The Best High Chairs That Won’t Take Over Your Small Space

The Mockingbird High Chair combines sleek design with practical functionality for space-conscious parents. Its slim profile and straight legs create a minimal footprint (16.5 inches wide by 24 inches deep) while maintaining its stability, making it perfect for apartment dining areas or small kitchens. We’re big fans of Mockingbird’s strollers and were really excited when they launched this high chair in November 2023; in fact, it’s quickly become a Babylist parent and editor favorite. It’s also packed with thoughtful features, like the unique straps and double tray, plus the grow-with-me design. One Babylist parent wrote, “You can tell a parent designed this! It had so many helpful features that I often find myself saying, ‘that’s so smart!’” 

The easy-to-clean surfaces including a dishwasher-safe tray liner and a seat that's practically crevice-free make after-meal cleanup super easy. Unlike other high chairs, this one features silicone straps you can simply wipe off—a revolutionary feat most parents will agree on. The adjustable height settings and removable tray mean this high chair can grow with your baby, turning into a chair that'll pull right up to your table once the high chair days are over. “I selected this chair due to its small profile (fits perfectly!), the benefit of the silicone straps (easy to clean), the low-crevice design (low, but baby does find a way to sneak food into places I didn’t ever think of),” one Babylist parent wrote.

There are a few things parents don’t love. The tray requires two hands to get on and off, something that can be tricky when wrangling a baby for mealtime. And while the straps are super easy to clean, some parents note that they’re a bit stiff and not as comfortable on baby’s neck as fabric straps would be. Quite a few Babylist parents mentioned the tray stains easily, too. “While it certainly wipes clean, my high chair after just a month of use is stained orange in multiple places from sweet potatoes and carrots,” one parent wrote. Latifah Miles, Babylist’s senior commerce editor, says she figured out a trick to remove discoloration: “We've had spaghetti and every berry under the sun and it stains for a little while, but when I spray with Dawn spray wash, it comes right up.”

Additional Specs

• Footprint: 24” x 16.5” 

• Weight: 16.5 lbs

• Usage: 6 mos up to 150 lbs

• Adjustments: 3 seat positions, 4 footrest positions

The iconic Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair stands as a space-saving marvel with its innovative "grow-with-your-child" design. Unlike bulky traditional high chairs, its slim, angled frame slides directly up to your table without a tray. Its size—about 18 inches wide by 19 inches deep—gives it a smaller footprint in tight dining areas. I didn’t think we needed a full high chair (planned to use the Ingelesina), but it’s amazing, and I love it,” one parent responded to our annual best baby products survey. The Tripp Trapp is consistently voted a favorite by Babylist parents in our annual best baby product survey of thousands of real parents. (Both of my toddlers have used their Tripp Trapps since they could sit unassisted, and we also lived in a small, 800-square-foot home.) 

It features a solid wood construction that supports children from infancy through adulthood (really, it can hold up to 242 pounds) with an adjustable seat and footplate. The Tripp Trapp also comes in a ton of colors to match any home decor and style. 

Another thing parents appreciate about this high chair? It can actually be used from birth with the newborn attachment, which is included in the bundle linked here. A bunch of Babylist parents specifically called the attachment out in our annual best baby products survey. “I thought it would just be a high chair for eating but it is a versatile seat we use for many purposes and the infant attachment was genius when baby was tiny,” one wrote. Another parent said, “The infant seat means she has sat with us for meals since day one. We like it better than a bouncer because she's off the floor so the dog can't lick her.” Its versatility eliminates the need for multiple seating solutions as your child grows—something that is super helpful for small-space living. 

There are a few things that could be better in this chair’s design. The biggest complaint is that it’s time-consuming to put together and adjust as your little one grows. You need an Allen wrench (which comes with it) to put the high chair together and make adjustments as needed. It also has a lot of surface area and nooks and crannies for food to end up in, which makes it time-consuming to clean. The older models have fabric straps that were a pain to wipe down, but Stokke recently updated the design so they’re much easier to keep clean now. And lastly, this is definitely an expensive option, though the longevity and durability mean you can use it for years to come. 

