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The Best High Chairs

2007-09-14-gulliver.jpgIn the market for a new high chair? Then, you'll want to check out Cookie Magazine's latest picks. Whatever you're looking for: durable, adjustable, stowable- they've got a suggestion.

We were especially happy to see two chairs that were $50 or under from Ikea. The solid beechwood Gulliver (pictured to the left) pulls right up to the table and won "Best Basic". Ikea's Antilop won "Best Bargain" at only $19.

 
 

2007-09-14-flair.jpg

The Flair from Boon wins for "Smoothest Operator" for its pneumatic-lift button and casters that allow you to slide it around easiliy.

2007-09-14-tripp trapp.jpg

It's no surprise that the Tripp Trapp shows up here winning for "Most Durable". In solid wood and available in 10 shades, this chair will be around for a long time.

Find the complete reviews here.

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Comments (14)

Anyone have any experience with either of the Ikea chairs? My son's high chair had a detachable wooden tray that was not very easy to clean. I'm wondering if the pull-it-up-to-the-table chair would really work. I'm just *used* to having a tray.

posted by Scout on September 14th 2007 at 10:25am
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LOVE the Antilop (which I decided to get after reading a review right here on AT). We mostly used it with the tray, but the tray does pop off if you want to pull the chair up to the table, and the entire thing is so lightweight it made for easy cleaning. Plus I could move it around the house with one hand while holding my baby in the other arm. You can't say that about many other high chairs.

posted by TammyE on September 14th 2007 at 10:47am
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I second the Antilop. It's light, but very stable, easy to clean, and very very cheap. It's plain white and goes very well with our modern decor. Babies don't need reclining functions and plaid cushions, they're supposed to learn that it's a dining chair! I've never been so happy with a purchase as I have with the Antilop. When we're done with it, I would just chug it in the bin.

posted by coqueline on September 14th 2007 at 2:17pm
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we are thrilled with the Antilop, it's now being used by our second son. It's the kind of chair you can literally hose down, if need be. (trust me, we've been there) And the price was so good, we bought one for grandma's house as well. I am not quite clear on the comment above . . . does "chug it in the bin?" mean "throw it away?"

wordparty

posted by wordparty on September 14th 2007 at 6:11pm
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We're not planning on having more babies, so yes, I meant when Peanut is too old for it, I wouldn't feel too bad about just leaving it outside by the bin (would be happier if to give it away to someone who needs it, though). I wouldn't bother with reselling it.

posted by coqueline on September 15th 2007 at 10:44am
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I agree, there's not much re-sale value for a $20 Ikea chair but it holds up beautifully and since it's made of plastic and metal (two things that will practically never, ever breakdown when heaped into a landfill) it's a nice environmental choice if it gets handed down to a friend with a baby or even off to the resale shop. But maybe you live in New York where almost everything that gets set out gets taken away quite briskly. Here in Chicago if you throw it in the dumpster, it's going to get hauled off to the dump.

Getting back on topic though . . . the hard sell for most first time parents on this chair is it looks a little er, hard. But that is exactly what is so perfect about it. My friends have the kind with all the padding and that's where all the bits of food like to slide down and hide. And some of those chairs are enormous (the Peg Perego comes to mind). This one does not fold down but it also doesn't eat up an entire corner of your apartment.

wordparty

posted by wordparty on September 16th 2007 at 10:17am
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I love Antilop because it has no padding and frillls (and I'm first time parent), and it's solid white. My first choice would the the Nest Chair, but when the second on the list is 95% cheaper, it's a no brainer why we got the Antilop. I love the look of Stokke, but it doesn't come with its own table, which means her mess would be on our table, so it wasn't even an option for us.

posted by coqueline on September 16th 2007 at 11:52am
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We have the Gulliver. We have it pulled up to the chair and I am happy with it but I would be even happier if it were 1cm. shorter. When I pull it up to the table the front ledge and armrests won't tuck under the table. This means the baby has to reach out a bit much for his food and even worse it means that he can lean his feet against the leg of the table and tilt his highchair back.

If the bottom edge of your table is more than 29 inches off the ground, you won't have this problem and you'll probably love the table. It's easy to clean and not as ugly as most high chairs.

posted by JulieR on September 16th 2007 at 1:57pm
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me, I swear by the tripp trapp, hideously expensive but your kid will be able to take it to college for use as a grownup chair and later on use it for his/her own kids!

posted by Sofia on September 17th 2007 at 5:13am
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We too loved the Nest Chair, but got the Antilop because it was cheap. When my daughter grew out of it, we got her a Tripp Trapp (although the Kinderzeat is better, but it wasn't on the market at the time). We kept the Antilop for guests (guess what, it got used a lot!), and now our second child it in it. Can't say enough great things about it -- it cleans easily, and you have the option of pulling it up to the table, without the tray. Brilliant product.

posted by mschatelaine on September 17th 2007 at 6:11am
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does the Antilop come with a tray? Ikea website shows without a tray, and doesn't mention it.

posted by babymomma on September 17th 2007 at 11:08am
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babymomma, if I recall correctly, you have to buy the tray separately, but it's ridiculously inexpensive -- under $10, I believe.

posted by TammyE on September 17th 2007 at 1:00pm
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Here's a wider selection...
http://homepage.mac.com/rosenfeldesther/buymodernbaby/buymodernhighchairs.html

posted by rehtse534 on January 20th 2008 at 5:04pm
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How important is a footrest? My son is only 7 months old now but I'm concerned about a fidgety toddler sitting without a footrest. Any thoughts? Thanks!

posted by reissgirl on October 22nd 2008 at 5:44am
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