IKEA Antilop High Chair: Is the Plastic Safe?

The IKEA Antilop is popular for good reason: it is simple, lightweight, affordable, and easy to wipe clean. But when your baby eats directly from the tray, it is reasonable to wonder whether the plastic itself is safe.

The IKEA Antilop High Chair: Is the Plastic Safe? Yes. The seat and tray are made from polypropylene, a commonly used plastic with established food-contact applications. IKEA states that the chair has been tested to applicable safety standards and contains no substances intended to harm a child’s skin or health. The main concern is not the plastic—it is checking older chairs for recalled safety-belt buckles.

What Plastic Is Used in the IKEA Antilop?

The Antilop seat shell and tray are made from polypropylene, often abbreviated as PP or plastic number 5. The chair’s feet are also polypropylene, while the legs are steel with a powder-coated finish.1

Polypropylene is widely used in food containers, reusable kitchen items, and baby products because it is lightweight, durable, and resistant to moisture. Food-contact regulations in the United States recognize authorized polypropylene materials for specific uses and conditions.2

That does not mean every polypropylene product is automatically identical. Safety depends on the specific formulation, additives, manufacturing process, and intended use. However, the material name alone is not a reason to avoid the Antilop.

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Understanding the Science

Is polypropylene safe for babies?

For ordinary use, food-contact polypropylene is generally considered a low-concern plastic. It is not the same as PVC, and polypropylene is not typically associated with intentionally added phthalates used to soften flexible plastics.

Parents may also worry about BPA. Polypropylene itself is not a BPA-based plastic, and BPA is primarily associated with certain polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins—not standard polypropylene seat shells.

Still, “safe” should be interpreted realistically. No product should be heated, altered, or used outside its instructions. The Antilop tray is intended for eating, not for cooking food or serving very hot foods directly from a microwave.

Does the tray release chemicals into food?

Chemical migration—the movement of substances from a material into food—depends on factors such as heat, contact time, food type, and the product’s formulation. A cool or room-temperature meal placed on an intact, commercially manufactured polypropylene tray presents a different situation from heating food on that tray.

For everyday meals, the sensible approach is simple:

• Do not microwave the tray.
• Do not pour boiling liquids onto it.
• Replace it if it becomes deeply scratched, cracked, sticky, or visibly degraded.
• Wash it according to the manufacturer’s care instructions.

These steps reduce unnecessary wear without treating normal use as dangerous.

The Bigger Safety Issue: The Restraint

When evaluating the IKEA Antilop High Chair: Is the Plastic Safe?, it is important not to overlook the chair’s more meaningful safety consideration: the restraint system.

IKEA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a repair recall for certain Antilop chairs from supplier number 17389 with production dates 0607–0911—June 2007 through September 2011. The buckle could open unexpectedly, creating a fall hazard. IKEA reported eight buckle-related incidents worldwide, including three minor injuries.3

This recall concerns the belt, not the polypropylene seat or tray. If you have a secondhand Antilop, inspect the underside of the seat for the supplier and production information before use. Contact IKEA if the chair matches the recalled details.

The chair is intended for children who can sit upright without assistance and up to 3 years old or 33 pounds in the United States. IKEA says the product has been tested to applicable high-chair safety requirements, including ASTM F404 in the United States.1

Tips for Parents

• Wash the tray before first use. Warm water and mild dish soap are usually sufficient.
• Avoid harsh abrasives. Aggressive scrubbing can create scratches that make cleaning more difficult.
• Do not microwave the tray. Transfer food to a microwave-safe dish first.
• Inspect regularly. Check the tray, seat, legs, feet, and belt for cracks, looseness, or damage.
• Check secondhand chairs. Look underneath the seat for the supplier and production date before using an older model.
• Use the restraint every time. A high chair is not a place for a baby to sit unattended, even for a moment.
• Keep the chair on the floor. Do not place it on a table, counter, or elevated surface.
• Clean promptly after meals. Food residue can collect around the tray attachment points and belt.
• Replace damaged parts. Avoid improvised repairs with tape, zip ties, or non-approved hardware.
• Scan other products with Duckie. Materials and ingredient concerns vary between brands and product categories.

If your baby develops a rash around the mouth or neck after meals, the tray may not be the only possible explanation. Food irritation, saliva, friction, and cleansers can all contribute. Our guide to Contact Dermatitis In Babies Common Triggers At Home explains how to think through common triggers without assuming that plastic is automatically responsible.

Duckie’s Verdict: Is it safe?

Yes—with routine care. The Antilop’s polypropylene seat and tray are generally a reasonable choice for everyday feeding, and IKEA identifies the product as tested to relevant safety standards.1 The key cautions are to avoid heating food on the tray, replace damaged plastic, use the restraint correctly, and check older secondhand chairs against the buckle recall.

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FAQ

Is the IKEA Antilop tray BPA-free?

The Antilop tray is made from polypropylene, not BPA-based polycarbonate. IKEA identifies the seat and tray material as polypropylene.1

Can I put hot food on the IKEA Antilop tray?

Allow food to cool before serving it on the tray. Never microwave the tray or use it as a cooking surface.

Is the IKEA Antilop safe to buy secondhand?

It can be, but inspect it carefully and check the underside for recalled supplier number 17389 and production dates 0607–0911. Replace missing or damaged restraints.

Does the IKEA Antilop contain phthalates?

The seat and tray are made from polypropylene, which does not require phthalate plasticizers. Avoid using any chair with damaged, sticky, or deteriorating plastic.

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