Babies and toddlers are easily distracted, and the sight of a tempting toy can throw the whole meal off. We've tested this model and it passed all our safety tests. It's possible to push over most high chairs, and manufacturers do say that children should not be left in a high chair unattended as it's unsafe. However, we know this is not always practical when you've got young children and you're trying to prepare dinner and get things done.

Look over the seat pads or cushion. Stains or fading patterns are fine, but look out for holes where a nimble-fingered baby might pull out foam, as it can be a choking hazard. Some babies are ready to try solid foods from around four-to-five months, but according to the NHS guidelines what they can and can’t eat is restrictive at this time. However, by six months, almost all solid foods are on the table. Your baby must be able to sit upright with their head held steady, without support, and other signs that they might be ready for solid food include chewing and swallowing motions without the tongue-thrust reflex pushing objects out of the mouth, as well as curiosity about what you’re eating. If you’re seeing all these signs pretty consistently, then chances are your baby is ready to move from a liquid to solid diet. So you’ve chosen a high chair, now what? Regardless of whether you’re spoon-feeding your baby or going down the path of baby-led weaning, there are a couple of essentials you’ll need. These include bowls, spoons, a cup and bibs. It helps to have at least two of each so one can be washed while the other is being used. There are dozens of options to choose from, but we recommend a pair of plastic, bamboo, or silicone bowls; a plate with compartments; a pair of training spoons; a sippy cup; a pair of bibs with a catch tray (also typically made of silicone); and a pair of wearable bibs for when you’re ready to let them get messy. You could also opt for a weaning mat, which sits underneath the high chair to catch all the falling food to make cleaning up that little bit easier. Folding high chairs – with some high chairs, you have to remove the tray before you fold it. This can become annoying if you have to do it several times a day, although some have handy spots on the frame where you can store the tray when it's not in use. Key specs – Height: 107.3cm; Weight: 12.2kg; Other: 5-point safety harness, detachable tray, optional newborn insert; Age: 6 months to 6 yearsThe 3Sixti2 is available in a range of colourful and engaging prints that might not appeal to all tastes, but will be loved by babies and toddlers. The two-part tray is a great addition, and can be removed for when your little one wants to join you at the table. As you’d expect, this highchair is water-resistant and made from luxe wipe-clean fabrics, to protect against inevitable spillages and accidents. This fun-loving design from Infantino is a brilliant value-for-money high chair that converts into a booster and toddler seat. Naturally, thanks to its engaging and colourful design, it proved a hit with our one-year-old tester, but it’s great for parents, too.

Cleaning: As mums, we know how messy our tots can be. So for many parents, it's important to find a high chair that's easy to clean. We've included the materials in our list so you can see how easy it will be to keep clean. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{

Unboxing

Harness – most high chairs have a five-point harness, but some have a three-point one (so it fits around the waist and between the legs, but has no shoulder straps). You'll likely see a solid crotch bar (also known as a pommel) to help prevent your baby from slipping forward out of the chair. The chair’s adjustability means it will see your child from baby to toddler. This means it will last longer than most so it's good value for money.

Your baby will be ready to wean at approximately six months old. This is when the Buffet’s detachable tray with a dishwasher safe tray divider will come in handy. Once your baby is old enough to sit up at the table, you can remove the tray and use the chair with or without the T-bar insert. Key specs – Height: 84cm; Weight: 4.5kg; Other: 360-degree chair spin, 2-position adjustable tray, 5-point safety harness; Age: 6 months to 3 years (max weight, 15kg)The padding and five-point harness help to hold my baby upright which is important as she isn’t able to sit up unaided at the moment despite being over six months. Try not to put your little one in their high chair until their food is completely ready. That way, their stamina and attention span is saved for eating the meal itself. Tray – our tests found that the bigger the tray, the better. Some trays include a sippy cup holder, while others come with removable tray inserts – making cleaning up much easier. A tray that's adjustable and detachable is a useful feature to look out for, as it will allow your baby plenty of extra space in the high chair as he or she grows.

As the name suggests, this parent-favourite has six different modes, including three recline options (with cushioned newborn insert) that let you keep your young baby near you while in the kitchen. As they get older and you start weaning, the seat can be placed more upright with a tray table attached. It’s straightforward to assemble without the need for tools, and easily transforms into a booster or pre-schooler chair by unclipping or clipping-in the extendable legs and removing the detachable try. There’s a recline option, too, which means it can be used by babies from as young as three months, when they start to show an interest in wanting to sit upright and join you at the table, but can’t quite support themselves. The quality of the materials used in the product is evident, particularly on the seat cushioning with the luxe leather feel. The chair is also clearly well-engineered with all mechanisms smooth and intuitive - both signifiers of premium quality.Our only gripe? This perhaps isn’t the easiest chair to store when it isn’t in use. The wheels on the bottom of the legs are great for moving it around the house, but aren’t ideal for storage. The legs also flare out quite a bit, so you’d likely need to unclip all the parts and store them separately if you’re tight on space.