Phil and Ted Lobster High Chair Review

Review of Phil and Ted Lobster High Chair

A high chair uniquely distinguished by it’s Lobster looking arm clips, the Phil and Ted Lobster portable high chair is also an award winning travel high chair. The portable high chair lobster folds flat into its own compact carry bag, measuring just 35 x 34 x 8cm. The lobster arms clips onto almost any table with its rubber grips and uses a “twist on-and-off” clamp mechanism. The Phil and Ted lobster high chair fabric is made durable, wipes clean and slides right off the high chair frame for recommended hand wash. The harness is 4-point safety harness with padded shoulder straps to keep the toddler securely fasten yet comfortable.

In my opinion the Phil and Ted Lobster portable clip-on high chair is a quality product made with quality clip-ons in the form of a “Lobster” arm. The clips are also highly compatible with large range of thickness from 0.8 to 3.75 inches. However there is one big downfall with its design. The lobster clip-on unlike the Inglesina Fast Chair and Mountain Buggy Clip-on is not compatible with tables with a lip. This is because the clip-on is more a continuous clip as supposed to a bolt on hook like arm.

There is still merit in choosing the Phil and Teds Lobster High chair over the Inglesina Fast Table Chair, given it is a lot more affordable, compact and easiest to install but beware, being small may not suit your child if the seat is too small or too low and whether you would be using the clip-on chair with tables with or without lips. So do you research and below are some pros and cons for you to weigh up.

Note: As with all types of portable high chairs, you have to supervise at all times. Even if you think the chair clips on tight, you just never know how your child can creatively climb out of it or someone bumps it and it falls. So always supervise and stay close with all high chairs, portable or not.

Pros

✓ Compact, Fold Flat and Light weight – Weighing only 3.9 pounds, fold compact and flat for effortless portability when travelling and takes up very minimal storage space.

✓ Comes Carry-bag – The product comes with a carry-bag so you can store it away neatly in its own snugly fitted bag.

✓ 4-point Harness – With a 4-point harness and padding, the Phil and Ted Lobster portable high chair will secure a child in there securely and comfortably.

✓ Mostly compatible with tables – The thickness of the table that can be used with the Phil and Ted’s Lobster portable high chair is a minimum limit of 0.8 inches and maximum limit of 3.75 inches.

✓ Fairly Easy to Clean – The fabric can be taken off but recommended for hand wash.

✓ Quick and easy to set-up – A simple straight forward method of installation. Just twist the screws of the clips to tighten.

✓ Sturdy and good quality – Sturdy clips used for the Clip-on portable high chair as it is made by strong rubber and fastens securely.

Cons

✘ Compatibility with tables – The Phil and Ted Lobster chair although fits most tables does have a table thickness minimum limit of 0.8 inch and a maximum limit of 3.75 inches. This is an issue across all hook-on type portable high chairs anyway so you will need to find out the limitations of each clip-on high chairs an whether it suits your purpose. Note: It is also NOT compatible with tables with a Lip on the edge of the table.

✘ Hygiene – There is too many nooks and crannies where food can easily get stuck in it.

✘ Too small – Some mums have reported that the section of the seat where the legs go through are too small for chubbier legs or when babies are being taken out from the seat are stuck in it.

✘ Seat is too deep – Some mums have reported the bucket seat is too deep and as a result makes it quite difficult for infants or toddlers to be eating comfortable at an adult’s table. Babies were hitting their head onto the table if they were not tall enough.

✘ Tray does not stay in place – Although comes with a tray, it has been reported that it does not stay in place and easily misplaced by a toddler.

In summary, this is a great portable clip-on high chair with great features – portable with carry bag, folds flat, light weight and fits most tables. Although there are some shortfalls of this chair such as the deepness of the bucket seat and compatibility of installation to tables with lips. To overcome this, just ensure you find test it out with the size of your child and tables you intend to use it on. Other than that, it makes a great travelling portable clip-on high chair given it light weight and fold flat feature.

Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on Review

Highchairmum 6 to 12 months High Chair, Hook-on High Chair June 23, 2018February 23, 2018Hook-on High Chair, Kids mobile high chair, Mountain Buggy Pod clip on, portable high chair

Review of the Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on

Brought to you by the people from “Mountain Buggy,” their Portable high chair, Pod Clip-on is a Hook on type high chair. Similar to other clip-on portable high chairs, it is highly suited for infant or toddlers who are less independent in sitting up themselves due to its bucket design that has side support. These type of clip-on high chairs has less compatibility than booster portable high chairs when it comes to installation as you would be limited to the type of tables which you can install on. But that limitation is consistent across all hook-on type high chairs. So if you are after a hook-on type high chair, this is something you have to bear in mind.

Mountain-buggy-pod-clip-on-mobile-high-chair Personally, in my opinion the Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on chair is a quality mobile clip-on high chair given it is a product by the reputable baby brand “Mountain Buggy.” However given how small and lesser padding the Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on high chair has, it makes it less superior than the Inglesina Fast Table Chair Hook on.

There is still merit in choosing the Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on chair over the Inglesina Fast Table Chair, given it is a lot more compact of a portable high chair but like I saw beware, being small may not suit your child. So do you research and below are some pros and cons for you to weigh up.

Pros

✓ Compact, Fold Flat and Light weight – Weighing only 2.2 pounds, fold compact and flat for effortless portability when travelling and takes up very minimal storage space.

Mountain-buggy-clip-on-high-chair ✓ Comes Carry-bag – The product comes with a carry-bag so you can store it away neatly in its own snugly fitted bag.

✓ Light weight

✓ Mostly compatible with tables – The thickness of the table that can be used with the Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on high chair is a minimum limit of 0.8 inches and maximum limit of 2 inches.

✓ Fairly Easy to Clean – The fabric can be taken off and thrown into the washing machine for a good clean.

Portable-high-chair-travelling-toddler ✓ Quick and easy to set-up – A simple straight forward method of installation. Just twist the screws of the clips to tighten.

✓ Sturdy and good quality – Sturdy clips used for the Clip-on portable high chair as it is made by a reputable manufacturer of other baby products Mountain Buddy.

Cons

✘ Compatibility with tables – The Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on high chair does have a table thickness minimum limit of 0.8 inch and a maximum limit of 2 inches. This is an issue across all hook-on type portable high chairs anyway so you will need to find out the limitations of each clip-on high chairs an whether it suits your purpose.

Mountain-buggy-pod-clip-on-high-chair ✘ Two point harness – It is only a two point harness whereas some other clip-ons portable high chairs may have more.

✘ Too small – Some mums have reported that the section of the seat where the legs go through are too small for chubbier legs or when babies are being taken out from the seat are stuck in it.

✘ Seat is too deep – Some mums have reported the bucket seat is too deep and only taller babies around 18 months were able to sit up to the table without being too low. As a result makes it quite difficult for infants or toddlers to be eating comfortable at an adult’s table.

In summary, this is a great portable clip-on baby high chair brought to you by a reputable baby product manufacturer “Mountain Buggy” people. It is no surprise given the almost perfect 5-stars that mothers rated this product who has purchased, tried and tested it. Although there are some shortfalls of this chair such as the deepness of the bucket seat and compatibility of installation to certain thickness of tables. To overcome this, just ensure you find test it out with the size of your child and tables you intend to use it on. Other than that, it makes a great travelling portable clip-on high chair given it light weight and fold flat feature. And of course for the clean mums out there, you can wash it completely clean by throwing it into the washing machine!

