Best portable highchair to make your weaning journey easier

portable highchair

by Samantha Ball |
Updated on

Your baby's weaning journey is incredibly important and is also a huge milestone in their life when they start having their first meals in their baby highchair or portable highchair. But there are a number of worries we have as parents throughout this journey, which often revolve around how we will feed our baby when we aren't at home. Enter the portable baby highchair.

You can read every weaning book there is and even invest in the best blenders to whip up delicious food, but the scariest part of the weaning journey is not being in the comfort of your own home to feed your baby with your trusty high chair. But you'll never have to worry about whether your local cafe will have a free high chair again if you get your own portable high chair.

The best portable highchairs at a glance:

Best for a clip-on highchair: VEEYO Hook On High Chair - View offer on Amazon
Best for a foldable highchair: Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat - View offer on Amazon
Best for a lightweight highchair: Munchkin Portable Travel Booster Seat - View offer on Amazon
Best for a carry highchair: Baby Polar Bear Booster - View offer on Amazon

They're incredibly convenient and even save a lot more space in your home if you want to use them all the time.

Best portable highchair 2023

Best for a clip-on highchair

VEEYO Hook On High Chair
Price: £39.99

This portable highchair is a little different to most, but it's super convenient for travel. It has a five-point harness design and simply hooks onto the table. The operating hook is also quick and simple to use.

Parent review: "Very pleased with this chair, it makes my son sit at the table and makes him feel he is at the table as in a high chair he is sitting back from the table. Fits very well and sturdy looks very nice in the grey. My son loves it. Excellent design."

Pros

  • 5-point harness
  • Compatible with most table tops
  • Comes in eight different patterns/colours

Cons

  • Not ideal if there's nothing to clip it onto
Product dimensions:37.9 x 32.21 x 11.81 cm
Age suitability: <p>Six months old or up to 33 lbs</p>
  • Attaches to tables from 2cm-8.5cm thick
  • Five-point safety harness
  • Machine washable removable seat cover
  • Foldable carrying bag

Best for a foldable highchair

Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat
Price: £237.99

This ultra-lightweight design means it's super easy to carry. It can easily be stored in most strollers, so you can use it wherever you go. It has three different height adjustments and three tray positions, as well as a fully adjustable three-point harness. It folds down simply and is easy to carry.

Parent review: "We bought this to see if we could eat in our garden and it was PERFECT. We now take it everywhere; to the park, on holiday, in the car, to restaurants etc. It makes feeding our nine-month-old so easy anywhere. WORTH. EVERY. PENNY."

Pros

  • Three adjustable heights
  • Removable tray
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Tray can be fiddly to move
Product dimension:H36 x W49 x L7cm
Age suitability:Suitable from six months
  • Shoulder carry strap
  • Fully adjustable
  • Wipe clean
  • 95 per cent plastic and five per cent textile materials
  • Removable cover
  • Two-year John Lewis guarantee included

Best for a lightweight highchair

Munchkin Portable Travel Booster Seat
Price: £24.96

Not only is this a portable highchair seat, but it also offers protective storage for on-the-go essentials. It has a strong and durable frame, with a no-slip grip for increased stability on chairs. And when it’s not being used as a chair it functions as a nifty travel bag! The chair has a storage pocket that is perfect for snacks, nappies, wipes, a bib and maybe even a favourite book or small toy. It’s lightweight, with a good carry handle. A sturdy chair, too.

Parent review: "So glad we bought this! We got it six months ago, when our little one was 16 months, for a holiday abroad. It worked so well, light and compact so easy to take in the suitcase. It has a good little storage compartment, where I can fit wipes, a bib, a bowl and cup etc. We have used it so much, over these months it fits easily in the buggy basket. Or has an over the shoulder strap so you can take it discreetly into a restaurant or to visit friends u0026 family and have everything you need in one place. It fits easily and securely on most chairs. Our little boy loves it and despite his enthusiastic attempts to "get down" at the end of a meal he has remained safe and secure until released. A great buy!"

Read our full review of the Munchkin Travel Booster Seat here.

Pros

  • Lightweight design
  • No-slip traction pads

Cons

  • Some reviewers say it's tricky to remove stains
Product dimension:15.5 x 28.5 x 29.5 cm
Age suitability:Fits child approximately 12-36 months olds (15 kg / 33.1 lbs max)
  • Durable and easy-to-clean 100 per cent polyester material
  • Adjustable straps
  • Folds neatly and includes a convenient carrying strap

Best for a carry highchair

With a fully adjustable five-point harness and two shoulder straps, this seat is lightweight and can be carried as a shoulder bag or stashed under a pushchair. It's perfect for little ones who can sit up unaided and even comes with a wipe-clean placemat. It boosts any dining chair by 8cm.

Parent review: "Love this product! My daughter wasn’t ready to sit in a highchair and so this meant I was able to attach it to almost any type of chair and she could eat with the rest of us. The five-point harness is great because it means she’s perfectly safe and can’t go anywhere!!! I’ve seen ones that only have a strap around the waist and these are quite dangerous-looking. With the adjustable straps, this will last a very long time! When packed it fits easily in the bottom of the pram. My friends have bought the same product after seeing this one, which says a lot in itself."

