The Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair is still one of the most stylish highchairs on the market, with a great lifespan taking your child supposedly from baby up to teenage, but it comes with a hefty price tag.
The Tripp Trapp was brought to market in 1972, making it the oldest highchair still in production today. Recently bright new colours have been introduced for the Trend Collection (which at £146.81 is £15.66 more than the classic colours which are priced £131.15) It was created by Peter Opsvig in Norway because his 2 year old son could not sit comfortably on an adult chair as his legs were left dangling.
Stokke believe that children should interact with the family at meal times hence the lack of tray on the seat. The original design has been adapted to include a ‘baby set’ which allows the chair to be used from six months old.
What we love
You can’t help but love the look of the Tripp Trapp, the bright colours and straight lines make a statement in any kitchen. The baby set is cute, the cushions beautiful and it’s clear to see why there have been over 8 million sales worldwide.
Pulling a high chair up to the table might be a bit messier than containing your baby’s weaning mess to a tray (and we frequently lost items from our plates when Finn was at the experimental grabby stage!) but it’s great to get your kids used to sitting at the table for family meals and children love it.
And it’s a nice idea that the chair will grow with your child. A Scandinavian friend of mine still has her Tripp Trapp at home when she goes back to Norway.
What to watch out for
If you’ve decided to splash out nearly £100 because it will last your child for years to come, beware that many toddlers like my son Finn refused to sit on a high chair much past 2, demanding a ‘grown up’ chair.
Our chair is coming up for two years old and is looking distinctly rough around the edges – due to my inability to comply with the cleaning instructions. You’re supposed to clean spillages away with a damp cloth, no detergent, and then dry the chair to prevent the stain from cracking. But in reality, when you get back from the nursery run to discover dried-on weetabix all over the seat there’s no avoiding a squirt of detergent and I struggle to find the time in the day for a cuppa, let alone to dry the high chair.
On a security point, this chair can tip. I’m sure this applies to most high chairs, but if your table has something (a leg, a ledge underneath the rim etc) for a little foot to push against it can knock backwards. We caught Finn before he hit the floor, and learned to pull him away from the table when things got heated. There are quite a few tales online of similar experiences so it’s worth being aware: don’t ever leave your child unattended next to the table.
Who is the Tripp Trapp best for?
Style conscious mums who can’t stand the thought of another piece of baby plastic.
Made For Mums verdict
This is a beautiful highchair and the eye catching colours make it a design classic. The cleaning instructions are quite labour intensive and the chair might not keep your child’s interest for years to come but the style brings a touch of glamour to your kitchen.
