How to Adjust Your IKEA Antilop Cushion as Your Baby Grows

If your baby's cushion feels a little snug lately, don’t panic. It happens to every family, usually just as you've got mealtimes feeling settled. The good news is your IKEA Antilop cushion is designed to grow with your baby, so there's no need to replace it. Just a few minutes and a little less air. Here's exactly how it's built, and how to adjust it beautifully as your little one moves from their very first taste of solids to a confident, independent toddler.

Why full support matters from day one

When weaning begins, usually around six months, your baby is often still finding their balance sitting upright. Fully inflated, the cushion offers gentle support on both sides and behind the back, helping them settle comfortably into mealtimes rather than sliding or leaning. It's a small detail that makes a genuine difference to how relaxed those early weeks of solids feel, for both of you.

How your cushion is designed

Your cushion comes in two parts: a soft, wipeable cushion cover, paired with an inflatable insert underneath for support. The insert is thoughtfully designed with three separate sections you can adjust independently, one on each side and one across the back. It's this quiet bit of clever design that means one cushion can genuinely see your baby through their entire weaning journey, from their very first meal to the day they no longer need any support at all.

A quick safety note: the cushion is designed for comfort and gentle support only. It is not a safety restraint, so please always use your highchair's own straps every time your baby is seated, whatever stage of adjustment the cushion is at.

IKEA Antilop cushion cover with inflatable cushion insert AZEbabydream

Signs it's time to adjust

There's no set age for this, since every baby grows differently, but a few signs to watch for:

Mealtimes feel a little more wriggly than usual
Your baby seems snug rather than settled
They're pressing against the sides more than before

For most families, this first happens somewhere between eight and ten months. Let your baby be your guide, not the calendar.

Adjusting it, step by step

Take your baby out of the highchair first.
Unzip the cushion cover to find the valve for each section: two on the sides, one across the back.
Start with the sides. Open one valve and gently press to release a little air, just enough to ease the fit. Repeat on the other side.
Check the back section too, releasing a little air if it feels tight.
Zip the cover back on and try your baby in the seat. Too loose is an easy fix, simply add a little air back in.
Revisit this every month or so as your baby continues to grow.

If your cushion's valve layout looks slightly different to this, the principle stays the same: a gentle press releases air, section by section.

How to adjust the IKEA Antilop inflatable cushion inside the cushion cover

The next stage

As your baby grows into toddlerhood, even a fully deflated side section may be more than they need. At this point, most parents fully deflate both sides and fold them neatly behind their toddler, keeping just the back section lightly inflated for a little ongoing comfort. This stage often lasts for months, long after the full cushion's been outgrown.

When you no longer need it

Eventually, your toddler will sit confidently without any support at all. When that happens, simply leave the cushion out rather than fitting it back in. It's worth keeping hold of it, though. It's just as handy for a smaller sibling down the line.

Setting up your highchair for the first time? Our IKEA highchair bundle brings the cushion cover together with a footrest, placemat and leg wraps, thoughtfully matched as one complete, beautifully coordinated set, at a saving compared to buying each piece separately.

IKEA Accessories Bundles

Quick answers

How do I know when to adjust it?

If mealtimes feel wriggly or your baby seems snug rather than settled, that's your cue. Check every month or so once they're past seven months. There's no need to follow a strict schedule.