We purchased and tested the Inglesina Fast Table Chair and twelve other portable highchairs to compare their performances in usability, design quality, cleanability, and portability. Though the Inglesina did not rank the highest in our testing, it did score very well in several categories and is an excellent choice for parents seeking a portable, space-saving highchair.
Inglesina - Fast Table
| Design Quality | |
| Cleanability | |
| Portability | |
| Usability |
How it Compares
The Inglesina is a unique design that saves space and is highly portable. It screws directly to the top and bottom of a standard tabletop with rubber-coated brackets and is great for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with a larger, bulkier highchair. It has some pros and cons which we’ll dive deeper into.
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| Inglesina - Fast Table | |
| Amazon | |
| Test Lab Score | 74 |
| Design Quality | |
| Cleanability | |
| Portability | |
| Usability | |
| Specifications | This Product |
| Safety/Sturdiness Rating | 7 |
| Kid Comfort Rating | 8 |
| Age/Size Range | 6 months to 3 years or 37 lb |
Most Common Complaints
Compared to some other highchairs we tested, the Inglesina did not have too many critical reviews. But we did read through all of them and compared the most common complaints to our experience while testing it.
| Criticism | Our Experience |
|---|---|
| Not good for all tables | Agreed, our biggest complaint about this seat is that it cannot easily be installed on a table with a box apron |
| Difficult to clean | While we wish that the seat cover was machine washable, we found that any of the messes we made in the seat wiped clean fairly easily |
| Tray doesn’t fit | We didn’t have any issues attaching the tray |
| Kids can climb out | We felt that the straps were secured to the child very well and never felt like our test subjects would climb out |
| Chair rips after some use | Though our testing took place over a shorter period of time, we never felt that the chair was going to rip |
| Tray doesn’t lay flat on table | When we installed the tray, it laid flat against the table |
| Gap between seat and chair | There was a small gap between the seat and the chair when the tray was not installed, but with the tray, the gap is covered |
| Missing the tray | Our product included the tray upon arrival |
| Misleading size/age information | The seat says it can hold up to 37lb but also says it is not for children who can stand |
| Seat forces baby to lean forward | Neither of our test subjects leaned forward in the seat |
Our biggest issue with the Inglesina is that it is not practical for all table types. Many standard dining tables include a hanging box apron, which creates a lip on the table. This box apron becomes an issue when installing the seat. It took us a few tries to find a compatible table. Even if you can install the seat brackets behind the box apron, it may still block the leg holes of the seat.
Testing and Research
We researched the highest ranked portable highchairs and purchased the top thirteen to test and compare. We read several buyer guides and critical reviews to determine the best criteria to test the chairs. From timing the setup to having kids sit in them to smashing baby food into the chairs, we tested each one on its usability, design quality, cleanability, and portability.
Usability
We measured how easy the Inglesina was to use based on the setup time, instruction manual, and overall user-friendliness.
It took us around six minutes to get the chair set up the first time. We did find the assembly steps to be a little confusing on the first attempt.
Minutes to Install
| Fisher-Price SpaceSaver | |
| Hook On Chair Clip On | |
| Summer Deluxe Comfort | |
| Summer Pop ‘N Sit | |
| Ingenuity 2-in-1 | |
| Inglesina - Fast Table | |
| Fisher-Price Healthy Care | |
| Oxo Tot Booster | |
| hiccapop OmniBoost | |
| Regalo My Chair 2-in-1 | |
| Fisher-Price Portable | |
| Nuby Easy Go | |
| ciao! baby Portable Highchair |
When the Inglesina is first unpackaged, it is fully disassembled. The seat does come with an instruction manual which is pictures only. The assembly process is a little bit confusing and the picture directions could have used some additional written instructions as well. No tools are required for assembly.
Once the seat is fully assembled, it does not need to be taken apart again.
Once we got the seat assembled, the actual installation process was pretty straightforward. The top portion of the bracket slides over the top of a dining table and the bottom part of the bracket screws upwards until it meets the bottom side of the tabletop. It can be tightened until fully stabilized.
Once installed, fabric pockets zip over the hanging part of the brackets. This offers some cushion in case a child bumps their legs into the brackets. They also help the look of the chair aesthetically, but it is a little bit of a pain to have to remove and reattach the pockets each time the seat is installed and taken down.
The optional tray snaps into place over the top arms of the bracket. Though some complained that the tray did not lay flat on their table, we did not notice any issues with it being flush with the tabletop.
Design Quality
In this category, we measured the safety and sturdiness of each highchair. We also ranked the straps based on their security and tested how comfortable the child appeared to be while sitting in the highchair. Finally, we compared the age and size range that each seat could hold and measured if that information was accurate.
We were a little hesitant testing a chair that screws onto a table, fearing that it would somehow be less stable or secure than one that rests on the ground or straps to an adult chair. However, we were pleased that the Inglesina was very secure and our one-year-old test subject appeared to be comfortable.
The advertisement is somewhat misleading in size range, stating that it can hold a child up to 3 years old or weigh up to 37lb. However, the manual states that, for safety purposes, the seat should not be used by a child who can stand, which is clearly a milestone that would occur before a child turns three. This disclaimer may simply be because a larger child is more capable of climbing out of a chair than a smaller one.
