I’ve decided that this is the high chair I want. The Stokke Tripp Trapp chair (*oooh, aahh*). The Swiss kids I nannied in my younger days had them and I thought they were brilliant (the chairs, I mean, although the kids were pretty smart too). This chair allows kids to sit up to the dinner table with the family rather than be separated with a big tray pushed away from everyone else. It’s adjustable, ergonomic, high-quality, wooden, European, basically everything a green yuppie could ever want…and with the yuppie price tag to match at $250.
My husband is convinced that he can build one. I love him, and I don’t doubt his carpentry skills, but visions of my child toppling to the floor in a shower of spaghetti noodles make me lean towards…no.
Part of me feels like a sucker to fork over that much for a chair, since my baby will probably be well-fed and content whether he sits on a physiologically correct high chair or a tree stump. Am I buying into the baby marketing hype too much? Or can I rationalize this one? I think every mom has had their own version of this dilemma, whether it was a fancy stroller or adorable Swedish baby pajamas – what did you do?
This is my 2 cents. You are right, we each have the item that we really wanted for our baby. If this is yours, maybe the splurge is worth it.
ReplyDelete-Or- maybe a good work around is buying a standard high chair. You can get very reasonably priced chairs from "Once Upon a Child" or even buy a brand new one for a fraction of the price of the one you mentioned.
By buying your own chair and settling for one with a tray, you avoid the high price tag, and your hubby trying to build you a high chair.
I know that I spent a little more for my crib because it converts through my babies life. It changes to a daybed and then a twin bed. I think it was around $300-400, but it seems like it was worth it in my mind.
It's all in the mind of the beholder. I can't believe that he's 4 months! Little bennie's getting big.
Ditto to what Tanya said.
ReplyDeleteEmma loves her highchair ($100 gift from grandparents, though you could easily find a used one for a lot less). I love that it has a tray because she often isn't eating at the table; I'll wheel her into the kitchen to snack while I cook. She started hanging out in her chair at three months old.
But if this is your splurge item have at it. Lord knows there were plenty of things I did that didn't cut cost while we were getting ready for our baby's arrival.
That has come now; I haven't brought Emma anything but hand-me-downs for the last six months. How sad ... and yet thrift of me.
Let him build it!
ReplyDeleteI say splurge! But this is coming from the mom who just dropped a pretty penny on this http://www.chariotcarriers.com/
ReplyDeletewhen i could have gotten a "sufficient" and cheaper stroller brand from amazon....but what's the fun in that? I think there are some things that you need to invest in for the long haul...you just have to pick your poison. I invest in those things that allow us to be active outside...you might invest in something that allows you to have family dinners together each night. Tell dad to build a rocking horse for Ben instead!
I like the looks of that chair. We alwyas had baby up to the table with us. We bought a used, old school wooden high chair, removed the tray and push baby up the the table. Ethan still sits in it at five, and the chair has seen better days. I am considering buying this: http://www.albeebaby.com/eddie-bauer-newport-collection-wood-high-chair.html. We would ditch the tray, but the chair is still pretty. Since we don't go for many baby gadgets...this may be a worthwhile expense. I think it is a fabulous experience for baby to eat WITH the family, we always did and my kids are great eaters, and have naturally good table manners to boot.
ReplyDeleteLots of opinions! I have always coveted this chair but didn't buy it for the same reasons that you're deliberating. If I had to do it over again, I think I would buy it. Six and a half years and two kids later, we certainly would have gotten our use out of it. We ended up with a very simple Ikea highchair...around $75, I think. No parts that can break, no giant footprint. Small and simple. It's served us well, but I still love the Swedish one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great advice! I'll keep you updated on what we decided to do with this one...
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