While many parents are quick to shop for high chairs, booster seats tend to get left behind. Even when you consider a booster seat, they’re mostly associated with cars. Booster seats can be useful for vehicles, sure, but they’re also more versatile when used as a substitute for a high chair. In fact, booster seats can function as standalone chairs and tables for babies.
Booster seats can be used indoors, outdoors, and even in places like restaurants. Plus, in some cases, booster seats provide more stability and safety than your average high chair. But to choose the right booster seat, you’ll need to keep a find things in mind.
- Factors to Consider When Shopping for Booster Seats for Eating
- Top 10 Booster Seats for Eating 2023
- 1. Best Overall Booster Seat: Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster
- 2. Best Booster Seat for Babies: Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat
- 3. Best Premium Booster Seat: Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Set
- 4. Most Stylish Booster Seat: Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler Booster Seat
- 5. Best Booster Seat for the Beach: Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat
- 6. Best Attachable Booster Seat: Kaboost Booster Seat
- 7. Best Multi-Function Booster Seat: Bumbo Baby Multi-Function Seat with Tray
- 8. Best Portable Booster Seat: Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat
- 9. Best Budget Booster Seat: Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat
- 10. Best Booster Seat and High Chair Combination: Graco Simple Switch Portable High Chair and Booster
- Everything You Need To Know About Portable High Chairs and Booster Seats
- Booster Seat for Eating FAQ
- Final Thoughts
Factors to Consider When Shopping for Booster Seats for Eating
The Age of Your Child
First and foremost, you need to consider the age of your child. Some booster seats are bigger than others, which can be uncomfortable for smaller children. When you’re shopping for a booster seat, and one that you’ll be using often, always make sure it’s age-appropriate or you’ll be left with one unhappy child. Keep in mind, some booster seats are adaptable, and fit a wide range of ages.
Material
Booster seats for eating are generally made with one of two materials, nylon and plastic. While both materials work well, each one has strengths and weaknesses.
Plastic Booster Seats
Plastic booster seats are great for indoor usage, and they tend to be more versatile than nylon booster seats. For example, plastic booster seats can be turned into high chairs and set up in different ways. Plus, some of them include removable pieces you can take with you to restaurants. Plastic booster seats are also easier to clean because most of them come with dishwasher-safe parts.
Nylon Booster Seats
Nylon booster seats are better suited for outdoor usage. If you’re looking to have some fun in the sun down by the beach, taking a nylon booster seat with you is the best way to go. Nylon booster seats also use less space because you can fold them easier. The only downside to nylon booster seats is that they’re less effective when used with regular chairs.
The Weight of Your Child
While most booster seats can handle upwards of fifty or sixty pounds, not every booster seat is sturdy enough for large children. When you’re considering a booster seat, especially if you’ll be attaching one to a chair, you want to make sure it can handle your child’s weight. Unfortunately, if your child is too heavy, it can lead to instability and slippage.
Price
Booster seats are similar in price to high chairs. While they’re not expensive, there is a lot of price variation depending on the product you’re looking at. There is a lot that factors into the price, including features and the material it’s made out of. After reviewing each product, we’ve grouped each booster seat into three different categories:
$: Around $20
$$: Around $30
$$$: Around $40
So, if booster seats for eating have been on your mind, read on. We’re going to take you through the ten best booster seats for eating and provide you with shopping tips along the way.
Top 10 Booster Seats for Eating 2023
1. Best Overall Booster Seat: Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $$
- Material: Nylon
- Weight Limit: 37 pounds
- Ages: 6 months+
The Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster comes with plenty of features that make it one of the best booster seats you can find. The nylon is soft and comfortable, but it doesn’t feel flimsy or unsafe. This makes it great to use with adult chairs or outside. If you use it inside, it includes straps to hook it onto your chair and rubber feet to keep it from shifting. Furthermore, this booster seat includes a 3-point harness to keep your child from moving around.
The Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster also uses a BPA-free food tray to keep spills and messes to a minimum. The tray can be removed too, and it’s dishwasher safe. To clean the rest of the chair, simply remove the nylon and place it in the washing machine. This booster seat is also low to the ground when used on its own, which gives it extra stability.
What Sets It Apart
The Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster is one of the best booster seats you can find. Most nylon chairs lack the versatility needed to work indoors, but this chair can perform just as well as plastic booster seats on regular chairs. When you combine that with its portability and hassle-free cleanup, you get a great product.
