We’re a full time family business based in the UK, with our journey starting when our founder Jen was weaning her first baby. As a result, caring for our children and wanting the best experience for parents is always at the core of everything we do, which certainly sets us apart. Our value busting Long Length Coverall weaning bibs offer 360 degree protection from all food, mess and from stray paint-brushes and pens! Made with a lightweight, durable fabric, your child can still stay cool whilst having full coverage. Both our long length coverall bib, and our long and short sleeve, are compatible with any highchair and come with a zipped travel pouch to take with you on the go! These ensure that your child always has somewhere safe and age-appropriate to eat when they’re not at home – whether that’s at a grandparent’s house, a friend’s, or away on holiday – although many are designed so well that people use them at home too. We spend hours researching, speaking to parents, analysing data and listening to experts before we test out the products on our shortlist. So, the decision comes down to the best fit for your family. Our Bib & Tray Kit is an essential for early baby led weaning and sensory playtime. Our coverall bibs are available in both long sleeve and short sleeve, giving you options for hot sunny days and making this easier for babies who just don’t like sleeves!

A beautiful, intelligently designed chair with lots of thoughtful details, the Oribel Cocoon missed out on our transitional award as it’s still only suitable up to age three. But it’s a stylish and flexible model, available in four attractive colours, that will complement your kitchen and make mealtimes a breeze. A multifunctional highchair is a step-up in functionality and price. It has been designed to include features that make life easier or that adjust the chair to suit your child. How can it be cleaned and dried? They are going to get messy so how they can be cleaned is important. They can either be wiped clean, hand-washed, machine-washed or put in the dishwasher. You may also want to consider whether the fabric is suitable for tumble drying.

As reliable as it is ubiquitous, in our extensive tests the IKEA Antilop excelled, living up to its reputation as the king of all highchairs. While it may not look like anything special, our Mumsnet users rave about this highchair for being budget-friendly, functional and easy to clean up after mealtimes. This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered: Size: Finding the best fit for your baby is important to prevent any mess when they’re self-feeding. Keep your baby’s clothes and their surroundings clean by choosing a bib that is large enough to cover your toddler’s body and even their hands. You can also opt for a self-feeding bib that covers the highchair that your baby uses. Keep in mind that baby-led weaning can be messy and lasts until your baby is at least 24 months old, so choose a bib that you can use across this time frame.

For this category, Rachel partnered with Katrĩna, who has a nine-month-old baby and a 33-month-old toddler to juggle at mealtimes, so was able to put all our products through their paces over the course of three months. Type: Freestanding highchair which converts into a toddler chair | Materials: Not stated | Suitable from: 6 months+ | Harness: Yes | Wheels?: No What we love It’s a good idea to read up on their specs before choosing one to make sure you’ll be able to use it safely. It’s helpful when travel chairs collapse to a portable size and many come with their own carry cases or shoulder straps to help with this. The robustness of the safety harness (is it three-point or five? Does it seem secure when attached?)Can’t be used without an adult dining chair to hold it – not convenient for everyone’s dining situation Although some of the chairs we tested had extra accessories making them suitable for smaller babies, children should only use a highchair to eat once they’re able to sit unaided.

We have the Mountain Buggy one for use away from home - it’s brilliant. A little big for our 8 month old still but it works fine." Recommended by Mumsnetter BerthaYoung Our verdictWe had the Oribel Cocoon. It was brilliant, so sturdy, height adjustable and it will recline if you need to keep your baby out of the way of the dogs while you cook and they nap or something." hubbletelescope Our verdict Highchairs are a safe and supportive place for your baby to eat before they’re old and tall enough to sit on an adult-sized dining chair. Most come with a plastic tray so your baby can see and reach their food easily – especially useful when first weaning. The life-span of your chair will depend on the type of model you choose, as some are intended to be used throughout childhood and beyond (see section below). You’re likely to find a chair with a tray essential from first weaning up to the age of three.

Big gap between tray and the baby, even in its closest setting – a little inconvenient for mealtimes As child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed says, sitting your child at your eye level and at (or close to) the rest of the family at mealtimes aids their development. Five products were then awarded a Mumsnet Best badge – these are the products that we feel offer the best value for most parents. We also gave honourable mentions to three others. The relevant safety directive to look out for is EU directive EN 14988:2017, which specifically sets out standards for children’s highchairs.Multifunctional options might also include newborn accessories so you can use the chair before six months, or have a removable tray so the chair converts from a standalone chair to a table-side one. They usually fold away and often stand when folded for easier storage, and come with luxuriously padded cushions, which are comfortable for your baby to sit on but are crumb magnets for any dropped food. At the inexpensive end of the spectrum are the budget chairs. These tend to be standalone highchairs (intended to be used by themselves using a plastic tray, instead of being pulled up to a table), short on adjustability features and elaborate design – favouring instead a functional simplicity that often, incidentally, means they’re much easier to clean. Highchairs have come a long way in the last couple of decades as companies have begun to apply intelligent design to baby equipment. There are several broad types on the market, so consider which functions are important to you before making your choice. 1. Budget highchairs It seems like only yesterday you were shopping around for the best breast pump or baby bottles for feeding your little one, now they're ready to graduate to sitting at the table and eating solid foods. But there's more to weaning than just making sure there's an Ella's pouch in your changing bag at all times, and thankfully Mumsnetters are on hand to help you navigate this messy time. While it may just seem like just a place to pop your child while they eat, there's more to what makes the best highchair than just how it looks. Parents want one that is easy to clean after messy mealtimes - because food will get into every little nook and cranny! - as well as straps that are safe and a good size tray. But there are a host of other extra features that you can look out for too.