15 Best Infant Floor Seats + Baby Chairs in 2023 For EVERY Situation

For such tiny people, people's certainly can require a lot of stuff! Particularly when it comes to safely putting them down, soothing them, and feeding them. Which is why we've rounded up the BEST infant floor seats and baby chairs for every situation!

Including our number 1 pick that is wildly practical (you can bottle feed in it, it's portable and folds flat for easy storage, grows from newborn to toddlerhood, encourages independent gross motor development, and it helps soothes your baby, especially if experiencing gas, colic, or reflux!

From practical baby chairs that are portable or high chairs for feeding, to soothing baby chairs the move, to fun personalized plush chairs for photoshoots and comfort as your kids grow – we've got you covered!

Practical Baby Chairs:

Best Baby Bouncer Chair: BabyBjörn Bouncer

Baby bouncer chairs have been around for as long as I can remember, for good reason: they soothe your baby and are generally supportive through the first year at minimum. I honestly don't think I've ever met a baby who didn't like a bouncer chair, and while there are certainly cheaper options out there, if you're going to only get ONE baby chair, the BabyBjörn Bouncer is 1000000000000% the infant seat to get!

In fact, it's not only the best baby bouncer chair, we think it's THE best baby chair in general.

It features 3 recline positions, with the most upright being suitable for bottle feedings.

And it can be used from 8 lbs newborns to 29 lbs in the toddler years by just flipping the seat cover.

Unlike a lot of other baby chairs that encourage static passive seating, this one actually is designed to bounce when baby kicks it, encouraging motor skill development as well!

More than that though, my son was 100% colicky and this was honestly THE ONLY thing he would let us sit him down in for more than 5 minutes without freaking out. It soothed him for hours and hours those first couple of months when we were sorting out reflux symptoms and couldn't put him down.

I've heard countless other stories from parents who agree: Yes, it's pricey, but it's also magic.

While it's not recommended for sleeping it, it will put your baby to sleep for sure. It's our go-to for supervised naps at the beach.

We personally never did a baby glider since our baby was in our room those early months, so while the chair is a splurge, if you skip a glider it can be a nice cost effective alternative that doubles for other uses as well! For instance, I often hold my son but prop my feet on it as an ottoman or bounce my feet on it to create a rocking chair effect while nursing him. It truly is multi-use!

The cover is machine washable and easy to remove. They do suggest you line dry it, but i've put it in the dryer on low with no issues. This chair actually grows with your child too from the newborn days to toddlerhood when you flip the cover inside out.

Best Traditional Infant Floor Seat: Upseat Baby Chair

The Upseat baby chair has won the praise of many pediatric physical therapists and is certified by the International Hip Dysplasia institute for it's safe hip positioning.

NOTE: While it's recommended for as early as 3 months old, it will only meet your baby where they are at developmentally! In other words: if your baby hasn't developed a strong enough core to hold themselves upright yet, they will still struggle to sit upright. The chair puts the hips in the proper position for upright sitting, but ultimately your child has to do the rest of the work.

Best Baby High Chair: Stokke Tripp Trapp

For parents that like a minimalist design aesthetic and a product built to last, the Stokke Tripp Trapp Baby Set is an ergonomically designed high chair that’s adjustable and can convert to grow with your baby and is even safe enough for adults to use as a chair. As your baby grows you just remove the back plastic piece from the wooden high chair, then lower the legs so they are always sitting in the best position pushed right up to the dining table as part of the family.

The Stokke Tripp Trapp can be customized for infants, to toddlers, to adult use. Note that it can also be used for newborns as a bouncer when you purchase the newborn set. It also comes in a wide variety of colors:

Best Baby Chair With Table: Montessori Weaning Table + Chair

A montessori weaning table is basically a minimalist wooden baby chair and table. The term “weaning” comes from “weaning off the boob” as your baby transitions to solids. It's great for eating, crafts, and just hanging out. A weaning table can be used once your child is able to sit upright independently (generally around 6 months).