Things to Consider
The Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster is an excellent product, but it’s not perfect. While it works as well as plastic seats indoors, if you have a fussy child, it can become dangerous. The nylon material doesn’t hold up as well to movement, which means your child can jolt around enough to move it off the chair.
If you like the features this booster seat includes, but prefer a plastic product, consider the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat instead.
Who It’s For
The Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster is perfect for parents in need of a well-rounded booster seat. If you need a booster seat that can handle the most situations, this one is perfect. Whether you’re inside, outside, or even at the restaurant, this booster seat is easy to fold up, set up, and take with you.
Pros
- Durable nylon and low center of gravity is excellent for outdoor usage
- Comes with a portable carrying case
- Machine washable and dishwasher friendly
- BPA-free food tray
Cons
- When hooking it up to a regular chair, the straps can make the process a hassle
- Less stability when used on standard chairs
2. Best Booster Seat for Babies: Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $$
- Material: Plastic
- Weight Limit: 50 pounds
- Ages: 3 months+
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat comes with a lot of features that will make both you and your child smile. The chair is made with durable plastic, and a handful of pieces can be removed when your child outgrows them. The BPA-free food tray can be removed, which also allows you to sanitize it in your dishwasher. The back piece of the chair is also removable, so you can leave it on for babies or take it off for toddlers.
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat also prioritizes safety. The seat comes with a 3-point harness that keeps your child in place and features a strap to keep it attached to adult chairs. For portability, you can fold up the chair and take it with you on the go.
What Sets It Apart
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat is unique because it comes with compact parts that can be removed. Most booster seats focus on children from a specific age group, but this chair can accommodate babies and toddlers. Since all of the parts are compact, this booster seat is comfortable to travel with too. While the product is basic, it gives you everything you need.
Things to Consider
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat is a simple booster seat, which isn’t always a good thing. While it comes with plenty of features, it lacks versatility. Sure, you can remove pieces and take it with you on the go, but there’s not much more to it.
For example, booster seats like the Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat use innovative features that provide the chair with extra support. A lack of sophisticated features isn’t always an issue; just don’t expect to be blown away by this booster seat.
Who It’s For
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat is for parents shopping for a primary booster seat that they can trust. Fisher-Price has been in business for decades, and they’ve become one of the most popular baby brands around. That said, when you shop for a Fisher-Price product, you know you’re getting quality.
Pros
- Removable back piece and food tray
- Great for both babies and toddlers
- 3-point harness is included
- Straps right onto adult chairs
Cons
- Lack of unique features
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $$
- Material: Plastic
- Weight Limit: 50 pounds
- Ages: 3 months+
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Set is a premium booster seat listed at a fair price. Fisher-Price considers this product a set because it comes with a lot of extra features that are worth having. For example, when you take this product on the go, there is a carrying strap that you can use to sling it over your shoulder. Parents often have their hands full, which makes this an underrated feature.
The booster seat also includes a few removable pieces that you can use to your preferences. The food tray can be removed, and the back piece can too. So, for babies or toddlers, Fisher-Price has you covered.
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Set also has an innovative food tray and a lid for the tray. The food tray includes a cup holder that can hold baby bottles and small cups. For safety, the booster seat includes a 3-point harness and a strap that keeps the seat attached to your chair.
What Sets It Apart
If you like the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster, you’ll love this improved model. The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat comes with everything you need for a growing child and more. With all of the detectable pieces, you’ll have no trouble getting through the transition periods.
Things to Consider
While The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster incorporates a lot of great features, it’s not ideal for older children. While younger children benefit from all of these features, not many features benefit toddlers older than eighteen months.
So, while it’s a good for the first year and a half, we recommend a product like the Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat for older children. It also includes a food tray.
Who It’s For
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster is ideal for younger children learning to eat on their own. The removable parts make it simple to clean and easy to wash, making it suitable for babies. Toddlers will have a hard time with this booster, but they can manage.
