Cybex Iris 3-in-1 Highchair review

From those first tastes of weaning to mealtimes with a growing toddler, having a practical highchair helps to take some of the stress away. For our tester and their 23-month-old son, Jesse, a safe, comfortable and easy-to-clean highchair is essential. The Cybex Iris 3-in-1 (with baby set) offers this and so much more. It is suitable from 6 months to 99 years, so it is the ultimate product to grow with your little (or big) one. Scroll down to find out how they got on testing the Cybex Iris

Testing the Cybex Iris 3-in-1

Our family is currently using the IKEA ANTILOP highchair, which is practical but as basic as they come so we were looking forward to using something that felt a little more luxurious. Having modified our ANTILOP by adding extras such as leg wraps, footrest and a cushion insert, it increased the price of the otherwise very affordable highchair. So, although the Cybex Iris 3-in-1 had a much higher price point, it effortlessly fitted right into our home decor without making any costly adjustments.

When the Cybex Iris 3-in-1 arrived, the box was large, and I was initially concerned about the weight as we often move our highchair around rather than keeping it in one spot. However, whilst unpacking those concerns were eased, the product was just really well packaged with lots of protection to avoid the finish of the highchair being damaged. Both the highchair and the baby set were also in separate smaller boxes and then packaged together in a larger box making it seem much bigger.

Although it looked like there were lots of parts and self-assembly was required, the highchair was very easily put together by following the simple in-box step-by-step instructions. I was able to complete this by myself, within half an hour, with the kit provided and just an additional screwdriver, which was only required for adding the baby set.

With the help of our toddler, we tested the Cybex Iris 3-in-1 with the baby set attached. To use the baby set, the seat must be set at a specific height so initially it was a little bit of trial and error to get the footrest at the correct height. Due to the central bar that is in a fixed position, it meant the footrest needed to be a touch higher or lower than would be ideal for Jesse. We went with the lower option as this felt more comfortable and gave him more room. It is easy to adjust the height of both the seat and footrest by using the tool provided to loosen the sides, remove both parts and slot back into the marked grooves so that they work best for your child’s height.

We tested the highchair for breakfast, lunch and dinner over the course of a month, we tested it freestanding with the tray attached and also at the table with the tray removed. In addition to using the highchair for mealtimes, we used it for activities such as crafting and baking.

We found it provided a great safe place for all the above activities with little to complain about. The seat ensured that Jesse sat in a safe, upright position for mealtimes with somewhere to rest his feet. There is no safety harness provided, but there are slots for a strap harness, and this can be purchased separately. We didn’t feel the need to get this as we like to be able to remove him quickly in case of emergency without fiddling with straps – however, these may be beneficial for those with escape artist toddlers who don’t sit still at mealtimes.

We did find the tray table to be very slippery, which was the only thing we didn’t love about the baby set. Cups and plates were easily pushed off the side, and the tray didn’t have a very big lip around the edge to prevent things from ending up on the floor. This is easily rectified by using suction plates, which worked well on the surface.

The finish of the highchair made it so easy to clean. You can access all areas to wipe clean without food getting stuck in any nooks. We have previously used the Baby Elegance Nup Nup and we had real issues with being able to properly clean and sanitise. So, the benefits of cleaning really outweighed the negatives of the slippery tray. One thing we would note on cleaning is being sure to dry all surfaces too, otherwise the black finish easily leaves streaks.

We loved being able to use the Cybex Iris either around the house with the tray attached or pushed up against our dining table without the tray. The height aligned perfectly with our table, and it was a great way to use the highchair for other activities such as crafts. It also felt like Jesse was more included at the table for family mealtimes when using this way too.

With no older children around during the four weeks that we tested the product, we were unable to test the highchair without the baby set. However, we did play around with the seat and footrest heights before adding the baby set when we initially assembled it, and both my partner and I sat in the chair set up for adult height, which felt comfortable.

Once assembled, the Cybex Iris cannot be folded down or collapsed in any way to make the product smaller to store. This wasn’t an issue for us as we removed the tray and kept it pushed under our dining table. The legs at the base do stick out, but not really any more than your average dining chair legs so I don’t see this ever being a trip hazard. We haven’t tripped up this highchair once in the month we have been using it and we used to trip over the IKEA ANTILOP legs daily! It is also worth noting that when the baby seat is removed, it will slot under the table even further.

Final verdict

We love the luxurious feel of the Cybex Iris 3-in-1 highchair. It fits perfectly into a modern home and although it doesn’t fold away, we don’t feel like we need to hide it away or worry about it being in the way.

It is lightweight enough to move around the house so that you can have family meals at the table, alfresco dine in the garden or do crafts and baking in the kitchen. It is effortlessly easy to assemble, keep clean and adjust as your child grows. The price point is higher than we would like to spend on a highchair, and we felt some of the extras available to buy should be included. But owning other Cybex products since our nearly two-year-old was a newborn, we know that quality and product longevity are always guaranteed, making it worth the spend.

The Cybex Iris 3-in-1 really feels like a quality piece of furniture rather than just a highchair. We are excited to continue using it as Jesse grows and would recommend to friends and family with children, toddlers and babies starting their weaning journey. It would be nice to see a newborn set available like other Cybex models so that it can be used from birth.

Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby. With a background in both print and digital journalism, she has written extensively on pregnancy, fertility, perinatal mental health, and the best in baby and parenting products. A first-time mum to Theodore, Emily combines her professional expertise with personal experience, offering readers trusted advice and relatable insight. Specialising in product and travel reviews, she stays ahead of the curve on the latest parenting trends and is passionate about showing that life with a little one can still be full of adventure.