Most babies prefer to PLAY with food rather than eat it. That’s why it’s normal for parents to look for the best high chairs for messy eaters.
Babies and toddlers go through the phase of throwing food everywhere. While they do outgrow it eventually, the process takes years. Without the proper gear, you will spend half-hour cleaning after your child three times a day, every day!
Some high chairs are designed for sloppy eaters. They prevent spilling, easy to clean, have fewer loose accessories, and are machine-washable. Let’s take a look at the best feeding chairs for babies and kids who make a mess during mealtimes.
Related: Best High Chair for Apartments
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Joovy Nook High Chair
It is lightweight, features a swing-open tray, and space-saving
Best Budget: Evenflo 4-in-1 Convertible High Chair
It is multi-stage, machine washable, and holds up to 60 lbs
Best for Cleaning: Primo Cozy Tot Convertible High Chair
It is easy to clean and the tray is height-adjustable
Best Booster Seat: OXO Tot Perch Booster Seat
It doesn’t require cleaning, fold flat, and is suitable for heavy kids
Most Flexible: OXO Tot Sprout Chair
The height and depth is adjustable, and it features a recessed tray
Best Combo: Graco Table2Table 7 in 1 High Chair
It can be used in 7 modes and can seat 2 kids simultaneously
Common Challenges of Using a High Chair for Messy Eaters
If your baby or toddler makes a huge mess while eating, you are not alone. My daughter gets food all over the place: on the high chair, the floor, and even in her hair! Here are some common challenges parents with messy eaters face.
Our little messy eater drops food everywhere
Parents need to constantly remind their kids “This is food, not a toy!” well, if you think your baby will listen to you, then more power to you.
The bits and pieces of dropped food can hide in nooks and crannies. The mess ends up spreading across the tray, chair, and floor.
They wipe dirty hands on the chair
Another common challenge for sloppy eaters is that they wipe their dirty hands all over like an artist. You are lucky if you don’t end up needing to give them a bath after eating saucy food such as pasta. Smeared food will cause bacteria to spread.
They smear food in hidden spots of the high chair
It might be fun for babies to smear food on the high chair or even inside the food tray rails, but parents have more concerns besides cleaning: bacteria and mold. If you don’t clean the high chair thoroughly, your child will be exposed to harmful organisms that can cause illness.
Important Features to Look for In The Best High Chairs for Messy Eaters
The biggest challenge is that parents need to clean the feeding seat three times a day. So how to find the best high chairs for messy eaters? Here are some factors to keep in mind.
Best High Chair for Messy Eaters
1. Best Overall: Joovy Nook High Chair
Top Pros:
Top Cons:
Joovy Nook High Chair is a minimalist high chair that is super easy to clean.
The food tray can swing open, which makes it easy to take your toddler onto and off the chair. Another benefit is that you don’t need to line up the rails on the tray and potentially clamp your child’s fingers. This design also prevent your child from smearing food into the rails.
The seat features a leatherette cover. Not only is it comfortable to sit on, but it also can be wiped with damp cloths or all-purpose spray.
If space comes at a premium in your house, you will love how small this high chair can fold down. It can fold flat and then collapse in half so that you can store it under the kitchen island or a small closet.
Who Is It Best For?
Joovy Nook High Chair is the overall best high chair for all parents with messy eaters.
Production Specifications
- Dimension: 31.5″ x 23″ x 41″
- Weight: 14.9 lbs
- Child’s weight limit: 50 lbs
- Adjustable Height: No
2. Best Budget: Evenflo 4-in-1 Convertible High Chair
Top Pros:
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If you are looking for a high chair that can last several years, then a multi-stage high chair is a great option.
Evenflo 4-in-1 Eat & Grow can be used in four ways and is suitable for kids up to 60 pounds. The four stages are: a full-size feeding chair, a mini chair that sits on the floor, a toddler chair, and a playtime table and chair set.
In terms of cleaning, this chair is also designed to be simple and minimalist. There are no rails for the tray, and the seat pad is removable and machine washable. Additionally, the legs on the frame are easy to wipe down because they are made with straight bars.
Evenflo 4-in-1 High Chair only weighs 11 pounds. So if you want to move your child to the deck for feeding, it won’t be too heavy to maneuver.
Who Is It Best For?
Evenflo 4-in-1 Convertible High Chair is for parents who prefer a multi-stage high chair that can last many years.