Pros
- Detachable parts to accommodate growing children
- BPA-free food tray
- Dishwasher safe food tray and back piece
- Foldable and compact
- Cup holder included
Cons
- It's a tight fit for toddlers
4. Most Stylish Booster Seat: Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler Booster Seat
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $$$
- Material: Plastic
- Weight Limit: 50 pounds
- Ages: 6 months+
The Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler Booster Seat is a simple booster seat that looks classy. The sleek design blends in with most kitchen decor, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space. While there is no food tray or movable parts, the compact design is easy to work with, and it doesn’t feel cumbersome. Many booster seats rely on a dishwasher or spot cleaning, but clean up is a breeze with this product. Simply wipe the product down with warm water and soap, and let the washing machine handle the straps and harness.
While the Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler Booster Seat is simple, it doesn’t skimp out on comfort and safety. The foam seat is comfortable enough for long meals, so you don’t have to worry about your little one making a fuss. For security, the booster seat comes with a 3-point harness that keeps your child securely in place. The flat base is reasonably stable, but if your toddler likes to wiggle around, it comes with a strap to keep the seat in place.
What Sets It Apart
The Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler Booster Seat is unique because of how simple it is to clean. Once you have the straps off, the rest of the pieces can be removed too. For example, you can remove the foam insert and give the product a rinse in your sink. While other booster seats can be easy to clean too, what makes this product is the curved design. You don’t need to worry about cleaning in between crevasses.
Things to Consider
The Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler Booster Seat is a sturdy booster seat that can be an excellent fit for most parents. That said, younger toddlers might not enjoy this booster seat too much. Booster seats with food trays have an advantage because they prevent spills from reaching your furniture.
Unfortunately, this product fails to offer protection for your tables. If you prefer a booster seat with a food tray, consider a product like the Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat.
Who It’s For
The Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler Booster Seat is great for parents that have older children. While the seat is large enough to give your child a boost up to the table, the lack of food tray can be a dealbreaker. On the other hand, children over a year old can benefit from a product like this.
Pros
- Removable pieces for easy cleaning
- Comfortable foam chair
- 3-point harness and straps keep your child in place
Cons
- More suitable for older toddlers
5. Best Booster Seat for the Beach: Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $$$
- Material: Nylon
- Weight Limit: 45 pounds
- Ages: 6 months+
Many booster seats claim to have innovative technology, but Hiccapop took the time to use research from Stanford University. The Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat is engineered to keep your child safe, and it keeps the chair level even when the ground is not. While stability is the main goal for this booster seat, it includes great features like a BPA-free and dishwasher safe food tray that you can remove.
The Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat also uses a sturdy nylon material to make travel and cleaning hassle-free. Many booster seats have dishwasher safe food trays, but once the tray is removed, you can place the entire chair in the washing machine. To make life even more comfortable, the chair includes storage space for sunglasses, baby lotion, sunscreen, and other travel essentials.
What Sets It Apart
The Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat is unique thanks to its omniboost technology. The design uses duck-light feet to remain stable when the ground is shakey, making this booster seat ideal for surfaces like dirt, sand, and even mud. Even when you’re in rough terrain, you’ll always know your child is safe and stable.
Things to Consider
While the Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat is great for travel and the outdoors, it’s not as good indoors. While it includes everything you need, like straps and a 3-point harness, it can be challenging to work with indoors. This isn’t just an issue specific to this chair, but an issue with most nylon chairs you’ll come across.
If you need a booster seat for indoors, consider a chair like the Ingenuity SmartClean Toddler Booster Seat instead.
Who It’s For
The Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat is perfect for parents looking to spend time at the beach. Having a baby is hard, especially since travel becomes limited. This chair lets you safely take your child to the beach, and it includes plenty of storage. If you’re eager to get back out there, this booster seat is a great choice.
Pros
- Omniboost technology helps this chair remain firm on unstable ground or during bouts of high wind
- Machine washable and dishwasher safe
- Heavily researched by a credible university to optimize safety
Cons
- The chair can be clunky when used on top of a regular chair
- Expensive
6. Best Attachable Booster Seat: Kaboost Booster Seat
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Price: $$
- Material: Plastic
- Weight Limit: 300 pounds
- Ages: 2+
The Kaboost Booster Seat is a unique product that boosts adult chairs from the bottom. While it’s not a booster seat in the traditional sense, it can turn most chairs into a booster seat in less than a minute. Each of the legs can slide in or out to fit any chair, and it has two different height levels. Simply attach the product to the legs of a chair, at home or on the go, and you’re good to go. Plus, you don’t need to worry about cleaning the product because no food reaches the surface.
