The Mockingbird High Chair is my favorite for the baby stage because the parts I clean after every meal are so simple: a smooth seat, silicone-coated straps, and a removable tray liner. If you want a folding chair, counter-height seating, or a newborn recline, I would choose something else. Here are the five things I would want to know before buying it.
I use a high chair multiple times a day, so easy cleanup matters more to me than a long list of extra features. Mockingbird gets that part right.
I’ve tested almost every popular high chair with my three kids, and the Mockingbird High Chair is one of the best I’ve used. But is it right for you? Before you click ‘add to cart,’ here are five key things to know about this high chair—including what I love, what could be better, and whether it’s worth the price. Oh, and I have a code to save, so be sure to keep reading!
Table of Contents
Quick Review: The Mockingbird High Chair at a Glance
If you’re short on time (hello, parenting), here’s the short version:
- Easy to clean: No fabric, no weird crevices, and the silicone-coated straps actually wipe clean.
- Tray liner: Do you hate cleaning the tray between meals? Good news! This high chair comes with a tray liner/second tray top, so you have two trays to use.
- Smart design: Adjustable tray positions, built-in seat-back strap holders, ergonomic high chair seat, and a tool-free adjustable footrest.
- Smaller footprint: One of the most compact high chairs on the market, perfect for small spaces.
- Materials: Mockingbird lists FSC-certified beechwood, BPA-free plastic, and food-grade silicone. The chair feels sturdy to me.
- Lots of color options: They just added so many nice colors to match any home!
- Not foldable: If you need an easy fold option, this isn’t it. It doesn’t fold!
- Buckles have been updated: The new magnetic harness makes fastening and unfastening a breeze.
- Not infant compatible: Some high chairs allow you to purchase an infant seat, but this one does not, meaning it’s not great for smaller babies under 6 months.
- Grows with your child: The seat can be converted to a toddler seat, which is easy to adjust and grows with your toddler.
Watch My Mockingbird High Chair Review
If this sounds like the high chair for your family, click the link below and use code EMSTROLLER to get a free early eaters dishware set with your purchase!
Prefer to watch? Check out my full review video below:
Video update: Mockingbird has since changed to a three-piece magnetic buckle. The current buckle is easier to use than the one shown in this video.
I compare the alternatives farther down, including why I prefer Mockingbird for the baby stage and Tripp Trapp for my older kids.
Mockingbird High Chair Price and Specifications
The chair is listed at $249 and includes the baby seat, tray, tray liner, harness, and adjustable footrest. These are the main specifications I would check against your space before buying.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | $249 — Get a free Early Eaters Dishware Set with code EMSTROLLER at checkout. |
| High Chair Mode | 24″D x 16.5″W x 35.5″H |
| Child Chair Mode | 24″D x 16.5″W x 28.5″H |
| Weight (with tray) | 16.5 lbs |
| Weight (without baby seat) | 12.5 lbs |
| Assembly | ~15 minutes, no tools required |
| Age & Weight Limit | High Chair Mode: 6 months+ (sitting unassisted) to 35 lbs Child Chair Mode: Up to 150 lbs |
5 Things to Know Before Buying the Mockingbird High Chair
1. Ease of Cleaning
This highchair is made of beechwood (frame) and high-quality plastic (seat, footrests, and tray). It is impressively stain-resistant and easy to wipe off. There are two trays that stack on top of each other, and the top tray is dishwasher safe. The main tray is hand-wash only, but it is so easy to clean that you won’t mind. The silicone straps are food-grade and are easy to wipe down (the only high chair I have found with straps like this). The footrests and seat are curved, open, and easy to access to clean off, and there aren’t any hidden crannies to collect old food.
- Two trays: A dishwasher-safe top tray that pops off and a bottom tray that wipes clean easily.
- Silicone-coated straps: Unlike traditional fabric or nylon straps, these stain-resistant straps wipe clean effortlessly.
- No awkward crevices: You won’t find hidden spots hoarding month-old Cheerios (trust me, I checked).
