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Types of Restaurant High Chairs and Booster Seats

Last updated on May 15, 2024
Restaurant high chairs and booster seats are the perfect way to keep your youngest customers safe and comfortable. In order to cater to a variety of ages, it's important to include both high chairs and booster seats when determining your restaurant seating options and dining room layout. While each option comes with its own features and benefits, high chairs are more suitable for infants and booster seats are great for toddlers.

High Chair vs Booster Seat

Let's breakdown the differences between a high chair and a booster seat so that you know when to offer each one to your guests.

High Chairs

High chairs are perfect for babies up to around 2 years old. They provide all the support needed for children just learning to sit up on their own. High chairs have rounded backs that provide comfortable support and a handle for easy transport. They have a tray and cup holder to make it easy to feed children, and is usually removable for easy cleaning. Many high chairs have seat belts to safely secure children throughout their meal, while a middle post prevents children from slipping down between the seat and the tray. The wide base of the high chair will provide stability, and some models even come with casters for added mobility!

Booster Seats

Booster seats are ideal for toddlers and young children over 2 years old. The seat provides the height necessary for kids to join you at mealtime, but do not have as much restriction as a high chair. Booster seats have rounded corners to provide a smooth and safe surface, limiting the chance for injury. A handle is frequently found on the back of the seat, making it incredibly easy to lift and transport. Many booster seats have seat belts to safely secure children throughout their meal, while a chair strap secures the booster seat to the chair it's sitting on to keep the seat firmly in place.

high chair vs booster seat

Types of High Chairs

Standard high chairs come in wooden and plastic options, with the choice of material mainly coming down to preference and cost. You can also choose to carry specialty high chairs, such as convertible high chairs and infant feeding trays, to provide enhanced amenities for your guests.

Restaurant Equipment

Wooden High Chair

Wooden high chairs are a cost-effective option and their classic look goes with any aesthetic.

  • Available in many finishes: black, dark mahogany, and natural wood
  • Stackable to save storage space and make it easier to clean floors and around tables
  • Popular for family-friendly restaurants
  • Includes safety harness to keep children secure
  • Built to standard table height so toddlers and small children can comfortably sit with other guests
  • Some ship unassembled to save on shipping costs
Restaurant Equipment

Plastic High Chair

Plastic high chairs are commonly made from durable, nonporous, molded material that makes it easy to wipe them clean with a damp cloth in between uses.

  • Easier to clean and sanitize than wooden high chairs
  • Typically more expensive than wooden high chairs
  • Stackable to save storage space and make it easier to clean floors and around tables
  • Popular for high-volume restaurants
  • Includes safety harness to keep children secure
  • Built to standard table height so toddlers and small children can comfortably sit with other guests
  • Most come with trays for easier eating
  • Some come with casters for easier portability
  • Some ship unassembled to save on shipping costs
Restaurant Equipment

Convertible High Chair

Convertible high chairs are a 2-in-1 unit that are specifically designed to be used as both a high chair and an infant seat carrier, all with just a simple switch of seat position.

  • Flexible design accommodates both toddlers and infants
  • Made with durable plastic
  • Easier to clean and sanitize than wooden high chairs
  • Stackable to save storage space and make it easier to clean floors and around tables
  • Includes safety harness to keep children secure
  • Built to standard table height so toddlers and small children can comfortably sit with other guests
Restaurant Equipment

Infant Seat Cradle

Infant seat cradles provide a safer alternative to flipping a regular high chair upside down and placing the carrier on the bottom of the chair. 

  • Feature a heavy-duty nylon top with reinforcing cables and steel legs for durability and stability
  • Raises the child to the level of your restaurant table
  • Removes the car seat from aisles, table tops, and chairs

Types of Booster Seats

Great for toddlers and small children, restaurant booster seats allow you to seat your younger guests on chairs so that they are at a comfortable eating height. With a variety of materials and colors to choose from, we are sure to have the right fit for every decor.

Restaurant Equipment

Wooden Booster Seat

Wooden booster seats are a durable, cost-effective option and their classic look goes with any aesthetic.

  • Include straps to attach the booster seat to the chair and a second to strap children into the booster seat
  • High back and side supports help secure children in the seat for added safety
  • Available in dark and natural finishes
Restaurant Equipment

Plastic Booster Seat

Plastic booster seats feature a one-piece, molded design, which makes them easy to wipe down with a damp cloth and dry them with a towel in between uses. They come in either a single or dual seat designs. The high contoured shape of the single seat provides comfort while the dual seat design adds versatility. Simply turn the seat over to provide a higher or lower seat accommodation.

  • Textured exterior and straps help to keep kids from slipping around in their seat
  • Dishwasher safe options available for easy cleanup
  • Select models even feature antimicrobial protection to help prevent the growth of stains and odor causing bacteria.
  • Perfect for busy restaurants that need to wipe down booster seats frequently
Restaurant Equipment

Cinema Seats

Providing cinema seats at your movie theater, arena, or auditorium, is the best way to elevate even your youngest viewer to a comfortable sitting height.

  • Available in a variety of colors
  • Great for high-volume businesses like theaters or stadiums
  • Can match your theater decor or coordinate with your team's colors
Restaurant Equipment

High Chairs and Booster Seats Accessories and Replacements

With high chair and booster seat replacement parts and accessories, you can ensure your high chairs and booster seats remain a safe seating option for children. Below are just a few items that you can find to upgrade or replace broken parts on your existing chairs.

  • Add-on trays
  • Seat belts
  • Booster stands for organization
  • Bumpers

 

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