The Kaboost Booster Seat is also lightweight and portable, weighing only 3.5 pounds. To take it with you on the go, all you need to do is fold it up and put it in your bag. While the Kaboost Booster Seat lacks a harness, it includes non-slip rubber feet that keep the chair from sliding around your home. If you’re using this product for older toddlers, safety won’t be an issue.
What Sets It Apart
The Kaboost Booster Seat is one of a kind. There are a lot of high-quality booster seats, but they all need to be placed on top of chairs. This can be a hassle because you might need to use straps to keep the seat in place, and traditional booster seats tend to be bulky.
So, instead of going the usual route, Kaboost created an innovative booster seat that boosts the entire chair. Children learn by watching their parents, so it’s beneficial for older toddlers to get a feel for what a regular chair feels like without being discouraged.
Things to Consider
While The Kaboost Booster Seat is a great product, the design is not appealing to everyone. Sure, it can hold a lot of weight, and it’s unique, but it doesn’t work on top of chairs. For younger children, this can be dangerous because no seat or harness is keeping them locked in place. Another drawback to this design is the lack of an eating tray. If you’re going to give this product a try, make sure you have the appropriate baby placemats ready.
If you prefer a traditional booster seat that offers more safety or have a child less than two years old, you can find more value in a product like the Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat. While it works differently than the Kaboost Booster Seat, it’s suitable for young children, and can be equally useful for toddlers.
Who It’s For
The Kaboost Booster Seat is for parents that are looking to change things up. The design can be intimidating at first because it doesn’t look like or function like traditional booster seats. That said, having the ability to raise adult chairs can give your child the confidence they need at the dinner table. If your child reacts poorly to traditional booster seats, definitely consider changing up your mealtime approach with this product.
Pros
- Weighs less than four pounds
- Folds up for travel
- Supports a generous amount of weight
- Keeps chairs from slipping
Cons
- Only suitable for older toddlers
- Lack of eating tray
- Lack of safety features like harnesses and cushions
7. Best Multi-Function Booster Seat: Bumbo Baby Multi-Function Seat with Tray
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $$$
- Material: Plastic
- Weight Limit: 50 pounds
- Ages: 3 months+
The Bumbo Baby Multi-Function Seat and Tray is great for both babies and toddlers. The seat comes with everything you need to get started, and the foam seat is removable to accommodate growing children. When at the table, the food tray offers plenty of room to contain spills, and it’s removable. If you don’t want to use the tray, it can be removed and stored behind the chair. The food tray is also made without harmful chemicals like BPA, and it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleanups.
The Bumbo Baby Multi-Function Seat and Tray is also safe for your child and your furniture. The seat uses a non-slip pad at the bottom to keep it firmly in place without scratching your furniture. For your child, the chair includes a 3-point harness to keep them from falling, and a strap to keep the booster seat in place.
What Sets It Apart
The Bumbo Baby Multi-Function Seat and Tray is unique because it’s a 3-in-1 chair. Babies are too small to sit at tables, and sometimes on furniture, so the chair can be used as a floor seat that supports healthy growth. When used with babies learning to eat, the food tray keeps messes contained, and the tray is removable for older children that only need a boost. Overall, it’s one of the more well-rounded and age-diverse booster seats you can find.
Things to Consider
There is a lot to like about the Bumbo Baby Multi-Function Seat and Tray. That said, we noticed one drawback. While the foam seating pad is excellent for babies, if it gets wet, you’re out of luck because it retains liquid. You can always dry it off, but its not the most sanitary thing in the world.
If you don’t like the foam seat but like the style of the product, the Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat is a great alternative that uses springs and rubber instead of foam.
Who It’s For
The Bumbo Baby Multi-Function Seat is ideal for parents that have infants. The booster seat is great to use as a floor seat when you need one and turns into a booster seat with a food tray once they’re ready to eat. There is a lot of value in a booster seat as versatile as this one.
Pros
- 3-point harness keeps your child secure
- Straps onto adult chairs
- Removable tray
- Removable foam padding to support older children
- Built-in storage
Cons
- If the foam gets wet, it can become unsanitary
8. Best Portable Booster Seat: Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $$
- Material: Plastic
- Weight Limit: 50 pounds
- Ages: 6 months+
The Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat offers a compact design in a feature-rich product. The chair is lightweight, small, and portable. There is a strap that you sling over your shoulder if you need to take it on the go, and it comes with foldable legs that allow you to use it with ordinary chairs or by itself. When using the legs, the chair remains in place thanks to non-slip rubber grips.
The Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat is also safe for your child. It includes a 3-point harness that keeps children from falling out, and if your child becomes uncomfortable, you can always adjust the seating position. The Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat also includes an eating tray that’s made with food-grade plastic.
What Sets It Apart
The Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat makes good use of the foldable legs. While other chairs use this design, the legs with this product perform well. They fold right into the chair when you’re not using them, and if you are, they have non-slip grips to keep your floor or chair safe. Plus, it works well on the go.
Things to Consider
Unfortunately, the Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat doesn’t have a removable food tray that you can clean in the dishwasher. With that said, you can still wipe it down quickly. Another drawback to this chair is that you can’t remove the legs. If you have trouble folding them, or if one happens to break, this booster seat can become awkward to work with.
If you like the compact and plastic design, but would rather do without the legs, the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat is a great alternative.
Who It’s For
The Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat is perfect for parents that need a compact and straightforward booster seat that’s portable. It offers all of the features that you love to see in a booster seat, like a food tray, but offers similar portability to nylon booster seats.
Pros
- Easy to fold and carry thanks to the carrying strap that slings over your shoulder
- Made with lightweight plastics, making it one of the lightest portable chairs you can find
- Easy to clean, set up, and fold
Cons
- The plastic feels flimsy at times, which can be stressful if used on top of an adult chair
- Plastic and fabric materials are not meant for outdoor usage
- Not machine washable or dishwasher safe
9. Best Budget Booster Seat: Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $
- Material: Plastic
- Weight Limit: 60 pounds
- Ages: 18 months+
The Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat is a sleek booster seat that can give your older toddler a comfortable seat at the table. The booster seat is more comfortable than ordinary kitchen chairs, thanks to the foam seating pad. For additional comfort, the chair uses a spring system to keep even the fussiest children comfortable. The booster seat is also waterproof, so if you encounter a spill, you don’t have to worry.
The Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat is also safe and easy to clean. Since the seat is waterproof, there is no need to remove any pieces before you clean it up. Just use a warm cloth and soap, and the booster seat will be clean in minutes. For safety, this booster uses two straps to keep it fastened to chairs and a 3-point harness to make sure your child doesn’t jump out of the chair.
What Sets It Apart
The Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat is unique because of the non-scratch padding at the button of the chair and the springs under the seat. Many plastic booster seats can end up scratching your chair if your child likes to move around, but the scratch-resistant pad at the bottom of the booster seat keeps the seat in place without scratching the chair.
The use of springs under the seat is also unique because many booster seats rely solely on foam or plastic. While foam is comfortable, it can get worn out over time. Using rubber and springs was a great choice because your child will always be comfortable, even if they frequently move around.
Things to Consider
While the Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat is well-made, it’s not perfect. First and foremost, it’s only suitable for older children and not babies. While this isn’t bad, if your child is younger than eighteen months, you’ll want to hold off on this product. This booster seat also fails to incorporate an eating tray, so if your toddlers spills anything, it’s going to land directly on your table. Make sure you use a baby placemat with this booster seat.
If you’re looking for a booster seat that’s better suited for babies and keeps messes contained, the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat is a better choice. While it’s best for babies, it can grow with your child for up to three years.
Who It’s For
The Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat is designed for parents that have older children. The springs in the seat can last a few years, and it can handle up to sixty pounds of weight. If you have an older child that’s learning to eat with you at the dinner table, this booster seat can give them the boost they need.
Pros
- Springs keep the seat comfortable for years
- Dual strap system keeps the booster seat locked in place
- Comes with a 3-point harness
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Not suitable for babies
- No food tray
10. Best Booster Seat and High Chair Combination: Graco Simple Switch Portable High Chair and Booster
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
- Price: $$$
- Material: Plastic
- Weight Limit: 37 pounds (high chair), 60 pounds (booster)
- Ages: 3 months+
The Graco Simple Switch Portable High Chair and Booster is a combination of a high chair and booster seat. It uses removable legs for the high chair, and when you remove them, it becomes a booster seat. The seat portion of the chair includes three unique sitting positions to keep your child comfortable, and it’s easy to spot clean.
