Here is my two cents; as long as the IKEA one fits your needs, I would skip the $250 Stokke. I LOVE the Stokke, too, but the little buggers grow up faster than you can imagine, and the next thing you know, they are sitting at the table on a regular chair. My husband and I love all the super cool gadgety baby products, and have spent a mint on them, but I'm glad we went a more cost effective route with the high chair. The sooner I can get one more piece of furniture out of my kitchen, the better. If I had spent a fortune on a high chair, I would have a hard time editing down...

While I haven't tried the Blames, we did purchase the Keekaroo high chair, which is very similar to the Stokke Tripp Trapp, but isn't as expensive. Our second baby is now using it and we are still loving it.

We own the Blames! Unfortunately, as our baby is tooooo young (due today!),I can't give a proper review. I can say that it appears to be a very high-quality, sturdy design...and the tray looks easy to clean.

We just bought the Blames this weekend...I found the directions confusing for attaching the straps, and haven't mastered putting the tray on and off gracefully; however, it's a good height, easy to clean, and the tray is nice and large.

We have the Antilop and it has been fine. Although it isn't the most aesthetically pleasing, it is cheap, and easy to clean. We do, however, find ourselves tripping over it quite often. This is due to the angle of the legs, which provides a more stable base for the chair. I haven't seen the Blames in person, but it looks like it has a similar leg angle.

I haven't used the Blames chair, but since we have the antilop and though I'd respond to the tripping hazard point. The angle of the legs looks the same. The angled legs do stick out and can cause you to trip until you get used to it, but it's what makes the chair so stable. Learning to step around the legs is well worth the safety, so I definitely considered them a "pro" not a "con". The tripp trapp is well known to fall over. We were very happy with the antilop.

If for some reason, your household is particularly sensitive about tripping, then I'd go with the fisher-price hang-on chair or a booster seat with tray. I wouldn't trust a high chair with a base that isn't wider than the seat.

We tried to go with a plain restaurant style hair chair as that went best with our decor and budget but we found our baby really needed a tray. So then we tried using a hand me down high chair with a cushion and large tray...that was a pain to clean, food was constantly stuck in all the crevices and the tray was far too gigantic for our sink. Then the Blames came out and we really like it. The stokke is way out of our price range and the Blames is crazy cheap and works well for our needs. It was easy to assemble and has a very small footprint in our tiny apartment. It is a bit taller than the Antilop and the legs are at a better angle. The tray is a good size...not so tiny that everything goes on the floor but not too big to easily clean in the sink. Not too may weird crevices for food to hide either- only the spot where the strap comes out, but the seat still wipes down pretty easy. Once you figure out how to slide the tray in and out it is quick and easy. My only complaint would be that the paint on the body where they tray connects started chipping off almost immediately though I'm sure this could be corrected by applying your own fresh coat when you buy it if you are so inclined.

Don't buy the antilop. It sucks. I know, I own one - bought it for our second son. The legs have never been a tripping hazard. For us the problem is the straps. They are goofy in their adjustability - there is no way to keep the mechanism tight. My son, who is a very climby 16 month old can easily wriggle his way out of them and into a standing position.
If you're looking for something that is small, compact and cheap, I'd recommend the Fisher Price Safe Seat or something similar. It's about $25 and will get you through - it can even be easily taken to restaurants and later used as a booster seat.
If you have the money and want a nice high chair, I would highly recommend the Boon Flair. It is made out of one piece of molded plastic so it's insanely easy to clean, it looks super awesome and has a pneumatic lift which is just plain cool.
If I had it to do over again, though, I'd just stick to the Safe Seat like we did for our first son. My kids have hated high chairs from a young age anyway, so spending lots of money on them would be a waste for us.

We have the Anka which I really like. Its small, the cushion can go in the washing machine and its a lot cheaper than the Tripp Trapp, it also blends in well with my dining room furniture which is nice.

The "Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat" is awesome. Straps on so easily to any chair- so if your space is limited, you don't need to buy another large piece of furniture. And for $25-$30, it's hard to beat the price. It's easy to bring with you when traveling (folds up) and you can use it with or without the tray. I just stick the tray in the dishwasher at the end of the day. And it's easy to wipe down the seat.

