Portable Booster Seats in Australia: The Complete Guide

A portable booster seat, sometimes sold as a baby booster seat or travel booster seat, is a compact feeding seat that lets a baby or toddler sit at a regular table, at home, in a café or on holiday, without a full-size high chair. In Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) notes there is no mandatory standard for high chairs, and the consumer group CHOICE states there is no Australian standard for portable baby seats at all, so it helps to know what to check before you buy. This guide covers how portable booster seats work, how they compare with high chairs, what Australian safety guidance says, and how to choose, fit and care for one.

A portable booster seat is not a car seat. It must never be used as a child restraint in a vehicle.

What is a portable booster seat?

A portable booster seat is a lightweight feeding seat that raises a child to table height on an existing chair and can be packed away for travel. It is made for supervised mealtimes. It is not a car seat, a sleeping space or a play seat.

Designs differ. Some inflate, some fold flat, some strap to a chair and some sit on the chair seat. What they share is that the chair underneath does part of the work, which makes the chair itself part of the safety picture.

Portable booster seat vs high chair vs car booster seat

These three products are easy to confuse because they share a name or a purpose. The table sets out the differences.

The ACCC describes a high chair as a seat raised off the ground, with legs and a small table at the front. A portable booster seat relies on an existing chair, so a stable chair is the first thing to check.

When can a baby or toddler use a portable booster seat?

Check the manufacturer's minimum age and weight limits first. Those limits, rather than age alone, decide whether a particular seat suits your child.

Raising Children Network, which is supported by the Australian Government, advises that babies start solids at around 6 months but not before 4 months, and that a baby must be able to sit up with support and hold their head up before starting. Sitting with support for a first spoonful is a different skill from sitting upright without help on a chair, which is what a booster seat on a chair asks of a child. Before using any booster seat, check that your child can sit upright without help, unless the instructions for that product say otherwise.

High Kiddie's portable booster seat is designed for children from 9 months to 5 years, up to 20 kg, who can sit upright unassisted. If you are unsure whether your child is ready, a GP or child and family health nurse can advise.

Types of portable booster seats

CHOICE groups portable seats into three kinds: boosters that strap to a dining chair and lift the child to table height, clip-on or hook-on seats that attach to a table, and floor seats for young babies who are still learning to sit. Each design has trade-offs worth weighing against how and where you will use it.

Inflatable seats. These pack down small and use air to lift the child. Because air holds the shape, check the valve, seams and inflation instructions before each use.

Fabric or fold-flat seats that strap to a chair. These depend on the straps fitting your chair. Check that the strap length suits the chairs you use at home and the chairs in the places you eat out.

Rigid foam or plastic seats that sit on the chair. Their smooth surfaces can be simple to wipe clean, though they take up more room in a bag.

Hook-on or clip-on seats. These attach to the table instead of a chair, and CHOICE advises that the table should be solid and stable. Follow the maker's instructions on table type and thickness.

Floor seats. These support small babies on the ground and do not lift a child to the table, so they are a different product from a booster seat.

Safety: what Australian guidance says

Standards: what exists and what does not

ACCC Product Safety states that there is no mandatory standard for high chairs. The Australian standard for them, AS 4684:2009, is voluntary and its scope is freestanding high chairs. CHOICE tests high chairs against it.

For portable seats, CHOICE states that there is no Australian standard for portable baby seats. Its own tests draw on relevant clauses of AS 4684, tests from the standards for cots, folding cots and toys, and some clauses of European and US standards for portable high chairs.

That leaves buyers to judge a booster seat on its design, its instructions and the testing the seller can show. If a product page names a standard, ask which one it is and whether a test report is available. Treat wording such as "safety tested" with no detail with caution.

Falls are the most common injury, so the harness matters

The ACCC reports that falls are the most common injury involving high chairs, usually when a child stands up or tries to climb in or out. It advises a harness that stops a child from standing or slipping down. The ACCC says a 5-point harness is the safest and a 3-point harness is effective if the waist and crotch straps are firmly fastened.

CHOICE sets a higher bar for portable seats. It recommends products with a 5-point harness (shoulders, waist and crotch), or a 4-point harness plus a hard crotch barrier. Because the two sources differ, check which harness a seat has and how it fastens, and favour the more secure design where you have a choice.

The ACCC also warns that a loose harness can let a child wriggle down or out, and can create a loop that traps an unsupervised child.

Check for recalls and loose parts

Before buying new or second-hand, search the Product Safety Australia recalls database for the brand and product. Check for easily detached parts, which the ACCC identifies as a choking hazard for high chairs, and look for worn straps, tears or exposed foam each time you pack the seat away.