We love this options from MontessoriHOUSEbed because of its multiple configurations and use for multiple kids.The table itself can be flipped on its side and converted to a sofa bench. The chairs can also be rotated and used as a smaller table or a step stool. It's the perfect transitional furniture for infants to toddler to preschool and the early primary years encouraging practical life skills, table manners, and more.

Best Portable High Chair For Baby: Inglesina Hook On Baby Chair

It’s inevitable that at some point you’re going to need a portable high chair for baby. While many baby chairs can be moved from place to place, this Inglesina Fast Table Seat Chair is ingenious as it hooks onto a table and takes up minimal space. I've traveled with it from coast to coast and always get asked about it and tons of compliments. It’s perfect for dining out or a trip to grandma’s house.

This durable pick is rated for babies from six to 36 months and can support up to 37 pounds with a washable design for easy maintenance. 

Best Infant Floor Seat For Gassy Babies: Fisher Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker Chair

The Fisher Price Infant to Toddler Rocker chair is also known as the “poo poo chair” in our house as well as many friends homes. We've all marveled at the sorcery of this affordable baby rocker chair and can't quite figure out how it has the same effect on all of our babies.

I recommend putting a towel over it (cover the aggressive pattern and reduces likelihood of needing to wash the whole thing versus the towel). As well as putting them down in a clean diaper so there's extra room for poo!

The back adjusts heights for various upright positions and there's a kickstand to turn it from a baby rocking chair to a sturdy toddler chair. There's also a detachable mini activity gym bar that has two hanging things. Depending on which style you get it'll either be animals or shapes, but they all feature a spinning ball with a mirror and a key ring of sorts. You can also get a vibrating version of this chair if you choose, though I don't think it's necessary and haven't met anyone who has the vibrating version to say if it's worth it or not.

Best Bath Chair For Infant: Angelcare Baby Bath Support

Bath time can be difficult until your baby not only gains neck control but can sit on their own too. The Angelcare Baby Bath Support is a bath chair specifically designed for water. It’s intended to be used in the tub with an ergonomic design. The mesh material allows for quick drying that reduces the likelihood of mold (seriously, be careful with baby bath tubs! Some of little grooves mold loves to grow in). The texture is soft and gentle on baby’s skin. 

Best Outdoor Camping Baby Chair: Baby Delight Go With Me Chair

Outdoor gatherings can feel challenging if you don’t want to spend the entire time holding your baby. The Baby Delight Go with Me Chair is a cute solution that combines a mini-high chair with a camping chair and a canopy for sun protection. Along with a five-point harness, and a detachable tray, you’ll get a chair that can grow with your baby thanks to a 75-pound weight limit and three supported configurations. The lightweight chair is sturdily built, but easy to open and fold. 

Fun Infant to Big Kid Floor Seats:

Best Plush Infant Floor Seat: Snuggle Me Organic Baby Lounger

From tummy time to a safe space to let little ones lounge, the Snuggle Me Organic Baby Lounger is a great solution and substitute for when you need a moment with free hands. The oversized edges ensure that your baby won’t roll out and is intended for babies from newborn to nine months. It’s also GOTS certified to be organic and non-toxic. Plus, this lounger is machine washable and comes in a wide array of colors:

Best Personalized Baby Chair: Pottery Barn Anywhere Chairs

Everyone deserves a plush chair to relax in — including your baby. While this chair is for infants who have mastered the art of sitting up, it will last for quite some time! The cute personalized baby chairs comes in endless patterns and styles makes the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chairs a smart investment and excellent for gifting.

Here are just a few of our favorites:

This chair comes in a few sizes “My first” for young babies, “regular” for toddlers and preschoolers, and “oversized” for elementrary aged children. Parents can also rest easy knowing these chairs are GREENGUARD Gold certified. 

We think they are so cute that you can even use them for a photoshoot with your kid!

Best Baby Sofa Chair: Foamnasium Blocksy Kids Couch 

Whether you’re hosting playdates or have multiple children in the home, this baby couch is perfect for giving all the tots a space to sit comfortably and can double for working on gross motor skills!