I second the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster! We've been using it since my son was 7 months. He's now two years old and it's still going strong. You can submerge the whole thing in the sink to clean or even stick it in your dishwasher if the dishwasher is big enough (ours is).

The stoke isn't really all that well designed for a young child. I would get the FP Healthy Care Booster for the begining stages and then have the Stoke for 12m + .

Another yea for the Fisher Price cheapie. You strap it to one of your own chairs, so less crap. Plus our baby only used it 6-19 months, then refused it. Now he sits on a couple books strapped down with a belt and joins us at table, free!

We have the Blames. Our little girl is 8 months. I really like the chair. The tray is wide and has plenty for room for food-finger painting :) It is very stable. We also like the little fabric/pillow insert that gives a little padding and support around the lower back.

For those who like the Fisher Price booster chair, do you ever use it on the floor for older babies? Is it stable enough to stand alone?

We use the Joovy Nook and love it as it folds very compactly and is very easy to clean. It does not have bells and whistles of recline, height adjustment, etc. We usually leave it unfolded in our galley kitchen, since that is where the baby eats, so a booster seat wouldn't have worked for us. We do use a cheapo booster at the grandparent's, and it is also great.

We have a Tripp Trapp that we got as a 20% off floor model when the kiddo was about 6 months. She declared herself too big for straps barely after her first birthday, and the TT is now (at almost 2.5 yo) her most important piece of furniture.

She turns it backward against the counters to help cook. She sits at the table with us for meals. She uses it as a step ladder to reach into cabinets. She sits at the table for art projects.

The thing couldn't be easier to clean. We were a little freaked about spending that much (even on sale), but are so, so glad we did. We use it *constantly* even though our kid hateshateshates "highchairs." I understand thinking it's crazy, but for us it would have been worth it twice over.

The Inglesina club has been a great simple high chair we are very happy with and you can get it for around $100.

I've used the Fisher Price Booster on the floor and it was very stable. In the spring/summer, I would take my son out on the front porch and sit on the steps next to him watching the world go by while we had our meal. Some of my best memories!

No, I wouldn't use the FP on the floor. I've used it on the grass once and it wasn't stable.

We have a Tripp Trapp and a Euro II from One Step Ahead. (two kids, 14 months apart in age). If We have another kid, we'll get another Euro. These are great. It's less than 1/2 the price of a Tripp Trapp, but the same basic idea and just as good.

Another vote for the Fisher Price chair. We've taken it on the plane and used it to sit the kid up (on the floor) at the airport during layovers. That way he's not right on the germy floor, but also not squirming in our laps. I wouldn't just leave him sitting there unattended, but I think it's safe and sturdy enough when we're right there. I do think the Stokke chairs are more attractive, but with the FP booster, you can easily just put it out of sight for a party or whatever. We take it to restaurants, friends' houses for dinner, everywhere. Both in-laws also bought one because it will grow with the kid for years, plus we plan on having at least one more.

hahaha to whoever said "I hate Ikea" - me too!
I don't own any highchairs from there, but besides that, I would like to say that even though your 7-month-old "doesn't need the recline" option, my daughter, who is almost 11 months still falls asleep in her highchair almost daily, so we still LOVE the recline option with ours. We have one from BRU that just straps onto the chair, but its totally awesome in my opinion. Perhaps you are going for something more modern looking, though?

Although I don't think the question was "do you like Ikea", I do have to say that there is a cheaper version to the Stokke if you are interested, and it is made by One Step Ahead. We have a Stokke Tripp Trapp that we bought on Craigslist and love it, but would have bought the OSA version had we not found the used one. The other plus to the OSA version is that it has a tray.

We love our Tripp Trapp! Yes, this chair is pricey but will last you for a long time. If you do buy a high chair, what will you do with it later? My three year old daughter loves her chair and has been using it since 6 months old. We have been able to change the seat settings to fit her as she grows and ultimately it will be a regular chair. We are considering buying another one since we have a new addition. I agree that the straps aren't great and when our daughter was 6 months in it we had to place towels around her so she won't slump over. I have nothing against high chairs but don't like waste. I want to stretch things out as long as I can. The chair is pretty strong, I've sat and stood on it many times. My daughter can even climb up on the chair to seat herself. That's my two cents.

I have a svan high chair. I have had it for 5 years. I used it with my first and my second and now it is a regular chair at my kitchen table. Totally worth the $$. And soon I can pass it to my sister to use with her kids. Its small footprint works beautifully in a small kitchen.

