On testOverview of Highchairs<< Back to the Highchairs main test page Here you'll find the best comments, advice and information on all of the high chairs on test. Our panel gave the Best Buy award to the Stokke Tripp Trapp but make sure you read all of the categories to see how each model performed under different criteria. Don't forget, if you're a regular user of any of the high chairs in our test or have an experience you'd like to share, please add a review. Our parent panel comments on the following: Ease of useA high chair that's simple to use, fold, clean and store is essential for busy families on the go. Our panel found that 'some chairs were easier than others' and all agreed that 'it is one of the most important things to look out for'. + The Bebe Confort Omega won hands down on ease of use: 'This high chair comes ready to use, it's in two parts (the chair and the tray) which you just click into place and away you go!' Our panel also found it 'easy to clean with a removable seat cover that you can take off in just a few seconds'. +Second in place was the Kuster high chair: 'This is a delight to use - it's easy to construct, easy to clean and easy to adjust - a fantastic high chair so long as your baby can sit unaided'. +/- The Stokke Tripp Trapp was praised for its 'smooth, crevice-free surfaces that are a delight to clean'. On the down side, 'it takes longer to adjust as you need to loosen the sides before you can move anything'. Similarly the Svan high chair 'requires an allen key to adjust the height - not great if you're using it with a baby and a toddler'. +/- Our panel found the Jane Activa, Cosatto Aurora Plus and Hauck Baby Mac high chairs 'easy to construct, though it was easier to follow the pictures than the instructions'. They also found the Hauck chair 'a bit of a pain to clean as you have to unscrew the cover in order to clean it properly'. PortabilityIf you're a regular traveller or will be using the high chair in lots of different rooms, portability is key. Heavy highchairs benefit from wheels or slots to pull them along with whereas wooden options tend to be lighter and more compact. If you travel abroad regularly, it might be worth considering a 'booster seat' which attaches to an adult chair and should be compact enough to fit in a suitcase. + Scoring tops on portability was the Hauck Baby Mac High chair. 'This is a highly portable and manageable high chair - ideal for trips away or weekends with family'. 'It's not the most appealing chair on test but it is easy to fold and store'. +/- Our panel praised the Bebe Confort Omega and Cosatto Aurora for their fold mechanisms: 'both collapse quite thin and you can attach the trays so they don't take up much room'. On the downside, 'they're quite heavy and I found myself out of breath before I'd even moved them into the next room!' +/- The Stokke & Svan High chairs 'aren't the most portable of high chairs, but they're light in weight and easy to transport from room to room'. Since neither of the chairs fold 'they wouldn't be a good option for taking on holiday'. +/- The Jane Omega chair was described as 'bulky and difficult to store' - 'if you wanted to take this chair on holiday, you'd have to dismantle it and take the seat section - it's far too big for a car'. On the plus side 'it was definitely lighter to move around the room that some of the other chairs on test'. DesignA safe high chair that offers a good level of versatility for you and your baby will be much appreciated after a few weeks of use. The good news is that modern seats have moved away from tacky materials and bright colours to give you something that's more suited to your living space (as opposed to a nursery school) so you don't have to compromise on style. + Our panel felt that the Bebe Confort's design offered a 'versatile and comfortable environment for both babies and toddlers' - 'I have fed my daughter whilst sitting on the floor, on the sofa and at the table and she is happy to sit in it and play with her toys'. 'It is a tad plasticky in look and feel but comes with a wide tray, a 5 point safety harness and seven height adjustments that keep busy toddlers secure'. +/- Our panel all agreed the Stokke Tripp Trapp looks 'the most appealing of all the seats on test'. 'This is a stable, beautifully made and chic high chair that's built to last one, two or even three children. It's only letdown is that it there's no option of attaching a tray to the chair so it has little use if you don't have a dining room table'. + The Jane Activa chair has 'a wide tray with a rimmed edge that keeps food off the carpet'. It also 'looks quite bright and attractive, though not a good option if you want it to blend into a neutral decor!' Similarly, 'the Hauck Baby Mac high chair has space for a drink and a lip around the tray, though the harness isn't quite as secure as the Jane or Cosatto seats and it is a bit of an eyesore'. + The Cosatto Aurora scored well on design. 