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If you’re putting together a baby registry, odds are you’re in the market for a high chair. And like most baby items, the option paralysis is real. What’s easiest to keep clean from crusted bits of banana and smudges of oatmeal? What material will withstand a transition to toddlerhood? What will look nice in your kitchen, even if baby-proofing overtakes your aesthetics? Add the endless waves of viral products, like “The Chair”, and it’s hard to decide what will work best for you and your little one.
Despite the steep price tag, I was influenced by my fellow parents to put a Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair on our radar. Thanks to Facebook Marketplace, we lucked out with a unicorn Tripp Trapp: secondhand, half priced, and the same warm brown color as our dining set. Since my baby has started solids, we have put our Stokke Tripp Trapp to the test through many mealtimes. If you’re debating a Stokke Tripp Trapp as a non-toxic high chair, keep reading for a full breakdown on the chair and its accessories.
For more non-toxic high chair options, check out this guide.
What I'm covering in this Tripp Trapp review:
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Pros of the Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
The design
I’m a sucker for baby items that meld into the existing vibes of our home, so the design of the Tripp Trapp was one of the first reasons we became intrigued. The chair’s minimalist, Scandinavian design feels both timeless and modern. We love our classic wood finish, but Stokke has some handsome color options available — for both the chair and the accessories. You can even engrave the chair if you want to be very fancy.
The design of the Tripp Trapp Chair also checks some safety boxes. After watching too many videos about baby ergonomics, I appreciate that the Tripp Trapp has a flexible, adjustable footrest so my daughter’s knees are always at ninety degrees. The Tripp Trapp was designed in 1972, and the idea has clearly withstood the test of time — both functionally and visually.
The materials
In our quest to pivot away from plastic in our household, we loved Stokke’s commitment to quality materials. As of January 2024, all Tripp Trapp chairs are made exclusively from FSC®-certified European beech and oak. The quality is tangible; it feels sturdy, but it’s still easy to move around. It requires a little effort to clean (more on that below) due to the materials, but nothing elaborate.
Tripp Trapp plastic or silicone accessories are free from toxic materials such as phthalates and bisphenols. The Classic Cushion cover is made from an OEKO-TEX certified 100% organic cotton (though it does have a recycled polyester filling). The plastic used in the Newborn Set (which we did not use—more on why below) is BPA-free, and the cover is also made of an organic cotton outer with a PFAS-free water/stain-repellent finish.
The longevity
Aside from aesthetics, this was the #1 selling point of the Tripp Trapp. Why am I spending $250 on something my kiddo will use for three months? I still fell prey to overspending on other items, but I think the Tripp Trapp is money well-spent here. Tripp Trapp grows with your child, into toddlerhood and beyond. I’ve seen my friends’ toddlers sit at their Tripp Trapp chairs for meals, so I love that it’s functional for babies, kiddos, or even adults. The foot rest is almost like its own little growth chart; I tear up every time we have to move it down so our daughter’s legs fit properly.
The Tripp Trapp accessories give even more flexibility to its function, but I have more thoughts on those below.
Cons of the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair
The price tag
Baby items are so pricey already, so adding a $250+ highchair to your registry may feel very indulgent. I lurked on Facebook Marketplace for a secondhand Tripp Trapp Chair and diligently (obsessively) watched for a color we liked. If you don’t have the bandwidth to shop around — and value a quality piece that lasts for years — I think the price of the Tripp Trapp is justified. Where I think you can save money is on the accessories…
The accessories
When I was shopping for a Tripp Trapp Chair, I was very unclear on what I needed vs what was ‘nice to have.’ So here are my thoughts on whether to skip or spring for each accessory:
♀️ Tripp Trapp Newborn Set: SKIP (probably). I could see this being helpful if you have multiple children and just need a comfy place to rest your newborn during mealtime chaos. But there are less expensive solutions for this. We did not purchase the Newborn Set, and I’m glad we didn’t.
✅ Tripp Trapp Baby Set: BUY. The Baby Set helps secure your kiddo once they are old enough to sit up by themselves and start solids. This is a must-buy if you want to use the Tripp Trapp as a true high chair. If you’re going to get just one accessory, let it be this one.
