11 of the best travel highchairs and booster seats

They aim to make going out for dinner, where you may usually worry about whether the restaurant will have suitable seating for your baby, that little bit less stressful. With a travel highchair you can rest assured that there'll be safe seating for your baby or toddler.

Not only are travel highchairs and booster seats fabulous for when you're on the go, they're also great as an alternative to larger, bulkier highchairs for babies and toddlers, if you have less room at room.

Another great thing about booster seats is they include your child in mealtimes. As they get older they can sit around the table on their booster seat.

For more ideas to make eating and drinking enjoyable for your child, take a look at our roundup of the best plates and bowls for kids and best cups and beakers for babies and toddlers. Looking for a great deal? We've found the best Prime Day baby deals and Prime Day toy deals for you.

To compile this list of best travel highchairs and booster seats we've asked parents to tell us all about the ones they use with their children.

Best travel highchairs and booster seats at a glance

• Best budget booster seat: Venture Bubble Booster Seat, £34.99 at Amazon
• Best for playtime: Mamas & Papas Baby Bud 2-in-1 Booster Seat, £59 £44 at Amazon
• Best easy to clean seat: Chicco Pocket Snack, £39.05 £36.28 at Amazon
• Best for high maximum weight threshold: Ingenuity Baby Base 2-in-1 Seat, £39.99 £34.99 at Amazon
• Best for growing with your baby: Bumbo Multiseat, £67.50 at Amazon
• Best for storage: Munchkin Travel Booster Seat, £26.49 at Amazon
• Best for toddlers: Bumbo Booster Seat, £49.99 at Amazon
• Best fabric harness: Totseat Seat Harness, £30 at Amazon
• Best for short trips: Baby Polar Gear Booster Seat and Placemat, £29.99 £22.99 at Amazon
• Best foldable seat: My Little Coco My Little Everything Chair, £55 at Boots
• Best for versatility: Red Kite Feed Me Snak 4-in-1, £65 at Amazon

Types of travel highchair and booster seats

Travel highchairs – A bit like the seat part of a highchair, minus the long legs. They sit on top of a dining chair and are strapped on. They can be folded to a compact size for portability.

Booster seat – Much like a travel highchair, it straps onto a dining chair. You can get either foldable or unfoldable booster seats. They're designed to give your child a boost in height so they can reach the table, while safety harnessed in.

Clamp-on seats – A seat that attaches to the table’s edge, rather than the chair.

Fabric seat harnesses – A piece of fabric you put around your baby with clip restraints that fasten at the back of a chair. They're easy to fold, but don't give your baby any additional height to help them reach the table.

What to consider when buying a travel highchair

Age suitability – Travel highchairs and booster seats tend to not be suitable until 6 months and some backless ones may only be suitable for older toddlers. Make sure that the one you choose is age appropriate for your baby or toddler.

Maximum weight – Much like age suitability, consider whether the travel highchair can hold the weight of your toddler. Also, if you want it to last a long time, think in advance – if your toddler is already nearly the maximum weight it might be a good idea to choose a different one which offers greater longevity of use.

How long will your baby or toddler be sitting in it? – You need to think about how long your child will be sitting in the travel highchair. If it's a long time then comfort is key and you may need one that has padding or some kind of cushioning.

How you will have to carry it around – As it's a portable highchair you'll naturally be carrying it around with you, so bear this in mind when choosing which one works best for you. You may have to squeeze it into your bag, in which case a fabric seat harness would be a good shout. Alternatively, look for a seat that fits in your buggy basket. Some of the travel highchairs and booster seats in our list come with their own travel bag.

Do you want up-to-the-table feeding? – If you want up-to-the-table feeding, a clamp-on seat ensures your child is table height, making it easy to join in at mealtimes. When choosing the right travel highchair or booster seat, remember that for up-to-the-table feeding it's a good idea to have a removable tray – that way the tray doesn't get in the way of the table.

