Stokke Tripp Trapp review

Stokke is renowned for its cool, functional, ergonomic Scandinavian designs, and pride themselves on their human centric focus approach to designing their products.

The best interest of children is at the heart of the company’s philosophy, focusing on the importance that they need to have a sense of connection with their loved ones to feel safe and secure.

This is why a parent facing approach is taken toward many of their products, including the Tripp Trapp.

Founded in 1932 on the west coast of Norway and specialising in seating solutions, it wasn’t until 1972 with the unveiling of the Tripp Trapp designed by Peter Opsvik, that Stokke began its foray into the world of children’s furniture.

This expanded in the 90’s and led to the launch of their first stroller, the Xplory in 2003.

Since 2006 they have focused solely on creating premium children’s furniture & equipment and are now a market leader across several categories in many countries.

I have always been a little envious of those friends of mine who have had Tripp Trapps and have got a little more excited than I should have been on several occasions when visiting any eateries that provided them!

They scream Scandi-chic. Practical, stylish, clean lines and functionality, always found gracing the pages of baby/child magazine shoots looking effortlessly cool. (sigh!)

I could not wait to try it out with my three children aged 5 months, 2 years and 4 years old, and see if it lived up to my glossy expectations.

What’s in the Box?

Just the parts needed to make the basic Tripp Trapp chair (and not forgetting an Allen key!)

Any extra accessories?

• Newborn Set £101.00 (Extra Textile Set/Cover £23.00)
• Baby Set £47.00
• Cushion £33.00
• Harness £29.00
• Table Top £45.00

How is assembling the Tripp Trapp?

It took no time at all to put the Tripp Trapp together, the eight pieces that come in the compact box all slot and screw together with ease, I was actually quite surprised that I did it in 10 minutes!

The instructions are useful (easy to follow images), and only have to be glanced at in order to get a feel for what needs to be done.

First impressions?

Once it was up, it looked great, very sturdy and robust. I loved the Storm Grey colour, it fitted in well with the décor of my house (matched the tiled floor and carpets!).

Is it easy to use?

Yes, I began by using the Newborn Set (suitable from birth to six months), the seat unit just clicks on to the chair and can be removed just as easily.

The red/green indicators on the sides of the seat show you when it is mounted correctly. It also has a removable arm that small toys can be attached to, to keep baby entertained as well as a pair of extended gliders.

These help to increase the backward stability of the chair (it is recommended they are used with the Stokke Harness, Newborn & Baby Set).

I then used the Baby Set (suitable for 6 months- 3 years) with my youngest daughter. It is again easy to fit on to the chair, and just clicks into place.

The Stokke Harness can be used with this set for smaller children (there is no way my 2 year old would entertain the idea of it!).

How secure is the Tripp Trapp?

The harness is easy to use and seems very secure. I did however find it fiddly to adjust the length of the straps.

And some comfortable shoulder pads to cover the straps would be ideal (these are only available with the additional textile set) especially for younger babies.

When using it with my youngest daughter, she loved the fact she could sit at the table, and I liked the fact her legs were not dangling (and likely to kick or push against anything) as her feet rested nicely on the foot plate.

There was a moment when she pushed her feet against the table leg (my heart was in my mouth!), but thanks to the gliders she could not push the chair backwards (phew!)

Is it easy to clean?

Yes, which is a good thing because it is very easy to get dirty! I found the fabric of the cover (which is very soft and comfy) was like a magnet for attracting dust, fluff and other bits which was accentuated by its light beige colour, meaning it looked grubby easily (I invested in a lint roller to tackle this issue!).

The covers are removable and washable, which is great although stronger coloured stains may still be visible.

How comfortable is the chair?

My little boy who is five-months-old, looked a little big in the seat although he still seemed very comfortable, and even feel asleep in it several times!

I loved the fact he could sit with me at meal times at eye level so I could interact with him.

Finally I adjusted the Tripp Trapp so my four-year-old daughter could use it. Like her sister, she was really chuffed that she could sit at the table without having to kneel on a chair or use a booster cushion.

She said it was comfy, but after drawing at the table for 40mins said her bum hurt a bit (so buying a Stokke Cushion may be a good option). She did however say she felt like a ‘grown up’ sitting in ‘her new chair’.

Is the Tripp Trapp portable?

Not really, as it is a solid piece of furniture, it is not the easiest to move about from room to room (if needed), as it is quite weighty, and if you do, I would recommend removing the gliders first (I clipped the door ways and paint work a few times before I worked this out!).

How does it compare to other chairs you’ve used?

Compared with other highchairs I have used, the Tripp Trapp has been above par and a welcome change.

I have been so used to cheaper highchair styles all legs & tray tables and suitable only for a short period (the Ikea Antilop being my last purchase) that it was nice to have something I classed as an actual piece of furniture.

I really enjoyed the interaction the Tripp Trapp allowed me to have with my children at the table, and it was nice to see how much they enjoyed it too.

Is the chair value for money?

The Tripp Trapp Chair itself costs £159 but the total starts to mount up once you have bought the accessories you need (the Baby Set and harness are pretty much essential), so it will not suit everyone’s budget.

MadeForMums verdict?

It is a premium product with top end prices, but it is also an investment. It is a sleek, smart, adaptable piece of furniture that should stand the test of time and comfortably sit your little one until they are, well, not so little! I would recommend it to any parent looking for a good highchair who is willing to pay for quality and design.