Life in the Motherhood Wilderness
Back in the latter part of 2015, we were asked to visit York, Yorkshire’s traditional county town, with our brand new Stokke Xplory.
I’ve long been a fan of the Xplory; isn’t the design absolutely divine? Since becoming a Mama three years ago, I have lusted after the super stylish pushchair, and have been very envious of parents proudly pushing them down the street! So (as you can imagine) I was over the moon when our very own arrived on our doorstep!
As you can imagine, I was extremely disappointed that I was unable to attend the Stokke Preview Event at The Baby Show in London yesterday! I was desperate to see their latest collection in the flesh (or rather, metal) and take them for a mini test drive… but life gets in the way of beautiful new strollers occasionally, so here’s my pick of what I wish I’d seen!
Stokke® Xplory® Special Edition “True Black”
Oooh, what a majestic steed this is!
“Inspired by the unique silhouette and innovation of the stroller itself, True Black makes the iconic design of the Stokke® Xplory® even more striking. Contrasting textures of soft, matt textiles and shiny metal combine for a decidedly distinctive look.” Doesn’t it sound divine? It’s a stroller that will go with everything! [Read more…]
Busby and I have felt incredibly privileged over the past few weeks, as we have been reviewing the fabulous new Stokke Steps. We were sent the Stokke Steps chair, with baby set, cushion set and tray. Compared to our previous IKEA Antilop, Busby found herself dining and drawing in a beautiful, and extremely comfortable, new throne!
| Flopsy Bunny also joined in. |
We attended the Stokke Steps launch back in January, and were very impressed with the fantastic new concept from Stokke:
Our unique modular seating system adapts to your child, step by step. For your newborn, baby, toddler and youngster, Stokke® Steps™ is a comfortable, practical and functional way to give your child the perfect seat from day one. Scandinavian design and engineering ensures optimal ergonomics as well as quality and style.
The Stokke Steps is a chair that grows with your Little One, from birth to… well, 10 years+ (I still fit into the chair at 26)! We definitely could have done with the Stokke Steps Bouncer Set when Busby was a newborn! Oh to be able to sit and eat dinner together without one of us having a baby in our arms…
Design
There is something for every household with the new Stokke Steps design; the wood comes in two colours (natural and walnut) and the cushions come in four colours (blue, griege, orange and red).
| The Chair |
We chose the natural beech wood for the chair and then griege (a rather unsexy name for a colour) for the cushions, which fits into our slightly mismatch dining room very well!
| Chair with Baby Set and Cushions |
Construction
It was incredibly simple to put together, and I experienced great glee in showing Nick (and consequently all of our guests) how the baby seat clicks onto the chair with ease, and how the tray swiftly glides into place. Even though the Baby Set and the seat of the chair are plastic, the Stokke Steps is extremely sturdy, and the plastic just means it’s very easy to clean.
Comparison?
Lots of people have asked me how the Stokke Steps compares to the Stokke Tripp Trapp. Well, my Mutti has the Stokke Tripp Trapp for Busby at her house, and having previously been impressed with it, I have to say that I do prefer the Stokke Steps. Busby looks far more comfortable in the Steps, and definitely looks more supported. The baby seat is adjustable, so perfect for ensuring your small 6 month old is safe and comfortable at the beginning of their weaning adventure, up until 3 years when they’ll be able to use the Stokke Steps as an actual chair.
What we thought
My favourite thing about the Stokke Steps (other than how beautifully it’s designed) is the five-point harness that keeps Busby strapped it. Busby (also known as Houdini) has found a way to escape from most highchairs she’s sat in, but this keeps her safely in the seat. This means I can go into the kitchen, or nip upstairs, without the fear that she may be standing up (or worse) on my return.
| (Top left: Adjustable foot rest. Top right: Adjustable seat. Bottom: Harness.) |
I like how easy the tray is to take off. It was always a bit of a mission with our Antilop, but this glides off with the touch of two buttons. This also means that Busby can use the table when we’re all eating together, which is something we enjoy doing as a family.
| (Left: Under the table - just the chair. Right: Under the table with the Baby Set) |
The tray is rather large, so it’s an excellent (and wipe clean) surface for drawing, painting and sticking; something Busby really enjoys! It’s great for keeping all the mess in one place, and as I’ve mentioned above the Stokke Steps is very easy to clean. The cushions and straps also whip off simply and are washable at 40ºC.
| Large tray and a puzzled Busby! |
There is an adjustable foot rest, which is fantastic for posture and comfort. It’s also great for catching food that might have fallen on the floor previously!
How much…?
The Stokke Steps is pretty pricey, especially when you start adding all the extras on top. The Chair alone is £159, the Bouncer set is £149, the Baby Set is £79, the cushions are £33, and the tray is £39. However, this said, it is a chair that will grow with your child from birth to 10 years plus, as well as serve any further children you might have; it’s certainly an item that’s made to last and would be a great investment.
The Stokke Steps is a fantastic, well-thought out product that oozes quality; we will definitely be recommending it to friends looking for a child’s chair that will last through the years. We will also be buying the Bouncer Set to add to the Steps for the next bundle of fun, as I think that it’s a wonderful idea, and wish we’d had it the first time round!
Hannah