There are numerous simple, modern high chairs that grow with your child. This Droog Highchair by Maartje Steenkamp is one that I just recently discovered. This chair is made from white beech wood that is notched to indicate different stages. The interesting thing about this chair is that you actually have to saw it off at each new level. I guess that limits use to one child, who hopefully will continue to enjoy it. Otherwise, the $371 price tag is a bit much to swallow. If this minimalist look is for you, you can purchase one of these seats at 2modern.com.

I’d like to think I usually “get” modern baby furniture. This Re-Serve High Chair, however, just hasn’t grown on me yet. Made by the upscale German design team of e27, it is designed to be comfortable, sturdy, and easy to clean. It also comes in some bright, fun colors. That said, I can only describe its minimalist aesthetic as lawn-chair-esque.  It is also quite pricey. If you do love the look, expect to pay $549 to bring it home. You can purchase one in grey, red, green, or blue, at babygeared.com.

Here is an interesting portable high chair option. Designed by famed designer Philippe Starck for Maclaren, the Starck High Chair certainly looks unlike any high chair I have ever seen. For convenience on the go, the legs are removable and the chair itself folds quite compactly. Several colors of this unique chair are available. It includes a full-sized tray that is dishwasher-safe, and a 5 point harness for safety. I’m not 100% sold on the design, but Maclaren certainly has a reputation for high-quality products that travel well. You can check this one out for $199.95 at allmodernbaby.com.

If you love the look of furniture-inspired highchairs, like those by NicoleReid, but can’t stomach the nearly $1000 price tag, you might want to check out the Eddie Bauer Covington high chair available at Target. Although not quite as ornate as the high-end Nicole Reid chairs, this chair has the look of a quality piece of furniture, and will easily blend in with the rest of your dining room chairs. The chair pad is removable and machine washable, and the tray is dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up. I do find the bright white tray a bit out of place on this dark cherry chair, but if you scoot your child up to the table for meals, you can lose the tray all together.

You can purchase this upscale alternative for $129.99 at Target.com. 

Here’s a hip modern high chair that allows your child to join you at the table. Made from recycled leather, the Tavo High Chair is designed to pull up to most standard height dining tables, eliminating the need for a tray and making dinner a more social experience for your little one. The dark leather and solid maple base will blend in well with your decor. I think this seat looks very comfortable and easy to use/clean. The only down side is the price. It retails for a hefty $345. You can purchase one at Sparkability.net. It is available in either brown or black and is handmade in Canada.

Here’s an ingenious idea—a diaper bag with built in booster seat that can support a child up to 35 pounds…talk about multifunctional. While I couldn’t see myself buying one of these since as a parent of twins I’d have to buy and carry two diaper bags, I think this would be a fabulous item if you have just one small child. This innovative Hoppop item (which actually received an award) is perfect for parents on the go who do frequent traveling with their child. The bag is lightweight and machine washable, making it very low maintenance. And just like any other diaper bag, it has numerous inner storage pockets as well as a changing pad; there’s also an insulated side pocket that can keep food items either cold or warm—this pocket is even accessible while the bag is in the booster position. It seems quite easy to convert the bag into a booster seat that comes equipped with safety belt and comfortable foamed backrest.

The bag comes in a variety of attractive colors and patterns. You can buy one at amazon.com —prices (depending on the pattern) range from $67.68-$99.99. This would make a great functional gift for a friend or even yourself.

This portable high chair took my eye because it looks less bulky and cumbersome than some other so-called “portable” high chairs. The Totseat fits onto any chair, high-backed or low-backed, and converts that chair to a safe high chair for your little one. It clips at the back, and has a cummerbund that also supports baby even in open-backed chairs. You could carry it to a friend’s house, to family members who might not have an extra high chair for your child to use, even to restaurants (in case you don’t want to use the not-so-clean high chairs most restaurants provide).

The Totseat is designed for children who can sit up unsupported (the manufacturer recommends ages 8 months to 30 months) and comes with its own carry case to make traveling even easier. It’s also machine washable. You can purchase the Totseat at TrendyKid.com , where it sells for $34.99.

If you love the look of modern baby furniture but don’t have a limitless budget to work with, check out this Antilop High Chair from IKEA.  The chair is made from steel and polypropylene.  It features a safety belt, and is designed to be easy to clean and to provide frustration free assembly and disassembly.

This chair looks very modern and it seems that it would be very easy to keep clean.  Best of all, it costs only $19.99.   You can check it out at IKEA.com.

