When you go out to eat with your family, you want your baby to have a safe and clean place to sit. Let’s face it, the high-chairs you find at restaurants aren’t always the cleanest. That’s where a portable high chair comes in. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and most of all it’s yours so you know it’s clean!
Jump straight to our reviews of the best portable high chairs:
hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat with Tray
Inglesina Fast Table Chair
ciao! baby Portable High Chair
Nuby Easy Go Safety Lightweight High Chair Booster Seat
phil&teds Lobster Clip-On Highchair
Chicco QuickSeat Hook-On Chair
How to Choose the Best Portable High Chair
What type of portable high chair is best?
You’ll want to choose a portable high chair seat that is easy to use and safe for your baby. While the models that clamp onto tables are smaller and easier to pack, they may not fit all tables. Oval-shaped tables and those with thin lips may not work with the one you choose. Also, if the table isn’t solid enough, it’s not going to support your baby and that can be dangerous.
There are also portable high chairs that strap on to regular dining chairs. They’re easy to clean and they’ll fit all chairs. You can also use the high chair as a simple booster seat when you take the tray off. So, it’s like two seats in one. Many parents like this option over just having the portable high chairs you clamp on.
Are hanging high chairs safe?
You always want to make sure all portable high chair seats meet safety standards. If they do, then they should be safe for your baby. Always look to see that there is a harness for the seat. This is a deal-breaker. No harness, no purchase.
The table you’re attaching the chair to also needs to be sturdy and thick enough to hold the clamps. Make sure the chair is installed correctly. User error can result in danger.
Besides these things, you also want to consider your baby’s weight when you shop for a portable high chair. Check the weight limits so you don’t go over it.
Things to Look for in the Best Portable High Chair
Not all portable high chair seats are created equal. There are features you’ll want to look for that may sway you to buy one chair over another. Check out this list.
Removable Seat Cover
This can be a lifesaver because you can take it off and throw it in the washing machine. We all know babies don’t win awards for being neat eaters!
Carrying Bag
Since your high chair is portable, having a bag to stash it in makes sense. Just throw it in and go.
Storage Pocket
Some portable high chairs have storage pockets in the back of the seat. You can throw in whatever you need when you’re on the go.
Multiple Uses
If you can use your portable high chair seat for more than one use, it’s a bonus! Many portable high chairs stand alone. So you can bring it to the beach, camping, or wherever else you want your little one to chill out and have his own space. These chairs often rank high with moms so be on the lookout!
What can I use instead of a high chair?
If a high chair is not your thing, there are alternatives. There’s something called a travel chair harness. These clip onto seats so they’re very portable.
You can also opt for a booster seat, like the hiccapop Omniboost booster seat. This style can be added to your regular seats.
Reviews of the Best Portable High Chairs
hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat with Tray
Time to do the happy dance because this portable high chair can be used more than just at the dinner table. You can strap it onto a dining room chair or it can stand alone at the beach or wherever else you want. Pop it open when you need it and fold it down compactly when you’re done. It’s super easy and quick.
The tray also comes off for even more versatility, not to mention for easy cleaning because it’s dishwasher safe too. The carry bag also comes in handy when you’re on the go. Ready for another plus? It also has a storage pocket on the back for utensils or small books.
On the safety front, it has a harness which we know is a must with these types of seats. There’s also a wide stable base which helps to prevent the chair from tipping over. The feet on the end distribute the baby’s weight, making it even safer.
What We Love:
- Versatile
- Compact and easy to carry
- Wide stable base
- Holds children up to 30 pounds
Keep in Mind:
- Doesn’t clip onto a table – it needs to attach to a chair or be freestanding
>> Check out the hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat on Amazon
Inglesina Fast Table Chair
If you want an easy and fuss-free portable high chair seat, the Inglesina Fast Table Chair is one to check out.
This seat means business because it’s quick to set up and folds compactly. When you’re out, fasten it to just about any restaurant table. It fits tables up to 3.3” thick. The chair has a twist-tight coupling that safely attaches the chair to the table. You can choose to add the dining tray or have your baby use the regular table.
Moms and dads will love the carrying bag and the storage pocket, as well as the fact that the chair is washable. On the safety front, there’s a strap and buckle to keep babies in place while they’re eating.
What We Love:
- Easy to collapse
- Fits onto most restaurant tables
- Comes with a storage pocket and a carrying bag
- Holds babies up to 37 pounds
Keep in Mind:
- More expensive than some others
- Doesn’t come with a tray
- Can’t serve multiple purposes, as it has to clip onto a table
>> Check out the Inglesina Fast Table Chair on Amazon
ciao! baby Portable High Chair
The ciao! baby portable High Chair is another great option that gets bonus points for being able to stand on its own.
