfactory for traveling needs; plus, the price tag is attractive, making it a good option for those on a budget. The Mountain Buggy Pod could be more compelling if you don't have a separate chair for little ones, and hanging from a table or counter is more viable.
The Mountain Buggy Pod is an easy-to-use hook-on chair compact enough to fit in a large diaper bag or a stroller basket. Coming in at only 2.2 lbs, it is one of the lightest portable chairs in our tests. The simple design is easy to attach and remove from tables by twisting or untwisting the clamps. The Pod has a solid aluminum frame and a zippered fabric cover that makes the chair highly portable, thanks to the winning combination of sturdy yet lightweight materials.
This portable high chair only fits tabletops thinner than 1.8", so it may not work in every location. Also, one of the significant downsides is the size of the leg holes. They are much smaller than we would expect with the weight limit. The problem becomes especially apparent if your baby wears shoes or has adorably chunky thighs. Another drawback is that the fabric is not machine washable. Luckily, it is easy enough to wipe down, but you will have to unzip and wash it by hand when it requires a deep cleaning. Before each use, you will need to make sure the zippers are secure when putting them back on, as there have been reports of the cover unexpectedly unzipping. Overall, the Pod is one of the lightest and smallest seats, making it a handy travel companion. An alternative could be the Inglesina Fast Table, which was significantly easier to use in our tests.
Mealtime messes will happen, so having a super easy-to-clean portable high chair can make a world of difference. For this reason, the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat earns an award. We appreciate that the design has minimal small crevices for crumbs to hide, and a good wipe-down is sufficient to keep this chair clean. Plus, the removable feeding tray is dishwasher safe - although we recommend handwashing to extend its longevity. The adjustable straps attach to the underside and back of an adult chair for a secure fit, and it has three height settings. When you're ready to hit the road, the back of the chair folds down for travel and storage.
Some crafty toddlers can figure out how to remove the upper feeding tray, leading to a big mess on the floor. Also, users report that the t-straps holding the harness straps to the chair can work themselves free. Since the tray cannot keep a child in place, it is essential to check that these straps are secure before each use. The hiccapop OmniBoost also has a tray, and the canvas seat is removable for machine washing, making it a potential contender if you are looking at options with trays. Despite these drawbacks, the Healthy Care Booster is an excellent, easy-to-clean choice that can last for years.
When choosing and ranking portable high chairs, we wanted to ensure we thought of everything. After over 70 hours of combined testing and research, we found the top contenders. We measured, used, cleaned, and compared. We conducted an extensive analysis of the products and, most importantly, used the seats with young children to help us determine our favorites. We then took all the information we gathered and condensed it into test metric results and helpful buying advice, so you can be confident in your purchase.
The Mountain Buggy Pod is compatible with tables 0.7" to 2.75" thick.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why Trust GearLab
BabyGearLab has been purchasing and reviewing top-ranked baby gear since 2013. Leading the portable highchair review is our founder, Dr. Juliet Spurrier. Dr. Spurrier is a board-certified pediatrician and mother of 2. As a doctor, she has a background in childhood safety concerns and the potential results of poorly designed or inappropriately used gear. Dr. Spurrier approves all final competitors using this background and her time as a mother to guide her. The team also includes Senior Review Editor, Wendy Schmitz, mother of 2 and an invaluable team member at BabyGearLab. Between her scientific training and analytical background, plus knowledge of baby products and motherly experience, Wendy helps analyze test results and rank the competition. Providing additional support to the review is Senior Review Editor, Molly Bradac, who we consider the 'Mary Poppins' among the team. Molly has accumulated an impressive profile as a career nanny with over 15 years of experience. Most of her positions included national and international travel, allowing her to bring a unique perspective, experience, and knowledge base to identify qualities of top-performing products and provide recommendations to families based on their needs and budget.
How to Pick the Best Portable High Chair
Multiple portable high chairs are on the market. Considering a few key factors can help you find the perfect option for your family.
How Will You Use It?
The most important consideration is how you plan to use your portable chair. Are you taking it to a local restaurant? On a cross-country road trip? On an international flight? Each option might indicate a different style or kind of portable high chair. A more solid booster is unlikely to be the best for long-distance air travel. However, a small foldable option might be frustrating if you head down the road. Choosing the right option for the right job is important.