Real-Life Cleaning Test
One of my biggest tests is the “spaghetti night” challenge. My baby smears tomato sauce everywhere. Some chairs, like my old high chair, absorb the mess like a sponge, but the Mockingbird wiped down pretty well. I also let oatmeal dry on it overnight (because life happens), and it came off without scrubbing for my dear life.
2. Convenience of Use
Not only is it easy to clean, but it’s also convenient and intuitive to use. Mockingbird’s tray allows it to adjust close to your baby and keep food from falling into their lap. The tray smoothly slides on and off and adjusts by pinching two levers under each side of the tray.
There are strap holders behind the seat to keep the straps out of the way while cleaning the chair or until you need them.
The foot rest adjusts without tools! There is a learning curve to aligning the footrest adjustment pins to each height configuration, but it is a fairly intuitive process and an Allen-wrench-free experience. There are four footrest height configurations, making it great for early eaters.
- Adjustable tray: Three configurations allow the tray to sit close enough to your baby, keeping food off their lap.
- Built-in strap holders: Keep straps out of the way when not in use—no more digging around for them!
- Tool-free adjustable footrest: No Allen wrench required. It takes a little practice, but it’s simple once you get the hang of it.
3. A small footprint for small kitchens
It has one of the smallest high chair footprints on the market. It fits easily in your dining room or kitchen without taking over the whole space like some high chairs.
The seat is ergonomic and supportive and promotes proper eating position for your child.
A note about baby thighs: Some fellow moms have mentioned that their baby’s chubbier thighs fit snugly in the seat leg holes. Mockingbird took this feedback to heart and updated the chair to make the leg holes bigger!
The baby seat easily lifts off without tools. The chair itself can be used as a child seat for bigger kids (with an impressive 150-lb weight limit), and the seat height is easily adjustable.
4. Now available in several colors!
The new Mockingbird High Chair now comes in so many new colors! This may have just made it my favorite high chair to date.
5. The Buckle Is Now Easier to Use
The buckle was one of my biggest frustrations with the original chair, and I am happy to report that Mockingbird changed it. The current three-piece magnetic buckle is much easier to use. If you are watching my older video or buying secondhand, check which buckle that chair has.
- Updated magnetic harness: Easier to fasten than the original buckle I reviewed.
- Use the full harness: The tray is not a restraint, even when it sits close to your baby.
- Much faster to use: Snaps together quickly without hassle.
Bonus: The Primary Complaint About the Mockingbird High Chair
My biggest limitation with this chair is simple: it does not fold. The compact footprint helps in my kitchen, but if you need to put your chair in a closet after every meal, I would look at a folding model.
If this sounds like the high chair for your family, click the link below and use code EMSTROLLER to get a free early eaters dishware set with your purchase!
Mockingbird vs. Other High Chairs
Mockingbird vs. Stokke Tripp Trapp
I prefer Mockingbird for easy cleaning with a baby, and the Stokke Tripp Trapp for my older girls. Mockingbird’s tool-free adjustments are simpler, while the Tripp Trapp is the wooden chair I keep reaching for at our family table. I would decide based on the stage you are buying for, not just how long either chair can technically be used.
The main decision is whether you want the easiest baby-stage cleanup, a chair for the toddler years, or something that folds. My preferences have changed as I have spent more time with these chairs.
| Chair | Why I would consider it | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Stokke Tripp Trapp | My favorite for my older girls and years of use at the family table. | The baby set and tray are harder to clean, and adjustments require tools. |
| Bugaboo Giraffe | Easy adjustments and a design I like. | After longer use, I prefer Mockingbird for the baby stage and Tripp Trapp for toddlers. |
| Graco DuoDiner | More height and configuration options. | A bigger footprint and more fabric to clean. |
| UPPAbaby Ciro | A simple chair that brings baby close to the table. | It does not offer the same toddler-chair conversion. |
| Inglesina My Time | A folding option with height adjustment. | Large when open, and the straps take more work to clean. |
For my full lineup, including portable options and the Lalo Chair II, see my best high chairs guide. Compare the total setup cost, since trays, baby sets, and newborn accessories may be sold separately.
