What is the 90-90-90 position?

The 90-90-90 position means sitting with the hips, knees and ankles each bent at approximately 90 degrees. NHS occupational therapy guidance recommends firm back and foot support to help children maintain a stable and comfortable position during mealtimes.

My highchair doesn't have a footrest — does that matter?

If your baby’s feet are left dangling, it may be more difficult for them to maintain a stable sitting position. A correctly fitted footrest gives their feet a firm surface and can help support the recommended 90-90-90 position.

How do I know if the footrest is at the right height?

Both feet should rest firmly and comfortably on the footrest, with the knees and ankles at approximately 90-degree angles. The position should look natural rather than forced. Check the height regularly and adjust it as your baby grows.

The Importance of Foot Support in Highchairs

A baby’s position in their highchair creates the foundation for a comfortable and supported mealtime. When their feet are left dangling, it can be more difficult for them to maintain a stable, upright position while eating.

Firm foot support helps create the 90-90-90 sitting position recommended in NHS children’s occupational therapy guidance, with the hips, knees and ankles each positioned at roughly 90 degrees.

How to fit IKEA Antilop footrest onto the front legs of the highchair

Why does foot support matter in a highchair?

Many highchairs do not include a footrest, so it is easy to assume that one is not important. However, NHS occupational therapy guidance recommends that children’s feet are firmly supported during mealtimes.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children’s Occupational Therapy Service advises that children should sit with their hips, knees and ankles bent at approximately 90 degrees. This is known as the 90-90-90 position.

Its guidance also recommends choosing a highchair with “a foot plate, to prevent their feet from dangling”. When a child’s feet cannot reach a firm surface, suitable support should be placed underneath them.

Appropriate positioning can help children maintain a more stable posture and may make eating and swallowing feel less tiring.

Adjustable IKEA Antilop footrest supporting a baby’s feet during mealtimes

How unsupported feet actually affect feeding

Foot support is about more than comfort. When a baby’s back, thighs and feet are properly supported, they do not have to work as hard simply to maintain their position in the highchair.

NHS occupational therapy guidance from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust explains that good support for the larger muscles around the body and core allows freer movement of the smaller muscles in the hands, face and mouth. These are the muscles children use when reaching for food, bringing it to their mouth, chewing and swallowing.

A correctly positioned footrest can also help maintain the position of the hips and pelvis, giving your baby a more stable base during mealtimes.

Without firm foot support, some children may lean backwards, slide down or move their legs as they search for stability. This does not mean that every wriggle is caused by dangling feet, but it is a useful part of their highchair setup to check.

Signs your child's highchair may be missing adequate foot support

Every baby wriggles, crosses their legs or throws food sometimes. These behaviours do not necessarily mean there is a problem with their highchair.

However, it may be worth checking your child’s seating position if:

Their feet are dangling without a firm surface underneath
Their knees and ankles cannot bend comfortably
They regularly lean backwards or slide down in the seat
They cross or hook their legs as if searching for stability
They appear uncomfortable or become tired while sitting
Their feet cannot reach the existing footrest

If you are concerned about your child’s feeding, swallowing or posture, speak to your health visitor, GP or an appropriate healthcare professional.

IKEA Antilop Highchair Tray Silicone Placemat - Sage Green

Getting the position right

Upright positioning needs to be addressed first (see our previous post on core support). Once your baby is sitting upright, check that they're seated far enough forward for their legs to bend naturally at the knee, then make sure their foot support is positioned so their feet press firmly against it. Not too low to reach, not too high to bear real weight.

Because babies grow quickly, a footrest that adjusts in height matters: what's correctly positioned this month may need lowering or raising within a few months as your child grows.

The gap in the standard setup

The best-selling £15 IKEA Antilop highchair doesn't come with a footrest at all. Which is exactly the gap our adjustable solid wood footrests are designed to fill. Built specifically for the IKEA Antilop and adjustable as your baby grows. If your baby is leaning, sliding or appears to need a closer fit around their body, an adjustable inflatable cushion may help fill some of the extra space in the seat. The cushion and footrest can be used together to create a more comfortable and supported setup.

Last updated: 03.08.2026

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