Highchairs - recommendations please

[ContemplatingInfinity]

Hi,

My baby's approaching weaning age so I need to buy a highchair and the choice is bewildering to say the least! Ideally I'd like one that folds away, one that has a tray that can be removed / folded back so it can be pulled up to the table as well. He's not quite sitting yet so one with an insert or something to support him would be good (I'm not planning on weaning until he's six months but at the moment he's in his bouncy chair when we eat and I think he's getting frustrated at not being able to see what we're doing - this doesn't make for peaceful mealtimes! I'd like to be able to put him in it so he can get used to being at the table and watching us eat so he has some idea what's coming when it's his turn.) My mum's offered to buy us one so budget isn't a massive issue but I won't be spending hundreds and hundreds. I'm also not that fussed about mess - we have a dog who's kindly agreed to deal with anything that goes on the floor.

Can anyone recommend a good highchair that fits the bill?

And is there anything else I should be thinking about?

Thanks very much.

Get the ikea antilop one. Everyone recommended this to me and I refused to believe them as it is very cheap. I bought an expensive, padded monstrosity that I was constantly tripping over and impossible to clean. Soon swapped it for an Antilop:

Cheap (very)
Small
Light
Comes in nice primary colours
VERY easy to clean (the easiest I have come across - do not underestimate the need for this)
Portable - can take legs off
Optional detachable tray
Optional padded insert for first few weeks if they are little
Easy to use straps

Think some of the wooden ones look nice too and aren't too bulky but nothing beat and Antilop for hygiene and ease of keeping clean (I reiterate - do not underestimate importance of this :))

I loved the Tripp trapp ones that can b altered as you child grows- so they sit well at the table. My Ds - 7 is still using his as a chair. They are a little more expensive & save you in booster seats etc.

antilop - for all the flatmum says. Plus you can actually put the chair bit in the dishwasher (disclaimer: not owning a dishwasher I'm only reporting what friends told me).

If money was no object I'd go for the tripp trapp. Just because it looks nice.

Antilop. Had it for both of mine. It goes in the dishwasher or the shower and the legs come off so it can go in a cupboard or in the back of the car.

Ikea antilop

Antilopp even though it doesn't collapse. I got it, thinking I'd buy a fancy one once I knew what I liked. The antilopp has done 2 children proud and I'll use it for no3 in due course.

Wow - lots of votes for the antilop! Thanks very much everyone, I'll have a look at that and the Tripp Trapp.

I have a baby Bjorn one at home which fits your requirements. Super easy to clean, folds away neatly, light. It provided support to my DD when she was almost sitting up.

We've used the ikea one in several cafés and she is very happy in that too. Nice big tray for her to play on. A friend has the Tripp Trapp and is very upset that her DS prefers the ikea one!

Happy weaning!

Another vote for the Antilop. It is so small and light that it doesn't bother me that it doesn't fold away. We have ours at the table instead of a dining chair, DS loves that he is eating with us properly and seems comfy in it. We have used others, but they have always felt grubby as you can't give them a good clean like you can the Antilop. They feel a bit unwieldy as well.

We also have a Phil and Ted's travel one that clamps onto the table. That has been brilliant, it is small and light enough to throw into the bottom of the pram or a suitcase if we are going away. It doubles as a 2nd one for home if we have guests too. My only problem with it is that it is a bit hard to clean (compared to the Antilop!) as the fact it folds means it has to be made of fabric. It's no worse than a normal highchair, it still wipes down pretty well.

I know I sound obsessed with cleaning, but ours has been weed, pooed and vommed in more times than you'd imagine so being able to give it a good clean is very important to me! Top tip: naked meal times - not a good idea! ;-p

Antilop. All the way. We bought another to keep at IL's house as they're so cheap; it's used by DS's cousins, too

The cleaning aspect was most important to us, seconded by cost. DS now 2.1 still loves it, we have taken the tray off.

I also used to put him in it just inside the bathroom door when I was having a shower so he was safe (h hated the playpen). It was light enough to carry upstairs.

My 31/2 year old still sits in his antilop as a dining chair at the kitchen table! Don't think we ever used the tray with him, just pushed it up against the table. Mine were quite small so the blow up foam insert thing was great at 6-7 months when they were starting off.