♀️ Tripp Trapp Classic Cushion: SKIP. We used this for approximately one month before we realized it was just a $70 mess collector. It made us feel a little more comfortable when our daughter was first using the chair. She was so tiny! Surely she needed extra padding? I’m sure she would’ve been fine, or we could’ve used a spare towel if we were that concerned. Consider this one less thing you need to wash during babyhood.
♀️ Tripp Trapp Storage: SKIP. I personally don’t see why you would need this. In fact, if we did have this, I’m sure our daughter would find a way to twist herself around and dig for any items we’d store there. Babies are treasure-hunting goblins like that.
✅ Stokke Tray: BUY (probably). So the shape of the Tray is impractical for placemats or certain dishware. Many baby silicone sticky dishes have a hard time sticking to the surface. BUT. The Tray also acts as another helpful mess collector. We tried going without it for a week and found our daughter wasn’t ready for a placemat yet (that ended up on the floor quickly). You might be fine with a placemat, but we like having the Tray.
The assembly
Admittedly, our secondhand Tripp Trapp didn’t come with instructions, and I picked up the chair pre-assembled. So I can’t confidently gauge how difficult or easy it is to assemble the chair. I can say that adjusting the foot rest requires a quick turn of a hex key. Would it be nice if I could do that without a tool? Sure, but it hasn’t been a huge hassle. I can’t say the same about the accessories. (Are we sensing a theme here?)
“Click and done,” their website claims about attaching their accessories. Not so much in our experience. Despite having assembled a lot of weird furniture before, we did not find attaching/layering the Baby Set and Classic Cushion to be intuitive. The Tray snaps on to the Baby Set, but not very smoothly. I assume this is so your child can’t rip it off the chair during meals. But that also means that taking the Tray off requires enough force to send all food bits flying.
Other Considerations
The clean-up
I want to be transparent that the Tripp Trapp Chair does have a lot of nooks and crannies where bits of food can hide, especially if you’re using the Baby Set and Tray. This could be a con, but honestly, any high chair is going to get messy because babies are messy. I’ve seen videos of parents dousing down their plastic high chairs with a hose outside. You’re not going to get that ‘easy’ clean-up with a Tripp Trapp, but that’s a trade-off I don’t mind considering the quality materials.
F.A.Q.s About the Tripp Trapp
What is the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair made of?
Tripp Trapp is made from consciously sourced European beech and oak from FSC®-certified forests. The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization that “sets standards for responsible forest management and forest-product supply chains.” You can absolutely feel the quality of the wood, and I appreciate that the chair was third party-certified by a program that prioritizes biodiversity, workers’ rights, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
How Long Can You Use the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair For?
Until adulthood! The flexibility of use is one of the reasons I love the chair. I imagine we might transition ours to be a desk or craft chair someday as our daughter grows. The Tripp Trapp Chair is tested beyond the typical limit of 242.5lbs for adult chairs. According to the Stokke website, the Tripp Trapp can hold up to 300lbs.
Do You Need the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair Accessories?
No, or at least not all of them! If I had to pick just one, I would prioritize the Tripp Trapp Newborn Set.
Is the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair Really Worth It?
Yes, at least for me personally. I would rather pay $250 for one chair instead of paying $30-50 every time my baby goes through a growth spurt. Kiddos change so quickly. If you can swing the up-front cost, I think the chair is a worthwhile investment. Stokke does have a 30-day trial and a 7 year warranty for the Tripp Trapp. But, if you find that the chair eventually doesn’t fit into your household, I’m proof that they are a popular re-sell item.
My Final Thoughts on the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair
While the Tripp Trapp Chair isn’t perfect, I would still recommend it. If you want a chair that lasts years with consciously-sourced materials, the Tripp Trapp is a wonderful option. And if you find yourself still hunting, there are many other great non-toxic options out there.
Like so many other baby items — especially those involving a bigger price tag — your ideal non-toxic high chair should match your lifestyle and needs. Sometimes it feels like parenthood involves 100 decisions a day, and almost no space in your home has more expectations than the kitchen. What are you going to cook? Will your kid eat it? Is your floor clean enough to eat off of? Because they will lick it. Ultimately, the seat upon which your child eats is less important than the quality time you’re spending together in the fun (and yes, the mess) of food.