The Foamnasium Blocksy Kids Couch has a low seat that’s can act as an infant lounger or baby sofa they can independently crawl on and off of. It will grow with your child. The vinyl upholstery makes it perfect for easy cleanup. Your kids will love that you can easily change the couch’s configuration by rearranging the foam-filled vinyl bases and wedge cushions into forts, climbers, reading nooks, and more! Let their imagination and creativity run rampant!

Best Baby Chair For Photoshoot: First Landings

While we truly think you can do an awesome photoshoot using any of the baby chairs on this list, we love First Landings newborn chair and other photography props thanks to their affordable price point and how easy they make newborn positioning.

It's ideal for newborns to six month olds. The set is hypoallergenic and machine washable.

If you want to do a photoshoot for an older baby, we suggest looking at the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chairs.

Moving + Soothing Infant Chairs:

Best Rocker Baby Chair: Graco DuetSoothe Swing and Rocker

A good rocker can keep little ones engaged and give you a break. If you know that your baby isn’t developmentally ready for a true baby chair, then this combination pick from Graco is perfect. Their DuetSoothe Swing and Rocker can convert into a portable rocker by removing the swing frame. You’ll get three swing directions, six swing speeds, two vibration settings, 10 melodies, and five soothing sounds. This pick works with batteries or can be plugged into an electrical outlet. 

Best Glider Baby Chair: DaVinci Swivel Glider

Part of baby chairs includes having a comfortable and supportive place for YOU to sit with baby during those late night feeds and all day cuddles! The Carter’s by DaVinci Adrien Swivel Glider with Ottoman is an supportive edition to any living room or baby nursery. You’ll get lumbar support thanks to an additional pillow and two armrests. This chair features 360-degree swivel and a smooth backward and forwards gliding motion making it double as the perfect rocker for baby. It comes in a few colors too:

We like that this pick is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, free of chemical flame retardants, formaldehyde, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

Best Swing For Babies: 4moms MamaRoo

There’s no ignoring that the 4moms MamRoo 4 Baby Swing is a serious splurge. Its an all-in-one solutions that include not just the swing but a rocker with five motions and speeds, and Bluetooth integration so you and adjust the motion and sound from anywhere and machine washable fabric. You’ll like that you can also recline the seat so that this pick grows with your baby from their newborn stage throughout infancy. This swing is AC electric powered and supports MP3 playback support. 

Best Vibrating Baby Chair: Fisher Price Baby Chair Rocker

We already dove deep into the Fisher Price Infant to Toddler Rocker chair early in this post (re: gassy babies), so scroll back up to read our experience on that!

This is also a vibrating baby chair which is super fun for soothing littles ones and my toddler gets a real kick out of it!

The back adjusts heights for various upright positions and there's a kickstand to turn it from a baby rocking chair to a sturdy toddler chair. There's also a detachable mini activity gym bar that has two hanging things. Depending on which style you get it'll either be animals or shapes, but they all feature a spinning ball with a mirror and a key ring of sorts. To use the vibrations it does require 2 C batteries that are not included and some older versions of this chair do not vibrate.

How To Choose an Infant Floor Seat or Baby Chair:

Besides the cuteness factor, you want an infant floor seat, or a baby chair, that’s going to provide proper support for your little one. Oftentimes baby chairs are designed to grow with your child before they've developed the back strength and coordination to do so unassisted so there are a few things to consider when selecting:

Safety

Hands down, safety is always going to be the number one priority when you’re picking any item for your baby. You want a chair that’s rated for your child’s weight, with a sturdy base that isn’t prone to tipping over as your child moves. Many manufacturers recommend intended age ranges based off weight so double check that as well.

Keep in mind, that age ranges aren't fullproof as babies reach milestones at different times. Your baby should have mastered neck control before graduating them to a supportive upright seat. 

Also ensure that any attachments, like trays or toys, don’t pose a pinch risk for little hands. Additionally, any toys should be age-appropriate and sturdily built so that pieces don’t break off — creating a choking hazard.

Keep in mind that most baby chairs and infant floor seats aren’t meant to be used on tabletops or counters or for sleeping.