Features
If you were hoping for a specific feature like an included food tray, then what features it has can help you narrow the field. Features to consider might be if it has a tray, the seat attaches to the table or the chair, how small it folds, and what the weight limits are.
Press the button, and the OXO Tot Perch with Straps folds into a small package, ready for travel.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Analysis and Test Results
We tested the chairs side-by-side to determine which options stand out and which fall short. Our hands-on testing provides you with the details required to make an informed decision.
What's the Best Value?
The hiccapop OmniBoost chair is wallet-friendly and a great value. It's versatile, use it outside or inside, and we don't doubt you'll get your money's worth. The Fisher-Price is another attractive low-cost product that is easy to clean. But, if your budget is slightly more flexible, the Inglesina offers higher quality and compatibility with various tables you may encounter when out and about. We realize there's a higher upfront cost with this option, but we believe there's value in this purchase, especially if you plan to use it frequently to dine out, trips to the grandparents' house, or as your primary high chair. We think it is worth the cost if you meet these parameters. However, a cheaper option may better suit your needs if you don't.
The phil & teds Lobster is one of the smallest and lightest products in our review.
The hiccapop OmniBoost comes with a handy carry bag that holds everything together, including the chair, tray, and "duck feet."
The Chicco Pocket Booster Seat folds into a compact size, but it is not the smallest nor lightest product in our lineup, and although it has a carry strap, it doesn't have a carry bag.
Portability
There are several types of portable high chairs, and they all have different features that make them portable. To evaluate portability, we took a close look at weight and dimensions. These factors influence how easy a product is to transport; some might even fit in your diaper bag, stroller basket, luggage, or car trunk.
We consider weight to be an essential consideration when making your purchase. We suggest considering how and where you plan to use the chair and how weight might impact your daily use. Situations can include occasional visits to grandparents, restaurant outings, everyday home use, or far-away travel. We found the hook-on chairs to be more travel-friendly than boosters, as they fold down and usually fit inside an included carry bag. Honestly, folding the chair flat, slipping it in a travel sack, and tossing it over your shoulder is all too convenient.
Other Options
While not part of our portable high chair set, there are some potential crossover products that could meet your needs in our selection of top-ranked table booster seats.
The Summer Pop 'n Dine SE Highchair is one of the largest and heaviest among the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Among the competition, the Mountain Buggy Pod ranks high in this metric. Compared to others, this hook-on style chair has an impressively low weight, is one of the smallest when folded, and includes a carry bag, making it travel-friendly for most scenarios. The OXO Tot Perch with Straps also ranks high compared to others, thanks to being lightweight (although it doesn't beat the Mountain Buggy) and folds up small for travel. Also, this option doesn't include a carry bag if this is a deal-breaker for you.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Summer Pop 'n Dine SE Highchair ranks the lowest. Compared to others, this portable high chair is one of the largest and heaviest, and these factors hurt its overall portability score. This option includes a carry bag with a handy carry strap, which adds convenience when transporting. Still, it will take up space in your vehicle's trunk, or if you're on foot, carrying your baby and a diaper bag, plus a heavy chair, is likely not something you want to add to the mix.
Safety First:
Hook-on chairs should not be attached to a glass surface, single pedestal table, loose tabletop, table leaf, card table, or over tablecloths or placemats.
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat offers versatility with its various trays and adjustments.
The hiccapop OmniBoost is easy to pop open, includes a removable tray, and is functional for outdoor or indoor mealtime.
Ease of Use
For this metric, we determined that the complexity of assembly and disassembly are the two main factors at play and the comfort of babies. Therefore, we kept these factors in mind when evaluating the lineup. We also asked things like: How many parts does it have? How long does it take to put together and pack up every time? Are there any features that add to the chair's ease of use?
In our opinion, less is more, and a product that can be ready to go in seconds is invaluable, especially when you toss a hungry toddler into the mix, creating the perfect recipe for a meltdown.