Who the Mockingbird High Chair is Best For
I evaluate every high chair based on five features: ease of cleaning, footrest/footrest adjustability, safety features, ease of use, and functions/color options for lifestyle. The Mockingbird High Chair is excellent in all these areas. It is a mid-priced, high-quality, user-friendly, and attractive high chair.
I have found it to comfortably fit my children through many stages, make my life easier with how easy it is to clean and adjust, and prove itself durable by holding up beautifully to heavy use. It does not fold, and it is by no means a travel high chair, but if you’re looking for a daily use, long term high chair that checks all the boxes for the important features, this may be the one for you.
If this sounds like the high chair for your family, click the link below and use code EMSTROLLER to get a free early eaters dishware set with your purchase!
Who the Mockingbird High Chair is NOT For
I love this high chair, but I always want to be real with you. It’s not the right pick for every family, and here’s who I’d steer away from it:
- You need a high chair before 6 months. There’s no newborn insert or recline option, so if you want to have baby at the table for bottle feedings before they can sit unassisted, something like the Graco DuoDiner or the Bugaboo Giraffe with the newborn set is going to be a better fit.
- You need it to fold. This one does not fold. At all. If you’re tight on space and need to tuck your high chair away between meals, the Inglesina My Time or Graco Slim Snacker are better options. That said, the Mockingbird’s footprint is so small that I’ve never felt like it was in the way in my kitchen.
- You need counter height. The Mockingbird only works at standard table height. If you eat at a counter or bar-height table, this one won’t work for you.
- Your toddler is on the bigger side. The high chair mode maxes out at 35 lbs. Most kids won’t hit that until around age 3, so it works for most families, but if your toddler is a big kid you might outgrow the high chair mode sooner than expected. The good news is that the child chair mode goes up to 150 lbs, so they can still use it at the table for years.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Mockingbird High Chair
Does the Mockingbird High Chair fold?
No. It has a compact footprint, but it does not fold. If folding between meals matters, I would look at the Inglesina My Time or Graco Slim Snacker.
What is the Mockingbird High Chair’s weight limit?
High chair mode supports up to 35 lbs and starts when your baby can sit upright unassisted. Child chair mode supports up to 150 lbs. Mockingbird says the child-chair transition is for children who can confidently climb in and out on their own, often around age three; weight alone does not determine readiness.
Where can I buy the Mockingbird High Chair?
You can find it at Mockingbird’s official website or Target. If you shop on the Mockingbird website, you can get a free early eaters dishware set by clicking here and using code EMSTROLLER at checkout.
Does the Mockingbird High Chair go on sale?
Sometimes. During Black Friday 2024, the high chair was 15% off plus my code to get the early eaters set for free stacked.
Does the Mockingbird High Chair come with a cushion?
No, it does not come with a seat cushion. However, the ergonomic high chair seat is designed to be comfortable without extra padding.
Is there a newborn insert for the Mockingbird High Chair?
The current chair does not have a newborn insert or recline. High chair mode starts when your baby can sit upright unassisted, often around six months. I’ve confirmed through my source that Mockingbird is releasing a baby seat in 2027!
What are the Mockingbird High Chair dimensions?
Footprint: 24″D x 16.5″W (small footprint, great for small spaces!)
High Chair Mode: 24″D x 16.5″W x 35.5″H
Child Chair Mode: 24″D x 16.5″W x 28.5″H
How do you clean the Mockingbird High Chair?
Wipe the main tray with a damp cloth or sponge and dry it; do not soak or submerge it. The removable tray liner can go on the dishwasher’s top rack. The silicone-coated straps wipe clean and can be removed for deeper cleaning. Follow Mockingbird’s care instructions for each part.
What materials is the Mockingbird High Chair made from?
Mockingbird lists FSC-certified beechwood, BPA-free plastic, and food-grade silicone. I prefer those specific material details to a blanket “non-toxic” promise. The smooth surfaces and wipe-clean straps are what I notice most during everyday use.
Is the Mockingbird High Chair worth it?
For me, yes, especially during the baby stage. The easy-clean straps, close-fitting tray, and tool-free footrest adjustment are features I use every day. I would spend differently if I needed a folding chair or wanted the chair I like best for older toddlers, which is the Tripp Trapp.
