AIBU to buy folding table?

[Nospacedilemma]

We have a 2 and a half year old and have just moved in to a small apartment with no dining room and an open plan kitchen and living room. There is a very small space that could fit a folding table (the image is the one I was thinking of). The table we have is huge and blocks off half the corridor. It also just doesn't look nice, and the whole house is stressing me out as we can't unpack as we need to organise the furniture.

Husband is often anxious and hyper-alert to safety dangers, in my opinion too much so, stifling our child's independence. He doesn't want a folding table as it's too dangerous. I need some perspective. Given the difficulty of fitting a normal table into the small space in the living room/kitchen, AIBU? Also, WWYD?

Why is it dangerous, most people I know had one of those when I lived in London in flats with limited space?

Husband thinks it will fall and crush our toddler. Or that she will climb on it and the table will come down on her.

We have one similar. The kids have never been injured by it, and if anyone in the world was going to be it would be DD1. Most accident prone child ever....

We have that ikea one. It’s surprisingly heavy and wouldn’t fall over easily - definitely never had any problems with it when DS was little.

My parents have got the same one and neither grandchildren have come to any harm. If your husband is that worried you could have one that attaches to the wall and folds down when you’re not using it. A couple of folding chairs could be stored in a cupboard or under the sofa.

You can get ones with chairs that store in it when not in use and folded away.

I've got that one (if it's the IKEA one) and it's really quite heavy. It definitely won't fall over when it's folded down and when it's up, there's little pegs the table part fits into so it clicks in place. A toddle wouldn't be able to lift it high enough. I love the table as we don't have a dining room but love to entertain. It fits 4 adults and lots of food comfortably.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor That’s interesting, thank you. I have a similar lack of space in my flat so was looking at a wall mounted folding table but was always a bit put off by trying to find somewhere for the chairs to go.

So this is a normal thing to have?

Completely!

Of course!

https://www.dunelm.com/product/savoy-4-seater-dining-set-1000243716?defaultSkuId=30914260&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Dining+Room_Dining+Sets-PMax_%5BGOO-PLA-FURNDINE-DININGSETS%5D&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh7K1BhCZARIsAKOrVqFUXx_INyHQsT3KG9UUUB1IMeoQRca69bwcEaXRy42_OJTYZ_qvwZQaAjZDEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Get the child a playpen if the child has to be left unsupervised whilst either of you are doing household chores.

Yes it's good to be aware of dangers in the home but we were taught as children not to climb on furniture and so were my children and my nieces and nephews.

Thanks, everyone!

Folding tables have been around for a very long time. My grandparents had one and they were born over 100 years ago! We had one when our DC were small. They are great. Don't know anyone who came to harm from one.

Climbing the wrong things is part of toddler learning.

We grew up with a similar table to that (all 5 of us) and lived to tell the tale.