Originally published August 3, 2025. Last updated August 19, 2026.
Choosing a high chair can feel surprisingly complicated.
There are beautiful wooden chairs, foldable chairs, inexpensive chairs, convertible chairs and models with enough adjustments to make them look like tiny office furniture.
But when your baby is getting ready to start solids, the most important questions are much simpler:
Is the chair safe?
Can my baby sit upright and comfortably supported in it?
Can it adjust as they grow?
A good high chair does not need to be expensive or trendy. It needs to give your child a secure, stable place to learn how to eat.
Let's walk through what actually matters.
Start With High Chair Safety
Positioning matters, but safety comes first.
Health Canada recommends choosing a high chair with a restraint system, a wide base, a working locking mechanism and no loose parts, sharp edges or other obvious hazards.
Before buying, borrowing or using a high chair, look for:
A secure restraint system that includes a waist belt and crotch strap
A wide, stable base
Working locking or latching mechanisms
A tray and other components that attach securely
No cracks, splits, sharp edges or missing parts
No loose or detachable pieces that could become choking hazards
A manufacturer label with the model information and date of manufacture
Instructions that explain the chair's age, weight and adjustment limits
Before buying or using a high chair, check Health Canada’s recalls and safety alerts database for the model.
This is especially important when buying secondhand or using a chair that has been stored between children.
When Is a Baby Ready to Use a High Chair?
A high chair can support your baby, but it should not be doing the work of holding up a baby who is not yet ready to sit upright.
Health Canada advises using a high chair only when a child is capable of sitting upright on their own.
For eating solids, your baby should also have good head and neck control and be able to maintain an upright position throughout the meal.
If your baby repeatedly slides down, collapses forward or leans heavily to one side, first check that the chair is adjusted correctly.
If they still cannot maintain an upright position, it may be worth reassessing their readiness or speaking with their healthcare provider.
What Does Good High Chair Positioning Look Like?
Once the safety basics are covered, we can look at how the chair actually fits your child.
The goal is not perfect posture.
We're looking for a baby who is:
Upright
Stable
Centred in the chair
Comfortable
Able to move their arms freely
Able to reach their food
Supported at the feet when possible
A stable body gives your baby a better foundation for reaching, grasping, bringing food to their mouth and learning all the new skills that come with starting solids.
1. Keep Baby Upright
For solids, choose the fully upright feeding position rather than a reclined setting.
Your baby's head should be upright and their trunk should feel stable rather than sliding backwards into the chair.
Some high chairs include reclining positions for uses other than eating. That does not mean those settings are appropriate for feeding solid foods.
Mealtimes should happen with your child alert and upright.
2. Look for Good Foot Support
An adjustable footrest is one of my favourite high-chair features.
Think about sitting on a tall stool with your feet hanging in the air. You can do it, but you may find yourself shifting around looking for somewhere to put your feet.
Babies can experience something similar.
Having a stable place for their feet can give them a more comfortable base of support and reduce the amount of work their body is doing simply to stay positioned.
When shopping for a chair, look for a footrest that:
Reaches your baby's feet
Can be adjusted as they grow
Feels firm and secure
Gives both feet room to rest comfortably
A footrest is helpful for positioning, but it is not a substitute for upright seating, active supervision, age-appropriate food preparation or knowing how to respond to choking.
3. Use 90-90-90 as a Guide, Not a Test
You may have heard of the 90-90-90 feeding position.
The general idea is to aim for approximately:
90 degrees at the hips
90 degrees at the knees
90 degrees at the ankles, with the feet supported
The familiar 90-90-90 position can be a useful starting point for many children, but the goal is stable, comfortable positioning rather than perfect angles.
Bodies come in different proportions.
A baby's legs may not create an exact right angle. Their hips may sit slightly differently depending on the chair. As they grow, the setup will change again.
What matters most is that your child looks stable, upright and comfortable rather than slumped, reclined or struggling to maintain their position.
Children with physical, developmental, feeding or swallowing differences may need individualized positioning recommendations from an occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist with pediatric feeding experience.
4. Check the Tray or Table Height
Your baby should be able to reach their food without shrugging their shoulders or slumping forward.
A useful check is to look at their arms.
Can they comfortably:
Reach the tray?
Pick up food?
Bring their hands to their mouth?
Rest their forearms without their shoulders being pushed upward?
If the tray sits very high, your baby's arms can feel restricted.
If it sits very low or far away, they may have to reach or lean excessively.
Adjustability is helpful here because the fit that works at six months will probably not be the fit that works a year later.
5. Make Sure There Is Enough Support Without Restricting Movement
Your baby's bottom should sit securely toward the back of the chair, without constantly sliding forward.