In general, all baby products should be given a regular once over to ensure no harmful wear or tear is occurring and babies should be supervised while using.

And while this baby furniture niche isn’t as heavily regulated as cribs, swings, and rockers, always check the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to confirm that any chair you want isn’t on a recall list — especially if you’re inheriting a secondhand chair.

Storage

Some baby chairs are quite large and heavy, meaning you can't easily store them out of sight or for future babies.

Before purchasing an infant seat we suggest thinking about how long you plan to use it and where you plan to keep it while both in use and not in use.

Ease of Use

As a parent of a baby, you’re already spread thin. The last thing you want is a baby gear accessory that requires an advanced degree in engineering to assemble or is a pain to keep clean. Most baby gear is designed to be fairly user friendly, but there are exceptions to every rule. 

For cleaning, consider whether your baby chair has hard surfaces only or if it also contains soft surfaces that can trap baby poop and drool. If it does have soft surfaces, make sure the material is detachable and machine washable. You'll want to avoid baby chairs that are spot clean only since at least one blow out wil probably happen in them at some point!

Size

Similar to the storage factor, you’ll also want to think about size. Although most people think of smaller chairs when they envision a baby chair or infant floor seat, you can technically also lump rockers, jumpers, and swings into this product category. 

Depending on where you plan on placing this chair, you’ll want to think about what size makes the most sense for your needs. Smaller chairs can be ideal if you have limited space or prefer a more portable option. 

Feeding Trays

Feeding trays are not a must have when it comes to baby chairs, but can be a nice feature to have if you don't tend to eat meals at the table regularly or use a high chair much.

Usually these trays are detachable and easily clip or click into place. But having the tray can give you the option to offer your baby finger foods to keep them occupied and give you a much needed break. 

Versatility

While many baby chairs are designed for the infancy stage (which ends at 12 months), there are some baby chairs that can transition further into toddlerhood and even preschool age. Often this means that the chair can convert into other configurations so that it makes sense for older tots.  

Additionally, some chairs are portable making them an extremely useful option for travel, grandparents, or even beach or park trips.

Age Compatibility

For parents or caregivers that want to get the most value for their money, a chair that grows with your child is a smart investment. To determine if a chair will be relevant past 12 months, look at the listed weight limit. Chairs that tend to cap weights in the mid 20-pound range are usually meant to be phased out after 12 months of age. Meanwhile, you can find chairs that support as much as 50 or 75 pounds— meaning that they’re compatible with older kids.

FAQS About Baby Chairs + Infant Floor Seats:

How long should babies be in an infant seat? 

The 2 Hour Rule is typically used for car seats and likely can be applied to infant seats, which basically states infants should not spend more than 2 hours in a car seat within a 24 hour period.

With that said, pediatric physical therapist, Katie Noland, recommends babies spend less than 15 min a day in an upright infant seat, excluding feeding time once eating solids.

Generally, most health experts are going to tell you to use an infant seat as little as possible. Babies need free movement to maximize their physical development.

Do baby chairs help teach babies to sit? 

No. The best way for babies to learn to sit is by being on the floor and playing with you. Babies need freedom of movement to develop coordination and strength.

Which is better for baby: the upseat or the bumbo?

Pediatric physical therapists generally recommend the Upseat over the Bumbo as it's developed for better overall alignment.

This is a great explanation from one:

What age do babies use chairs?

Depending on the baby chair, you may be able to start using it from birth! Other are better suited for after your baby has proper neck and head control and a stronger core.

If you plan to use an infant floor seat during the newborn days, make sure there is a safety harness and that your baby is fully supported in an inclined position.

Sometimes after 3 months, when your baby is strong enough, you can look for infant floor seats that encourage upright sitting; though we don't think this is necessary until baby is starting solids and your safest option is still going to be a high chair like this one.

When can I feed my baby in an infant floor seat?

Depending on the infant floor seat and what you mean by “feeding” will largely change this answer.

If by feeding you mean a bottle, then a well supported bouncer like this that keeps your baby upright, but supported can certainly work.

