Little-known fact about me (and I am guessing you too): I really hate washing high chairs. Why are they so difficult to clean, and is there anything that could make it easier? Enter the Joie Chai. This budget-friendly wooden high chair is beautiful, versatile, and (here’s the best part) has a removable tray cover that is easy to clean. Here’s my honest Joie Chai high chair review.
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Table of Contents
Joie Chai High Chair: Quick Review
Short on time? Here are the highlights:
Pros
- The removable tray insert is fantastic. It pops off easily, has a built-in cup-holder ring, and is dishwasher safe. This alone makes mealtime cleanup so much easier.
- Super versatile. With nine configurations, adjustable recline, an adjustable tray, and a removable harness, this seat genuinely grows with your child from birth to 6 years.
- Easy assembly. The instructions are straightforward and intuitive. Setup took me about 10 minutes. Converting between modes is also surprisingly easy: the harness pieces snap on and off, and the legs screw on or off with no extra tools.
- High-quality materials. This high chair feels really sturdy. The legs form a wide base, so I’ve never been worried about it tipping over. The plastic is durable, and the European beech wood legs contribute to a clean, minimalistic aesthetic that doesn’t scream “baby gear.”
- Budget-friendly for what you get. At $199.99 for a chair that lasts six years, this is a solid value.
Cons
- Bulky and no fold. For me, this is the biggest downside. The chair’s footprint is large, and since it doesn’t fold, it’s hard to stow away when not in use.
- The tray isn’t one-handed. The harness buckle releases with one hand, which is great. But the tray requires squeezing levers on both sides to attach and remove. You also need two hands to move the chair since there’s no good handle. I always seem to have one hand occupied, and I love when baby gear works one-handed. The Joie Chai’s tray, unfortunately, doesn’t.
- Newborn mode feels iffy. The seat is firm and wide, with minimal cushioning. I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable using it for a true newborn, though it could work well from around 4 months once your baby has more head control.
How Much Does the Joie Chai Cost?
The Joie Chai retails for $199.99, which is a decent value for a wooden convertible high chair that grows with your child from birth through 6 years. For that price, you get the high chair, counter-height leg extensions, booster-mode straps, and a dishwasher-safe tray insert.
Specifications:
| Price | $199.99 Shop at TargetShop at Amazon |
| Weight Limit | 60 lbs |
| Age Range | Birth to approximately 6 years |
| Modes | 9-in-1 (newborn high chair, high chair, infant booster, toddler booster, youth chair, youth stool) |
| Height Options | Table height and counter height |
| Table Height Dimensions | L 27 x W 23 x H 40.2 in |
| Counter Height Dimensions | L 30.6 x W 25.7 x H 44.5 in |
| Weight (Table Height) | Approx. 14.1 lbs |
| Weight (Counter Height) | Approx. 15 lbs |
| Recline | 4 positions |
| Harness | SoftTouch 5-point with one-hand buckle release; shoulder straps removable |
| Tray | 4-position adjustable, with top-rack dishwasher-safe insert |
| Fold | Does not fold |
| Materials | European beech wood legs (FSC-certified), plastic seat with foam inserts |
| Finishes | Lola, Mist, Shadow, Walnut |
Joie Chai High Chair Features
Seat
The seat is two pieces. Each has a hard plastic shell with a softer foam-plastic insert for cushion. The foam inserts pop out for cleaning, which is helpful because crumbs tend to accumulate underneath them.
The chair comes with Joie’s SoftTouch 5-point harness, which releases with a one-hand button squeeze. The shoulder straps can be removed for older babies with solid head and trunk control, leaving you with a 3-point belt configuration. For my baby, who has good head and body control, the 3-point setup works well. The 5-point harness is most useful in the newborn and infant stages with full recline. There are three different height settings for the 5-point harness, which has to be rethreaded manually, but is easy to do.
The seat reclines easily with a lever on the back, and there are four recline positions. One important note: if the tray is on, you always want the seat in the most upright position, or you’ll have food and drinks everywhere. Don’t ask me how I know.
Footrest and Storage Net
The footrest sits pretty low and is not adjustable. My two-year-old has a hard time reaching it, but it works nicely once your child is a little older and using the “kid stool” mode. It’s attached to a mesh storage shelf directly under the seat. This actually confused me at first. I thought maybe it was supposed to help catch food (which it does occasionally), but it’s really just an extra place to set things out of baby’s reach or store bibs.
Tray
Arguably, the best part of this high chair is the removable clear plastic tray insert, which pops off easily for cleaning. It’s top-rack dishwasher safe, but also easy to wash by hand. The bulk of the tray, which sits under the clear insert, is white plastic and adjusts to four different horizontal positions with levers underneath on both sides. Getting it on and off is straightforward. Just squeeze the levers and adjust.