We did place a 35lb three-year-old in the seat to ensure that it would support her weight. It did support her and she appeared comfortable, but it would be fairly easy for her to climb out if she was not strapped in.
The Inglesina uses a three-point harness system strapping around the child’s waist. Some reviews complained that even with the straps, the child could get out of the chair, but we felt that they secured well to both of our test subjects. However, a child should still not be left unsupervised while sitting in the highchair.
Safety/Sturdiness Rating
| Ingenuity 2-in-1 | |
| Oxo Tot Booster | |
| Inglesina - Fast Table | |
| ciao! baby Portable Highchair | |
| Hook On Chair Clip On | |
| Summer Pop ‘N Sit | |
| Summer Deluxe Comfort | |
| Nuby Easy Go | |
| Fisher-Price Portable | |
| Fisher-Price Healthy Care | |
| hiccapop OmniBoost | |
| Regalo My Chair 2-in-1 | |
| Fisher-Price SpaceSaver |
Cleanability
A common complaint with the Inglesina was that it is difficult to clean. The seat is hand wash only, which did take a few points off its score compared to some of the other seats that had washing machine or dishwasher safe components.
The dark color does help hide potential stains, however, and we felt that any messes we spilled on the chair wiped off fairly easily. Just know that you will have to do some scrubbing rather than being able to remove the cover and toss it into the washing machine.
We tested the cleanability the highchair by spilling messy foods such as yogurt and applesauce on the seat fabric and the tray. We also crushed up cracker crumbs into the seat to see if they would get caught in any cracks or crevices.
| hiccapop OmniBoost | |
| Regalo My Chair 2-in-1 | |
| Fisher-Price Portable | |
| Fisher-Price Healthy Care | |
| Fisher-Price SpaceSaver | |
| Inglesina - Fast Table | |
| Nuby Easy Go | |
| Oxo Tot Booster | |
| ciao! baby Portable Highchair | |
| Hook On Chair Clip On | |
| Summer Pop ‘N Sit | |
| Summer Deluxe Comfort | |
| Ingenuity 2-in-1 |
Compared to some of the other chairs that we tested, the Inglesina did not have a lot of cracks and crevices for food to get stuck in. Some crumbs could get trapped under the seat cushion, but it lifts up to wipe or shake out. Crumbs are able to shake into the trash can or sink fairly easily.
If you are not using a tray with the seat, there is a gap of about two inches between the table and the chair itself, so food can fall to the floor. If you do use the tray, though, there is no gap.
The tray is also hand wash only, but the smooth plastic can be wiped off or rinsed off in a sink. Note that the Inglesina can be ordered with or without the tray.
Portability
When purchasing a portable highchair, the obvious expectation is that it is portable and can travel well. The Inglesina is an excellent space saver that takes up very little room in your home whether installed or disassembled. It was among our top scorers in storage ratings.
Storage Rating:
| Inglesina - Fast Table | |
| hiccapop OmniBoost | |
| Nuby Easy Go | |
| Oxo Tot Booster | |
| Hook On Chair Clip On | |
| Regalo My Chair 2-in-1 | |
| ciao! baby Portable Highchair | |
| Fisher-Price Portable | |
| Fisher-Price Healthy Care | |
| Summer Pop ‘N Sit | |
| Summer Deluxe Comfort | |
| Ingenuity 2-in-1 | |
| Fisher-Price SpaceSaver |
The Inglesina comes with a built-in storage bag that is attached to an inner pocket. When the seat is in use, the bag slides into the pocket underneath the seat. When you’re ready to store the highchair, you simply pull the bag out of the pocket. The bag is sewn to the pocket so you never have to worry about it getting lost.
When disassembled and in the bag, the Inglesina is only about 16″ tall, 14″ wide and a few inches thick, making it very easy to slide into a closet or cabinet, under a bed, or into a trunk.
It weighs about five pounds, so is not very heavy and could even be carried in a backpack or as a personal item on an airplane.
Removing and storing the highchair is a simple process of unscrewing the brackets from the tabletop and folding the legs inward. The seat can then collapse down making it very easy to slide into the storage bag. If you purchase a tray as well, it can also fit into the storage bag.
Portability is certainly not an issue with the Inglesina as it can travel very easily. However, do keep in mind if you plan to use it for travel that you may not always know what kind of tables you’ll be exposed to and you could run into an issue installing it.
Features and Accessories of the Inglesina Fast Table Chair
The Inglesina can be ordered with or without a tray attachment, which adds an additional $19 to the overall cost of the seat. We did not feel that the tray was necessary since the chair attaches directly to a table and food can be eaten from the tabletop. However, there is a small gap between the seat and the dining table without the tray, which could cause some spills and messes.
The Inglesina comes with a handy storage pocket on the back of the seat. The pocket is pretty deep and can be used to store utensils, wipes, bibs, etc.
The Inglesina can be ordered in a variety of colors:
- Black
- Cream
- Dark Green
- Light Blue
- Lime
- Navy
- Orange
- Pink
- Red
The Inglesina costs around $79 without the tray and $98 with the tray included, making it the most expensive of all the highchairs we tested. The higher price point is another motivation to make sure that this seat will work with your table before purchasing.
