I’m Convinced This Is the Rolls-Royce of Baby High Chairs

Just like their grown adult counterparts, no two babies are alike. It sounds obvious, but you don’t fully realize it until you have a baby and discover that half of the items you put on your registry aren’t to their liking. Somehow, they’re born with specific preferences before they can even walk or talk! I learned this the hard way with high chairs. I registered for a high chair that several people had recommended, and figured my baby would sit happily in it and eagerly scoop up all of the homemade purees I made for her. None of those things happened (especially not the homemade purees).

The high chair I registered for was fine, but it just didn’t work for my baby (or me). It didn’t come with attachments like a tray or a harness and straps, the back wasn’t adjustable, and it was hard to put together. As my baby became old enough to start eating solids, I needed something that was easy to clean, came with all the required parts at no additional cost, and could be put together and taken apart easily, in addition to being small enough for my New York City apartment. So when Lalo offered me the chance to test out The Chair II, an updated version of their best-selling high chair, I jumped at it — and I’m so glad I did (as is my baby!).

First things first: Lalo’s original 3-in-1 Chair was incredibly popular, but users had a big complaint — the footprint was too big. Lalo listened to the issues with the overly splayed legs, and the new Chair II has a 33% smaller footprint (it’s now 20” x 24” x 14.3”, vs. 24.5” x 24.5”). Since kids’ stuff takes up so much space, any way you can streamline is huge. The chair now also has an adjustable footrest, making the company’s promise that your child can grow with the chair even more true. Along those lines, the Chair II can be configured into seven different types of seating, including a booster, stool, and more (the original Chair only had three configurations). Lalo also made the tray larger and easier to remove, and introduced silicone straps, which are so much easier to clean than the original coated nylon ones. The last big feature that really appealed to me is the adjustable backrest, making the chair more comfortable for smaller babies.

Aside from the major functionality upgrades, the Chair II comes in six incredibly pretty colorways, including a gorgeous Rose shade and a soothing Sage that I very nearly chose. I opted for the more neutral Coconut, but all of them are muted enough to go with any decor. This new version is just as sleek-looking as the original; it’s clear that Lalo values aesthetics as highly as functionality with their products, which is nice when your home is filled with baby things.

It’s been a struggle getting my baby to eat solids regularly, but the Chair is blessedly a delightful part of that process. The five-point harness is really easy to use, thanks to the magnetic parts that help it all snap together easily. I can rest easy knowing my baby is securely in her chair once she’s strapped in, and it’s extremely easy to wipe smears and crumbs off of the silicone straps.

Speaking of cleaning, the bigger tray is a godsend. It’s so easy to clean it with soap and water, and removing it to wash in the dishwasher for some extra cleaning love was a snap. (I removed and reattached it with one hand!) While it’s not so big that my baby doesn’t throw food off of it, I’m pretty sure no tray would accomplish that task.

My favorite new feature might be the adjustable backrest. My baby hates the standard wooden high chairs in restaurants because the seating area is too big for her. She still needs back support since she’s small, so if we forget to bring a little cushion or blanket to help her sit up, she gets angry (relatable!). The Chair II has three different backrest settings, letting smaller babies sit up comfortably, and allowing them to grow into the chair. I’d never seen anything like this before!

I didn’t realize just how much better these new features were until I took my baby to the Museum of Modern Art and discovered that the cafe we went to for lunch had the Lalo Chair I as its high chair! It had the same beautiful look as the new Chair II, but the fabric straps had clearly been well-used; there were visible stains on them. The more-splayed legs were also really noticeable, as was the lack of adjustable footrest. According to Lalo, the new movable footrest allows babies to be in a 90/90/90 posture, which pediatric OTs recommend for starting solids.

My one issue with the Chair II is that even with the smaller footprint, my husband and I still stub our toes on the legs when we’re not paying attention. That would probably be less of a problem if we had more space, though, so if you’re lucky enough to have a roomier kitchen or dining room (or are less clumsy than I am), it shouldn’t be a concern.

If you want a versatile, beautiful, and functional high chair that comes with all the parts you need, then yes! There are a lot of high chairs to choose from out there, but I loved how easy this one was to assemble. It took me about 15 minutes, maximum. All of the parts were well-labeled, and the instructions were short and clear. This new chair solves a lot of users’ complaints about the old one, and considering how it can really be useful for years, I think it’s worth the price. I haven’t had a chance to try out the stool and seat configurations since we’re pretty focused on trying solids, but I love that all the parts for those came included. Compared to the other chair I had, this one really feels like it solved problems I didn’t even know most high chairs have.

Now, if it also solved our problem of getting our baby to regularly eat solids, I’d buy one for everyone I know. Until then, I’ll recommend it heartily.

Buy: The Chair II, $249.99