Production Specifications
- Dimension: 24″ x 21.5″ x 37″
- Weight: 11.6 lbs
- Child’s weight limit: 50 lbs
- Adjustable Height: No
3. Best for Cleaning: Evenflo 4-in-1 Convertible High Chair
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Primo Cozy Tot Convertible High Chair is gaining more popularity recently because of its contemporary look. But it has a lot more to offer.
First, this high chair is a dream to clean. It doesn’t have any padding or fabric to remove. So you don’t need to worry about washing it every other week. Additionally, it features a double feeding tray that is dishwasher safe. The feeding tray can be moved to three positions so that it can fit snugly against your toddler to catch dropped food. Since the tray doesn’t have rails, food and dirt will not hide in the nooks.
Second, this high chair can convert into a toddler chair and it takes less than a minute. The toddler chair is small and lightweight that even your kid can move it on his own.
Who Is It Best For?
Primo Cozy Tot Convertible High Chair is best for parents who want to minimize the effort to clean the high chair.
Production Specifications
- Dimension: 23″ x 21″ x 33″
- Weight: 11 lbs
- Child’s weight limit: Up to 3 years
- Adjustable Height: Not the chair but the tray is height adjustable
4. Best Booster Seat: Evenflo 4-in-1 Convertible High Chair
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Looking for the ideal high chair for a sloppy eater is challenging. But if unfortunately, you also have a small space, your child is heavy, and you really hate cleaning, then OXO Tot Perch Booster Seat is a fantastic choice.
This booster seat is super simple: it’s made with a seat and foldable back support. That’s it. Since your child will use the dining table to hold his food and drink, you don’t need to clean the high chair on a regular basis.
The OXO Tot Perch Booster Seat is so small and lightweight that you can take the whole thing to the sink to wash. You also don’t need to worry that your child smears food or drop food on the high chair.
The only downside is that it’s designed for kids 15 months or older. So make sure your child can sit properly without additional support if you are planning to purchase this one.
Who Is It Best For?
OXO Tot Perch Booster Seat is for older toddlers who can sit properly at a dining table without assistance.
Production Specifications
- Dimension: 5″ x 13.5″ x 12″
- Weight: 3.6 lbs
- Child’s weight limit: 70 lbs
- Adjustable Height: No
5. Most Sturdy: OXO Tot Sprout Chair
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Most easy-to-clean high chairs are not flexible because they are designed to minimize adjustable parts. Well, OXO Tot Sprout High Chair is an easy-cleaning high chair that doesn’t sacrifice on its flexibility.
The height can be adjusted to three levels while the depth can also extend to suit a growing child’s need for space.
The most impressive design is that the food tray is recess-in. That means spilled liquid can stay on the tray so that you don’t need to worry about food sauce staining the carpet.
The weight capacity is up to 60 pounds – much more than the average of 40 pounds for most high chairs.
Who Is It Best For?
OXO Tot Sprout Chair is for parents who need to adjust the high chair’s height and depth with ease.
Production Specifications
- Dimension: 25″ x 12.8″ x 28.3″
- Weight: 30.9 lbs
- Child’s weight limit: 60 lbs
- Adjustable Height: Yes
6. Best Combo: Graco Table2Table 7 in 1 High Chair
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Though you are looking for a high chair for your 6-month-old baby, keep in mind that she will grow up into a toddler and still needs a high chair to eat. So if you want an all-in-one solution for your messy eater (hopefully not too messy in the near future), then Graco Table2Table is the right on for you.
There are seven ways to use this high chair: infant high chair, fully featured, infant booster, toddler booster, toddler chair, toddler table & chair combo, and lastly, high chairs for two.
This high chair is not the easiest one to clean, but for those who want multi-purpose high chairs that last a few years, this one is the best option. The seat pad is removable and machine washable, and the tray can be detached for cleaning in the dishwasher.
Who Is It Best For?
Graco Table2Table 7 in 1 High Chair is for parents who are looking for a convertible high chair that is comfortable and can seat more than one kid.
Production Specifications
- Dimension: 24″ x 27″ x 44″
- Weight: 25.2 lbs
- Child’s weight limit: 60 lbs
- Adjustable Height: Yes
Conclusion
It is fun to sit down with your child to enjoy the mealtime but it can be painful to clean after them afterward. Getting the best high chairs for messy eaters can minimize the time and effort it takes for cleaning. Our analysis shows that the best overall high chair for messy eaters is Joovy Nook High Chair. But all the other options are great if you have a specific requirement.
Cecilia Yeung is a successful entrepreneur and product researcher. She has a background in psychology and children’s education. As a working mother of two, she loves to write about children’s education and development.