Inglesina – Fast Table Chair – Hook on High Chair Review

Highchairmum 6 to 12 months High Chair, Hook-on High Chair January 6, 2018February 19, 2018Fold flat high chair, Hook-on High Chair, Inglesina Fast Chair

Review of the Inglesina – Fast Table Chair – Hook on High Chair

The Inglesina – Fast Table Chair is a Hook on type high chair. For infant or toddlers who are less independent in sitting up themselves, it’s my best pick out of all of the portable high chairs. The big limitation with these type of chairs is the compatibility to tables which you can install on. But that limitation is consistent across all hook-on type high chairs. So really, you just have to deal with it.

Personally, in my opinion there are other type of chairs that could be suitable for infants that provide the same support as the Inglesina hook-on chair, but it is not as near as portable, compact and safe. If you are travelling or taking to a restaurant, you want to be carrying a non-bulky high chair.

Note: With all types of portable high chairs, you have to supervise at all times. Even if you think the chair clips on tight, you just never know how your child can creatively climb out of it or someone bumps it and it falls. So always supervise and stay close with all high chairs, portable or not.

So if you have an infant and need side support with their seating. This is it. You won’t regret it! It ticks all the boxes. I have below summarised all the pros and cons from hundreds of Amazon parents and grandparents. You can weigh up the option and decide if it is for you. Enjoy!

Pros

✓ Compact and Fold Flat – All hook-on type high chairs can fold flat but what makes Inglesina better is the simplicty of its hooks and its not dangling everywhere!

✓ In-built Carry-bag – The last thing you want is another item to carry. The Inglesina has an in-built carry bag. You pull out from the back of the high chair and the collapsed chair just fits into the carry bag.

✓ Light weight

✓ Mostly compatible with any tables – Being a hook-on type mobile high chair, you will always have this issue with table compatibility but the Inglesina hook-on design is the most compatible compared with the other hook-on type high chairs.

✓ Fairly Easy to Clean – Being a hook-on type high chair, you will always have the problem of food being stuck in between the folds as it is a bucket type high chair. But the Inglesina makes it better by being made out of material that is easy to just brush off.

✓ Quick and easy to set-up – Inglesina simplifies the design and makes it easy to set-up and very versatile with most tables.

✓ Sturdy and good quality – Inglesina is a more premium product so you would expect to get a sturdy and good quality hook-on high chair

✓ A tray that snaps on easily – You can buy an add-on accessory tray for the high chair which snaps on and off easily. The tray also stays in place and the child cannot move it around or play with it.

✓ Back-pocket – A clever design by Inglesina which incorporates a back-pocket that allows you to store your essentials during meal time like your wipes, tissues and maybe even your mobile phone! haha!

✓ The clips do not create marks on table – An issue most hook-on high chairs have is the marks they can create on your table from the hooks. Inglesina’s hooks pride itself that it does not leave marks on your table.

✓ Zipper encloses metal loops – This is a clever little detail as it prevents your child from standing on the hooks and standing up. Being enclosed like the Inglesina, your toddler won’t be able to stand up on it.

Cons

✘ Compatibility with tables – This is an issue across all hook-on type portable high chairs anyway.

✘ Straps can be wiggled out – In any type of portable type high chairs, straps are not made like your IKEA high chairs or car seats where it is meant to be so tight that your child cannot wriggle out. The straps act more like deterrent for them to get out and encourage them to just sit on the chair. You need to always supervise when using any high chairs and especially portable types. So really this is a con for all portable high chairs.

✘ Food gets stuck inside seat – Being a bucket seat like most hook-on type high chairs, food does fall easily into the seat and more so if your toddler does not fill the seat. And in addition to that, the food does get stuck in between the folds.

✘ More expensive than others – Being a more premium product that is sturdy and of quality, a more premium price will come with it too 🙂

In summary, I personally still prefer the Benbat Yummigo Booster due to the fact it overcomes some of the issues of the Inglesina. Being it is much more compatible with most chairs, no issues with table compatibility, much easier to clean and much easier to set-up. However the Benbat Yummigo Booster is only really suitable for toddlers who can sit up quite well as it is not a bucket seat like a Hook-on portable seat. So if you have a child that is not quite confident in sitting up yet and you need a portable high chair to travel or out at restaurants, then the Inglesina Fast Chair is your Best Pick!