Additional Specs

• Footprint: 19.3” x 18”

• Weight: 15.4 lbs

• Usage: 6 mos up to 300 lbs; from birth with addition of the Newborn Set

• Adjustments: 3 seat positions, 5 footrest positions

The Inglesina Fast Table Chair offers an ingenious space-saving solution that attaches directly to your table edge or countertop, eliminating the need for floor space entirely. This stylish clip-on high chair securely fastens to most tables up to three and half inches thick with twist-tight clamps and supports children six months to three years or up to 37 pounds. Its compact fold-flat design makes for easy storage and transportation, and the included carrying bag makes it perfect for dining out or visiting family. Its travel-friendly features are something parents love: “It is so conveniently packable, easy to carry and store in the car. I honestly think this is a top five baby must-have items for us,” one Babylist parent wrote in their review. The whole thing weighs around four pounds.

If the design makes you a bit nervous—since it’s essentially hanging on to another surface—know that it’s super secure. One parent said, “this thing is crazy sturdy.” It’s not too difficult to keep clean, either. One complaint is that the material gets messy easily, but the removable, machine-washable cover helps simplify cleanup. We also love the dishwasher-safe tray (included in this set) that helps keep food off of your table or countertop. 

The biggest downside to this high chair is the lack of a footrest. While most families love it for travel, if you plan to use it at home, you’ll want to modify it by placing a box (or something similar) under your baby’s feet during mealtime to increase their comfort and support their posture. “When babies have support under their feet it helps them be more stable and sit up straight, [and] this can help with eating," says Anderson. She doesn't think this is a dealbreaker though, noting that most babies are fine either way. At around $100, this option isn’t cheap compared to other travel-friendly high chairs, but the space-saving convenience and durability make it worth the investment for most families.

Additional Specs

• Footprint: N/A

• Weight: 10 lbs

• Usage: 6-36 mos, up to 37 lbs

• Adjustments: N/A

Another option that doesn’t actually take up any floor space is this Chicco Take a Seat booster seat—and it's affordable at $50.  The Take a Seat delivers functionality without sacrificing comfort or safety, securely attaching to your kitchen table's dining chair. It allows baby to eat at the table with everyone else, something many parents appreciate. “We can use the seat to have him sit at the table with us and he loved that,” one Babylist parent said in their review.

When you’re not using it, the booster collapses flat for easy storage if you want to put it away (it's only about a foot wide when folded). That also makes it a good option for travel. The removable tray and machine-washable seat pad simplify cleanup, while the three-point harness keeps your little one secured. Another thing to love is that it also doubles as a floor seat for early sitters and, later, a toddler chair. This long-lasting, versatile booster can be used from six months to five years, or up to 50 pounds.

The biggest complaint parents have about this booster is the difficulty of removing the tray. It requires two hands and a bit of effort. But as long as you follow the instructions for removal, other parents say they haven’t had trouble. And while the cover is machine-washable, it does have quite a few nooks and crannies food can end up in. “Had I known it had as many crevices as it does I wouldn't have purchased,” a Babylist parent wrote.

Additional Specs

• Footprint: Base measures 15.75” x 17.5”

• Weight: 6 lbs

• Usage: 6-60 mos, up to 50 lbs

• Adjustments: 3 height positions

If you’re looking for a minimalist, space-efficient high chair option that blends in seamlessly with your home, this is the perfect pick for you. Like the Chicco above, Babylist parents appreciate that this booster allows baby a seat at the table. “The chair allowed him to get very close to our dining table top which was crucial for making him feel a part of the dining experience,” one wrote. The booster itself is easy to put together and securely attaches to your dining chair. The minimalist one-piece seat design also means it’s easy to wipe down—no nooks and crannies here. The brand also makes a detachable tray if you want to use that instead of your table and a machine-washable cushion insert for comfort (both sold separately).