Is this your first child? Are you planning on having more? If so, get a Tripp Trapp.

The thing about kids is that they do not like feeling different (or at least, ours don't), and the Tripp Trapp allows them to be at the table along with everyone else. It gives them a good footrest. They can, when they are a little older, climb in and out themselves. It is very stable as a helper chair in the kitchen (gets a lot of use there!). And on top of that, it looks good.

You can find them on sale, and well, we received ours as a baby shower item from a grandparent.

I've found that the most important aspect of any high chair is the straps - get one that has straps that go over the shoulders as well as across the lap - the five point rather than the two or three point ones - the minute they get to the wriggly/crawly stage its a nightmare unless you have the shoulder straps as they can just get out of the lap straps

I recently had a lunch with four other mums all of us with babies in a place that had the high chairs with only lap straps and it was total chaos!!

Get the Tripp Trapp. It is expensive but worth it. We have one that still looks amazing, and it has been in the family since 1978 when my husband started using it. His sister and various cousins have used the chair, and now we are using it.

It is a classic piece that can be used as a chair, a step stool etc. My son loves feeling like he is a big boy and a part of the family when we eat dinner.

You can use it for more children and pass it down to your grandkids or other family members. It looks great and isn't a piece of plastic to throw away later. And it has a good re-sale value if you want to get rid of it later. You can also find them used on craigslist. Good luck!

My vote is on the fisher price booster seat with tray.
It straps onto any chair, or it sits well on the floor. It's super portable, easy to clean, and really really affordable.

Another vote for the Fisher Price booster. Pity it looks so, erm, *bright*. Its functionality is unsurpassed AND if you are going to be visiting any relatives or friends who do not have kids, this thing really travels well.
My kid is 2.25 yrs old and still uses it to sit with us at the table.
If there are any grandparents out there, listen up: this is a handy little do-dad to store away in the basement/closet for grandkids' visits.

For small spaces I highly recommend the Phil and Ted's me too chair that clamps right onto your table, and looks stylin'. No legs at all, not too pricey, easy to wash. Add a tiny diner mat to protect the table if you like.

We have the svan and love it--we used the infant ring until Astrid was ready to take her meals at the table, and now (she is 4) she's still using it as seating. The footrest really helps with proper positioning--good at meal time, and during fine-motor activities. The svan also has a decent resale value, should we choose to part with it in a year or so.

It was a splurge, but worth every penny--it's gotten daily use for almost 4 years.

Yes, we purchased the Blames chair and I would recommend it! I was planning on purchasing a Stokke for months, but in the end I just couldn’t justify spending the $260. I did not want a plastic highchair! So, we made the two hour drive to the nearest Ikea – it was our first Ikea trip. Our little boy smiled as soon as we put him in the Blames chair. He is 7 months old and just 15 lbs, so we purchased the $7 cushion that wraps around him. With the belt and cushion he is comfortable and happy. I put the chair at the corner of the table/room, so the legs aren’t a tripping hazard. The chair was easy to put together AND is very easy to keep clean. It may not be a family heirloom, but it looks great and we all love it. It is well worth the $60 price and in my opinion is a wonderful option for a wood highchair!

Note that you can use the Blames chair with or without the tray, which is a nice option. We are currently using the tray and it is working out well for us.

I don't own the Blames, but I am thinking about purchasing one. We just visited Ikea in search of a better high chair for my son. He has the Fisher-Price booster, which is AWESOME, except he is a big-time mover and shaker who is able to rock with such force that he can left the legs of any chair slightly off the floor. We have looked at many high chairs (though not the Stokke), and the Blames is the first we've seen that we are certain he could not budge. It is solid and substantial. I hope this is helpful.

I know this is an old post, but I have to say the Blames is a horrible highchair! We purchased this for our third child (we cleared out all the baby gear after our second child). My son's legs would get stuck in the openings on the side and the safety belt does little to hold him (we even had to take it off and knot it around the wood ourselves to tighten it). I can't take it anymore, so we're off to buy a new highchair today! We had the Inglesina Club highchair and loved it. Someone also handed down an ugly FIsher Price one and while it was hideous, it was easy to clean and very secure. Stay away from Blames unless it is for use as a toddler chair at the table!