Not convinced with Tripp Trapp

[Jasmum]

Has anyone else got the Tripp Trapp highchair? I brought one for my 7 month & spend most the time chasing her round the chair trying to get food in her mouth (which is another issue altogether).
Also, I'm not convinced about not having a tray as her finger foods go directly on the table & end up on the floor..I know this would happen in a 'normal' chair but it does seem to be harder in the Tripp Trapp.

jasmum, not sure why you are chasing her round the chair? Do you have the baby kit and a harness attached? If you adjust the seat so they don't have too much room to move around, I find this holds them in place fairly well - better than a cheaper "proper" high chair we had on holiday, where poor DS slumped and couldn't sit up properly, but not necessarily any better than the Ikea cheap plastic bucket seat with reins attached. Re tray, my DS (16mths) still loves throwing stuff on the floor and I'm not sure a tray would have made much difference. But a tray would have been easier to clean up/less damage to my table! In retrospect I'd have liked a tray, but DH would only consider a Tripp Trapp.

Glad I read this thread because all of the product reviews lead you to believe that the Tripp Trapp is THE highchair to get. I have a lovely bebeconfort chair that isn't nice to look at but is really comfy for ds and has a large tray. However, it isn't easily collapsed and takes up a lot of room so was considering getting a Tripp Trapp. Rather like the Stokke beds, they are expensive and you end up paying more for extras that you find you need....any advice?

Glad I read this thread because all of the product reviews lead you to believe that the Tripp Trapp is THE highchair to get. I have a lovely bebeconfort chair that isn't nice to look at but is really comfy for ds and has a large tray. However, it isn't easily collapsed and takes up a lot of room so was considering getting a Tripp Trapp. Rather like the Stokke beds, they are expensive and you end up paying more for extras that you find you need....any advice?

I do have the baby kit but not the harness, maybe I should get one.
When I say chasing I mean she turns around looking over her shoulder, head down, leans forward, leans back etc. I guess she'd do that in any chair though. I'm a first time Mum & I guess I'm not used to me & her wearing most of it!
I was just interested to hear of other peoples opinions/problems with it.

I also am confused as to why you are chasing around the chair. My DD is a bit of a tubs but the baby restraint holds her in very snugly. I do think a tray is probably preferable when your baby is younger but as they get older I love the fact that they do sit properly at the table with you during mealtimes.

FlorenceUK, we have a permanent thick cover on our table and always use a tablecloth because the damage was getting out of control.

I love my tripp trapps. DS1 still uses his (as a chair- he's 3) and ds2 has one as well. I think there are probably chairs that suit younger babies more- but 10- 12 months and above Tripp Trapps win every time.

I think you'd probably be chasing your baby round in any chair.

My ds2 (14 months) throws everything off any table/whatever- don't think a tray would make much difference

By the way, you can also get a removable tray for Tripp Trapp chairs, that sort of slots over the backrest. We didn't bother, though, as dd has always sat pulled up to the table - and cleaning a wooden table is much the same as cleaning a wooden tray.

No chasing around with the bebe confort chair we have - it has a booster cushion which hems ds in!! But interested to hear that the Tripp Trapps are good for the older ones. Will probably invest once ds is 12months. Any thoughts on the Stokke cotbed?

Jasmum, I think this is just a thing with your child. no matter how well strapped in they are if they turn thei head, look over the shoulder etc you are on a losing battle.

I also have a trip trapp. DD has a tendancy to lean on anything she touches, and so it alway slouching, but does the same in any number of other highchairs I have used. I used to stuff the sides with towels, which helped keep her in the same position.

The thing that REALLY annoys me is the cushions. Talk about style over substance! Have to take the darn thing apart if you want to wash the bottom one. The top one comes off easily enough - but surprise surprise - this isn't the one that needs washing all the time, and as a result I don't, so it's really disgusting (bad mother's club here I come).

I like the idea of the tray. I pull her up to the table, but there's a lip under the table top, and she won't ever stay pushed up to the table, because she just pushes herself backwards and then can't reach anything I put there. sigh

We've had to screw a metal eye into the table and tie my dd's Tripp Trapp on, so that she doesn't push herself backwards- I was really worried about her tipping herself backwards onto our stone floor. Having said that,I like it, notwithstanding the silly seat cover (got rid of it). We have the same problem with dd giving our kitchen table the distressed look (solution?- rotate the whole table periodically through a few degrees, so the whole table gets equally distressed ), and she stiil turns every which way if she doesn't want to be fed, in spite of the harness!

snickers, agree about the bottom cushion - their pictures actually show it with a join (presumably velcro-ed) at the bottom of the leather bit but I suspect it got taken out as a design cost cut.

