What’s in the box?
The Twist armchair covered by a moulded plastic cover which is useful to keep for future storage.
First impressions?
It’s bright! But once my eyes adjusted to the glare of its two-tone (green and yellow-green) upholstery, I was able to appreciate the Twist’s gentle curves and substantial padding. Having never owned any child-sized furniture (other than a cot bed), it looked small but its diminutive proportions (50cm wide, 44cm deep and 38cm high) turned out to be ample to accommodate my averaged-sized two-year-old boy, Tyler. It’s also very light, though feels reassuringly robust when I pick it up. For Tyler, it was love at first sight. Rather than struggling up and onto our adult-sized sofa to find a comfortable seat among the scatter cushions, he was able to sink into a scaled-down version of an adult chair.
What different modes does the chair have?
Three. In its most compact form, it’s an armchair. Flip the out the seat and it becomes a miniature chaise longue (68cm long). Flip the backrest out too and it’s instantly transformed into a gently sloping recliner (88cm long and 30cm high), perfect for lounging and relaxing.
How easy is it to adjust?
Ridiculously. It’s cleverly designed so that although it won’t collapse under your child in any of the three configurations, it’s easily manipulated by even the smallest hands, giving your child total control over how to use it. It’s also light enough for most children to drag or push the chair into position, so they can decide where they use it, too.
How much room does it take up and is it easy to store?
When used as a chair, the measurements are 50cm x 44cm x 38cm, so it covers the same floor space as an average toy box. The Twist doesn’t fold down but it is sturdy enough to have toys piled onto its seat when it isn’t in use and is light enough to be popped on top of a toy box to keep it out of the way. But saying that, the bold colours and eye-catching design of the Twist mean it’s not very easy to hide; it’s more of a ‘statement’ piece of furniture.
Is it easy to clean?
He was so enthusiastic about using the chair that it didn’t take long for Tyler to mark the sides with his handprints and cover the seat with crumbs. Luckily, you can wipe the upholstery down and also remove it for machine washing. In order to take off the cover, you need to attach a paperclip or safety pin to the zip head; this is to prevent children stripping off the cover but it does make doing so a tad fiddly.
Is it comfortable?
Yes, very. The chair is covered in a soft canvas fabric and there are no hard edges. The Twist is roomy enough for younger children to stretch out on and the dense foam filling is easily supportive enough for larger toddlers. Tyler loved sitting up in the armchair to read a book, relaxing with his legs and feet propped on the footrest to watch TV and reclining on the full length of the Twist while I read him a story. Plenty of parents have reported that their little ones enjoy napping on the Twist and, although the chair is not designed for extended periods of sleep, its arms would stop children from rolling off the sides. The only thing that might impair your child’s comfort is the relatively low height of the back of the chair; at 38cm, it won’t support children’s shoulders, neck or head if they are sat up in the Twist when it’s in the ‘chair’ mode.
How do you rate the design?
Despite the garish colours, I love the distinctive design of the Twist, particularly its soft edges and clever versatility! Family and friends have been equally enthusiastic about the shape and multipurpose use of the Twist, pointing out that the bold colours would look great in a nursery.
You can buy this chair at Paul Stride, Discount Baby Equipment and other retailers
How robust did it seem?
Very. Durability is a key USP of this chair, which has been designed to grow with your child from the moment they can walk to until they reach five years old, providing toddlers and young children with a space of their own in which to play, relax or cuddle up to you. Tyler has also used it as an impromptu step, to reach the light switches, yet the foam padding has remained undented, leaving it the Twist looking as good as new.
The Twist is a multifunctional gem; a distinctive piece of furniture that will give your child some personal space in which to enjoy some chill-out time in comfort.
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