The Summer Pop 'n Dine SE Highchair easily pops open and closes without any hassle, which is great when you have a hungry child on your hands.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Among the competition, the the Inglesina ranks high in this metric. This contender has qualities of luxury that we admire, such as a high-quality canvas that offers more padding and a cockpit with more support than others, which collectively create a more comfortable sitting experience for babies. Ranking right below the Inglesina, yet higher than many others, are the hiccapop OmniBoost and Summer Pop 'n Dine SE Highchair. These options don't offer impressive comfort like the Inglesina, but they have super quick and straightforward folding systems, whereas many others take more time to set up and takedown.
The Chicco Pocket Booster Seat offers three height settings to accommodate growing children and tables of differing levels.
The Chicco Pocket Booster Seat includes a tray; however, we struggle with getting it on.
The Chicco Pocket Booster Seat ranks low in this metric for many reasons. Although it offers height adjustability, which can be helpful, we believe the chair's hard plastic and bare minimum design lack comfort for babies compared to other contenders. Plus, we struggled with getting the tray on, leaving us feeling frustrated because the task should be easy. We noticed ourselves preferring to use other options over the Chicco.
A Note on Compatibility
Not every seat works with every table, countertop, or chair, and if you are traveling, you may not know what to expect. For example, booster seats can strap onto most dining chairs but become problematic when faced with a booth. Likewise, some hook-on chairs do not fit round tables or vertical skirts, and you CAN'T use hook-on options with glass tabletops. Tables that are flimsy, foldable, or single pedestals are also a no-go. However, the Summer Pop 'n Dine SE Highchair and hiccapop OmniBoost (if you use the chairs on the ground) can be used independently and don't depend on a table or an adult chair, which increases versatility.
The OXO Tot Perch and Straps materials are easy to wipe down and clean, but crevasses collect crumbs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
Babies are messy, especially during mealtime, so finding an easy-to-clean chair is a big plus. Conquering mealtime mess with a quick wipe-down can simplify your life, and we prefer chairs with smooth surfaces and minimal cracks and creases for crumbs to collect and hide. After all, if you are cleaning up after little ones by the hour, why not make it as painless as possible?
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe ranks the highest in this metric. This hard plastic exterior option is quick to wipe down and has minimal creases to trap food and liquid. Plus, its tray is dishwasher-safe - score! The Summer Pop 'n Dine SE Highchair and the hiccapop OmniBoost are other easy-to-clean options, thanks to their removable, machine-washable canvas covers, making the overall cleaning task more manageable.
The tray of the Fisher-Price only needs a quick wipe down to be squeaky clean again.
The Inglesina Fast Table has zip-up sleeve-like covers that hide any hardware of the twist-tight couplings.
On the contrary, many hook-on portable high chairs rank low in this metric. The phil and teds Lobster ranks the lowest, and the Inglesina Fast Table and Mountain Buggy Pod rank slightly higher, but still low. These hook-on portable high chairs have hard-to-clean areas, particularly where the canvas sides meet the padded seat. Food crumbs love to accumulate in this area, which is easy to overlook. Using a slightly dampened cloth, you can brush the crumbs out of this area, but you'll need to remove the canvas and hand wash it for a deep clean. We consider this task more time-consuming compared to hard plastic options or those with machine-washable covers. Also, removing the canvas covers varies among this small group of hook-on chairs. The Mountain Buggy Pod has a zipper system that makes removing the canvas more accessible and relatively quick. The Inglesina's cover is easy to remove but takes longer to thread it back on the frame, and the phil and ted seat requires the most effort as it requires a tool, which isn't as handy.
Eating Out
If you are eating in a restaurant, you might also need a top-ranked kids' mask to use when not eating to avoid germs.
There's likely a product in our lineup that will meet your needs. But, before selecting a portable high chair, we suggest putting some thought into how you plan on using the chair and how often. These factors, plus budget, may influence your decision-making.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
When it comes to baby travel gear, a portable high chair is a good move if you like to dine out or travel. Take it on the road, use it for trips to the grandparents, or as an excellent space-saving solution for those living in tight quarters. A portable high chair can also help your little one eat more comfortably from baby to toddlerhood. In the end, comfort, functionality, and portability are critical elements you should consider before selecting a product. Lucky for you, our review includes the information and details to help your decision-making. We are sure you'll find a seat that can tag along wherever you and your baby roam. Happy dining!
