In short: You need a high chair when your baby starts solid food and can sit steadily and hold their head up – usually at around 6 months. Choose a stable high chair that meets the European standard EN 14988, with a harness that includes a crotch strap (ideally 5-point) and an adjustable footrest. Grow-with-me chairs last for years, folding chairs save space and a booster seat is the answer for travel and visits.
Author: Eva Birsa, mum and co-founder of Evitas · Updated: 27 September 2026
When does a baby need a high chair?
You'll need a high chair once you start weaning, usually at around 6 months. According to the NHS, your baby is ready when they can:
- stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady,
- coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth (look at food, pick it up and put it in their mouth themselves),
- swallow food rather than push it back out with their tongue.
Some sets also include a bouncer or newborn seat, so your baby can join you at the table from birth. These are for feeding, play and rest while supervised – not for sleep. If your baby falls asleep, move them to their cot.
Types of high chair
Grow-with-me high chair (wooden, “from 6 months to adult”)
The seat and footrest adjust in height and depth, so the chair grows with your child: with a baby set (bar, harness, tray) from around 6 months, later as a chair for children and adults. Your child sits right at the family table. Check what's included – for some models the baby set and tray are sold separately. Examples: Cybex LEMO, Cybex Click&Fold, Cybex Iris, Nuna Bryn and Leander Louie.
Multi-function and folding high chair
Classic high chairs with a tray often offer a reclining backrest, several heights and folding, which makes them handy in smaller homes. Some come as a set with a bouncer or learning tower, such as the Anex Ozy 3-in-1. With a folding chair, check it is locked every time you set it up.
Booster seat and hook-on chair
A booster seat strapped onto an adult chair with a firm seat is practical for visits and travel. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns that a chair that hooks onto the edge of a table is not a good substitute for a freestanding high chair.
What to check before you buy
- EN 14988: the European standard setting safety requirements for high chairs for children aged 6 to 36 months. Compliance is stated in the product description or instructions.
- Harness with crotch strap: a 5-point harness (shoulders, hips and crotch) or at least a harness with a crotch strap stops your child sliding under the tray or climbing out.
- Footrest: with feet supported, your child sits more stably and upright, which makes eating easier.
- Stability: a wide base and anti-tip design; the chair should not tip over easily.
- Cleaning: a removable tray, smooth surfaces and a washable cushion save a lot of time. Put a feeding mat under the chair and a bib on your baby.
- Space and weight: check the dimensions, whether it folds and how easy it is to move.
High chair comparison
| Model | From | Max load / until | Chair weight | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybex LEMO | with baby set from 6 months; on its own from 3 years | up to 95 kg | 7.7 kg | one-hand adjustment, 4 depth positions, anti-tip system |
| Cybex Click&Fold | with bouncer from birth to 6 months; with baby set 6 months–3 years | up to 120 kg | 6.4 kg | FSC beech, folds to 27.4 cm deep |
| Cybex Iris | with baby set from 6 months; on its own from 3 years | up to 120 kg | 7.7 kg | beech wood, tool-free adjustment |
| Nuna Bryn | from sitting unaided (about 6 months) | up to 100 kg | 7 kg | tray included, 3- or 5-point harness with magnetic buckle, FSC wood |
| Anex Ozy 3-in-1 | lounger 0–6 months (up to 9 kg); high chair 6–36 months | learning tower up to 30 kg | 7.4 kg | 5-point harness, folding, EN 14988 compliant |
| Leander Louie | from about 6 months; with newborn seat from birth (up to 9 kg) | up to 125 kg | 5.3 kg | beech with gentle bounce, tested to EN 14988 |
Data from product descriptions at Evitas. What's in the box (baby set, tray, bouncer) depends on the version you choose.
Read more about one of the most popular grow-with-me chairs in Cybex LEMO: the high chair that grows with your child. Browse all models in our high chairs collection and accessories (cushions, trays, harnesses) in high chair accessories.
Using a high chair safely
- Always strap your child in, including the crotch strap – even “just for a minute”.
- Never leave your child alone in the high chair, and keep them sitting upright while eating.
- Position the chair so your child can't push off a table, worktop or wall with their feet.
- Don't let older children climb on the high chair.
- Regularly check screws, buckles and harness wear.
The high chair and first meals
Once you've chosen a high chair, the best part begins – family meals together. When to start, which foods to offer and how to progress month by month is covered in our guide Weaning: when to start.
FAQ
When can a baby sit in a high chair?
Once they can sit steadily and hold their head up, usually at around 6 months. Before that, use only a bouncer or newborn seat if the set includes one.
Do I need a 5-point harness?
It's recommended because it holds your child most securely. As a minimum you need a harness with a crotch strap, fastened every time.
Grow-with-me or folding high chair?
A grow-with-me chair lasts from 6 months to adulthood and puts your child at the family table; a folding chair saves space and is often cheaper, but is usually used until about age 3.
What does EN 14988 mean?
It is the European standard setting safety requirements for high chairs for children aged 6 to 36 months, for example on stability and the restraint system.
Until what age is a high chair used?
A classic high chair with a tray usually until about 3; a grow-with-me chair without its baby set can be used as a normal chair for longer, depending on its load limit.
Sources
- NHS – Your baby's first solid foods
- AAP / HealthyChildren.org – 6 Quick High Chair Safety Tips
- EN 14988 – Children's high chairs: safety requirements (summary)
- Cybex, Nuna, Anex and Leander product descriptions at Evitas