Pros

  • Storage pocket
  • Carry strap

Cons

  • A few reviewers say it's not great for fidgety toddlers
Product dimension:L26 x W31 x H8cm
Age suitability:Suitable for 12 - 36 months
Material:Polyester upper, nylon inner, polyurethane foam seat
  • Wipe clean
  • Five-point harness
  • Shoulder straps
  • T-bar for security
  • Under chair straps

Best for an eco-friendly highchair

There's nothing better than a practical baby item. This 3-in-1 seat can be used as a regular highchair or a low chair with a removable tray. You can even remove the footrest too and its trapezoidal structure ensures your little one's safety.

Parent review: "Great quality high chair, super easy to put together! I feel it's very safe and easy to clean down. Added bonus that it looks stylish too."

Pros

  • Food grade material
  • Wipeable PU leather

Cons

  • Footrest can't be moved
Product dimensions:57L x 57W x 83cm
Age suitability:Suitable for 3 months to 4-years-old
  • Fully adjustable
  • Removable tray
  • Removable footrest
  • Non-slip chair legs
  • Trapezoidal structure

Best for a durable highchair

This bubble booster is a fun and stylish design with multiple uses. Make feeding easier for your little one with this comfortable design that's also easy to wipe clean. The seat can also be used with the sensory toy fitted to the tray for playing, at mealtimes or even as a seat on the floor.

Parent review: "Absolutely brilliant! Love this stable seat as it means I can have my son on my desk with me for someone to one time while I feed him, no bending for me and he loves being face to face with me. The seat could do with a comfy pad but nothing a small blanket can’t solve. It’s been perfect for his first weaning foods!"

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • Two toy highchairs included

Cons

  • Not the most comfortable of materials
Product dimensions:L36 x W32 x H31cm
Age suitability:Recommended for 6+ months and up to 15 kg
  • Three-point baby harness
  • Push-fit lock
  • Two detachable highchair toys
  • Adjustable design
  • Wipe clean
  • Removable tray
  • Two tethering straps
  • Carry handle
  • Available in four colours

Best for a portable highchair

Designed for easy folding for transportation, this high chair is extremely handy. It has a removable food tray for easy washing, and can also be adjusted to different heights for your little one.

Parent review: "This is brilliant. I wanted it for when the grandbabies come to stay. It does the job and packs away in the bow for easy storage so it doesn't take up lots of room. It fits on the chair well and cleans easily. The tray comes off so the child can sit up to the table if you want. A really good buy for the money."

Pros

  • Trays are dishwasher safe
  • Carry case included

Cons

  • Straps can be hard to clean thoroughly
Product dimension:22 x 40.5 x 36 cm
Age suitability:Suitable for ages six months and up (max 50lbs)
  • Folds down
  • Carry case
  • Three heights positions
  • Removable tray
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Three-point harness
  • Adjustable shoulder strap
  • Seat straps

Best for a comfortable highchair

The removable padded seat insert gives your little one extra comfort, and it also has an extra-safe harness to keep them in place while they learn to eat. The Mamas & Papas Baby Bud Booster Seat is super stylish too, with an additional handle for making transportation to meals out easier. It also has four adjustable, non-slip feet for secure positioning.

Parent reviews: "This was a great find when hunting for a highchair! Means it is out of the way and stored at the table so great for small spaces. Easy to clip on and off. The table section slides on easily and it is easy to wipe clean/pop in the dishwasher. Small enough to pop in a buggy for weaning on the go! A great travel item and being social at the dinner table."

Pros

  • Non-slip feet keep it sturdy
  • Padded seat inserts for comfort

Cons

  • Some users have found that their baby can remove the tray
Product dimensions:32 x 36.5 x 31cm
Age suitability:Suitable for six to 36 months
  • Three-point harness
  • Carry handle
  • Non-slip feet
  • Removable tray
  • Easy-clean
  • Comes in grey and dusky pink

Best for a multipurpose highchair

Ingenuity Baby Base 2-in-1 Seat
Price: £49.99
Alternative retailers
Target$34.99View offer
Walmart$40.19View offer

Make meals out easier with this booster feeding seat. It's wipeable and the removable tray stores neatly under the seat too. Available in cashmere, peacock blue, pink and ultramarine green this is a clear stand out for us. The best bit about it? It can be used as a playtime seat or can attach to a dining chair thanks to its three-point harness and safety strap.

Review: “Functional baby seat. We use this daily with our 14-month-old, we have been using it from about 5 months old. I like its adaptability; it can be placed on chairs and a seat around the dinner table or on the floor as you choose. The tray slides out from underneath and clips in easily. We have limited space, but this small seat can be stored away easily. This is one of my favourite baby purchases and I wouldn't be without it.”

