Living / 4 June, 2026 / Christina Walter

How A Junior Chair Helps When Moving On From The High Chair

When children outgrow their high chair, many parents are unsure what comes next. That’s where a Junior Chair comes in. Once toddlers are ready to leave their high chair, there is often a challenging period before they can sit comfortably at a standard dining table. Many families rely on cushions, booster seats, or even kneeling on chairs, but there is a solution specifically designed for this stage of childhood.

The Gap Nobody Talks About

Most children leave their high chair between the ages of two and three, but they often need several more years before they can sit comfortably at an adult dining table. During this stage, many children perch on cushions or booster seats during mealtimes. As they grow, parents often remove those boosters, which can leave children kneeling on chairs just to reach the table. While this may seem harmless, the way a child sits can affect both comfort and posture during meals.

Why Proper Seating Matters

The NHS recommends what occupational therapists call a 90-90-90 sitting position. This means children should sit with their hips, knees, and ankles at roughly 90-degree angles.

Young children often struggle to achieve this position on a standard dining chair. Their feet frequently dangle above the floor, leaving them without the support they need.

A junior chair solves this problem by providing a higher seat height and an integrated footrest. Children can sit comfortably while remaining at the family dining table.

Schools and nurseries regularly use child-sized furniture that matches children’s size and stage of development. At home, however, many families stop thinking about seating once their child moves on from a high chair.

A Chair Designed for Family Mealtimes

Unlike small tables and chairs used mainly for arts and crafts, a junior chair works alongside a standard dining table.

It gives children the right support while allowing them to enjoy family meals and join in conversations without struggling to see over the table.

One company addressing this often-overlooked stage is Okehill, a Surrey-based furniture workshop founded by Jeremy. He created his first junior chair after struggling to find a hardwood option for his own daughter.

Unable to find a design that combined practicality with a refined appearance, he decided to make one himself.

“I always wanted this to feel like a proper grown-up chair that enhances the dining space at the same time as helping a child sit better” says Jeremy.

A Design That Grows With Family Life

Each Okehill Junior Chair is handcrafted to order in Surrey using traditional joinery techniques. There are no screws, bolts, or flat-pack assembly required.

Available in ash, oak, and walnut, the chair has been designed to blend seamlessly into modern family homes. Parents can also choose matching or contrasting seat options to complement their dining furniture.

Inspired by mid-century design, the chair features clean lines and natural wood finishes rather than bright colours or character themes. The result is a piece that looks at home around the dining table rather than standing apart as children’s furniture.

Its slim profile also means it takes up very little additional space, making it suitable for both compact and larger dining areas.

An Investment That Lasts

Unlike many children’s products that children quickly outgrow, a junior chair can stay part of family life for years.

The chair typically suits children from around age three to approximately eight years old. Families often pass it between siblings as younger children reach the same stage.

In households with two children a few years apart, a junior chair can easily stay in daily use for close to a decade.

Because it sits prominently at the dining table, many parents value investing in a piece that complements their home while still serving a practical purpose.

How Does It Compare?

There are only a handful of products available in this category. The well-known Tripp Trapp offers an adjustable design that can be used from the high chair stage onwards, while the IKEA Junior Chair provides a more budget-friendly option.

The Okehill Junior Chair occupies a different space within the market. Crafted from premium solid hardwood, it focuses on traditional craftsmanship, longevity, and a design aesthetic intended to sit naturally alongside adult dining furniture.

For parents navigating the often-overlooked years between high chair and dining chair, it offers a thoughtful solution that combines comfort, practicality, and timeless design.

Shop now

The Okehill Junior Chair is available from £400.

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