Do you need height? – If you want to give your child some height, consider how much is needed. Booster seats are a great option for boosting your child that little bit higher. However, as previously mentioned, if you want to ensure they're table height, a clamp-on seat is your best bet.

Where are you going to use it? – Do you plan on using the travel highchair when eating out at various places? If so, you need a flexible one that's suitable for different chairs and tables. If you're after a chair or booster to take to the grandparents' for overnight stays, you can opt for something a little bulkier that won't need to be carried around too much.

How easy is it to clean? – As with any highchair or booster, you're going to want to pick a design that's easy to clean. Look for plastic and foam chairs that are easy to wipe down quickly, as well as fabric styles and covers that can be thrown in the washing machine.

Safety – Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and use the harness correctly. At the bottom of this article we have some excellent expert advice on how to use a travel high chair or booster seat safely.

Best travel highchairs and booster seats

1. Venture Bubble Booster Seat, £34.99 £24.99

– Best budget booster seat

Age suitability: 6+ months | Maximum weight: 15kg | Colours available: Blue, coral, grey, yellow

The Venture Bubble Booster Seat has an ergonomic design and a 3-point baby harness to secure your baby in. Its long adjustable chair straps mean it can be attached to different seats.

When it comes to cleaning, it can be wiped clean and the removable tray component can go in the dishwasher. The removable tray is telescopic and has 2 adjustable distances. If you wish to use the booster seat as a way to reach the table, simply remove the tray.

Additionally, the tray comes with 2 highchair toys that can easily be removed.

The bright and bold plastic booster seat was a hit with our home testers who felt it was a great budget option. Tester Susan said, "overall we thought the quality was great and the seat feels very robust, secure and easy to use." It fastens to a dining chair with fabric straps, and has a harness and removable tray.

The colourful design with its little toys definitely appeals to toddlers, with MFM home tester Rachael saying, "my son loved this seat and was excited as soon as we unpacked it." Some testers commented on the fact there's no cushion, which could make it uncomfortable for long periods of time (if you're lucky enough to have a toddler who'll stay seated for more than 10 minutes). They also advised you check the dimensions carefully as it won't fit all chairs perfectly.

Pros: Good value, removable toys, dishwasher safe tray,

Cons: No cushion, does not fit all chairs perfectly

Available from: Amazon and Venture

2. Mamas & Papas Baby Bud, £59 £49.99

– Best for playtime

Age suitability: 6+ months | Maximum weight: 15kg | Colours available: White/grey

The Baby Bud is a table top feeding and booster chair that has four clip-on, non-slip feet that can be adjusted to three different height settings to fit to a variety of different chairs and tables. The cushioned seat insert can be removed as your child grows, to increase the longevity of the seat.

There's a safety harness to keep wriggly toddlers safe, and a removable tray. As an added bonus, you can also buy an activity centre to place on top of the tray to keep your baby occupied while food is being prepared.

To make carrying it around with you easier, it has a carry handle.

MFM home tester Maggie, mum of 3 year old said, "it lasts really well, my 7 year old can still fit in it without the insert, definitely worth the money we spent on it". She likes that it attached to a chair and you can either use the tray or have them pulled up to the table. She joked "the only trouble we had was getting the middle child out of it ready for the third".

Pros: Safe, sturdy, comfortable, easy to wipe clean, comes with attachable tray

Cons: Big, bulky, doesn't fold, expensive

Read our MFM review of the Mamas and Papas Baby Bud

Available from: Mamas & Papas and Amazon

3. Chicco Pocket Snack, £41.12 £38.05

– Best easy to clean seat

Age suitability: 6+ months | Maximum weight: 15kg | Colours available: Yellow, grey, purple, poppy red, green

An award-winning compact booster seat, the Chicco Pocket Snack is easy to assemble and comes with adjustable straps and a base with multiple height settings designed to fit a variety of chairs. It also has a safety harness to keep baby wobble-free.

