It can be used as a bouncer up to 9kg, which is somewhere between eight and 10 months of age, after which it converts to a toddler chair to be used until your child is around two years old. Type: Aluminium high chair which clips onto tables| Materials: Aluminium; rubber; fabric | Suitable from: 6 months+ | Harness: Yes | Wheels?: No What we love

With a seat that can last right up to toddlerhood, you’ll want to make sure milk, food and other baby stains can easily be wiped or washed off.Portability: If you travel away from home a lot or want to move the seat easily around the house, you may need a lighter model that can be folded down or one that has a handle or wheels. Never leave your child unattended – a young baby has little muscle control which can cause their head to flop forward. Transitional-style chair – can be used from birth with a baby bouncer attachment, from six months with a baby set, and indefinitely as a chair after three years or 15kg Make sure harness straps are always done up, even if you are only putting your baby in the seat for a couple of minutes.

Budget-friendly, but with impressive features such as a detachable toy bar with hanging toys as well as vibration settings and 16 soothing tunes, the Red Kite Cozy Bounce Linen is ideal if you’re looking for a no-frills bouncer with added extras. Can’t be used without an adult dining chair to hold it – not convenient for everyone’s dining situation Our tester, Luci, has a five-year-old and a four-month-old who was just two weeks old when testing started. She used each model for at least a week in her busy three-bedroom mid-terrace home.She considered how entertaining and soothing any toys, music, lights, or vibrations were. Luci also marked the bouncer on how big it was and whether it was portable. The large and luxuriously comfortable Polly Magic Relax begins with a bouncer mode for newborns and then converts to a highchair with a generously-sized tray, which can be completely removed to allow a toddler to sit at the table. It has five motions and speeds to choose from. You’ll also find four built-in sounds, an adjustable recline and a toy bar to offer extra stimulation. While it’s suitable from birth to 9kg, you may find it doesn’t last longer than the six-month mark. Our parent tester Luci says, “My 11-day old (9lb 13oz) newborn is taking up three quarters of the seat already.” With that said, the hefty price tag may not be worth it for you if you only plan to use the bouncer occasionally. She scored the bouncer on how easy it was to assemble, reading the instructions to see how helpful they were and timing how long it took to put the seat together. We asked Charlotte Stirling-Reed what features bewildered first-time parents might watch out for, here are her top tips:

The relevant safety directive to look out for is EU directive EN 14988:2017, which specifically sets out standards for children’s highchairs. As reliable as it is ubiquitous, in our extensive tests the IKEA Antilop excelled, living up to its reputation as the king of all highchairs. While it may not look like anything special, our Mumsnet users rave about this highchair for being budget-friendly, functional and easy to clean up after mealtimes.

Babies often learn what and how to eat by watching their parents and siblings eat too”, she says. “It’s more likely that they will happily accept foods that they see you gobbling up yourself.” The 2-in-1 Chicco Hoopla converts seamlessly from a baby bouncer once your child reaches 9kg to a toddler chair that will last until around three years of age. The life-span of your chair will depend on the type of model you choose, as some are intended to be used throughout childhood and beyond (see section below). You’re likely to find a chair with a tray essential from first weaning up to the age of three.

We have the Mountain Buggy one for use away from home - it’s brilliant. A little big for our 8 month old still but it works fine." Recommended by Mumsnetter BerthaYoung Our verdict As child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed says, sitting your child at your eye level and at (or close to) the rest of the family at mealtimes aids their development.Although some of the chairs we tested had extra accessories making them suitable for smaller babies, children should only use a highchair to eat once they’re able to sit unaided.