The tray has a hard plastic piece that sits between your baby’s legs, and this makes it hard to find a place to set the tray while you get your baby out, especially if the tray is full of food.
The 9 Modes
The Joie Chai is officially a 9-in-1 high chair. There are six different mode types, and three height options give you nine total configurations to grow with your child from birth through about 6 years:
1. Newborn high chair (table or counter height): The seat is fully reclined, no tray attached. Intended for use from birth until your baby can sit up without help. Personally, I have a hard time imagining putting a newborn in this seat. Even with the buckles, the shape and width of the seat don’t feel like they would hold a newborn securely enough. The plastic of the seat isn’t particularly comfortable either, and the foam padding provides very little cushion. I would use this with my babies 4 months + personally.
2. High chair (table or counter height): Seat upright, tray attached. This is the main configuration, for use from about 6 months to 3 years (or 40 lbs).
3. Infant booster: The wooden legs are removed from the plastic seat, which then straps to a chair. This is my personal favorite because it’s more portable and takes up less space. The straps stow in a compartment under the seat with a button release, so you never have to worry about losing them — a small detail that’s surprisingly thoughtful. You can use it this way with a tray or just pull the chair up to a table.
4. Toddler booster: Same principle as the infant booster, just without the tray and without the plastic seatback. For use from 3–6 years (up to 60 lbs).
5. Youth chair: The upper wooden leg pieces connect to the plastic seat (with or without the back), with plastic caps on the ends and buckles removed. Designed for use up to 6 years (60 lbs).
6. Youth stool (table or counter height): Just add the wooden legs to the plastic seat base. Use only when your child can get in and out unassisted, and up to 6 years (60 lbs).
Is the Joie Chai Easy to Clean?
This is the standout feature of the chair. The clear plastic tray insert pops off in seconds and goes straight into the top rack of the dishwasher. It has a shallow cup-holder ring built in to keep your baby’s snack or sippy cup from sliding around.
The foam seat inserts also pop out so you can wipe down underneath, which is where crumbs love to hide. The European beech wood legs and the white plastic tray underneath wipe down easily with a damp cloth.
The one cleaning frustration: if you don’t have a chance to wash the dishwasher-safe insert between meals, you’re stuck washing the bulkier tray, which isn’t dishwasher safe.
Does the Joie Chai Fold?
No. The Joie Chai does not fold. It has a wide, sturdy base, and the legs detach for converting between modes, but it doesn’t fold flat for storage. If a foldable high chair is a priority for your family, this is not the right pick.
Who Is the Joie Chai High Chair Best For?
The Joie Chai is a great fit for parents who want a budget-friendly, long-lasting high chair with a lot of useful configurations and an easy-to-clean tray. The wooden legs and minimalistic design also blend nicely into a kitchen, so it doesn’t dominate your space the way bulkier high chairs can.
That said, no high chair is perfect for everyone. If you need something lightweight, foldable, or super portable, the Joie Chai isn’t the right fit. You’d be better off looking at compact or travel-friendly high chairs.
Another affordable wood option you might want to consider is the Mockingbird High Chair. Here is my full review and a code to save!
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Joie Chai High Chair FAQ
Does the Joie Chai fold?
No. The Joie Chai does not fold. It has a wide, sturdy base, and the legs detach for converting between modes, but it can’t be folded flat for storage. If a foldable high chair is a priority for your family, this isn’t the right pick. If you need a folding high chair, check out my best high chairs guide!
Can the Joie Chai be used from birth?
Yes. The Joie Chai has a newborn mode with a fully reclined seat, usable from birth until your baby can sit unassisted. That said, the seat is firm with minimal padding, so some parents find it more comfortable starting around 4 months when their baby has more head and neck control.
Is the Joie Chai tray dishwasher safe?
The clear plastic tray insert that sits on top is top-rack dishwasher safe and pops off easily for cleaning. The larger white plastic tray underneath isn’t dishwasher safe — it’s bulky and meant to be hand-washed.
How long can my child use the Joie Chai?
The Joie Chai is rated up to 60 lbs and is designed for use from birth through about 6 years across its nine modes, including newborn high chair, traditional high chair, infant booster, toddler booster, youth chair, and youth stool.
What is the Joie Chai made of?
The Joie Chai has European beech wood legs (made with FSC-certified raw material) and a plastic seat with removable foam inserts. The clear tray insert is also plastic, and it’s top-rack dishwasher safe.