The Pocket Snack tray clicks on and off in three positions, and it has a cute spoon and fork design on the seat unit. The booster seat is highly recommended by our MFM reviewer, Katherine who said it offered "wonderful value for money" and claimed, "at home, it’s replaced the old highchair."

It is also recommended by MFM home testers. Hayley uses it with her 3 year old and said, "it's brilliant for at home and for visiting family/friends too". Cat also loves it, "it's fantastic, I just binned the highchair and use this for my 10 month old". Finally, Louise was "very pleased with her Pocket Snack for her 15 month year old".

Read our MFM review of the Chicco Pocket Snack

Pros: Compact, comfortable, simple to adjust, lightweight, easy to clean, good value for money

Cons: Fiddly to wrap up the straps when transporting, no padding

Available from: Boots and Amazon

4. Ingenuity Baby Base 2-in-1 Seat, £39.99 £34.99

– Best for high maximum weight threshold

Age suitability: 6+ months | Maximum weight: 22.68kg | Colours available: Grey, sage green, light pink, fuschia, bright blue, dark blue, beige

The Ingenuity Baby Base 2-in-1 Seat is great for if you want to keep using your booster seat for a long time as it has a higher maximum weight than most of the others on this list.

The seat is wipeable, as is the removable tray. The safety harness keeps your baby secure inside the seat whilst the adjustable straps secure the seat onto a dining chair.

This seat can grow with your baby and toddler, like the Mamas & Papas Bud, this too has a removable cushioned insert.

One thing this seat has that not all the others on this list do is, a removable tray that stores neatly under the booster seat. This means you won't be searching high and low for the tray when you've removed it, it can be stored tidily together.

MFM home tester Kelly-Anne, mum of little girl said, "it's brill, I like that it has a toddler attachment that can be removed so older toddlers can use it too".

Pros: Removable storable tray, toddler attachment, high maximum weight, wide range of colour options

Cons: Big, bulky, doesn't fold

Available from: Amazon, Argos and John Lewis

5. Bumbo Multiseat, £67.50

– Best for growing with your baby

Age suitability: 6+ months | Maximum weight: 15kg | Colours available: Blue, pink, green, dark grey, light grey

The Bumbo Multi Seat comes in a large variety of colours for you to choose from. However, that's not the best thing about it. This seat grows with your child. It has two adjustable height settings to accommodate your growing toddler. It can be used as a floor seat, or it can be used as a booster seat when attached to a dining chair. Finally, as your toddler grows, it has a foam cushion which you can remove to allow for your child to fit.

This chair is convenient in other ways too; it has retractable chair straps, a removable tray which can be stored away at the back of the chair. When the cushion insert is removed, this can also be stored inside the seat.

Our home tester Gail, mum of 2, said, "“Overall, this is a great booster: really easy to fit into chairs, stylish, well-made, and super-easy to clean: very important for a mum. I also loved how the padded cushion tidies inside the seat so it won’t get lost."

Pros: Storable removable tray and cushion insert, retracting straps, wide range of colour options, versatile, easy to clean, adjustable height

Cons: Bulky, expensive

Available from: Amazon and Bumbo

6. Munchkin Travel Booster Seat, £26.49

– Best for storage

Age suitability: 12+ months | Maximum weight: 15kg | Colours available: Blue

The Munchkin Travel Booster Seat transforms into a portable carry bag. It has room for storing essentials such as, bottles, nappies, snacks and more.

Even though it can be used for storage, this does not affect its ability of being a great travel highchair. It's got a stable internal frame and Xtra-Grip traction pads to prevent your child from slipping off chairs and increasing the stability. Its 3 point harness also secures your child into the seat.

The material is durable and easy to clean and it folds neatly with a convenient carrying strap.

MFM home tester Elisa, mum of 5 year old boy said, "we use the Munchkin portable one with the pouch in the bottom to store bits in because we could use that when we went out too and he was always comfy in it". MFM home tester Kirstie, mum of 2 girls also used the Munchkin Booster seat, "It's good, the storage space in the bottom is handy if you're taking it out". Robyn, another MFM home tester added, "it can all go in the washing machine too as the hard bit comes out".