'This seat has all of the optional extras you expect with a high chair - it even comes with a water filled playmat which definitely preserves their interest when it comes to mealtimes'. 'It also has a storage basket which is great for storing toys and games'. +/- The Kuster and Svan scored points for style: 'they both look great and any style conscious parent would welcome them into their home - no bright colours or dodgy plastics'. Our panel also felt that the Kuster seat was 'slightly more roomy than the Svan and would accommodate a toddler for longer'. ComfortAdditional seat padding, foot rests and a recline mechanism will ensure maximum comfort for your baby during meals, play and post-dinner naps. + Our panel praised the Stokke Tripp Trapp for its 'secure structure that sits them upright and helps their posture'. 'Kieran loved sitting in this chair - he liked the security of his feet resting on the foot rest and seemed more confident than in the other chairs'. 'The cushions are made of fabric so breathable and non-sweat inducing in the summer. The only irritating thing is that you have to purchase them separately'. + The Jane Omega and Cosatto Aurora scored points for their 'recline mechanisms and easily adjustable height levels' - 'a must-have for growing toddlers'. The Bebe Confort Omega also scored points for its 'large padded armchair that has excellent support', 'my daughter loves sitting in this chair and often falls asleep in it, so we just recline the seat and let her nap'. +/- The Kuster offered a 'good level of support for baby', though our panel felt that 'the additional cushion insert wasn't very comfortable and the seat worked better without it in place'. - The Hauck Baby Mac high chair offered 'a safe and comfortable seat for baby but you can't recline it or adjust the seat so its usability is fairly limited'. QualityA hard-wearing high chair will ensure years of use to come so a well-made, high quality chair is certainly worth investing in. Look for good materials, fabrics and smooth mechanisms - all will ensure longevity for you and your baby. + Scoring tops for quality was the Stokke Tripp Trapp: 'The biggest plus point for this chair is that it is excellent quality. It will last for more than one child and will transform into a chair for drawing and playing as they get older'. 'This chair isn't just a high chair - it's a proper piece of furniture! I would expect this to last for years as the quality is outstanding'. + The Kuster and Svan high chairs were 'made from high quality materials that are built to last if looked after properly'. Our panel also liked the footrests on both models and felt that they provided 'extra support and confidence for baby'. +/- The Jane Omega and Cosatto Aurora are made from 'strong, durable plastic which I expect would last more than one child, perhaps with a few scuffs along the way. Similarly the Bebe Confort 'should stand the test of time', 'though the padding on the seat is attached by press studs which are already showing signs of wear and tear - removing the padding for cleaning purposes is likely to make this worse'. +/- Our panel felt that the Hauck Baby Mac high chair was 'a basic standard high chair that's good if you don't plan to have any more kids!' 'The plastic has already split where the tray folds up for storage so not built to last!' Value for moneyA great value high chair should have some great features and offer versatility at a good price. Costs vary hugely between models so look for a style that suits you and then shop around to get the best deal. + The Svan scored well on value for money: 'It's probably the most adjustable chair on test as the seat can be removed to be used as an adult chair - great for longevity, though the actual baby seat is still quite slim'. Our panel also thought the Bebe Confort Omega was 'worth its weight in gold' - 'you get everything you could possibly want from this high chair, and more'. + Our panel agreed that the Stokke Tripp Trapp was well worth the £109 price tag: 'The fact that you have to use it up against the dining table means that meals are a social occasion for the entire family and it's a great way to share new tastes and discuss +/- Although the Hauck isn't a great quality high chair, it does have some 'very useful features for families on a budget and is good option for those who don't require any fancy frills or optional extras'. Results
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