If you’re looking for a Tutti Bambini Nova Highchair review from someone who’s actually used one for 10+ months, here’s our honest experience.
When we were prepping the nursery before our daughter arrived, my parents generously bought us the Tutti Bambini Nova 11-in-1 Highchair Package.
I remember unboxing it, clicking a few pieces together (it really didn’t take much effort), and looking at the giant chart of 11 different build configurations thinking: “There is zero chance we will ever use all of these.”
Fast forward 10+ months.
Out of the 7 main options available to us so far in her first year, yes we’ve only used 3 of them.
But despite not using every single mode, I can tell you right now: it hasn’t been a waste of money.
It’s quickly become one of the most used pieces of baby gear in our house.
Here is my honest breakdown of how the Tutti Bambini Nova handles real life, real mess, and real family daily routines.
Quick Verdict
After 10+ months of using the Tutti Bambini Nova, we absolutely think it’s worth it.
We’ve only used three of its 11 configurations so far, but the newborn rocker, newborn highchair and 6m+ highchair all earned their place in our daily routine.
Its biggest strengths for us have been the adjustable tray, removable tray cover, relatively compact footprint and the fact that it has grown with our daughter.
The biggest downside? There’s currently no official Catchy food catcher for it.
Specs
| Feature | Details |
| System Modes | 11 Modes (Birth to ~12 years) |
| Modes We’ve Used | 3 out of 7 (Newborn Rocker, Newborn Highchair, 6m+ Highchair) |
| Seat Fabric | Stain-resistant & water-repellent (Machine Washable) |
| Tray System | Removable top tray cover (Dishwasher safe) but we never put it in the dishwasher, it’s quicker just to wipe clean in the sink. |
| Adjustability | 3-position seat recline, 3 tray positions, 2 footrest positions |
| Main Drawback | No official “Catchy” food catcher accessory available yet |
Phase 1: The Newborn Stage (0–6 Months)
When you bring a newborn home, your primary concern is simple: safety.
You want a secure, comfortable place to lay them down so you can cook dinner, grab a cup of tea, or just rest your hands for five minutes without worrying.
We used two of the newborn modes right out of the gate:
- The Standalone Tutti Bambini Nova Newborn Rocker: Easy to keep on the floor next to us while relaxing.
- The Tutti Bambini Nova Newborn Highchair: Attaching the rocker seat to the main frame to bring her up to table height so we could cook / eat near her.
She looked genuinely comfortable in it, the harness kept her completely safe, and having her at dining table height early on was brilliant for including her in mealtimes, even Christmas Dinner, before she could even hold her head up.
Phase 2: The Main Event (6m+ Weaning Highchair)
Now that we’re deep into weaning, the Mode 5 (Standard Highchair) is where this unit lives every day.
It sits right next to our dining table, sits at almost the exact same height, and doesn’t take up a large amount of room.
What Makes Daily Weaning Easy:
- The Removable Tray Cover: The top layer of the tray simply pops off. When mealtime inevitably becomes a disaster zone, I can snap the top tray off, carry the mess straight to the sink / bin, and leave the main base tray clean underneath. And we’re onto dessert.
- Adjustable Tray Depth: Unlike basic options like the IKEA Antilop, you can slide the tray closer to her or push it further away as she grows.
- Reclining Backrest: The backrest can sit completely upright for eating, or recline slightly back. That slightly reclined position is great for when trying to put a bib on a wriggling baby or spoon feeding porridge.
- Easy Assembly: Taking it apart or changing modes is surprisingly easy, no fiddling with hidden clips or needing a toolbox every time, it clips together.
The One Real Problem (And The Dog Factor)
If I have one complaint about our weaning setup, it’s not really the highchair’s fault, it’s my daughter.
She has entered the phase where dropping (or deliberately chucking) food off the side to the dog is her favourite thing.
The dog is thrilled and my kitchen floor stays surprisingly clean, but he’s definitely put on a bit of weight.
If you like using a Catchy (the plastic food catcher tray that attaches to highchair legs), be aware that they don’t make an official Catchy for the Tutti Bambini Nova yet.
To be honest, knowing my dog, a catch tray probably wouldn’t stop him anyway, and you’d still end up wiping it down!
The Dad Verdict: Is It Worth It?
We liked this highchair so much during the newborn and early weaning months that we’ve actively recommended it to friends and family who are having kids.
It’s easily one of the most useful items we own.
Will we end up using all 11 modes when she’s a toddler and beyond? Time will tell!
I’ll update this post as she gets older so we can see if the toddler chair, desk, and rocking modes actually hold up. But for now, as a daily driver for a 10-month-old, it’s a winner.
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