Booster Seat vs High Chair: Which Do You Need?
A high chair and a booster seat do similar jobs at different ages. Here’s the difference, and how to know when your child is ready to move up.
Ready to choose?
We compared 10 high chairs on cleaning, comfort, safety, build and value - full-size, convertible, wooden, space-saver and hook-on, for every kitchen and budget.
What each one is
- A high chair is a standalone chair (with its own legs or a pedestal) for babies and young toddlers starting solids, usually from 6 months.
- A booster seat straps onto a regular dining chair to lift an older toddler to table height, usually from around 18 months to 3 years.
When to move from high chair to booster
Consider a booster when your toddler can sit well unaided, wants to be at the table with the family, and is climbing out of or outgrowing the high chair - often somewhere between 18 months and 3 years. There’s no fixed date; it depends on the child and your table.
Convertible chairs blur the line
Many modern chairs do both. Convertible high chairs (like the Graco Blossom) turn into boosters and toddler seats, and space-savers (Fisher-Price SpaceSaver) start as a full seat and become a booster - so you buy once. See our high chair guide.
Booster safety
A booster still needs a harness for younger toddlers and must be strapped firmly to a sturdy dining chair. Always follow the weight limits, and keep it away from surfaces the child can push off from.
Ready to choose?
We compared 10 high chairs on cleaning, comfort, safety, build and value - full-size, convertible, wooden, space-saver and hook-on, for every kitchen and budget.