Stokke tripp trapp harness removal: Reddit – Dive into anything

Reddit – Dive into anything

Disclaimer: This is my first and only high chair purchase. I have nothing to compare it to, and like most things that have to do with parenting, I have no idea what I’m doing.

The Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair sucks.

Sure, it’s got that sleek, Scandinavian aesthetic and it’s made of real wood. You can also pull it right up to the table so baby can eat with the family. We’re off to a great start.

But you know what the top review of the Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair says on the “acclaimed” Babylist website??

“Easy to clean.”

That is a joke. The top straps are near-impossible to remove. Every time my husband attempted to slide the thick straps through the thin slat it took him at least 15 minutes and profanities were flying across the room as our precious 1-year-old looked on. And the crotch strap? Forget it. You need a screwdriver to chip away at the plastic for it to come off. I’m not kidding.

Of course every parent has different things they want out of a high chair. As clean freaks experimenting with baby-led weaning, our top priority was ease of cleaning. For those who aren’t familiar, baby-led weaning puts baby in charge, so my son was essentially given the green light to play with his food and make a total mess. I loved it, and loved how much he enjoyed eating. I did not love that food remnants stuck to the straps would live on for months.

If you have different priorities, this chair may be for you. Lots of people love it. Part of the reason we bought it was because of my deep dive into glowing online reviews and referrals from friends.

But after a year with this stupid chair my husband and I wondered, “Do other parents know something we don’t??”

So I Googled further and found this review from a parenting website called One Smiley Monkey. She wrote:

“I love how easy it is to clean the chair at the end of the day. All I need to do is wipe it down with a clean damp cloth and it cleans up beautifully. The straps are not very easy to remove and clean but if they are really dirty I just fill a container with soapy water, set it on the seat of the Tripp Trapp and dangle the straps into it until they are totally clean. After that I pat-dry them with a towel and then let them dry overnight.”

… Oh, is that all? I mean, really, who has time for that? I’m a Mom! And can you believe she had the audacity to start by saying she loves how easy it is to clean the chair?? Give me a break.

So I went on Reddit, the real place to go to for reviews. A fellow parent was lamenting about how hard it was to clean the straps. She wrote: “Oh my gosh, the straps are crazy. … What do people know that I don’t know for cleaning this harness?”

There were 22 comments. Here was my favorite:

“I put my entire Tripp Trapp in the shower and just used hot water and a little dish soap on it. It worked like a charm!”

I found this equally ridiculous and brilliant. Ultimately decided against it because we didn’t want to ruin the wood in the shower.

Most of the other comments revealed something surprising: they didn’t use the straps at all. Apparently, you don’t really need them. The straps are for safety. The website says you need the straps until 36 months old, when baby can climb in and out of the chair on his own. But another reviewer on Reddit wrote this:

“The harness is only a compulsory addition in North America – if you look at the website for other countries you’ll see that Stokke doesn’t really want the harness used. We don’t use the harness on our chair so baby has freedom of movement (he always has someone beside him at the table and is never left unattended) and it’s super easy to get him out if we need to.”

Like the above reviewer, we never leave my son unattended at the table. He’s also pretty sturdy at 15 months old, so we’re not worried about him falling out of the chair.

So we removed the straps. For good.

Once the straps were completely gone (after 30 minutes of my husband cursing with a screwdriver and hurting his delicate fingers), we took an old kitchen towel and wiped the entire crusty chair clean with warm water.

It appears that we have a new chair. We love that it pulls right up to the table so our son can eat with us. We love the look – it actually matches our kitchen table and chairs. We love the adjustable footrest, which is important for ergonomic eating.

Without the straps, this is a pretty great high chair.

Unfortunately, you can’t purchase the baby set without the straps, and you need the baby set for the baby seat, which provides side and back support. The top straps don’t come attached, so if you don’t want to use them you don’t have to, but the crotch strap DOES come attached. And even though the website says you don’t need any tools to remove it, they are lying. It will not be fun to remove the crotch strap, but you can do it. I believe in you. Or, since you’re never going to put it back on, you could just cut the nylon strap off.

All this is to say, I suppose the Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair was a good investment. Maybe. I’ll let you know how I feel about it in another year.

