I thought it was likely time to deep-dive into a true Tripp Trapp review now that we are a few months into using it. As I posted before in our "Starting Solids/What You Need" blog post, the Tripp Trapp highchair is a bit of a splurge but overall, one we are glad we made.
WHY WE CHOSE THE TRIPP TRAPP:
- 90/90/90 RULE:
The 90-90-90 rule for eating refers to the ideal posture for a child sitting at a table. This means their hips are flexed at a 90-degree angle, knees bent at a 90-degree angle, and feet flat on a surface with the spine upright. When I started researching which highchairs followed this "rule", I noticed there wasn't many. And the ones that did, were all more on the expensive side. I do believe there's ways to adapt some inexpensive option by adding a foot-rest [IKEA], but that wasn't really something I wanted to rig together. Amongst the Tripp Trapp were the Mockingbird, a newer brand called Abiie, and again, a few that could be adapted.
The 90-90-90 rule for eating refers to the ideal posture for a child sitting at a table. This means their hips are flexed at a 90-degree angle, knees bent at a 90-degree angle, and feet flat on a surface with the spine upright. When I started researching which highchairs followed this "rule", I noticed there wasn't many. And the ones that did, were all more on the expensive side. I do believe there's ways to adapt some inexpensive option by adding a foot-rest [IKEA], but that wasn't really something I wanted to rig together. Amongst the Tripp Trapp were the Mockingbird, a newer brand called Abiie, and again, a few that could be adapted.
- THE DESIGN:
Not gonna lie, I did care about the overall look and aesthetic. It's something that sits right in the middle of our open kitchen/living room in our brand new house. Because of that, I did want something neutral and pretty if possible. Obviously this came second to safety and quality but I was vert happy to learn that a hot pink and cartoon covered plastic highchair wasn't in our future. LOL.
- STURDINESS, QUALITY, ASSEMBLY:
When diving deeper into the Tripp Trapp, I saw a lot of reviews saying the quality was a 10/10 and the sturdiness was unmatched. HOWEVER, many people said assembly was a huge pain. My honest opinion, they are wrong. I put it together with a 5 month old sitting on the mat right beside me playing with the pieces. The only piece that took a bit more reading into was the infant cushion, which I don't think you need and will talk more about below, and getting it to fit through the straps. QUALITY + STURDINESS + ASSEMBLY=10/10 FOR ME. I feel confident Jennings is safe in the Tripp Trapp which is my top priority.
- OVERALL SIZE:
Most highchairs have legs that come out at a 45 degree angle which means they take up a ton of room and are a tripping hazard for anyone walking by. The Tripp Trapp has a very small footprint and is easily moveable. This allows us to tuck it up to the wall when not using it and quickly slide it to the table when we are.
- LIFESPAN:
The Tripp Trapp is special because it grows with your baby. The adjustable height and footrest means you can use the highchair for years. Had we had the newborn attachment, she literally could've started using it immediately at birth as a "container/bassinet". The Tripp Trapp will last until your baby is 3 years old, which given the price tag, is good to know.
- EASE OF USE:
We have found the Tripp Trapp very easy to use. The attachments all fit perfectly and having the ability to clip the tray off easily has been a game changer. The straps are a bit confusing at first, but once you figure out how to adjust tightness, there's no issues.
- CLEANING UP AFTER USE:
This was another thing I saw in reviews as a "con". But I'm here to debunk it. The Tripp Trapp has been very easy to clean after use and I couldn't imagine there's anything better our there. The ONLY PLACE I see that would be difficult to clean are the straps. But again, all good highchairs will have straps, right? Grab some stain spray and it's good as new.
A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER:
- PRICE:
I'll start by saying this, I justify the price. I did thing it was a splurge at first, and to some it might still be, but once we got it put together, I immediately felt better about the money we spent on it. Additionally, a few months in, I like the ease of use, the look and feel of the highchair as a whole, and the small footprint.
- ACCESSORIES ALL SOLD SEPARATELY:
This is the ONLY downside in my opinion. Each accessory is sold seperatly. So for the $320 price tag, you only get the highchair base. So for us, we purchased the infant cushion [LINKED HERE BUT: not worth it!], the tray [100% you need, LINKED HERE!], and the wipeable cushion we just got a few weeks back which I RECOMMEND 110% [LINKED HERE].
- IT'S HARD TO FIND BOWLS/PLATES THAT STICK:
After a ton of trial and error, I found a bowl that works! This one actually sticks to the Tripp Trapp tray and has different sections. [Amazon ; $11]
After a ton of trial and error, I found a bowl that works! This one actually sticks to the Tripp Trapp tray and has different sections. [Amazon ; $11]
OVERALL PROS:
- 90/90/90
- DESIGN + AESTHETIC
- ASSEMBLY + STURDINESS
- SIZE + SMALL FOOTPRINT
- LONG LIFESPAN (3 YEARS)
- WARRANTY OF 7 YEARS
OVERALL CONS:
- THE PRICE [although I justify this]
- ACCESSORIES ALL SOLD SEPARATELY [aka $$$]
- NOTHING STICKS TO TRAY
THE TRIPP TRAPP IN ACTION:
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