If you're looking to feed your baby solids in an infant floor seat, then the recommendation is generally they need to be sitting upright on their own before starting solids and at that point we'd refer you to the specific baby chair manufacturer's recommendations.

In that case though, it's generally around 6 months and while high chairs are still the best options, an infant floor seat with a tray like this can work as well.

Are sit up chairs bad for babies?

Some sit up chairs are better designed to support baby's development than others. And generally speaking, the recommendation is to use them as little as possible as babies need lots of freedom of movement to strengthen and refine their motor skills.

Sit up chairs aren’t inherently bad for babies. But if you rely on them too much, or don’t use them as intended they can be a problem. In particular, letting your baby spend too much time in a sit up chair can inhibit their ability to learn to sit up independently. 

Additionally, one of the biggest risks that baby chairs pose is tipping. And this is because babies are strapped in typically but don't understand that. Babies get an urge to use their body and try it! Depending on the baby chair and your baby, that means they could tip over while attempting to get to a toy across the room.

Another big concern is many parents place these chairs on high surfaces like countertops and tables and they aren’t meant to be used at heights which can increase the risk of a dangerous fall for your baby. 

Which baby chairs have the biggest trays?

From our guide, the chair with the largest tray was the Upseat Baby Chair.  

With that said, babies don't need giant trays. Whether your using it for play or feeding, you generally only need an area about the size of two adult palms in our experience.

Can I use an infant floor seat in the bath or a shallow pool?

We suggest checking with that specific chairs manufacturer. Generally speaking, most infant floor seats aren't intended for water use. Instead we'd suggest a baby bath chair or tub or a floater like this to keep your baby upright in a pool.

Is it safe to put a baby chair on the counter or table?

Most baby chairs on not recommended or approved for safe use on counters or tables. Generally baby chairs are designed for floor use.

Putting babies in seats on high surfaces increases the risk of your baby getting injured. 

Is it safe to use a baby chair outside?

Most baby chairs can be used indoors or outdoors on hard surfaces. Keep in mind some sun protection though when using infants seats outside!

This is my personal favorite as it folds flat, making it very portable, works for newborns through toddlerhood, and has worked well for us even on sand at the beach!

Can infants sleep in baby chairs?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), until your baby reaches their first year, you should follow the ABCs of safe sleep. This means your baby should be put to bed or naps Alone, on their Backs, on a firm flat surface like a Crib or bassinet. 

If your baby does fall asleep in a baby chair (let's be real, it does happen where baby falls asleep in them), they should ALWAYS be supervised CLOSELY by an adult.

Are floor seats good for baby?

Depending on the floor seat and purpose it can be good for both baby and the parents within safe limits!

Spending too much time in a baby chair can delay certain physical milestones as babies don't get to work on building upper body strength and muscle control.

However, sometimes babies have reflux or other issues going on and need to be in an upright position, particularly after feedings, and they can be a saving grace for many families!

Final thoughts on baby chairs and infant floor seats:

Baby chairs can be introduced as early as the newborn days, giving caregivers a much needed rest and often providing necessary relief for colicky or gassy babies. Ideally, you'll look for one that can grow with your child beyond the newborn days – or even first year of infancy!

Babies with older siblings or FOMO tend to appreciate the upright position so they can see “what's happening” in our experience too!

What chair is best for baby?

The Baby Bjorn Bouncer is truly the best chair for baby in our experience. It grows from the newborn days through toddlerhood, keeps baby upright enough for bottle feedings or if struggling with gas or reflux. Plus it's portable and easy to store thanks to it's lay flat when not in use design. We also love the machine washable cover and option for a toy bar. It's practical, soothes baby, and still encourages some independent movement as baby kicks and its unique ergonomic design responds by bouncing. We also love the minimalist design and that it's free of batteries.

Beyond that, for a traditional infant floor seat the Upseat Baby Chair is a smart choice with a large detachable tray. If you want something that grows with your baby, consider the Stokke Tripp Trapp which grows with your baby and is SUPER easy to clean. 

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