At the same time, they still need enough freedom to:
Reach for food
Turn their head
Move their arms
Bring food or utensils to their mouth
Lean forward naturally while staying secure in the restraint
We are looking for supported movement, not rigid positioning.
What Features Should You Look for When Buying a High Chair?
If you're comparing high chairs, focus on the features you'll actually use several times a day.
Prioritize:
Safety
A secure restraint, stable base and reliable locking mechanisms come first.
An upright feeding position
Your baby should be able to sit upright rather than reclined for meals.
An adjustable footrest
Ideally, the footrest can move as your child's legs grow.
A good fit
The seat should support your child without being so large that they constantly slide or lean.
Useful adjustability
Adjustable seat, tray or footrest positions can make it easier to maintain a comfortable setup as your baby grows.
Easy cleaning
This is not a safety requirement, but it matters in real life.
Starting solids is messy.
A chair with smooth surfaces, accessible straps and fewer tiny crevices can make everyday cleanup much easier.
A design that works in your home
Consider the footprint of the chair, how easily adults can walk around it and whether it can be kept away from counters, walls, cords and other hazards.
Do You Need an Expensive High Chair?
No.
Price does not automatically tell us whether a high chair will work well for your child.
A less expensive chair with a stable base, secure restraint, upright seat and good fit may work beautifully.
A more expensive chair may offer additional adjustability, longevity or easier cleaning.
The best high chair is the one that:
Meets appropriate safety requirements
Fits your child well
Works in your space
Can be used correctly every day
Pretty is a bonus.
Functional comes first.
What If Your Current High Chair Does Not Fit Well?
Before adding anything to the chair, check the manufacturer's instructions.
Some chairs have adjustments that are easy to miss, including different tray positions, seat configurations or manufacturer-approved accessories.
I would avoid adding cushions, boxes, resistance bands, pool noodles or other improvised supports unless the manufacturer specifically confirms that they can be used safely with that chair.
Anything added to the seat or frame can potentially affect harness fit, your child's position or the way the chair functions.
If your child consistently slumps, leans heavily to one side or needs substantial extra support to remain upright, speak with their healthcare provider or a pediatric feeding professional rather than trying to build additional support into the chair yourself.
What About a Secondhand High Chair?
A secondhand high chair can be a practical option.
Before using one, check:
The model and manufacturer
The recall database
The restraint system
All buckles and straps
The tray attachment
Folding and locking mechanisms
Screws and other hardware
The frame for cracks or damage
Whether any parts are missing
The manufacturer's current instructions
If you cannot identify the chair or important safety components are missing, it is better to choose another option.
High Chair Safety at Every Meal
Choosing the chair is only the beginning.
Once your child is using it:
Buckle the restraint every time
Never rely on the tray to keep your child seated
Stay with your child while they are in the chair
Never allow standing or climbing in the high chair
Do not let children climb into or out of the chair without help
Keep the chair away from counters, walls, windows, blind cords, appliance cords and hot surfaces
Make sure locking mechanisms are secure before placing your child in the chair
Use an upright position for eating
Keep your child seated and actively supervised while they eat
Babies become stronger, taller and much more inventive surprisingly quickly.
A setup that worked a month ago may need adjusting today.
A Quick High Chair Shopping Checklist
Before you buy, ask:
✔ Does it have a secure restraint system?
✔ Does it feel stable and difficult to tip?
✔ Can my baby sit fully upright?
✔ Is there useful foot support?
✔ Can the footrest or seat adjust as my child grows?
✔ Can my baby comfortably reach the tray or table?
✔ Do all locking mechanisms work securely?
✔ Is the chair easy enough to clean that we'll realistically use it every day?
✔ Can I identify the manufacturer and model?
✔ Have I checked for recalls?
You do not need every premium feature.
You need a chair that supports safe, comfortable, everyday eating.
Looking for Mealtime Essentials?
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Final Thoughts
The best high chair is not necessarily the most expensive one or the one that looks best beside your kitchen table.
Start with safety.
Then look at fit.
Your child should be upright, secure and comfortable, with enough support to focus on the work they're doing at mealtime: reaching, exploring, tasting and learning how to eat.
And remember, 90-90-90 is a useful guide, not another parenting standard you have to achieve perfectly.
We're building a safe, supportive environment for learning.
That's what matters.
You’ve got this!
Continue Learning
Continue building your family’s safety toolkit with these trusted resources from Bump + Baby Matters.
Infant & Child CPR + Choking Classes
Mouth Mapping: How Babies Learn to Manage Food When Starting Solids
Introducing Allergens to Babies: When and How to Start
Why Predictable Snack Times Support Safer Eating for Babies & Toddlers
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