Maxi-Cosi Minla review

No matter their age, your little one will always be part of family mealtimes with the Maxi-Cosi Minla highchair. With its five recline, four tray and nine height positions, you can use it as a relaxed infant seat thanks to the cosy inlay, as a highchair or as a cool booster seat with tray. Whilst they can't guarantee less of a mess, Maxi-Cosi can ensure a hassle-free clean up as Minla benefits from washable covers and a compact fold, although with its premium fabrics and stylish look, you won't want to put it away.

Testing the Maxi-Cosi Minla

The Maxi-Cosi Minla highchair is a multifunctional, stylish, and thoughtfully designed seat that evolves with your child from birth to six years. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from M&B testers, this highchair proves itself not just as a feeding chair but as a long-term seating solution that combines comfort, versatility, and ease of use in a compact and attractive package.

Right away, the Minla makes a great impression with its sleek design and modern finish. Tracy highlights that “it looks modern and sleek, not ugly and clunky at all,” while Jen adds that “the colours of this highchair make it stylish and great to look at.” The wood-effect legs and muted tones allow it to blend beautifully into a contemporary home without screaming “baby gear.”

Despite its versatility, it’s also lightweight and compact when folded, with a clever design that allows the tray to clip onto the back for neat storage, as Tracy notes. Rebecca calls it “an all-singing, all-dancing high chair” that “folds up well for such a big comfy high chair/stool.”

Where the Maxi-Cosi Minla truly shines is its longevity. It functions as a reclined newborn seat, a traditional highchair, a booster seat, and even a stool for older children. “Its longevity is its best feature, being able to use it from birth, during weaning/toddlerhood and beyond,” says Tracy. Jen agrees, noting that “you only need to buy one product rather than several.”

The adjustability is impressive, including recline positions, height settings, and an adjustable footrest, which makes the chair suitable for different stages and sizes. Rebecca praises the attention to detail: “It’s lovely to use this from birth so your baby is close to you at mealtimes—you can start family meals together without having to hold your little one.”

Comfort and convenience go hand in hand with the Minla. The soft, padded inlay is water-repellent, but doesn’t feel plasticky. Jen appreciates that “the cushion is wipe clean without it being plastic-feel (baby doesn’t stick to it when sweaty).” Rebecca reinforces this, saying the inlay is “lovely and soft unlike plastic-coated seat inlays that crack with constant cleaning.”

The Minla also excels in ease of cleaning—a must for any family with young children. “It is easy to clean with its water repellent fabric, as well as being able to be unzipped and put in the washing machine,” explains Tracy. The dishwasher-safe tray is another win. “The removable tray is able to go in the dishwasher which saves so much cleaning up time,” Rebecca shares.

Another standout quality of the Minla is its adaptability to any household setting. “It can also be used as a travel seat, connecting to a dining chair,” says Jen. Rebecca adds, “The chair can be adapted to be used as a booster seat on a regular chair with straps that are attached to the seat, saving room around the dining table.”

Height adjustability is particularly helpful during weaning. “You can sit anywhere with your child while feeding,” notes Rebecca, adding that “the adjustable footrest is helpful as not all children are the same.” The tray can also be pushed in close or removed altogether, making mealtimes more inclusive and natural at the family table.

Though the Minla scores highly across the board, a few minor critiques came up. Jen expressed concern about the stool mode for older children, noting that “it doesn’t look particularly safe as doesn’t have a harness or back.” Tracy mentioned that “the tray is an awkward shape with a hole for a drinking cup, which may interfere with suction plates.”

Rebecca's only suggestion was optional: “It would be useful to buy spare covers so one can be in the wash and one on the chair—but this is not essential and does not affect use.”

Final verdict

The Maxi-Cosi Minla highchair is an impressively versatile, well-built, and aesthetically pleasing solution that adapts seamlessly as your child grows. Its standout features include ease of cleaning, comfort, multi-stage adjustability, and compact storage—all wrapped in a stylish design that enhances your living space rather than clutters it.

Rebecca sums it up best: “It is so functional, easy to keep clean, and stylish—it would be a great addition to any growing family.”

Whether you’re feeding a newborn or accommodating a school-aged child at the table for meals, play, or crafts, the Minla delivers excellent value and everyday ease.

About the author

Rebecca Lancaster is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby, drawing on ten years of parenting her two children to help others navigating their own parenting journey. As a freelance writer, she spent ten years working with leading lifestyle brands, from travel companies to food and drink start-ups, and writing everything from hotel reviews to guides to the best British cheeses. She’s particularly interested in travel and introducing her children to the excitement of visiting new places, trying different foods (less successfully) and experiencing different cultures.