When my now almost ten year old was a toddler, washing her hair was a huge ordeal.  She would scream so loudly every time I tried to rinse the shampoo out of her hair that I was always worried that my neighbors would call the police.  For a while, we had to resort to a rinse-less shampoo that was designed for bed-ridden adults.  I have been fortunate not to have this problem with my middle daughter, but the memories of the experience from the first time around are enough to convince me that the Oopsy Daisy company is onto something with their High Chair Hair Care Rinse Free Shampoo.

Not only does this shampoo allow you to avoid bath tub drama and the difficulties of rinsing without getting shampoo in your little one’s eyes, but it is made from all-natural ingredients, so you also avoid worried about using harsh chemicals on delicate skin.  Recommended from birth and up, the product is naturally-scented with essential oils for a pleasant scent.  It comes in a convenient pump dispenser that uses an air foamer rather than harsh propellants.

Oopsy Daisy products have garnered the favor of celebrity parents such as Scott Baio and Joely Fisher.You can purchase an 8 oz pump for $17 at OopsyDaisybb.com/.  Anyone who has been through the horrors of trying to wash the hair of an unwilling child will know that it is more than worth the price!

I am seeing more and more high chairs that blend in with adult furniture, but I have never seen one quite like this before.  Made from french walnut and ivory-colored vinyl, this Sleigh High Chair in French Walnut looks so grown up that you need to look at it several times before you even realize that it is a high chair.

Made by the Nicole Reid Collection, a favorite of celebrity parents such as Patrick Dempsey, Ali Landry, and Chris Noth, this is a very unique chair. Its tray has three different locking positions to accommodate your child as he grows. The seat also comes with a three-point harness for safety.  This chair will be a conversation starter for sure.  If you are someone who hates having circus- or farm-themed items all over your house just because you have young children, this may be the high chair for you.

As your child grows, this chair grows with him, becoming a youth chair for mealtime or for working on homework or projects. You can purchase one for $875 at 3badboys.com.  Several other colors are also available.

We love our Mutsy Grow Up booster seat, so I was intrigued to see that the company has come out with a full-sized high chair.  We don’t need another high chair, but it is always fun to look.  Mutsy’s Easy Grow High Chair is uniquely designed to grow with your child.  Your baby can use it from the time she can sit on her own, and keep using it until approximately twelve years of age, which is unheard of, even for other adaptable seats.

The chair has a fun modern design and comes in a number of colors, so you should be able to find one to match just about any decor.  It looks like it would be easy to clean, too.  You can buy one for $199 at goores.com, where shipping is free for this item.

The best feature of this Fast Table Chair by Inglesina is that it enables your child to sit at the table for family- style eating as opposed to the traditional high chair that keeps baby at a distance. It is also a good take-along chair to restaurants where you may have sanitary concerns. You may not be comfortable placing your child in a “public” seat such as the portable high chairs that are provided in restaurants. This would also come in handy at the park picnic table or even while visiting at family and friends.

The Fast Table Chair can be adapted to almost all types of tables. It will hold a maximum weight of 33 lbs., has a storage pouch at the back, and has a safety harness with crotch strap. It is made from 100% polyester and is hand-washable.

Visit www.babyearth.com where this chair is priced at $39.99.

Experts have discovered that putting children in highchairs with trays removes the child from the interaction around the dinner table. Highchairs without a tray that can be drawn up to the table but still support the child are preferable.

The fully adjustable Svan Toddler Chair is designed for every stage of your child’s life and is both ergonomic and safety-certified. Its features include adjustable seat height and an adjustable footrest so the child’s legs are supported at all ages. The optional cushion does not collect food and is easy to remove, clean and machine wash. The Svan Toddler Chair is suitable for ages 18 months and up and comes in an array of colors.

Keep your child engaged at the dinner table and view this product at PoshTots.com, where it sells for $199.95.

There are quite a few modern and minimalist high chairs on the market these days.  The Baby Chair from Artek certainly fits into that category.  Designed by Ben af Schulten, this chair is simple but attractive.  It is made of birch wood with a natural lacquer, and is designed to blend in with almost any decor.

The only downside of the chair is its price.  At $1050, it is significantly more expensive than most other infant chairs on the market.  You can purchase the chair at SpunkySprout.com.  Red, white, or blue versions are available for an additional $50.

A friend of mine had the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair for her son and, though it is a very useful chair with some great features, I don’t think it would be the chair for us. I like having a tray attachment on a high chair, because babies make messes and grab things off the family table. I do like the simple lines and sophisticated colors (cherry, red, natural, and black) the chair comes in.

Because of this variety of colors, the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair will fit it into most decors fairly simply. It is a nice fit at the dinner table for toddlers; earlier on, it’s not quite as convenient.

At $250, it’s not a steal but it’s not overpriced either. Should this chair fit in with your family and lifestyle, you can find it at HannaAndersson.com.