Nursery product reviews
£159.00
Stokke® Steps™ Review
Highchairs are an essential part of the baby kit, but finding one to fit the bill can be hard. Here at Mumii, we have been taking a look at the Stokke® Steps™ all-in-one seating system to see just what it has to offer.
Nursery Product Review
Finding a highchair that suits your lifestyle can be a bit mind boggling – there are so many different options and styles out there. Stokke® has taken some of the confusion away with their new Steps™ seating system. Suitable from birth through to childhood, this system removes the need for a separate baby bouncer and a booster seat as your child grows. Let’s take a closer look at this modular system....
What’s in the box?
Stokke® Steps™ chair
Fixings
Allen key
Instructions
Price
The RRP of the Stokke® Steps™ Chair is £159
Accessories
Cushion RRP £33
Baby Set Tray RRP £39
Baby Set RRP £79
Bouncer RRP £149
Colour Options
The Stokke® Steps™ Chair is available in natural or walnut brown.
The Baby Set and Tray are white.
The Bouncer and chair cushions are available in blue, greige, orange and red.
Stokke® Steps™ Material
The Stokke® Steps™ comes in several different parts. The chair itself has wooden legs which fit into the white wooden seat base - the footrest is also white wood with a wipe clean coating for those messy weaning days. The baby set just slots onto the seat base – this section is made from a tough white plastic, which is perfect for the early days – we all know how mucky new eaters can get. The thick straps on the baby seat help to keep your tiny tot safe and secure and are easily adjustable – simply slide the buckles up or down as you would on a standard pushchair harness. There is a secure harness fastening, which little fingers will not be able to undo – you need 2 strong thumbs to push the button in to release it.
The baby bouncer section has a softly cushioned seat, with a removable newborn insert for the first weeks.
Stokke® Steps™ - How to use
The idea behind the Stokke® Steps™ is a new concept – it allows you to use a highchair from birth by having a baby bouncer that can attach to the chair section. Used separately, the baby bouncer is exactly the same idea as the baby chairs you see for sale everywhere, but without the usual bouncing motion. The Stokke® Steps™ is more of a reactive bouncer – for very young babies it has a cradling motion, similar to being in mum’s arms. As they get bigger, babies will soon work out that the bouncer reacts to their natural movements – so they can choose their own levels of activity or quiet time. There is also a toy bar for extra stimulation.
The real difference comes in the fact that the baby bouncer can be clipped on to the highchair – meaning you can have baby close to you even when you are at the table. It also allows your baby to watch and learn, which is helpful for weaning. There are 4 recline positions, so your little one can be lying flat for sleepy times, and sat right up at the table as they get a bit bigger and nosier! This is adjusted by a simple turnbuckle under the seat.
Once your tot is ready to sit up in a more standard style highchair, you simply slot on the baby set – this is a more structured seat designed for smaller bottoms, with the 5 point harness. With the addition of the tray, which simply slides onto the seat unit, you have a place to pop all those finger foods for your baby to explore. If you would rather your child sat up at the table with you, just squeeze the buttons under the tray to remove it.
Once your toddler is ready for independence, you can remove the baby seat and introduce them to a ‘big boy/girl’ chair. The adjustable footrest can be slid up or down the frame to make a comfortable place for small feet to balance – this also doubles as a step so your child can climb up into the chair themselves. The seat is now wide and generous and will easily last well into childhood – meaning you do not need to invest in another dining chair or use a booster seat.
Stokke® Steps™ Conclusion
A new and exciting idea, the Stokke®Steps™ modular seating system allows your baby to be a part of family meal times from the word go. It removes the need for a separate baby bouncer and highchair, and it even removes the need for a booster seat for the toddler and early childhood years.
The baby bouncer has a lovely motion, and the recline is a great feature, meaning you can use it for longer – I have had to stop using some bouncers earlier than I would like as they don’t sit up enough for an inquisitive baby.
I love the wood finish of the Stokke® Steps™ chair, and the plastic baby sections are ideal for cleaning up after meal times. I would personally like to see this available in a colour other than white, but this is just personal preference. The set up of every section is very straightforward, and changing between the seating options is child’s play – just squeeze in a couple of release buttons to remove one, then slot the required seat into place with a click. The tray is the same – very easy to remove and replace, and thin enough to stash away easily when not in use.
There are not many negative points to mention. It is more expensive than other highchairs on the market. When you add all the accessories into the package it takes the price to over £450. It is an all in one system that will last from birth to around 10 years old, and it is a high quality product at that but it comes at a price. The only other thing I would mention is that it is not a folding highchair, so if you are very tight on space it may not work for you. With the tray attached it does take up quite a lot of room, but without the tray it tucks neatly up to the table, even with the baby seat in place.
A great option from day one, the Stokke® Steps™ offers all your seating needs in one package, and is well worth a look if you are in the market for a premium quality and clever highchair.
We give the Stokke® Steps™ 4.5 out of 5 stars
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