Whether you’re looking for a portable high chair alternative or something smaller than a traditional high chair to fit your small spaces, there are many great high chair alternatives to fit your unique situation and budget.
Once your baby has started eating solid foods, you may want them to feel included with the rest of the family at meal time. If you can’t find the right high chair to fit your space, or you’re looking for the best high chair alternative that can fit in your travel bag for an upcoming trip, this list has some good high chair alternatives for you to consider!
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Table of Contents
- Infant Floor Seats & 2 In 1 Seats
- Infant Booster Seats
- Toddler Booster Seats
- Hook-on Chairs
- Toddler Towers
- Final Thoughts & Top Pick
Infant Floor Seats & 2 In 1 Seats
All three of these multipurpose baby seats can be used as an infant floor seat or they can be attached to a regular chair to seat your baby at your dining table. They all come with a tray that helps with feeding on-the-go and have their own unique features that make them useful.
I’ve tried all three of these with my own kids and you can read their individual reviews for more detailed information here on the Up Seat, Bumbo Multi Seat and Ingenuity 2 in 1.
Upseat
The Upseat is a floor seat and booster for babies 4 months – 2 years old. You could use it as a feeding seat next to you at a kitchen table. It has been developed with the help of leading physical therapists to design it to be very hip-healthy for your baby’s legs and it has a slight forward tilt to encourage proper development of core muscles and to decrease slouching.
It comes with a nice wide tray for feeding or seated playtime and additionally, it comes with safety straps to buckle your baby in as well as the straps required to attach it to an adult chair to use as a booster.
- Upseat Pros
- Encourages upright seated posture (less slouching)
- Free movement of hips and legs for baby
- Large tray for feeding and playing
- Easy to wipe clean
- Large leg openings
- Made from soft material
- Made in Canada
- Upseat Cons
- No built-in tray storage
Read my full review of the Upseat here; it’s currently my favorite baby booster and floor seat. You can also check the price here.
Ingenuity Baby Base 2-In-1 Seat
The Ingenuity Baby Base works well as an infant floor seat and for feeding time. It has a built-in tray for playtime and feeding. The seat has a wide base and a removable foam infant insert that supports wobbly sitters before they’re ready to sit up completely unassisted. It has a three-point harness and strap storage.
The tray has a built-in indent for a cup, and a nice wide flat surface you can use to suction silicone bowls to if you’d like. The tray is dishwasher safe and stores conveniently in the base of the seat.
- Ingenuity 2 in 1 Pros
- Can be used as floor seat or as a booster
- Wide tray for feeding and playing
- Built in tray storage
- Dishwasher-safe tray
- Compact size for travel
- Built in strap storage for booster seat function
- Inexpensive
- Ingenuity 2 in 1 Cons
- Crumbs get stuck between foam liner and plastic base
- No built in storage for foam insert
- Not an optimal hip position for long term usage
Read my full review of the Ingenuity 2 In 1 Seat; its very portable and a good, inexpensive option for feeding on the go. You can also check the price here.
Bumbo Multi Seat
The Bumbo Multi Seat is a 3 in 1 seat that can be used from 6 months to 36 months (3 years old). It can be used as a floor seat and if you strap it to an adult chair it can be used in place of a high chair.
When you take out the foam insert, the third way it can be used is as a booster seat for a toddler. It has built-in storage for its removable tray and foam insert which makes it highly portable.
- Bumbo Multi Seat Pros
- Can be used on floor, or as a chair booster
- Easy to clean
- Foam insert for smaller babies
- Tray storage built-in
- Good travel booster option
- Foam seat insert stores away inside
- Two height settings
- Lightweight and compact design
- Bumbo Multi Seat Cons
- Not an optimal hip position for long term usage
Read my full review of the Bumbo Multi Seat; it’s similar to the Ingenuity 2 in 1, but I find it easier to clean and slightly more expensive. You can also check the price here.
Infant Booster Seats
Infant booster seats look similar to the multipurpose seats covered in the previous category with one big difference – they are not intended to be used as a floor seat. Both of these infant booster seats are designed to be attached to a dining chair for proper use.
OXO Tot Nest
The OXO Tot Nest is designed for babies 9 months and up who can sit unassisted and can fully support themselves in an upright seated position while eating. It doesn’t come with a tray for feeding or play and should be used as a booster seat at a table.
The Nest is very easy to clean with a wipable and removable foam insert. It’s a good choice for a booster seat if you’re looking to use it for an older baby into toddlerhood since it doesn’t have a post between the child’s legs for tray attachment. This will allow for more freedom of movement as your child gets bigger.
- OXO Tot Nest Pros
- Easy to clean
- Foam insert for smaller babies
- Built-in strap storage
- OXO Tot Nest Cons
- Doesn’t come with tray
Read my full review of the OXO Tot Nest; it’s a good option if you’re looking for an infant booster seat that doesn’t have a tray and will age-up with your toddler well. You can also check the price here.
Chicco Pocket Snack
The Chicco Pocket Snack is a very reasonably priced booster seat. It comes with a nice wide tray for feeding and play. You can fold the booster seat very flat so it is easily stored and simple to take with you as you travel with your older baby or older children.