In addition to all of the versatile features, the modern, sleek design of this booster is one of the main things parents love. “We love our Lalo booster. It was super easy to put together and it’s aesthetically pleasing as well 😍” one Babylist parent wrote in their review. It's also versatile, with the ability to convert to a chair for Lalo’s play table with the Play Leg kit, sold separately. You could also convert this booster into a full-size high chair if you wanted to; Lalo sells the crossbar, belly bar and high chair legs on their website.

There are very few things parents don’t like about this seat. Aside from being a bit pricey, some parents find their younger babies don’t fit in it as well because the seat itself is rather deep. “Maybe I need to buy the cushion? But this chair is very difficult for my seven-month-old to sit in,” one Babylist parent wrote in their review. The brand does make an infant support you can add to the seat for added posture support. (Note: this doesn't mean you can use this booster if your baby isn't sitting unassisted, it's just an added support for those who need it). The booster is also pretty heavy, weighing around 10 pounds. So it's not an ideal choice if you’re looking for something portable.

Additional Specs

• Footprint: Base measures 16” x 16”

• Weight: 8 lbs

• Usage: 4-36 mos, up to 50 lbs

• Adjustments: N/A

The Minla 6-in-1 is the chair for parents who want a full-size high chair but are super short on space. The footprint is about 34 by 22 inches, but more importantly, the whole thing folds down if you want to put it away when it is not in use. “My favorite part is how compact it can fold up to be when it's not in use. I'm so sick of giant baby products all over my house, but this one is barely noticeable when it's folded up and it actually matches my home decor anyway,” a Babylist parent wrote in their review.

In addition to that, it has a few other great features parents appreciate. It has five recline positions, four tray positions, and nine height settings that allow it to grow with your baby. It can transform from an infant lounger to a toddler dining chair. Its one-hand removable tray, zip-off machine-washable seat pad and dishwasher-safe tray insert make post-meal clean-up a breeze.

The Maxi-Cosi Minla does have some notable drawbacks. The chair's multiple adjustment mechanisms, while versatile, can be finicky to operate and occasionally stick after food debris builds up in the joints. Some parents report that the tray, though removable with one hand, doesn't always slide on smoothly and can require precise alignment. The plush seat padding has numerous crevices where crumbs can hide, making deep cleaning a time-consuming process (even with the machine-washable cover). Lastly, it's not lightweight. At 21.5 pounds, it's on the heavier side for a foldable option, especially if you want to move it around frequently. 

Additional Specs

• Footprint: 34” x 22”

• Weight: 24.6 lbs

• Usage: Birth to 50 lbs

• Adjustments: 5 recline positions, 4 tray positions, 9 height positions

Graco's Slim Snacker truly lives up to its name. It's pretty similar to the Minla, except for a few key differences. The first is that when folded down, it's just nine inches wide—making it easy to tuck away in narrow pantries or between appliances when not in use. Next is the price; it's about $100 dollars less, making it a great pick for budget-conscious families.

The full-size tray with a cup holder can also be removed with one hand for quick mealtime transitions, which parents say they appreciate. This high chair is also relatively easy to clean, and the seat pad is machine-washable. The Slim Snacker also has a unique storage basket feature beneath the seat, which can be helpful in small spaces short on storage. You can keep a few bibs, wipes and washcloths handy for cleanup. 

Parents’ biggest gripe is that the seat cover is hard to remove if you want to throw it in the washing machine. “It’s a HUGE pain to get all the crumbs out,” one Babylist parent wrote in their review. Another mentioned that if you do manage to get it completely off, it’s equally difficult to get it back on. The straps are also made of fabric and are hard to wipe off. The Slim Snacker also doesn’t have an adjustable footrest.

Additional Specs

• Footprint: 35.5” x 25”

• Weight: 14.2 lbs

• Usage: Up to 36 mos or 40 lbs

• Adjustments: 3 recline positions