Consumer Reports' Top-Rated High Chair Isn't IKEA Or Graco

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Choosing a high chair is a big decision. Once your baby starts solids, it'll become a fixture of your daily routine. Tasked with finding the best high chair on the market, Consumer Reports tested more than 30 of the most popular high chair models for safety, ease of use, and, just as important, ease of cleaning. The Stokke Clikk High Chair earned top marks in every category, beating out other popular brands, including IKEA and Graco. Of the four Graco chairs rated, all scored low in ease of cleaning. IKEA's Antilop chair is an unmatched budget buy, but CR gave it a low safety rating due to its three-point harness instead of a five-point harness with shoulder straps like Clikk's. Even when compared to two other Stokke chairs — the wildly popular Tripp Trapp chair and the Nomi chair — the Clikk beat out both in its ease of use. 

The secret to the Stokke Clikk may lie in its simplicity. It can be assembled without tools, and its only adjustable feature is the footrest, which has two height positions. The CR testers concede that the Stokke has few bells and whistles, listing the un-adjustable tray position and lack of a removable tray insert as the chair's only cons. It doesn't even come with a seat cushion, but you can purchase one separately. The Clikk is suitable for kids 6 months to around 3 years, and it's super lightweight at only 8 pounds. You can also purchase a Stokke travel bag if you need to take the chair to the grandparents. The Stokke Clikk High Chair is moderately priced at around $189, and is available in several colors on Amazon and other retailers.

We wanted to find out whether real-life customers were as happy with their Stokke Clikk High Chair as the Consumer Reports' testers were, so we scoured the internet for reviews. The consensus is that the chair is easy to clean, with fewer nooks and crannies to scour (you can also skip the harsh chemicals and use these tough, non-toxic cleaning substitutes instead). 

Many agree that it is easy to transport, and most love the look. One parent had previously bought a Graco, which had a high back that their baby didn't like, and an IKEA chair, which their baby could escape. "The Clikk is great because it's got the low back so she can still see her doggies begging behind her, but it's got the 5pt harness to keep her securely in there," the commenter said. Another parent sang the Clikk's praises, saying, "I LOVE it! Lightweight, portable, insanely easy to clean, sits right exactly at my table height so can be used with or without the tray. I would buy it again a million times."

Other parents haven't been as happy with their purchase. Common gripes include the legs sticking out and posing tripping hazards, as well as babies who can't reach the footrest, even at the highest setting. Others report that the tray requires both hands to remove, instead of a central release handle that many other models have. The tray is on the smaller side, and one parent noted that suction plates and bowls don't stick very well. Parents also disagree over whether the cushion (sold separately) is necessary. Some say the chair seems plenty comfortable without it, while others say it's a must. A few parents have noted that the chair's feet don't have much traction on hard floors, and their little rascals can make the whole chair scoot around if they set their minds to it.