This one is great if you’re camping or just having a picnic outside because there’s no setup required. Just unfold it and your baby is ready to sit and eat. The feeding tray is built-in with a cup holder.
This portable high chair locks into place and has a 5-point safety harness, so you can feel confident that your baby is safe.
While you can’t throw the chair in the washing machine, the tray is covered in clear vinyl that you can wipe clean with some water. But, if your baby makes a big mess on the chair fabric itself, it’s up to the spot cleaning gods as to how clean you’ll get the chair.
What We Love:
- Very portable
- Comes with a carry bag
- 5-point safety harness
- Holds babies up to 35 pounds
- Comes in a booster seat option, too!
Keep in Mind:
- Can’t be fastened to a table
- Not machine washable
- No storage pocket
>> Check out the ciao! baby Travel High Chair on Amazon
Nuby Easy Go Safety Lightweight High Chair Booster Seat
Nuby takes many of the things parents look for in a portable high chair with this model so it’s worth putting on the list.
Let’s start with the collapsible design. This chair folds up into an easy-to-carry bag so you don’t have to worry about losing the bag. There’s also storage for utensils and other small items.
While you can’t attach this to a table at a restaurant, this portable high chair seat has a safety strap that fastens to a chair as well as a strap to hold the baby in place. There’s a foam pad for added comfort if your baby wants a little more support when they’re sitting or you can take it out. You can also use this seat until your baby reaches 50 pounds. This is a huge bonus because it gives your baby more room to grow compared to other portable high chairs.
Although you can’t throw this chair into the washing machine, you can wipe it clean because it’s made of water-resistant coated nylon.
What We Love:
- Very affordable
- Folds up easily into a carry bag
- Removable pad
- Holds babies up to 50 pounds
Things to Consider:
- Does not fasten to tables
- Does not come with a tray
- Isn’t machine washable
>> Check out the Nuby Easy Go Safety Lightweight Highchair Booster Seat on Amazon
phil&teds Lobster Clip-On Highchair
It’s all about portability with this portable high chair. Weighing in at under four pounds, this one wins the super light award and includes a travel bag that fits easily into most diaper bags. It also attaches to many tables up to 3.75” thickness which is good for most restaurants.
The claw strength helps to really grip it onto the table while the shoulder harness keeps your baby in place while they’re eating. You can use this seat until your baby reaches 37 pounds.
While this seat has to be used fastened to a table, it does include a food tray
so your baby can have his own little eating space. If your baby makes a mess while eating – and chances are he will – you can slip the chair fabric off to clean it. This way you can always feel good that your baby is sitting in a clean seat.
What We Love:
- Extremely light and compact
- Comes with a shoulder harness
- Claw strength to attach to tables
Keep in Mind:
- More expensive than some other models
- Can’t stand alone
- No storage pockets
>> Check out phil&teds Lobster Clip-on Highchair on Amazon
Chicco QuickSeat Hook-On Chair
This portable high chair from Chicco is very travel-friendly because it folds up compactly and has an easy-to-carry handle. It fastens quickly to some tables with its one-hand tightening design, but the tables have to be 1.5” thick or less.
Also, keep in mind that you can’t use this portable high chair with glass tabletops, loose table tops, table leaves, card tables, single pedestal tables, or with tablecloths or placemats. So you’re going to be limited.
In the safety department, there is a harness to keep your baby safe while he’s eating. The chair covers snap on and off so you can throw them in the washing machine anytime you have to.
What We Love:
- Seat covers snap on and off for easy washing
- Snap-on tray
Keep in Mind:
- No storage pocket
- No carry bag
- Can only use on tables up to 1.5” thick
- A little pricey for not having many perks
>> Check out the Chicco QuickSeat Hook-On Chair on Amazon
Final Thoughts
When you’re shopping for a portable high chair, you need to decide whether you want one that strictly clips onto a table or one that can be used attached to a chair and stand alone. This will make your shopping much easier.
While many models serve the purpose well, we would choose the hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat as our favorite because it checks many of the boxes of things parents look for in a portable high chair.
It can attach to a chair or stand-alone. There are also many perks like a carry bag, storage pocket, and tray. The safety harness, stable base, and feet at the bottom help to prevent the seat from tipping over. These things are major for moms. Plus, it’s reasonably priced for having so many features and multiple uses.