Pros

  • Suitable for up to 36 months
  • Broad range of colour options

Cons

  • Has no legs
Product dimensions:43.8 x 29.8 x 38.7cm
Age suitability:Recommended for ages six to 36 months
  • Removable tray
  • Three-point harness
  • Safety strap
  • BPA-free tray

Best for being machine washable

Create an instant secure seat out of any dining chair with this star-printed harness. Designed to fit a range of different style chairs, it will stop baby wriggling while you feed them. It doesn't provide any height but provides an easy option if you don't want baby on your lap.

Parent review: "Bought this for our first trip to Spain with my nine-month-old. Don’t know what I would have done without it. Was perfect for the holidays. Small and it’s only a little carry pouch to put into the changing bag. Easy to clip to pretty much every different chair we have come across so far. Convenient when a highchair isn’t available. We have used this many times home and away and it now permanently lives in my changing bag. I couldn’t go out without it."

Pros

  • Easy-to-use clips
  • Safe for machine washing (at 40 degrees)
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Not a full seat
Product dimensions:6 x 12 x 19 cm
Age suitability:Suitable for babies from 6-30 months (from 18lbs)
Material:100 per cent Polyester
  • Rucksack clip fastens
  • Adjustable straps
  • Foldable pouch
  • Machine washable

Best for a quality highchair

Mountain Buggy Pod Portable Highchair, Flint
Price: £76.99
https://redirect.viglink.com?key=eb32892e8a408657289072c26bd927b5&prodOvrd=PCR&opt=false&u=DRZHQksDHUpPFkMeT1dZWlNKTR5UXQ4dXxJLdF1CDBEDWlwVe0cCXxgZYHdyGHReUUkdeFxOel8FDBRxXwMMEB5bVhR0CVEPQB8LDw0GBgANBA%3D%3D&x=v1

This Mountain Buggy portable baby chair is fixed to any kind of table via a sturdy aluminium clamp that makes it super secure for your child to sit in at the table. It's pretty versatile for dining inside and outdoors.

Parent reviews: "I wouldn't be without this, I use it as my day to day highchair and then keep a spare in my car so wherever I am I can just clip her onto the table and I'm away. No more balancing her on my lap and trying to awkwardly feed her. 10/10."

Pros

  • Sturdy extendable clamp
  • Back support

Cons

  • Not the most stylish of designs
Product dimensions:31 x 34 x 4cm
Age suitability:Suitable from six months
  • Flat folding
  • Robust aluminium clamp extendible from 18-45mm
  • Durable 300 deniers
  • Wipe clean fabric
  • Padded back support
  • Carry case

Things to look out for when choosing a portable highchair

Does it fold? - When considering a portable high chair, you need to pick something compact and easy to fold away and store in your vehicle.

Weight - If you struggle to lift heavy things, you'll want to pick a portable chair that is easy for you to carry from your vehicle to the venue, whether that's a cafe or a friend's home. As well as being lightweight, some portable options come with wheels.

Multi-function - You don't necessarily need to pick a full chair that folds up and down. Instead, a booster seat is a fantastic option and makes your life a whole lot easier. Many can convert to cater to your needs, so it's always worth checking for extra features that will fit your lifestyle.

Age suitability - Always check what age the high chair is suitable for. Many high chairs can be used from birth, while others are only suitable from six months old when they start weaning. We've included age suitability in our round-up.

Cleaning - As mums, we know how messy our tots can be, so for many parents, it's important to find a portable high chair that can be wiped down after you've been out and about. We've included the materials in our list so you can see how easy it will be to keep clean.

What are the different types of portable baby highchairs?

Booster seat - This is a popular option for travel purposes when it comes to feeding your child away from home. The booster seat does just that, it raises infants higher than the table you're dining at and doesn't have any legs. Instead, it straps to an existing chair and often features a tray for baby to eat their dinner from.

Highchair - This is similar to your traditional high chair, however, the portable versions are often fully foldable or feature shorter legs that can be adjusted as needed for you to feed baby easily and without hassle.

Clamp seat - A hook-on baby seat, or clamp seat, is a flexible option if you are tight on space. It brings the baby right up to the table you're dining at and you won't take up any extra space inside a restaurant or cafe. The clamp seat may initially look precarious, but many have secure lobster style clamps that you screw into place on the table making them a versatile option for wherever you end up.

Seat harness - A fabric harness reduces the need to carry an entire seat or chair. They are usually attached to the chair with rucksack style straps for the baby to sit inside the harness. It turns any chair into a secure seat.

Safety tips when using a highchair

Another factor that should be at the top of your portable highchair checklist is the safety functions. Some highchairs will have harnesses to ensure your little one is secure, but if they don’t, it’s worth checking the safety features. Like choosing a pushchair, lots of designs will have additional benefits; from adjustable seats to the ability to convert the pushchair into a chair for when your baby outgrows it. There are a few things parents should look out for when purchasing a high chair.

Look out for the British Standard EN 14988:2006 safety standard mark

We all know how much babies and toddlers can wriggle. That's why it's important to choose a highchair with a five-point safety harness, to keep them safe and secure.

How we test and choose recommended products

Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.

Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs.

For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.

Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.