Cybex Lemo vs IKEA Antilop: Is the Price Difference Justified?
The Cybex Lemo costs approximately €300. The IKEA Antilop costs approximately €25. That's a 12x price difference for a product that does the same fundamental job: safely seat your baby for meals. We used both for 8 weeks to give you an honest answer on whether the premium is justified, and for whom.
Side by Side
Score Breakdown
| Criterion | Cybex Lemo 2 | IKEA Antilop | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ergonomics | 4.8, best in category | 3.2. no footrest, basic posture support | Cybex Lemo by far |
| Ease of cleaning | 4.3, good, minimal crevices | 4.9, best we've ever tested | IKEA Antilop |
| Age range | 4.7, 0 to 10 years with accessories | 3.5, 6 months to ~3 years | Cybex Lemo |
| Ease of use | 4.6, one-hand height adjust | 4.7, nothing to adjust | Tie |
| Safety | 4.7 | 4.7 | Tie |
| Value for money | 3.8, high price, justified over 10 years | 5.0, unbeatable at €25 | IKEA Antilop |
| Overall score | 4.5 | 4.1 | Cybex Lemo |
Ergonomics: The Main Difference
This is where the gap between the two chairs is largest, and where the price difference is most defensible. The Cybex Lemo 2 is designed around the 90-90-90 position, 90 degrees at the hips, knees and ankles, which occupational therapists recommend for healthy posture and better focus during meals.
The Antilop has no footrest. Baby's feet dangle for the entire time they're in the chair. This sounds minor but over hundreds of mealtimes, dangling feet affect posture, core engagement, and how settled babies feel during eating. It's a real functional limitation. not marketing.
If you use the Antilop as your primary long-term chair, an aftermarket footrest attachment is worth buying. Several options exist on Amazon for €10–15 and clip directly to the Antilop legs. Not elegant, but effective.
True Cost Comparison
Here's the honest maths:
- Antilop scenario: €25 for the chair. If you want a footrest add-on: €12. Total: €37. If you buy a second for a second child: €74. Chair is typically replaced at 3 years old with a booster seat.
- Cybex Lemo scenario: €300 for the chair. €80 for the baby set if starting from newborn. Total: €380. The chair transitions through school age and theoretically to adulthood. A second child uses the same chair.
Over a 10-year use horizon with 2 children, the Cybex Lemo's per-year cost approaches parity with buying two Antilops and replacing them. But this assumes you'll actually use it for 10 years, which many families don't. The honest answer is: the budget math only works in the Lemo's favour if you genuinely commit to using it long-term.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Cybex Lemo if:
You want the best ergonomic seating position for your baby. You're planning a second child. You want a chair you'll still be using when baby is 5. You'll do BLW and want baby sitting at the table without a tray. You have the budget.
Buy the IKEA Antilop if:
Budget is tight and you need a safe, functional solution. You value the easiest possible cleaning above all else. You want a spare chair for grandparents' house or travel. You're uncertain how long you'll use a high chair. You just need it to work. without overthinking it.
Our honest take: Many families own both. The Antilop at grandparents' house (or as the travel chair), and the Lemo at home. That's not a bad strategy at all, the total cost is still less than some competing premium chairs.