Hiccapop OmniBoost Review: A Budget Strap-On Booster for Meals Away From Home

The hiccapop OmniBoost is a feeding booster, not a car booster. It straps onto an ordinary chair to lift a 6-month- to 3-year-old to table height, and it comes with a removable tray and a 3-point harness. It can also sit on the floor on its own. It is one of the cheapest ways to have a seat for your child at grandparents' houses, rentals and restaurants without high chairs. Choose it for road trips and stays where you will have a car. If you fly carry-on only, a lighter clip-on chair packs better.

Hiccapop OmniBoost Travel Booster Seat with Tray

Best Budget Booster

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A versatile 3-in-1 travel booster at an unbeatable price point. Straps to dining chairs, works as a floor seat, and folds flat for suitcase packing.

weight:~5 lb

age Range:6 months–3 years

fold:Folds flat

extras:Removable tray, 3-point harness

Pros

• ✓Removable tip-over prevention duck feet
• ✓Folds into a shoulder carry bag
• ✓Removable BPA-free swivel tray included
• ✓Very affordable

Cons

• ×Bulkier than clip-ons
• ×Tray is basic
• ×Straps can loosen over time

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This product is featured in our Best Travel High Chairs roundup.

Quick verdict

Buy the OmniBoost if you want a cheap, stable seat for meals at destinations with ordinary dining chairs, such as a vacation rental, a relative's kitchen or a campsite. The wide "duck-feet" base resists tipping, and the tray comes off so your child can sit up to the table. Its limits: it weighs about 5 lb and is bulkier than a clip-on chair, the harness is 3-point with no shoulder straps, the tray is basic, and the chair straps can loosen during a long meal. For tables without a usable chair, or for flying light, a clip-on like the Chicco Caddy is the alternative.

How we assessed this

We have not tested this seat. This page draws on hiccapop's published specification and on comparison with clip-on and fold-flat travel high chairs. Full methodology: How We Research.

Is it a car booster?

No. "Booster" here means a feeding seat that lifts a child at the table. It is not a car restraint and must never be used in a vehicle or on an aircraft seat. For a car booster to use at your destination, see the hiccapop UberBoost.

Which chairs does it fit?

It straps best to a chair with a flat, firm seat and a straight back: standard kitchen, dining and most restaurant chairs. Expect a harder time with:

• Rounded or tubular backs (some metal bistro chairs), where the straps slide.
• Deep upholstered chairs, which leave your child far from the table.
• Bar stools and fixed booth seating, where there is nothing to strap to.

Where no chair works, set it on the floor or on a stable bench. The base is designed to sit flat on its own. On a chair, always use the straps. The rubber feet help with grip, but they are not what holds the seat on.

What age and stage does it suit?

Hiccapop lists 6 months to 3 years. Two points to read alongside that:

• Your baby must sit up steadily on their own. The harness has no shoulder straps, so a baby who still slumps or leans has less support than a 5-point high chair gives.
• Older toddlers may outgrow the tray before the seat. Most families remove the tray and push the booster up to the table once their child eats with the family.

How does it travel?

It folds flat, but it is still a rigid seat of about 5 lb. That suits a car trunk or a checked suitcase. In a carry-on it takes up a lot of space. A clip-on chair at about 4–5 lb packs slimmer, though it depends on a compatible table.

Choose the OmniBoost when you will have chairs and a car. Choose a clip-on when you fly light or often eat at tables with fixed or awkward seating.

Practical tips

• Retighten the chair straps partway through a long meal. They can loosen as your child moves.
• Bring a suction placemat. The tray is flat with no lip, so spills run off.
• Keep the seat away from the table edge so your child cannot push off the table with their feet.
• Wipe the tray after every use when you are traveling. It comes off, so it can be rinsed in a hotel sink.

Who should skip it

• Carry-on-only flyers. It's too bulky for the space.
• Parents of new sitters who want a 5-point harness.
• Families who mostly eat at food courts or booths. There is nothing to strap it to.
• Anyone who wants a tray that contains mess. Pair it with a placemat or choose a high chair with a lipped tray.

Final verdict

The OmniBoost is an inexpensive, stable seat for meals at places that have normal chairs, and it does that well. It is not the most packable option, and it won't fit every restaurant chair, so think of it as a road-trip and rental-house seat. For flying light, choose a clip-on.