Wooden High Chairs

Wooden high chairs are simple, durable and a traditional piece of baby furniture. Unlike the wooden high chair your grandmother used, today's wooden high chairs boast adjustable, ergonomic designs and are usually as reliable as their metal and plastic counter parts.

Wooden high chairs are safe but you may have to purchase extras

The Stokke Tripp Trapp (*Est. $250) comes standard with a safety harness that converts from five points to three to accommodate older children. However if you want to use the Tripp Trapp with a baby of 6 to 9 months, you will need the Baby Set (*Est. $70) that provides high back support and a solid yoke between the legs. Similarly, the Keekaroo Height Right Chair (*Est. $180) on its own will not support babies.

The Keekaroo Height Right Chair can be purchased with the infant insert that includes a chair cushion and a wooden tray with a passive-restraint pommel between the infant's legs (*Est. $240). Unlike the Tripp Trapp, the Keekaroo only has a three-point harness, which may not keep an adventuresome baby from climbing up and out of the chair.

The Svan Signet Complete Baby High Chair (*Est. $260) includes a baby kit that accommodates babies from 6 months to adult, with a tray, a five-point safety harness and a passive safety restraint that surrounds the baby and forms a T-shape between the legs.  There is another model of the Svan Signet, the Svan Signet Essential (*Est. $99), that does not include the baby kit.

All three of these chairs are considered by parents and reviewers to be sturdy and stable. The Tripp Trapp Baby Set includes extended gliders that provide more tip resistance for the Z-shaped base. A few parents comment that the Z-shape does pose a tripping hazard.

Wooden high chairs are easy to use and clean

Generally, parents say the wooden frames of the Stokke Tripp Trapp and Keekaroo Height Right chairs are easy to wipe clean. Because the Tripp Trapp does not come with a tray, this particular clean-up job is eliminated, but you will have a messier kitchen table (or floor) as a result. The optional Baby Set (*Est. $70) that can be purchased for the Tripp Trapp does have a traditional high chair tray. Stokke also makes a table top tray (*Est. $50) that can protect your table's surface.

Both the Keekaroo Height Right and the Svan Signet Complete Trays have dishwasher-safe, removable plastic inserts. However, parents say that although it's sleek and attractive, the Svan chair has many more nooks and crannies to trap food in and is more difficult to clean overall.

All three of these chairs require assembly with Allen wrenches and screw drivers. Parents describe the Tripp Trapp and Keekaroo assembly as straightforward, but say the Svan assembly may take hours due to the many pieces and components. You will also have to keep the hex wrench handy in order to make size adjustments on these chairs as your child grows.

Wooden high chairs grow with the child and can be used at the table

The best wooden high chairs are designed with ergonomics in mind so that children will be well-supported at each stage of development. These chairs are also built to be permanent fixtures in the home that grow with the child from babyhood until they reach full size. The Stokke Tripp Trapp has a 300-pound weight rating and the Keekaroo Height Right Chair and the Svan Signet Complete are  weight-rated up to 250 pounds.

The ground-breaking Stokke Tripp Trapp features adjustable seat height, footrest height and back support depth to ensure that the child is comfortably positioned for feeding at table level. The Tripp Trapp omits the tray altogether with a design that encourages babies to eat at the table with the other members of the family. The Keekaroo Height Right takes its cues from the Tripp Trapp with a similar chair design and adjustability. The Svan Signet Complete  offers the same level of adjustability and the ability to accommodate table side dining, but it also comes standard with a removable tray for more traditional high chair-type dining. All three chairs convert to adult chairs.

Parents praise the seats' relatively large footrests, which allow toddlers to climb into the seats themselves, encouraging greater independence. However, like any piece of substantial furniture, wood can be damaged by the elements, so it is important to care for it the same way you would other finished wooden furniture. None of these chairs is impervious to moisture or sunlight.

Wooden high chairs have warranties to match their longevity

The Tripp Trapp carries a seven year warranty. The Keekaroo has a five year warranty and the Svan offers a two year warranty.

The Stokke Tripp Trapp is the top pick in wooden high chairs

The Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair has been a long-time favorite of parents and reviewers, thanks to its high-quality wood construction, comfort and adjustability, and its long product lifespan. The chair is more expensive than traditional high chairs -- especially if you opt for the accessories -- but it is one of the most flexible child seats on the market, and its safety record is impeccable. And, with 11 finish options, this modern high chair will fit in with just about any home décor.