Kinderkraft LIVY highchair review

The LIVY won a Joint Silver award in the 2022 MadeForMums Awards, with testers rating its versatility and longevity, its sturdy and stylish look and feel and the fact that it can be turned into a baby bouncer with the use of an additional seat. With a starting price from £189.90, it is at the premium end of the highchair market alongside the Stokke Tripp Trapp at £219. With the LIVY however, some additional accessories are included in the price, unlike the Tripp Trapp. Also, when you consider its versatility the price per use becomes a lot more agreeable.

Tested by

Sandy is a journalist and first-time mum. She tested the LIVY highchair with her son, aged a year-and-a-half, in their London flat.

What were your first impressions of the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair?

My first impressions were good. The chair was well packaged, and the pieces felt secure and well made. I was happy to see it was made of aluminium, steel and wood, making it sturdy and secure. Aesthetically, I was happy with the neutral brown wood on the aluminium. I thought the chair was smart and would blend in well in our living room, where our dining table is.

How easy is it the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair to assemble?

The assembly instructions in the box were clear, but we found the brand's online video tutorials much simpler to follow. It took 20 minutes to put the highchair together once we had laid out all the pieces. I liked that I only needed an Allen key to assemble and adapt the chair – one should be included in your order.

How easy is the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair to use with your baby or toddler?

The highchair was extremely easy to use with our toddler. It was easy to slot him into the chair (easier if done from behind the seat), and everything is simple to use, from the seat harness to the wide tray. The chair was also simple to clean, as the removable tray can go in the dishwasher.

What do you think of the Calmee bouncer?

Unfortunately my son was too old for the bouncer, so we didn’t test this – however, I would have loved to use the Calmee bouncer on the LIVY highchair legs when he was a baby. When he was a newborn, we bought a separate bouncer that was placed on the floor, but the Calmee bouncer can be used on the floor on its own legs, or attached to the LIVY highchair frame, bringing the bouncer to eye level, which I would have preferred.

What are the straps like on the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair?

The straps on the chair felt secure, and were wide enough to be comfortable for my baby. While the 5-point harness is effective, I haven’t felt the need to use it all the time, as the LIVY chair also comes with a seat guard rail that is very secure.

How comfortable is the LIVY highchair for your baby?

We have tried other highchairs before this and found them less comfortable. Our previous highchair was made of pure wood, without any padding. The backrest of the seat was so high and hard that our son would often bang his head on it when leaning back, which led us to try various different inserts with soft padding. The LIVY is much more comfortable. We have not needed to buy any inserts or adapt it in any way. Our son will happily sit in it throughout meal and snack times, which is possibly down to the soft polyester cushion that comes with the chair, as well as the wide tray and the ample seat space. The back seat is not so high that he bangs his head on it. The option to adapt the depth of the seat has also helped, and I will continue to use this feature as he grows.

How adjustable is the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair?

This highchair is very adjustable. Firstly, with the addition of the Calmee bouncer, it can adapt from newborn to toddler and all the way to the teenage years and even adulthood. Once your child is 6 months old, you can adapt the highchair to your toddler’s needs. The seat is adjustable to support a good sitting position, as is the footrest, and we will doubtless appreciate this more as our son grows. Eventually, the tray and seat guard can be removed, turning it into a great junior chair.

What is the Kinderkraft LIVY like as a junior chair?

One of the best features of the LIVY is how adaptable it is. Right now, it is the perfect height for our little one to sit at the table with us at mealtimes. With the adaptable features, including the ability to remove the seat guard, we can easily see it being used when our son is aged 5 and up.

Does it work well as an adult chair?

The LIVY chair can take 110kg in weight, and the brand promotes use of the chair for adults who want an extra seat around the house. I could not see us using this chair as a regular adult chair, as our dining table chairs are more comfortable. – but as an occasional ‘spare chair’ I can imagine it would be handy.

How easy is the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair to keep clean?

One of my favourite things about the highchair is how easy it is to keep clean. There is very little fabric on the chair (except the harness and cushion) so most parts of it are easily wipeable with a wet wipe or a damp cloth. There are also few nooks and crannies, so everything is easy to access when cleaning. It also comes with an extra silicone mat that can be placed on top of the tray. This is BPA-free, so your child can eat off the mat, and is also dishwasher-safe, which was a real bonus.

How much space does the Kinderkraft LIVY take up?

This highchair does not fold shut, so it can’t be folded up and leaned against a wall or stored in a cupboard when not in use. When it’s up, it’s up. It is sizable, and takes up a seat around the table. It’s D60cmxW47cmxH82cm and weighs 7.75 kg, though the green and pink versions of this chair are slightly lighter, at 7.3kg.

How easy is it to fold and store?

The LIVY doesn’t fold. If you wanted to store it, you would need to dismantle it first. Even then, its dimensions are sizable. If you have a large home, storing it in a box in a garage, loft or spare room might be fine. It would be difficult for us to find space to put it away in our London flat.

What do you think of the style and design of the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair?

The design is smart and stylish. The pink and olive green colour options are not to my taste, but I found the simple wooden brown design inoffensive, and it blended well into our living room. I also really liked the science that has gone into the ergonomic design. It is designed to adapt to your child’s growing spine, with adjustability options on the seat depth and leg height.

Does it come in any different colours?

It comes in 3 smart colours: a neutral wood (our choice), pale pink or green.

What are the features like on the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair?

There are no frills, but there are various practical inclusions such as the dishwasher-safe mat that sits on top of the tray. Another simple but effective design element is the non-slip feet. Sometimes my little one will have a dance in the high chair, or push himself away using my knees as a wall. Our previous high chair was unsteady when he did this, but the non-slip element on the LIVY prevents this, making it feel much safer and well thought-out.

What age is the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair suitable from?

It can be used with a newborn if the Calmee bouncer is attached. The highchair itself is suitable from 6 months, when a baby can sit up and start weaning, up to the age of around 3 years (15kg), when it can then be turned into a chair. It is then suitable all the way up to adulthood, with a maximum weight capacity of 110kg.

How does the Kinderkraft LIVY compare to other highchairs you have used?

The LIVY is very different to other high chairs we have tried. Firstly, it is far more adaptable, and the adjustable seat space and footrest functions clearly have a growing child in mind. It is less complicated in design, making it easier to clean. The fact that it can’t be folded is a definite minus, but the LIVY does feel very solid compared to other highchairs. It is made from high-quality materials, which should mean it lasts longer than cheaper products.

What’s in the box?

The highchair arrived packed in one box, with all the elements and accessories for the LIVY high chair and the Calmee bouncer: legs, footrest, seat, tray, washable matt, screws, Calmee bouncer and separate legs for using it on the floor.

Who would the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair be most useful for?

This chair would be useful for a family that has a growing child and doesn’t need a highchair that can fold up when not in use.

Is the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair worth the money?

At £209 it is definitely at the higher end of the market. It has such longevity, though, that you won’t need to buy further chairs in the future, making it easier to justify the investment.

How does it compare to similar highchairs?

Where can I buy the Kinderkraft LIVY highchair?

It is available from Kinderkraft, Pramworld and Baby Planet.

MadeForMums verdict:

This is a great highchair. It is secure, well designed, well made, comfortable and easy to clean. It also looks modern in design. We are very happy with it, and will use it over our old highchair, which I have now put away. It is pricy, but given its longevity, it is worth the investment in my opinion. The main drawback is that you can’t fold it up and put it away when not in use, but if you have the space to keep your highchair set up, this is a great option.