The Graco Simple Switch Portable High Chair and Booster also has one of the highest weight thresholds. If your child is slow to transition from booster seats to adult chairs, this chair can buy you some extra time. It also comes with a comfortable cloth seat that offers more comfort than plastic, rubber, and foam.
What Sets It Apart
The Graco Simple Switch Portable High Chair and Booster is also a great chair for safety. Many booster seats use 3-point harnesses to keep your child in place, but Graco uses a 5-point harness. The harness includes more straps than the 3-point harness, and it can be more comfortable. With this chair, you can rest easy knowing your child is secure.
Things to Consider
While the Graco Simple Switch Portable High Chair and Booster is an excellent combination of a booster seat and high chair, the cloth seat is not ideal for young children. The idea of the chair is unique, but in practice, it can lead to a hassle-filled cleanup. If anything spills, it can result in a stain. If you don’t like the sound of a cloth booster seat, any of the other listed products can be a great alternative.
Who It’s For
The Graco Simple Switch Portable High Chair and Booster is for parents that like high chairs and booster seats. Why have one or the other when you can have both? At least, that’s the idea. While it works well, this product should be reserved for parents that prefer high chairs over booster seats but want the portability of a booster seat.
Pros
- High weight limit
- Can be used as a high chair and booster seat depending on your needs
- 5-point harness is superior to 3-point harnesses in regards to safety
- Three different reclining positions to optimize comfort
Cons
- Not as portable as other portable high chairs and booster seats
- Not dishwasher safe
- Expensive
- The cushion can stain
Everything You Need To Know About Portable High Chairs and Booster Seats
Shopping for booster seats can be challenging, but if you know what you need, the process can be straightforward. You’ve seen the ten best booster seats for mealtime, but how do you know which one is right for you? We’re going to take you through everything you need to know, so you make the right choice.
How Age Impacts Booster Seats
First and foremost, you need to shop for an age-appropriate booster seat. Infants need a different style booster seat than toddlers, which can make it tricky to find the right chair. While booster seats are generally used for toddlers, that doesn’t mean babies can’t share in the fun too.
Babies (Up to 1 Year)
If you’re shopping for a baby, you need to find a booster seat that’s similar to a high chair. You should be on the lookout for booster seats that include features like food trays, back pieces, cup holders, and the ability to stand on their own. These features will keep messes to a minimum, and they’re easy to clean.
There are a handful of different booster seats available on our list, but our favorite booster seat for children under a year old is the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat. The product includes BPA-free plastic, straps to hook on a chair, and a removable back piece.
Young Toddlers (1-2 Years)
If you have an older child, over a year old, you should consider a booster seat that has fewer features. It might seem like a good idea to load a seat up with features, but toddlers should be learning to eat on their own. Booster seats for toddlers are typically simple products that provide your child with a slight boost, and that’s all there is to it.
An excellent product for toddlers is the Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat. The booster seat works best for children over the age of eighteen months and can last you a year or two.
Older Toddlers (2-4 Years)
If you have an older toddler, getting them to sit in a booster seat can be difficult. They might think they’re old enough to sit on a regular chair, and while some children can, they might not be tall enough to reach the table. Booster seats for older toddlers need to have a high weight limit, and you might want to find one that doesn’t have a harness.
If you find yourself in this situation, there is no need to panic. The Kaboost Booster Seat is a great product that can make your child comfortable at the table. The product works by raising the legs of the chair, so your child can start getting used to ordinary chairs sooner.
Choosing the Right Material
Nylon and plastic both have their advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice for you and your family will depend on how you’ll be using the booster seat. Choosing the wrong material can leave you and your child dissatisfied, so be sure to look over both materials carefully.
Nylon Booster Seats
Nylon booster seats offer stability and portability. These booster seats can be folded down and taken with you on the go, and they provide a lot of comfort for your child. If you need a booster seat for outdoor use, nylon is the material you need. Aside from being portable, they hold up well against the elements, and they’re more stable than plastic chairs when used on uneven surfaces.
Nylon booster seats are similar when you compare them, but some are better than others. If you need a portable booster seat that works for most outdoor situations, the Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster is a great choice.
Plastic Booster Seats
Plastic booster seats are better for indoor use, and they’re easier to work with. Many plastic booster seats come with pieces that you can remove as your child grows older, and they can be just as compact as nylon booster seats. For indoor use and restaurant situations, a plastic booster seat is your best choice.
