Chicco Mamma high chair

Price: Around £94.97

Score:

What you get:  Metal-framed high chair with multi-position heights and three position recline, two position removable tray which can be stowed across back legs, removable padded seat, adjustable harness positions. Legs concertina for storage.

Stockists: Tel. 0800 521558, or visit www.chicco.com

babyworld verdict: A good quality item which works well. Ideal if you have plenty of space and don't plan to move it around a great deal.

Parents' comments:

Sturdy, well made highchair.

Good sized, well-padded seat which removes for cleaning.

Good recline and height adjustment features which work well.

A bulky item but does collapse easily to stow.

Good sized tray which stows away neatly when not required.

Very heavy.

Brevi Pony

Price: Around £45.95

Score:

What you get: : Metal framed fold-flat high chair with removable three position tray.

Stockists: Tel. 01630 638978, or visit www.brevi.co.uk

babyworld verdict: This is a simple but effective, very portable and compact highchair which has minimal features but is easy to use, move and stow.

Parents' comments:

Lightweight.

Practical, no nonsense high chair.

Good value.

Very compact when folded so easy to stow when not in use.

Minimal padding - not so comfy as some but very easy to clean.

Jané Activa

Price: £109.99

Score:

What you get: Moulded-plastic framed high chair which converts to low chair and table. Seat with removable, washable cover, five-point harness and three-position recline. Three position, removable tray.

babyworld verdict: This is very tough, hardwearing high chair which will easily last through several babies. It is a bulky item but if space is not a problem it has user-friendly features and the potential for a long and useful life.

Parents' comments:

Very solid, robust construction.

Very easy to convert from highchair to table and chair and this option extends its useful life well into toddlerhood.

Simple but effective features - easy to recline or adjust tray positions.

Not the biggest sized tray but once you need more space you can use it in table and chair mode.

Expensive but the fact that this converts to a table and chair adds value and extends its useful life.

Very bulky and non-collapsible - so not easy to stow away.

Mothercare Anywhere chair

Score:

What you get: Metal and plastic framed highchair with non-removable tray and adjustable five-point harness.

Stockists: Tel. 08453 304030, or visit www.mothercare.com

babyworld verdict: This is ideal if you are on the move a lot or short on space. It is a fairly basic, no frills highchair but functions effectively and is incredibly compact when folded.

Parents' comments:

Incredible fold up design means this collapses into the most compact and portable of highchairs - excellent for travelling or stowing at home.

A functional, no-fuss chair to set up and use.

Very lightweight.

Minimal padding on the seat but parts are removable for cleaning.

The tray does not remove but a five point harness is included.

No recline or adjustable seat height.

Scallywags Junior Folding high chair

Price: £29.99

Score:

What you get: Metal framed, fold-flat highchair with non-removable tray.

Stockists: Tel. 0161 335 2500, or visit www.scallywagsbaby.co.uk

babyworld verdict: This is a basic, no-frills high chair which is quick and easy to use and very practical. It is completely fuss free and does the job for an excellent value price.

Parents' comments:

Very quick and easy to open and fold away - you can do it with one hand.

Excellent value price.

Lightweight and compact, effortless to use.

Easy to clean - no fiddly little crevices, although tray does not come off.

No recline or height adjustment.

No harness, lap belt only.

Babies R Us Wooden Cube high chair

Price: Around £39.99

Score:

What you get: Wood framed high chair which converts to low chair and table. Seat with D-rings for harness and plastic non-removable tray.

Stockists: Tel: 0845 786 9778, or visit www.babiesrus.co.uk

babyworld verdict: This is a traditional style high chair which is basic but functional, with the added bonus that it doubles as a low table and chair. Very fair price for a useful, if somewhat bulky item.

Parents' comments:

Well priced for a functional highchair which converts to a low table and chair to extend its useful life.

Seat is great as a small chair but basic and with no side padding or support of younger child using it in highchair mode.

Fair sized tray with deep lip to prevent items falling off but tray is screwed into place and food scraps do tend to gather around the fixing joints - some effort required to keep clean.

Relatively compact item but does not collapse so bulky to stow.

This is self-assembly and does take a bit of time and effort to construct

No harness, recline or multi-height options.

Graco LX Double Tray high chair

Price: Around £79.99

Score:

What you get: Metal and moulded plastic framed high chair with six position height and three position recline, two trays, adjustable harness and removable washable seat cover.

Stockists: Tel: 0800 0388889, or visit www.babiesrus.co.uk

babyworld verdict: This offers many of the features of the more expensive highchairs for a budget price but the mechanisms and design are less user-friendly.

Parents' comments:

Double tray is an excellent idea. The small tray is useful for snacks or toys and for when the baby is small and would be lost behind a bigger tray.

Lightweight and easy to move around.

Good range of features but mechanisms are all a bit basic and plasticy - not that smooth and easy to use.

Fabric seat cover is removable for washing but not easily wiped clean - you end up having to wash it every few days if you have a messy baby.

Collapsing mechanism is not user-friendly and folded highchair is awkward to stow away.

This comes as self-assembly and is quite tricky to put together.