Pros: Has great storage, very portable, easy to clean, good value

Cons: Only one design/colour, have to be 12 months+ to use

Available from: Amazon, OnBuy and Munchkin

7. Bumbo Booster Seat, £49.99

– Best for toddlers

Age suitability: 18+ months | Maximum weight: 15kg | Colours available: Grey, pink, blue

Designed to be used with toddlers over the age of 18 months, the Bumbo Booster seat can be quickly fastened to your dining chair, allowing your child to eat with the rest of the family. It's made from a slightly squishy but very strong foam-like material that feels comfy for the child and wipes clean easily in case of spills, it also won't scratch your furniture.

Due to its lightweight design, it is easily portable and easy to carry, but it doesn't fold down so does take up some space in a car boot or buggy basket.

MadeForMums writer Gemma tested the seat with her 2-year-old son and said, "Now he's older and tall enough, we've got rid of the high chair completely and just use the Bumbo booster seat. He seems really comfortable and will sit in it for play and craft time as well as meals. He's even learned to climb up onto it himself."

Pros: Comfortable, wipes clean, doesn't scratch furniture, lightweight and portable

Cons: Expensive, have to be 18+ months to use

Available from: Amazon, Bumbo and Kidly

8. Totseat seat harness, £30

– Best fabric harness

Age suitability: 6-30 months | Maximum weight: No maximum weight | Colours available: Denim, fruit print, jungle print

The Totseat falls into the fabric seat harness group. It’s light and compact because it’s made of fabric, and can be folded down into a small pouch, ready to be thrown into your handbag/change bag/buggy basket for a quick mealtime solution while out and about.

The harness is made of 100% cotton and is machine washable.

It's easily adaptable to fit all dining chairs, even wonky ones and it's really straightforward to use.

The harness complies to international standards that ensure its safety as a child support. Our MFM reviewer gave the seat four out of five stars for safety, style and value for money.

Pros: Should fit all chairs, folds up into a small pouch, machine washable, no maximum user weight

Cons: Does not give your child any height to reach the table, no tray, no padding

Read our MFM review of the Totseat seat harness

Available from: Amazon and Totseat

9. Baby Polar Gear Booster Seat and Placemat, £29.99 £23.99

– Best for short trips

Age suitability: 12+ months | Maximum weight: 15kg | Colours available: Hot air balloon print, safari print

Folding down into a light and portable shoulder bag, the Baby Polar Gear Booster Seat comes with its own matching placemat and is great for keeping in your buggy or travel bag for a quick on-the-go solution for mealtimes. It fastens on quickly and easily with fabric straps, and has a harness for safety.

MFM home tester Amanda said, "the product is great to be able to take [kids] out for dinner or to family and friends houses who don't have high chairs, so you can all eat together." Home tester Sarah said, "This product is extremely handy and makes my life easier," and praised its budget price tag and ease of use. MFM home tester Sarah liked that it, "fits nearly any chair and is lightweight".

However it's worth noting that it may not be the best option for older toddlers and pre-schoolers. Amanda had concerns about the recommended age range and said of her 2-year-old daughter, "the straps didn't fit round her shoulders properly, like she had already out grown the seat."

Pros: Light and portable, comes with matching placemat, good value

Cons: Can grow out of it quickly, may not be great for toddlers/pre-schoolers, have to be 12+ months to use

Available from: Amazon

10. My Little Coco My Little Everything Chair, £55

– Best foldable seat

Age suitability: 6-36 months | Maximum weight: 15kg | Colours available: Beige/brown

This stylish travel highchair folds down neatly into a handy drawstring travel bag, making meals out a breeze. Suitable for babies 6 months up to 3 years old (with a maximum weight of 15kg) it looks a little like a miniature camping chair, however this is not to be used as a standalone chair, rather designed to be attached to a normal dining chair using the straps provided.