Unlike nylon booster seats, plastic products have a lot of variation. Choosing a plastic booster seat is more about your personal preference. That said, our favorite choice is the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Set. With a ton of removable parts, it’s hard to find a booster seat that works in more situations.
Choosing the Right Booster Seat for the Right Situation
When you have a child, you’re going to find yourself in a handful of situations where you need a booster seat. They might not show themselves all at once, but if you don’t have the right one, you’ll figure it out when you least expect it. Take some time to look over a few situations where booster seats come in handy to help you determine which product you need.
Around the House
High chairs are a popular product to keep around the house, especially when your child is transitioning from nursing. While high chairs serve their purpose, parents are shifting their attention to booster seats. Booster seats offer portability, similar features to high chairs, and they’re easier to store.
If you need a booster seat to use around the house, the Graco Simple Switch Portable High Chair and Booster is a great choice. It provides you with the features of a high chair, but the versatility of a booster seat.
For a Day at the Beach
The beach is a great place to spend the day with your child. Watching your child play in the sand or dip their toes in the water is a great way to bond and build memories. While babies have sensitive skin, if you apply the right amount of baby sunscreen, vitamin D from the sun can boost your child’s immune system.
If a day at the beach sounds like a much-needed escape from being cooped up in the house, make sure you take the right Booster seat with you. Sand can be a rough terrain, so a chair that has a low center of gravity like the Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat is the best product to take with you.
For Having a Picnic at the Park
Many parents are protective of their babies. Being safe is essential, but making sure your child gets enough fresh air is vital for their development. Every parent wants their child to grow, but exposing your child to the great outdoors can be beneficial for you too. According to the Journal of Sleep Research, infants that sleep well at night are outside twice as much as children who don’t get fresh air.
So, that day at the park might lead to a good night’s sleep for you and your child. If you plan on spending time at the park, you should make sure your child is safe and secure. The Summer Infant Pop and Sit Portable Booster Seat is the perfect chair to take with you, and it’s even useful for a picnic.
For the Restaurant
When you have a newborn, the joy of dining out can seem like a distant memory. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be the case. Even if your child is still under a year old, there are booster seats that can make them feel welcome at the table. In fact, the Bumbo Baby Multi-Function Seat is a great product to keep young children comfortable at the table.
While babies can be taken to restaurants, dining out becomes more popular once your child hits the eighteen-month mark. At this point, your child can enjoy some of the food and participate in the experience. If you have an older toddler that’s getting used to adult chairs, the Kaboost Booster Seat can give them the boost they need without making them feel like a baby.
Booster Seat for Eating FAQ
What’s the Difference Between a High Chair and a Booster Seat for Eating?
The differences between a high chair and booster seat are obvious if we’re talking about the ones you put in the backseat of your car. It becomes more complicated when you compare booster seats for eating with high chairs because they offer the same benefits. The most significant difference is that high chairs are for younger children and sit at table height, while booster seats can support most ages but need to be used with a regular chair to work.
Do I Need a Booster Seat for Eating?
Whether or not you need a booster seat is up to you. We’ve noticed that high chairs and booster seats can work the same way, so it comes down to your preferences. While they’re similar, we prefer booster seats because they’re more versatile. Instead of being limited to household use, booster seats are more portable.
When Should I Use a Booster Seat?
Booster seats for eating are commonly used for toddlers. While there are a handful of booster seats that work for babies, we always recommend waiting until your child is at least six months old. If they’re any younger, you might have trouble keeping them safe with the harness.
Do I Need to Keep the Harness On?
Harnesses are designed to keep your child secured to the booster seat. In most cases, they’re comfortable and add a layer of safety, so we always recommend strapping your child in. On the other hand, if your child is around two years old, you can start to shy away from the harness.
Final Thoughts
Booster seats are underrated when it comes to eating. High chairs are great products, but they’re cumbersome. Choosing to use a booster seat instead can save you a lot of space and make life easier if you plan on eating while you’re out. While booster seats are standard for toddlers, even babies can benefit from a high-quality booster seat.
When you shop for a booster seat, make sure you consider your needs. Some products work better than others, and the best booster seat for someone else might be the worst one for you. Luckily, booster seats aren’t an expensive item, so feel free to try a few before settling on one.