Camping with a baby is exactly the same as traveling with a baby – it’s not only possible, but it can be very enjoyable and rewarding too! I’ve always believed in spending as much time outdoors with my kids as possible, and camping is an excellent way to do it. Yes, it’s true that your camping trips will look a little different than before, but camping with babies and toddlers is a great way to spend some quality time together as a family in the great outdoors.
Having the right baby camping essentials will make it go a little smoother. With a baby tagging along, you’ll undoubtedly be packing more than usual. Even with all the extra stuff, having a place for your baby to sit that is not in your lap, is a nice luxury.
My list of the best camping chairs for toddlers includes several portable travel high chairs, as well as specific camping chairs for babies that are worth your consideration. Keep in mind that the travel high chairs will multi-task as a camping chair and a travel chair, while the portable camping high chairs aren’t something you’ll want to travel internationally with.
Remember to never leave your baby or toddler unattended in any of these camping chairs.
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13 Best Baby Camping Chairs
1. Summer Pop ‘n Sit SE High Chair for Indoor/Outdoor Dining
The Summer Pop n' Sit booster seat makes an ideal outdoor high chair for babies. It includes an easy to clean snack tray that's dishwasher friendly, making post-camping clean up easy.
This folding high chair is will allow your baby to sit up close to your camping table. And when it's time to head home, this camping high chair for baby will fold compactly into it's carry bag to be stored until next time.
This high chair is recommended for babies who can sit up unassisted (6+ months) and up to 45 pounds. It comes with a 3 point safety harness.
2. VEEYOO Baby High Chair for Indoor and Outdoor
Easy to set up, and even easier to clean, the VEEYOO Baby Highchair is one baby camping high chair all outdoorsy parents will be thankful for. The sheer number of pockets and carry bag make it a multifunctional piece of easy-to-fold camping gear. When not in use, it’s so compact that it’s likely you’ll forget you even have it on you!
No need to worry about the mess, as this portable outdoor high chair has a removable cover that is machine washable. The removable tray will be equally easy to clean.
It's recommended for babies who can sit up unassisted (6+ months) and up to 37 pounds. Has a 5 point safety harness.
3. ciao! baby Portable High Chair for Babies and Toddlers
The ciao! Highchair is simply one of the best highchairs for camping. Safe, extra sturdy and hassle-free foldable storage make it so that you don’t have to worry about a thing.
One feature of the ciao! baby portable camping high chair compared to the other outdoor high chairs is that it has a built-in snack tray complete with a sippy cup holder. Most of the other folding high chairs have a removable snack tray.
With a convenient carry bag, you'll easily be able to grab it and go, whether that's for a picnic or a camping trip.
Recommended for babies who can sit up unassisted and up to 35 pounds. Has a 5 point safety harness.
4. Baby Delight Go with Me Chair
The Baby Delight has many features you don't see in the other portable high chairs. You can use the Baby Delight Go with Me chair right from the baby stage and even as a toddler camping chair.
This baby camping chair with a tray has a soft cushioned canvas seat, a removable sun canopy and a 5-point harness to keep baby safe. All of this is supported on an ultra-wide, super stable base. What’s more is that the chair even grows with your baby, through three “growth stages,” namely; Sitting, Standing and Big Kid. It’s even got leg holes for when your baby starts standing.
While you'll use this chair as a portable high chair for feeding, it's also the perfect spot to keep your baby nearby while you set up camp or prep meals.
Recommended for babies who can sit unassisted and up to 75 pounds. It has a 5 point harness for safety.
5. hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat with Tray
The hiccapop Omniboost is one of my recommended portable travel high chairs and it makes an equally good portable high chair for camping. If you're looking to make one purchase that can be used in almost all situations, then this is the one for you.
The cute Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat comes with special “duck feet” for extra stability, which is a must on uneven terrain. It’s also easy to set up and clean.
The tray is nice and large, which is a blessing when your baby is eating solid food. And if your baby is a particularly messy eater, just dismantle the tray and pop it into the dishwasher. The fabric cover can also be removed and is machine washable.
