Do you need a footrest for the IKEA high chair?

Babies might resist getting into their highchair or try to escape from it, making mealtime a battle for both of you.

If your baby seems disinterested in eating, shows signs of hunger but doesn’t finish meals, or gets fussy during mealtime, it could be due to a lack of foot support.

Babies without a highchair footrest tend to kick their legs, fidget, and wobble constantly as they try to find balance and keep their core upright. This extra effort can be especially tiring for little ones who haven't yet mastered sitting independently.

Thinking about adding a footrest to your highchair? We've helped thousands of mums just like you, with over 600 5-star reviews just like the one below.

Every one of our footrests does the same job — it lifts your baby’s feet to the right height so they can sit stable and eat well. The main difference is the finish, so it really comes down to your kitchen and your taste:

• Bamboo — our original bestseller. Light, warm-toned, and a match for almost any kitchen.
• Walnut — a deeper, richer wood tone that suits darker interiors.
• Maple — a pale, clean finish that blends into lighter, brighter spaces.
• DIY — handy with tools? You can build your own from scratch.

Torn between buying and making one? We’ve laid out the honest trade-offs in DIYing vs buying: 6 things to consider, and compared ours head-to-head with the popular alternative in Limmaland vs Little Puku. If you’d rather build, our free IKEA highchair footrest PDF template has the measurements sorted for you. Ready to just pick one up? See the adjustable wooden footrest here.

Paediatric occupational therapists and feeding specialists consistently point to positioning as one of the simplest things you can get right at mealtimes. Many aim for what’s often called 90-90-90 — hips, knees, and ankles each at roughly a 90° angle — with the feet flat and supported rather than left dangling. In the IKEA Antilop, a footrest is what makes that posture possible.

They advocate that using a footrest can make swallowing safer and easier, improving digestion and reducing choking risks. Learn more about the difference between normal gagging and choking in our parent's guide to gagging vs choking in babies.

Does a high chair need a footrest?
Not to work — but once your baby is eating solids, foot support makes a real difference to how stable, comfortable, and focused they are at meals. The IKEA Antilop doesn’t include one, which is exactly why so many parents add it.

Do babies need foot support in a high chair?
Yes — once they’re sitting for meals. Supported feet let them brace, engage their core, and sit upright instead of straining to balance, which helps with both eating and safer swallowing.

At what age does a baby need a footrest?
Usually from around 6 months, when solids begin and their feet can’t reach the highchair’s built-in bar. Before that, the seat and insert are generally enough.

Can I DIY an IKEA Antilop footrest?
Absolutely. If you’re handy, our free printable template has the measurements, and our DIY vs buying guide walks through what’s involved before you start.