Hook-on High Chair Review

Highchairmum Hook-on High Chair December 22, 2017July 10, 2018360 Chicco Caddy hook-on, Chicco Caddy Hook-on, Hook-on High Chair, Inglesina Fast Table Chair, Mountain Buggy Pod clip on, Phil and Ted Lobster High Chair

What is a Hook-on High Chair?

Hook-on / Clamp-on / Clip-on seats – a fabric seat that hooks, clips and clamps onto the table’s edge, rather than the chair. Hence the inter-changeable names for it. Brings baby right to the table height but height of baby will depend on how tall baby is.

Pros

✓ Suitable for Infant (6+ months) – As hook-on portable high chairs are bucket seat by design, it means it is well suited for infants and toddlers who are able to sit up but can’t sit up that independently yet or still wobbly as they still need the side support like a bucket seat. Whereas a Booster seat will give no such side support.

✓ Fold Flat – As the whole bucket seat is made of fabric held by metal frames that are collapsable, it means the seat can be fold flat when collapsed. Making it easy to transport. Also it makes storage very minimal around the house and when travelling in your suitcases.

✓ Light weight – The fabric and metal frames are minimal structures so the actual seat is light to carry around.

✓ Fabric can be washed – Some of the hook-on high chair models can washed in the washing machine and air dried by taking the fabric out of the metal frames. Though I caution that most mums found it was not that easy to take out and then put it back into the frames eventhough the instructions say you can take it out to wash. So although this is possible, it may not necessarily be easy to do.

Cons

✘ Not suitable for child over 3+ years old (or over 15 kgs) – As the seat is held by only two clamps through a hook-on or clip-on mechanism, a child that is heavy, and I use an indication of 3+ years old, or even younger if they are heavy, will not be safe in these type of seats. I would personally recommend when they turn 1+ years old or able to sit up independently that you use a booster seat as you are able to use the seat for a lot longer. The booster will not have weight issues

✘ Not easy to keep clean – Although manufacturers may claim some of the seats can be taken off and thrown into the wash, there are a few things to consider here. Common complaints are:

it is actually quite difficult to take off and then put back together so this may not be practical
if you are travelling, it is not practical to be putting this into the wash and then wait for it to dry. You may not be in a position to do this. So when it comes to keeping a portable seat clean, booster seat will always win hands down
Being a bucket seat, you will always catch food between the table to where the baby is. When the food is caught inside the bucket seat, it is stuck inside the folds and a chore to find them in between the folds and brush it off

✘ Not easy to install – Not all designs are easy to install. The metal rods and clips or clamps may be a bit complicated to start with.

✘ Compatibility to tables – All hook-on high chairs will have this problem. Some may be more compatible than others to various tables but will not be compatible with all tables. Things to consider are where the lip of the table is, how deep is the lip, how thick the table is, etc.

✘ The hook/clamp can cause marks on tables – Depending on what table you have and what model hook-on high chair you have, it could cause marks or damage to the table as you do have to tighten it quite tight onto the table

Best Portable High Chair

Hook-on High Chair

Phil and Ted Lobster High Chair Review

Review of Phil and Ted Lobster High Chair

Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on Review

Review of the Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on

Inglesina – Fast Table Chair – Hook on High Chair Review

Review of the Inglesina – Fast Table Chair – Hook on High Chair

Hook-on High Chair Review

What is a Hook-on High Chair?

Top 5 Mum’s Best Picks!

1. Inglesina – Fast Table Chair – Hook-on

2. Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-on

3. Phil and Ted Lobster High Chair

4. Chicco Caddy Hook-on Chair

5. Chicco 360 Hook-on Chair