The first time I had to take it off to wash I simply cut it at that point and overlocked the edges. It still holds on with no fastening (mind you removed the cushion altogether at about 14months when dd was startingto look a bit squished in).

I love it, BTW!

I've got two, for dd who is 5 and ds who is 2.5 but I must say they were in bog standard ugly highchairs with a tray until they were about 16 months or so. A tray really is much easier and less messy than a table (because of the lip I suppose). I've got number three on the way and will be putting it in a highchair first!

Didn't use it until first dd was 2ish - used high chair before then. Didn't even know they had cushions/covers?? Would use again for second dd but not sure why - I realise they're supposed to be good for posture etc and look rather nice but apart from that can't really see the point.

I adore the Tripp Trapp highchair. I have used it with Dd since she was 5 months old and she is a year this weekend. It looks great, it is easy to keep clean and I really don't find the cushions that much of a hassle. I love the fact that Dd is sat up at the table eating with the rest of the family to as it makes her part of the family/friend group more so than with a tray. We use the baby kit but have not had to bother with a harness yet as Dd is great at sitting still. It's also won all sorts of safety wawards and is considered to be one of the safest and 'healthy for backs/psoture' around - that's why all the american chains, like TGI Fridays, use it.

I would always use one now as we have been so impressed. Cost was really a big issue at the time we got it but also think that as it lasts so long into childhood (poss. adulthood) it actually seems a good buy overall. Besides, the lovely beech wood, and beige cushions matches my new table and apartment!!!

I know this isn't really a debate about which highchair to buy but I wanted to recommend the one I have in answer to Flippa's request for an alternative.

It's the East Coast folding highchair. It is wooden, in a simple style, with a tray and a harness. I wanted one that I could have up in the kitchen (so that I could feed DS or he could eat finger food while I was cooking, loading dishwasher, etc.) and also be able to move it to the dining room when we're eating as a family or put it away when we need the room.

I'm really pleased with it, at £60 it was a lot cheaper than the Tripp Trapp and you can get a booster cushion to make it more comfortable for the younger, smaller babies for around £10 from Mothercare.

I'm just realising how very well made the tripp trapp is, as dd (17m)has started using it as a climbing frame, and can climb up into the seat with a little leverage from the adjacent table ! The chair doesn't even wobble, so there's no worries about it toppling over. So I only need to worry about dd falling head first over the top ...

Agree about the cushions. I don't use the bottom one- too much faffing- but do use the back one sometimes. HAving said that didn't buy the cushion set until ds1 was about 18 months and started whacking his head on the back rest, so it'a mainly ds2 that's used them.

It's great for ds1 (3)- has has to do quite a lot of "work" at the table for portage and tbh it would be quite hard if he couldn't reach the table properly.

I loved my tripp trapp so much with dd1 I went straight out & bought another for dd2 when she could sit up, but ended up using a 'normal' tray one until she was about 1. They're brilliant for posture (if you remember to keep adjusting when they grow) as you can have the seat just far enough out so they don't slouch and it keeps their elbows & knees at the right height. I also love the way they can sit at the table and be part of the family, even though initially this meant dh, dd1 & I all sitting at the opposite end of the table so dd2 couldn't reach anything!! Plus you can use it till they're adults AND they're strong enough to make great steps for that stuff on top of the cupboards!

jasmum, fwiw, i'm not convinced either. we had the same problem as you, and ours is now sitting in the corner collecting dust. i've found standard high chairs much easier to deal with when we've used them, e.g. on holiday. if you search the boards you'll find further discussions on this subject.

Both of my children (aged 3 and 1)have Tripp Trapp and I think that they are excellent. They are easy to clean, did not use the cushion for long, too grubby, the children sit up at the table, and my eldest actually sits still for dinner, bonus with a boy aged 3. If he is on a big boys chair (his words not mine) then he is just up and down and I don't think that he would still be sitting in a conventional highchair. I highly recommend them to everyone I see.

My favourite "highchairs" are not actually that at all, but the Baby Diner seats that hook onto the table in a cantilever manner. I have two (I am a childminder), the first one has been in daily use for 16 years (and I bought it second-hand then!). They fold flat into a carrier bag, take up no floor space, include the child in family meatimes and take to pieces in seconds for washing. They can be used from when the baby is sitting up and are tested up to about 90lbs in weight! They are great for taking out and fit on picnic bench tables a treat!

I have just purchased a Tripp Trapp chair and would really like the option of a tray. Some of you have mentioned that a tray is available. Do you know where this is available from?

I have never seen them in the UK - but a friend bought hers in Germany.

jasmum, hope you got your problems sorted out!
I adore my tripptrapp and will get another for nubmer 2 as dd (3) wouldn't be impressed if she had to pass that along too. I never bought the cushions - well did but promptly returned them once I realized how difficult they would be to clean. I made my own and also used towels folded up