In the meantime, I’m pregnant and looking for recommendations for a new high chair for Baby Girl. Please advise.

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If you enjoyed my ranty review, here’s my website: https://www.charliebleecker.com/writing

Answers to Your Stokke Tripp Trapp Questions

There is a ton of interest in the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair, and for good reason. This versatile, attractive and well-made high chair is one of the best baby products on the market.

Many parents have questions about the ins and outs of the Stokke Tripp Trapp, and in this post I’ll go over the most frequently asked questions, along with observations of my own (I’ve used this high chair for several years, with two kids, and I love it!)

Now, let’s go over some common questions about the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair.

Do I need accessories to use my Tripp Trapp?

You may need (or want) accessories for the Tripp Trapp, depending on the age of your child. Younger children (toddlers and babies) will need accessories to be able to use the chair. I go over which Tripp Trapp accessories you’re likely to want or need in a separate post.

Does the Stokke Tripp Trapp fold?

The Tripp Trapp can do many things, but folding is not one of them. The Tripp Trapp is relatively lightweight, but it does not fold up to be tucked away.

If space is super tight in your kitchen, this might be important to you. The Tripp Trapp does have a slim, un-bulky profile, and it can be pulled right up to your table like a regular chair. So even though the Tripp Trapp can’t be folded, it can stay in the kitchen or dining room without being in the way.

Do you need a harness for the Stokke Tripp Trapp?

If you’re using the Tripp Trapp Baby Set, the harness is a must. The tray alone is not designed to protect your baby from a fall – the harness provides that extra level of security for squirmy toddlers. So, yes – you do need a harness if you’re using the Stokke Tripp Trapp for a younger child.

Once your child is able to independently climb in and out of their Tripp Trapp, you’ll no longer need the harness (or the Baby Set, for that matter)!

My Tripp Trapp wobbles – what can I do?

If your Tripp Trapp feels wobbly, here’s what to do:

First, make sure your chair is on a level surface. Then loosen all the screws, and have an adult sit on the upper plate of the chair. Now you can tighten the screws one at a time, alternating between top left, bottom right, etc. The chair should be stable, but if not, contact Stokke about the issue.

Can you put the Tripp Trapp Tray in the dishwasher?

The Stokke Tripp Tray is dishwasher safe. The Tripp Trapp tray is made of BPA-free plastic that has been certified by the FDA for food contact.

Note: The Tripp Trapp Tray is not scratch-proof. If you notice some scratches in the tray, that’s to be expected.

How do you wash a Tripp Trapp cushion?

The Stokke Tripp Trapp Classic Cushion set can be machine washed at temperatures up to 104 degrees. The cushions are filled with polyester, and the polyester/cotton blend fabric is both durable and machine washable. Both are important when you’re talking about a product that’s going to be used with babies and toddlers!

What are the Tripp Trapp dimensions?

The Tripp Trapp is 31.1 inches tall, 18.11 inches wide, and 19.29 inches deep.

Does the new Baby Set fit the old Tripp Trapp?

The current Baby Set and Newborn Set are both compatible with Tripp Trapp chairs that were produced after May of 2003.

When can I take my baby off Tripp Trapp’s restraint system?

The restraint system can be removed when your child is *3-years-old, and is able to sit safely on the Tripp Trapp independently (including getting in and out of the chair without assistance).

*Stokke acknowledges that some children might become too large for the restraint system before hitting their third birthday.

When you’re ready to remove the restraint system, you’ll need a tool to remove the clip under the seat plate. This is how you’ll detach the crotch strap. You’ll also need a screwdriver to detach the the harness from the backrest of the chair.

Can you paint the Stokke Tripp Trapp?

Yes, you can paint a Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair. This will void the warranty, since you are altering the chair. If that’s not a big concern, then go crazy!

I have not (yet) painted our Tripp Trapp, which I have in a natural finish. I’ve considered painting it, but also appreciate how clean looking and versatile the chair is in the natural finish. If you decide that you want to paint your Tripp Trapp, here is a comprehensive blog post on how to go about it!

Are there any Stokke Tripp Trapp alternatives to consider?

I’m a huge fan of the Tripp Trapp, and would recommend it without hesitation. That being said, yes, there are Stokke Tripp Trapp alternatives you can consider.