While the hiccapop Omniboost requires a separate chair and won't work on a picnic table, it can be used on its own on the ground. This works well to keep your baby entertained while you're busy getting dinner ready.
Recommended age is 6 months to 3 years old. This booster seat has a 3 point harness.
Read my full review of the hiccapop OmniBoost travel booster seat.
6. Summer Infant Pop 'N Sit Portable Booster Chair Seat for Indoor & Outdoor
Similar to the hiccapop Omniboost, this camping chair for babies is multi-functional, portable and affordable, it works great as both an indoor chair and outdoor chair. Its feet are made of a rubberized material, providing enough stability when kept on the earth. At the same time, they do fine on tile and other types of indoor flooring.
The straps are sewn to the bottom of the chair, rather than the backrest. This means that the straps tend to sit on children’s lower bodies rather than their waists. However, the seat still manages to offer plenty of support, and even more if you remember to re-adjust the buckle so that it sits higher on the flap.
Again, you'll make the best use out of Summer Infant Pop N' Sit by placing it on the ground.
Recommended age is 6 months and up to 37 pounds.
7. Inglesina Fast Table Chair Plus Tray
As parents, we know how annoying it is when food gets stuck in the tiny crevices of baby chairs and trays. No amount of cleaning gets that stuff out! With a very minimal number of moving parts and a removable seat cover, this fabric table chair will make you leave your worries behind. That's especially important when taking it camping!
The Inglesina Fast Table Chair fits onto most kinds of tables without a hassle makes it well worth the cost. You can have your baby sitting up at the picnic table along with you.
Check out my in-depth review of the Inglesina Fast Table chair here.
Recommended for babies 6 months and up to 37 pounds.
8. Chicco QuickSeat Hook-On Chair
Clamp-on utility, lightweight, washable and a travel-friendly design - must I go on? This camping high chair can clamp onto almost every tabletop out there. That’s good news because nothing beats the feeling of having your little munching their food right alongside you at the dinner table, am I right?
Just keep in mind that clip-on high chairs are not suitable for unstable tables including card and camping tables. Though the clamps on the Chicco QuickSeat Hook-On chair will work on a picnic table.
The fold flat design and carry strap mean you'll get more use out of the highchair than just camping! You can also use it for restaurants and for travel.
Recommended for babies who can sit unassisted and up to 37 pounds.
9. Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat
If you're looking for a toddler booster seat that you can use at restaurants or at grandma's house, the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat is exactly that. This low cost booster seat would also work for camping and for picnics.
Weighing in at just three pounds, this lightweight booster seat collapses into a cute little bundle when folded. But don’t worry, because your child won’t be able to dismantle any part of this sturdy chair, including the dishwasher safe tray. Say goodbye to hangry messes! To top it off, the seat is adjustable, which means it grows with your baby through every little one of their growth spurts.
10. KidCo GoPod
If you just need a place to put your baby while tending to the camp fire or getting meals ready, the Kidco GoPod is the ideal spot. Your baby has a spot to play while watching everything going on around them.
Lightweight and convenient to set up, the Kidco GoPod makes it easy for your child to sit up for as long as they want without tiring themselves out. The loops around the top are great for hanging their favorite toys and keeping them entertained during the quieter parts of camping.
11. Melissa & Doug Giddy Buggy Chair
The Melissa & Doug Giddy Buggy Chair is a colorful, eye-catching toddler camping chair that’s durable enough to be used for years and still look brand new. The chair comes with a storage bag, which makes it perfect for trips and the click-lock is a nice add-on because it makes the chair sturdy to handle all terrains.
If I could have my way, I would love for the bag handle to be slightly bigger, but this camping chair for toddlers is sure to please you and your little camper!
This kids camping chair is recommended for toddlers 3+ years old.
12. Baby Delight Alpine Deluxe Portable Bouncer
If you are camping with an infant, a portable bouncer is a camping essential well worth the space. It will give you a safe spot to put your baby down, while still keeping your baby in the middle of the action. The Baby Delight Bouncer not only has all the typical features of a regular bouncer, but can also be packed flat. It has a toy bar, which is something young babies will love.