It has a very sturdy construction, a solid piece of baby gear but that makes it quite heavy at about 5.5 pounds. You can use it flat on a dining chair, or in two taller height positions for three booster height settings total to help bring your child up to the right height for your dining room table.
- Chicco Pocket Snack Pros
- Folds flat
- Carry handles
- Sturdy construction
- Three booster height settings
- Chicco Pocket Snack Cons
- Heavy
- Can not be used on the floor
- Not good for younger babies
Read my full review of the Chicco Pocket Snack. If you need a booster with a tray that can fold flat it’s a good option, but it is quite heavy. You can also check the price here.
Toddler Booster Seats
Toddler booster seats have less support than infant booster seats but allow for more freedom of movement. The options in this section are perfect if you have a slightly older toddler that needs a boost to be brought up to table height, or still needs the support of straps so they are safe and don’t fall off their seat.
They make a great high chair alternative for toddlers who need a travel booster when you’re out and about because they are both highly portable. They’re also a good option for parents who will need to use their existing high chair for a new, younger sibling but whose toddler still needs some support.
Upseat Boost
The Upseat Boost is a toddler booster seat designed for toddlers who can sit unassisted (usually starting around 18 months of age) up to 5 years old (or 50 pounds, whichever comes first).
The biggest reason you might prefer the Upseat Boost over other booster seats is because it encourages proper upright posture instead of slouching since it has a slight forward tilt.
- Upseat Boost Pros
- Encourages upright seated posture (less slouching)
- Carry handle for portability
- Easy to wipe clean
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in Canada
- Upseat Boost Cons
- If your toddler is determined, it’s still possible for them to slouch
Read my full review of the Upseat Boost. Its small profile and secure straps make it ideal as a toddler booster seat. You can check the current price here.
OXO Tot Perch
The OXO Tot Perch is another toddler booster seat that can be used for toddlers ages 15 months and up until they are a maximum weight of 70 pounds. This means you’ll be able to use the Perch for a long time as your child gets older. It’s a great alternative to a typical high chair for older toddlers and one of my favorite travel booster seats.
With the push of a button it folds flat and has built-in strap storage, making it ideal to take with you on your travels.
- OXO Tot Perch Pros
- Carry handle & folds flat for portability
- Has a bit of back support
- Lightweight
- OXO Tot Perch Cons
- You’ll have to wipe under the foam insert occasionally for crumbs
Read my full review of the OXO Tot Perch. It’s a great toddler booster seat for at home use and for your travels. You can check the current price here.
Hook-on Chairs
Hook on style baby chairs attach to a counter top or table as a high chair alternative. They are not my personal first choice as a high chair alternative but some parents love them. If your table has a lip and isn’t flat like a counter top, a hook-on seat won’t attach well. Also, they are usually made of fabric and suspend your baby like a hammock, which leaves their feet dangling.
Some of them are designed so that they are easily washable and fold well so they work nicely as a short-term portable high chair alternative.
- Hook-on Chair Pros
- Portable
- Doesn’t require an adult chair
- Hook-on Chair Cons
- Must be attached to a very sturdy, heavy table
- Not compatible with every type of dining table
- If used incorrectly, table and child could tip
You can take a look at some different Hook On Chair options here and their prices.
Toddler Towers
Toddler towers can be a helpful tool for kids who are 18 month of age and older. If they are sturdy on their feet but not quite old enough to use a regular step stool, then a toddler tower is a great option. Toddler towers are also popular options in Montessori homes.
Toddler towers can be a good alternative to a high chair for older toddlers. Sometimes toddlers would prefer to stand and eat at the counter instead of sitting at a table. Toddler towers are also useful for other activities like crafts and they can also bring your child up to the right height in your kitchen so they can be involved in your baking and cooking activities.
- Toddler Tower Pros
- Toddlers can stand at adult counter height
- Can be helpful for picky eaters who want to stand and eat
- Helpful as your child ages up to involve them in kitchen activities
- Toddler Tower Cons
- Not a good alternative for babies and young toddlers
- Take up a lot of space
- Not all of them are collapsable for storage
You can take a look at some different toddler towers and price options here.
Final Thoughts on High Chair Alternatives
Many of these options are cheaper alternatives to a normal high chair and much more ideal than taking a large infant high chair with you on your travels near and far. It can be such a good idea to put one of these on your baby registry and they even make great gifts if your child has a first birthday coming up.
My ultimate recommendation is the Upseat for everyday use. After using and reviewing so many of these alternative high chair options, I like how the Upseat has good ergonomic support for infants and can be used at home as well as on-the-go. It’s a great portable travel option that is safe to use on the ground if you’re having a picnic or strapped to a regular adult chair and it has a nice wide tray. You can read my full Upseat review here.
Check out reviews of baby seats and boosters here on Mama’s Buzz:
Pingback: Good Buy Gear Review 2023: READ Before You Say Bye!
Pingback: How to Throw a Doljanchi (돌잔치) to Remember and What to Do as a Guest – Lingua Asia
Pingback: 43 Must-Know Money Saving Tips for Expecting Parents: How to Get Ahead Financially - Dollarforcent
Pingback: The Montessori High Chair - Brutal Truths and Why You Need It - Montessori: Parenting with Independence