The 3-point harness is ideal for keeping even the most reluctant of babies safely fastened in, while the wipeable fabric seat and removable, wipe clean tray makes it easy for those post-lunch clean ups on the go.

MFM home tester Amy, who tested this with her 6-month-old daughter Rosie, did struggle with working out how to attach the straps to a chair initially, but quickly got the hang of it. She was won over by the portability of the My Little Everything chair, commenting: "I absolutely love how small and compact the chair is. The carry bag is really handy and allows us to take the chair everywhere with us, so our daughter can join us at the table." She was also impressed with the quality, adding: " It feels really sturdy. My daughter seems very happy in the chair, she seems comfy and happily has her food in it."

Pros: Longevity of use, wipeable fabric, removable tray, travel bag included,

Cons: No colour choice, expensive, no padding

Available from: Boots and My Little Coco

11. Red Kite Feed Me Snak 4-in-1, £65

– Best for versatility

Age suitability: 6 months to 5 years approx. | Maximum weight: N/A | Colours available: Cat design

If you're looking for a traditional highchair that can convert into a handy booster seat, this 4-in-1 design ticks all the boxes. Converting from highchair to booster seat, low highchair or toddler seat, the Red Kite Feed Me Snak offers a great deal of versatility for the price.

Straps are included to attach the chair (in booster seat mode) to a dining chair, and the 5-point safety harness adds peace of mind that your baby is strapped in securely. The large tray is detachable and includes an inset tray for mess-free baby led weaning.

It's easy to switch between modes, with MFM home tester Aisha, who tested this with her 7-month-old daughter (pictured) commenting: "The instructions were easy to follow and to understand and it was easy to reassemble into different modes." Aisha also loved how easy to clean the chair was, adding: "The removable tray is useful and can be used instead of a plate. It makes it easier to clean as the tray can just be washed and put back in, then you wipe clean the food under the cushion."

While it does have a higher price point compared to standard booster seats, the Feed Me Snak offers a multitude of uses and can be a money-saving option in the long run.

Pros: Longevity of use, removable tray, multi-functional, can be used as a standalone highchair, 5-point safety harness

Cons: No colour choice, expensive

Available from: Boots, Amazon and Asda

How to use a travel highchair or booster seat safely

We asked Dr. Harvey Karp, a paediatrician and child development expert who promotes children's rights to a healthy and safe environment, if he has any safety advice for using a travel highchair or booster seat. This is what he advises:

"Whether your child is in a regular highchair or a travel highchair, it needs to be sturdy, so they can't easily tip over. So when you're securing a travel highchair to a kitchen chair, that chair needs to be sturdy too.

"Whenever your kid is in their travel highchair, always utilise the child safety straps, including the crotch strap. Never forget to secure the safety straps that attach the booster to the chair it's sitting on. Before placing your child in the travel highchair, double, triple, quadruple check that the seat is fastened securely to your kitchen chair. You shouldn't see any movement in the booster highchair when properly fastened.

"Don't place your travel highchair near the counter or the table. Just one hard push against these surfaces can tip the chair right over.

"Never leave your child alone in a highchair, travel highchair or not.

"If you're considering using a travel highchair that hooks onto a table, they may not work well with round, thinner or lightweight tables. The table must be heavy enough to support your child's weight without tipping over and make sure it securely locks to the table. Once attached properly, there should be zero movement and your child's feel should not be able to reach the table support where they could push against it and dislodge the seat.

"Be very diligent about checking the age and weight limits before placing your child in a travel highchair".

Can you put a booster seat on a folding chair?

Dr Karp advises that you "don't place your child's travel highchair on a folding chair. It's simply too unstable and risky."

When can I use a booster seat instead of a highchair?

"If it has a 5-point harness, it's likely safe for babies who are old enough to sit upright in a regular highchair. But again it's very important to check the age and weight requirements before using," advises Dr. Karp.

All the booster seats included in this list are not suitable until at least 6 months. If your baby cannot sit upright by themselves they should not be using a booster seat.

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