REVIEW: Summer Infant Pop 'n Sit Portable Booster

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Anyone who knows me understands I like to eat. A lot. And often. Growing up in an Italian household where dinners always included more than one course and ran two hours long, it’s not surprising I’ve become the food-obsessed person that I am. When my daughter was born, we tried to pass on that same love of all things edible however we could. Every new food became a game and we made a point of eating out pretty much once a week (and I wonder why I’m now overweight). My sister-in-law had a Summer Infant high chair that she’d let us borrow whenever we were back home in Jersey. I soon grew to like it so much that I bought my own, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’m constantly asked about it by grandparents, wait staff and people who are just in awe that something like this even exists, so it seemed worthwhile to review.

About the Summer Infant Portable High Chair:

MSRP: $34.99
Measures 15″ x 15″ x 15″ H
Weighs 4.5 lbs
Available in aqua, dark blue, pink, lime and hunter green
Lots of different designs/styles available
Sets up and collapses in seconds
Attaches to virtually any chair or stands on its own
Comes w/ removable, dishwasher-safe tray
Max weight capacity is 37 lbs
Visit the manufacturer’s website here

Summer Infant Portable High Chair – The Pros:

We’ve brought this chair everywhere: hundreds of restaurants, multiple countries, a dozen states, and tons of random houses. B feels like she’s part of the group since she’s sitting in the same chair as the rest of us, and if I ever wanted to, I could take off the removable tray and she could eat right off the same table too. The carrying case fits into a suitcase and looks like a (albeit weirdly-shaped) handbag, so you don’t look totally insane walking around with it.
The tray goes in my dishwasher (top rack) and the straps and bag go in my washing machine. It’s a beautiful thing.
The fact that it even HAS a tray is a major benefit that not many other portable boosters offer.
It’s held up remarkably well for how often we’ve used it. The straps are still tight enough where she can’t wiggle her way out, and I’ve never had an issue with it not being compatible with whichever chair we were using (just as long as it’s a chair and not a booth because those won’t fit).
The colors are actually awesome. We own the pink, but the blues are beautiful and even the green is a lot nicer than you’d think (it also tends to be the cheapest).
This chair costs virtually nothing. The most you’d ever pay is $35, but a more likely price is in the mid-$20s.
This may sound crazy, but I know of a few people withOUT kids who actually have one of these in their closets for when guests come; that tells you something about a) the price; b) the convenience; and c) the size.
You never have to worry about those nasty restaurant high chairs, which is helpful not just for germophobes but also for kids with allergies because let’s be realistic, people – nobody cleans your restaurant high chair before you get it.

Summer Infant Portable High Chair – The Cons:

While the straps, carrying case and tray are all machine-washable, the fabric part of the seat is not – which means that if you have a messy eater and a light-colored chair (which these all are), you do risk looking dirty. That said, I’ve scrubbed it in the bathtub a couple times and it cleans up fine. ** UPDATE: since this post, Summer Infant launched a version of this product with a removable seat cover! **
I’m starting to see that a few threads are beginning to separate from the legs, but I really do think it’s because of how often we use it (it’s almost 3 years old and still going strong!) – and I’m not at all worried about a full-fledged tear anytime soon.

In Closing:

If you’re grossed out by germs, eat away from home a lot, and/or need a backup chair for the car, grandparents’ or babysitter’s house, this is the chair for you. And if you’re pregnant and looking for registry items, add this ASAP. I can’t think of another item that we own with such versatility and that costs so little. It’s a life-changer!