I have 2 children who are 2 years apart in age. I bought one chair when my oldest was 2 1/2-ish and I needed the highchair he was still using for my then nine month old daughter. I have a small home and only enough space for a breakfast table. I needed the extra chairs for guests. So it was worth it to me to buy an additional chair for my child. Also, I read one reviewer who said that kids will squirm less and be interested in their food if the chair they sit it fits them well. I found that to be true. My kids are now 6 and 4. Each of them has a Stokke chair that fits them well AND that they have always been able to climb into and out of themselves. I think this is important for their sense of self reliance.
I have two complaints and they are small (and this is why fours stars instead of five): 1) the sticker on the back with the warnings is ugly and has to be removed with goo gone takes a good half hour. 2) the straps never worked right, I never used them and eventually took them off. I could not adjust them properly and the kids would struggle to get out for only the reason that they felt confined. Both of my kids have fallen out of their seats without injuryI believe this is part of childhood and they learn very quickly to sit properly. The seat itself has never toppledEVER.
Because I found the straps useless I recommend that you not use this seat until the child is able to climb up on his or her ownlike at age 2 or more. These chairs are pricey but the cost of replacing or repairing our nice dining chair (which is part of a matched set) after it is scratched/stained from having a booster seat attached to it is probably comparable.
My advice is this: spend your money on the items that you use everydayseats like these, rockingchairs/furnishings, quality cribs and sheets, quality adaptive equipment like stools and toilet inserts. Get things that will hold up and feel secure for children to use. The added benefit is that when you are done with them and have enjoyed using them they have life left in them and you can sell them for a fair price at your next garage sale, or on craigslist, or hand them off with pride to someone else etc. The chairs are durable and look brand new still.
ps. I don't have the cushions. Just one more thing to wash. I don't feel they are necessary for comfort or anything.
8/29/12 update:
Still in the same tiny house and still using the Stokkes chairs. Kids are now 7 and 9. I've offered to have them sit in the regular dining chair but they refuse! We just keep adjusting the foot rests for their growth. The chairs have held up beautifully. My daughter pushes her Stokke chair over to her electric piano for her lessons she likes it better than the piano bench because she sits higher and her feet don't dangle. An unexpected benefit! I upgraded to five stars.
We received a Tripp Trapp chair 25 years ago when my daughter was a toddler struggling to reach the table, sink, and anything else high up. Over the course of the years we bought another one for a subsequent child, used them at the dining table, let the kids work at the sink, adjusted them to adult seating as they grew, etc.
Now my grandchildren are arriving, and they sit in their parents' old chairs (which still look beautiful) when they visit, and use new ones in their own home. The chairs are sturdy, comfortable, adjustable, and long-lived. Yes, they cost money, but this is a case of investing in something of high quality which will last for many years. Buying one of these early on will avoid the need to invest in other seating devices which don't last nearly as well, thus needing replacement.
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My Stokke baby rail broke. Please be aware before purchasing this high chair, that there are safer (and less-expensive) options out there. I thought I was giving my daughter the best by purchasing a "top-of-the-line" high chair, but I was really putting her in danger.
The flimsy, plastic baby rail which attaches to the seat of the chair via a think clip broke in half when my infant daughter leaned forward in the chair. My daughter then tumbled forward, hitting her head on the table in front of her and getting caught up in the harness. I do not think the baby rail was manufactured with the safety of children in mind, and I want to warn other parents before they make the same mistake.
Despite repeatedly calling and even sending pictures of the defective product, the company has refused to refund my purchase. When I called, the customer service representative mentioned that they have seen this happen on numerous occasions. So, why is this product still on the market?!
My anger regarding my child's fall as a result of this poorly-designed product and Stokke's complete disregard for the safety of the children it sells to has prompted me to write this review and warn others of the danger of the plastic baby rail that accompanies the Stokke high chair.
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We bought this chair a little under a year ago. Our 22mo daughter tipped over backwards in it and her head went slamming to the hard tile floor which landed us in the ER. I'm at a loss as to a better option since this chair came so highly rated, but we will not be using it anymore. My daughter is very petite, only 20lbs and still managed to do it. We were both seated at the table with her and couldn't grab her in time because it happened so fast. I'm horrified to think what could have happened to her fragile little skull and brain. Just Google "tripp trapp tipping" and see the YouTube video of the infant tipping. The same thing could happen in any of the belt-on toddler boosters that strap to a regular dining chair. Hoping this review will prevent at least a few more tippings. It was very scary.
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I don't know how this chair has passed so many safety standards. They must not test it on carpet and with all table types because our son pushed himself back from the table today and the chair flipped backwards. He hit his head on a console table that was behind him, which was actually probably a good thing because it helped slow the momentum, but then he did hit the floor. It was the most horrifying thing for us so far. He is 11 1/2 months old. Please be warned that if it even seems like your child can push off the table with this chair do not use it.
This thing is going to be torn apart and put out with the trash.
In all fairness I must update this review...I am a huge proponent of parents taking responsibility for their children and after further review we saw in the downloadable safety information on this chair that there is indeed a tipping possibility if the chair is on certain surfaces and if they can reach a certain part of the table. So please, please make sure you do not fall into this category before buying this chair.
If you are in the safe zone then I will have to say you may just love the chair as we did before the fall.
I tried this for my 6 month old, who had a bad reaction apparently to the raspberries, as he had been introduced to pears prior to that. My pediatrician chastised me and said that berries of any kind shouldn't be introducted to infants until they are at least a year old. We love Earth's Best baby foods, but now I know to do extra research and not assume that just because the label says "6 months and up" doesn't make it okay!