How to choose a portable booster seat

Use this checklist to compare products side by side.

Check your chair before the first meal

Because a booster seat depends on the chair beneath it, test the pairing before a child sits in it.

• Fit the seat to the chair with no child in it, following the instructions, then push and tilt it to see whether it shifts.

• Consider chairs that swivel, rock or have wheels with extra caution, as these can move under a child.

• Think about whether a child pushing against the table with their feet could tip the chair.

• Keep the chair clear of windows, doors, stoves, electrical appliances and curtain or blind cords. The ACCC gives this placement advice for high chairs, and it makes sense at a table too.

Using a portable booster seat safely

1. Read the instructions and check your child is within the age and weight limits.

2. Fit the seat to a stable chair and test it with no child in it.

3. Fasten the harness every time and check that it is firm. A harness that is too loose can allow a child to wriggle down or out.

4. Supervise your child for the whole meal.

5. Stop your child from standing up or climbing in or out.

6. Take your child out of the seat before adjusting anything.

7. Keep hot food, hot drinks and sharp cutlery out of reach.

8. A booster seat is for upright mealtimes. If a child falls asleep, take them out of the seat.

Travelling and eating out

A portable booster seat earns its place when you cannot bring a high chair. Venues differ in the chairs they offer, so think about the chair you are likely to be given. A plain, solid chair with a flat seat is easier to fit than a rocking, swivelling or wheeled chair, and it is reasonable to ask a venue for a different chair if the first one does not suit.

Check the packed size against the bag you plan to use, and check the airline's cabin baggage rules if you are flying. When you pack the seat away, wipe it down and let it dry fully before it goes into a bag.

Never use a feeding booster seat in a car. The Victorian Government's Better Health Channel explains that all child restraints must comply with AS/NZS 1754 and that children must be properly restrained whenever they travel in a car in Australia.

Cleaning and care

Follow the care label and the maker's instructions, because materials and cleaning methods differ between products. Wipe the seat after each meal, check straps and seams for wear, and store it dry.

High Kiddie's portable booster seat has a TPU liner and washable fabric. Check the care instructions that come with the seat before washing.

How much does a portable booster seat cost in Australia?

Prices vary with the design, the brand and what is in the box, such as a carry bag, tray or harness. Compare what each product includes and the age and weight limits, not only the ticket price.

At the time of writing, High Kiddie's launch pricing is A$85 for one seat with carry bag, A$160 for two and A$235 for three. Prices exclude shipping, and the shipping policy explains how delivery works.

About High Kiddie's portable booster seat

High Kiddie is a booster seat, not a high chair, and it may not replace all the functions of a traditional high chair. It is designed to make mealtimes easier at home and when you are out.

• Weight: 1.5 kg

• Packed size: 20 cm x 20 cm x 14 cm

• Inflated size: 33 cm high x 47 cm wide x 40 cm deep

• Age range: 9 months to 5 years, for children who can sit upright unassisted

• Maximum child weight: 20 kg

• Materials: TPU liner and washable fabric

• Packaging: a reusable fabric pouch

High Kiddie is launching on Kickstarter. You can join the launch list on the High Kiddie website to hear first.

Frequently asked questions

Is a portable booster seat the same as a high chair?

No. A high chair is a freestanding seat raised off the ground, with its own legs and a tray. A portable booster seat relies on an existing chair. It can cover mealtimes away from home, but it may not do everything a high chair does.

Is there an Australian standard for portable booster seats?

CHOICE states there is no Australian standard for portable baby seats. The ACCC states there is no mandatory standard for high chairs, and AS 4684:2009 is written for freestanding high chairs. When you compare booster seats, ask the seller which testing was done and request the details.

Can I use a portable booster seat in the car?

No. A feeding booster seat is not a child car restraint. Child restraints used in Australian vehicles must comply with AS/NZS 1754.

What age can a child use a portable booster seat?

It depends on the product, so follow the maker's stated age and weight limits. Raising Children Network advises that babies need to sit up with support before starting solids, and a booster seat on a chair asks a child to sit upright without help. High Kiddie's seat is designed for ages 9 months to 5 years.

Can my child nap in a portable booster seat?

No. A booster seat is for supervised, upright mealtimes. The ACCC does not recommend reclining high chairs that a child can easily fall asleep in, and the same caution applies here. If a child falls asleep, take them out of the seat.

Summary

A portable booster seat can make meals easier at home, at a café or on holiday, as long as you match the seat to your child, your chair and your supervision. Check the age and weight limits, the harness, the chair fit and the testing information, and always fit the seat and test it before the first meal.