The chair that grows with the child.®
I am not what you would call a skilled self-assembler. In fact, there were many, many, embarrassing moments dedicated to my husband and my lack of assembly skills on a fairly popular reality TV show a few years back. And, suffice to say, neither of us have improved much over time. Which is why we have made the decision not to assemble furniture together, for the preservation of our marriage. This has worked well up until now and the furniture we bought for our daughter’s nursery has somehow managed to stay intact upon completion, along with our relationship.
So, with this in mind, when our new Tripp Trapp high chair arrived I made the decision, knowing that Phil was very busy and would take a while to get around to it, to put it together myself. I mean, how hard could it be?
I had already asked two girlfriends to come around and help me test out the high chair, figuring if it could withstand their rambunctious toddlers it was a winner. So it made sense to put it together while they were here, to offer me a little moral support and guidance if needed. So, with two noisy four year olds, two inquisitive toddlers and two newborn babies in our arms and under our feet we put the kettle on and set about the assembly process.
In hindsight it probably would have been advantageous to read through the instructions from start to finish before embarking on said process, just as you’re supposed to do with a recipe. But then I’m the person who realises I only have two eggs left half way through making a cake that needs 3, so I’m not really known for reading ahead.
Come to think of it, even if I’d just looked at the picture on the box rather than putting things where I thought they went it would have been a good start. Lesson one, look at the instructions properly before commencing assembly. Lesson 2, best not to assemble when you have a house full of preschoolers, toddlers and babies, who all decide they’re hungry and vocally express their needs at the same time. It tends to impact on your concentration slightly.
But eventually, we got both ourselves and the high chair together and took a moment to look at the end result. There is no doubt about it, the Tripp Trapp is one fine looking piece of furniture. And that’s exactly what it is, a stylish piece of furniture, rather than another practical but ugly kids item that makes your home feel more like a childcare centre. The choice of designs and colours are funky and modern, with nary a yellow duck or pastel rabbit to be found.
And it’s sturdy. Not only could it withstand me putting it together it also took a beating from two stocky toddlers, one who’s nickname is 'Bam bam' for obvious reasons. The beech wood is easy to wipe down and the baby pillow can be removed and washed. Finally, the advantage of having your child sit up at the table with the rest of you is a great thing for family meals and, unlike a traditional high chair, the seat grows with your child. This is something I had not realised before, that it could be used as a chair for older children, and it is definitely a huge selling point for the Tripp Trapp. We spend so much money on baby products that can only be used for a few months, so it’s nice to actually get some longevity out of something.
So, my final verdict on the Tripp Trapp? It was slightly challenging to put together, but the end result was more than worth it. It is a stylish and practical product that we will be using for years to come.