I love that you can just place it on the ground and rock it gently. The travel case it comes with makes it a camping-friendly option.
Recommended for babies 0 - 6 months old (or up to 20 pounds).
13. BABYBJÖRN Bouncer Bliss
The BABYBJORN bouncer works equally as well at home as it will at the campground, giving your baby a safe space to sit right in the middle of all the action. Extremely lightweight and collapsible, the BABYBJÖRN Bouncer Bliss is worth packing if you have the space.
Not just for newborns, once your baby has learned to sit upright you can reverse the fabric to give your baby a seat.
Recommended for babies from 8 to 29 pounds.
Types of Camping Chairs for Babies
1. Camping Chair for Baby
These chairs come equipped to handle different types of terrain, weather and all types of spills, while meeting the required safety standards for your precious little one. They also come in all shapes, sizes and colors!
A highchair stands on its own while you go about your indoor and outdoor tasks. Other options, like the Kidco GoPod, lets your baby have a little exercise of their own.
2. Portable Booster Seat
Portable booster seats are chairs that are designed to be used along with another chair. This is not the most ideal when you are out camping without a chair in sight. However, they are simple to carry and store. Plus, you can always just place them on the ground and your toddler will be none the wiser.
A portable booster seat will give you the most value for your money. Options like the hiccapop Omniboost work just as well at home as they do for camping or for travel.
3. Hook-On High Chairs
Hook-on high chairs like the Mountain Buggy Pod Clip-On Highchair are great for just attaching onto a table top and keeping your baby super close. However, they are not for every kind of table. They are only suitable for sturdy tables like picnic tables outdoors, and not folding tables.
If you frequent the same campgrounds and know you’ll have access to a picnic table, these are a nice option to ensure your baby is sitting up at the table with you.
4. Portable Bouncer for Infants
Portable bouncers are perfect for babies that cannot sit unassisted, as they provide the head and neck support they need. They also help your baby learn some simple leg and arm movements. For traveling and camping, make sure to pick a bouncer that folds completely flat.
5. Camping Chair for Toddlers
Toddlers love anything they can call “mine,” and a camping chair for toddlers certainly fits the bill and should be part of your toddler camping essentials. When picking one out for travel, make sure it is stable with wide legs and a low-enough base. A camping chair that “grows” with your baby into their toddler years is a bonus!
How to Choose the Best Toddler and Baby Camping Chairs
Age of Baby or Toddler
If you are camping with an infant, the first thing you should look for is a chair that supports your baby’s head and neck. Opting for a bouncer is most likely the best way to go.
Once your baby can sit up, consider a chair you can hang little toys off of and arrange other activities for their entertainment. If your baby has started to eat solid foods, you will want a chair with a tray and that’s easy to clean!
Keep in mind many of the portable outdoor high chairs work just as well for babies as they do toddlers, so be sure to buy one that you can get the most use out of when considering these best baby camping chairs.
Stability
Campsites are hardly ever perfectly level, which means you need to choose the best camping high chair that is extra stable to prevent your baby from tipping over. If you feel unsure about portable high chairs, you can opt for a booster seat that can be placed on the ground.
Just remember to never leave your baby unattended.
Access to a Picnic Table
You can’t use a hook-on chair unless you have something to attach it to and when on the go, your best bet is going to be a sturdy picnic table. A hook-on highchair doesn’t serve much of a purpose if you and the rest of your family aren’t sitting around a table.
So, in instances where you’re tent camping on the ground with no picnic table on the site, opt for chairs that can be placed on the ground.
Easy to Clean
Regardless of the baby camping chair you choose, it has to be easy to clean, and I mean, hose-down friendly. Some chairs have tiny nooks where dust and food particles get stuck, so pay attention to the design of your chair.
Size
I recommend choosing a camping chair that’s small and compact when folded. Ideally, it should be easy to pack along with all your other camping essentials.
Other Camping with Children Resources
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This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.