For early weaning (around 6 months), a recline option matters more than people expect — a baby who can’t yet sit fully upright unsupported still needs some back support during early meals.
A removable, dishwasher-safe tray insert saves real time day to day. Trays that don’t detach, or that need scrubbing in awkward grooves, become a bigger irritation than the highchair’s look or brand ever will.
Check the seat material itself for easy wiping — fabric seats with lots of seams trap food in a way that a single moulded plastic or PU-coated seat doesn’t.
If you have limited kitchen space, look specifically at the folded footprint and whether it can tuck under a table, not just the highchair’s in-use footprint.