Is the Stokke Tripp Trapp Worth It? Old vs New, Dupes & What It Really Costs

Name: Sage Gingham Bundle
Brand: AZEbabydream
SKU: STTBUN006
Price: 55.25 GBP
Availability: InStock

The Stokke Tripp Trapp is one of the most recognisable highchairs around, and also one of the more expensive.

So is it actually worth spending over £200 on one? What is the difference between an older and newer Tripp Trapp? Do you really need the Baby Set, tray and cushion? And are there cheaper alternatives that do the same job?

At AZEbabydream, we don't sell the Tripp Trapp chair itself, but we do design cushions and full-cover silicone placemats specifically for it. That means we speak to Tripp Trapp owners regularly, particularly about Baby Set compatibility, cushions and how to make the chair more practical for everyday mealtimes.

Here is what is worth knowing before you buy.

Stokke Tripp Trapp set up costs and comparison with cushion, placemat and without

Why is the Stokke Tripp Trapp so expensive?

The biggest difference between the Tripp Trapp and many standard highchairs is that it isn't designed only for the baby stage.

The wooden seat and footplate can both be adjusted as your child grows, allowing the chair to continue being used at the family table well beyond weaning.

The standard Tripp Trapp chair is currently listed at around £219 at major UK retailers such as John Lewis, before accessories are added.

That puts it at a very different price point to simple plastic highchairs such as the IKEA Antilop, but you are also buying a very different style of chair.

For many families, the appeal is therefore not simply that it is a premium-looking highchair. It is that the chair is designed to stay useful for much longer.

Is the Stokke Tripp Trapp really worth it?

It depends on what matters most to your family. If you want a chair that:

sits directly at the family table
has an adjustable footplate
can be adapted as your child grows
has a solid wooden construction
can continue being used beyond the traditional highchair stage

then the Tripp Trapp has some clear advantages.

The downside is the upfront cost. The £219 chair price isn't necessarily the final cost either. Depending on your child's age and how you plan to use the chair, you may also want the Baby Set, tray, harness and a cushion.

That can make the complete setup considerably more expensive than the chair price initially suggests.

We don't tend to hear much from our customers about resale value or how many years they have personally owned their chairs, so we wouldn't use second-hand value alone as a reason to buy one.

Instead, we think the most useful question is: will your family actually make use of the adjustability and longer lifespan?

If yes, the higher initial cost may make more sense. If you simply need an inexpensive highchair for the weaning years, there are much cheaper options.

Stokke Tripp Trapp wipewlean cushion and silicone placemat in vintage goose by azebabydream

What's the difference between an old and new Stokke Tripp Trapp?

One of the biggest differences is accessory compatibility rather than the basic idea of the chair itself.

Stokke states that its current accessories are designed around specific chair generations, so owners of much older Tripp Trapp chairs should always check compatibility before purchasing additional parts.

In reality, very few of the customers we speak to have the very early original Tripp Trapp versions.

The questions we receive far more often are: “Will this fit my Baby Set?” and “Does the cushion have harness holes?”

That's why it is important to check compatibility for the specific accessory you're buying rather than simply assuming that every accessory labelled “Tripp Trapp” fits every configuration.

Our Stokke Tripp Trapp cushions are designed specifically around compatible chair and Baby Set configurations, and our product pages explain the setup before ordering.

Adjustable fastenings on an AZEbabydream cushion for Stokke Tripp Trapp with harness

What's a good dupe for the Stokke Tripp Trapp?

There are now several wooden highchairs inspired by the same adjustable, grow-with-your-child concept.

The Safety 1st Timba and Hauck Alpha+ are two commonly compared alternatives and normally sit below the Tripp Trapp's price point.

They aren't identical products, though. Materials, adjustment systems, accessories, dimensions and overall finish vary between brands.

So rather than looking purely for a “Tripp Trapp dupe”, it is worth comparing the features you actually care about:

Is the footrest adjustable?
Can the seat depth or height be changed?
Can the child sit comfortably at the family table?
How long is the chair designed to be used?
What accessories need to be purchased separately?
How easy is the chair to clean?

Those differences often matter more day-to-day than whether two chairs look similar.

What's a cheaper alternative to the Stokke Tripp Trapp?

At the opposite end of the price scale is the IKEA Antilop.

The Antilop is inexpensive, lightweight and extremely easy to clean, which is why it remains one of the UK's most popular budget highchairs.

However, the standard chair does not have an adjustable footrest and many families add accessories such as a footrest and cushion to make the setup more supportive and comfortable.

We've compared the two chairs in much more detail in our IKEA Antilop vs Stokke Tripp Trapp cost comparison, including what each setup actually costs once common accessories are included.

The two chairs ultimately solve the same problem in very different ways. The IKEA Antilop keeps the initial cost extremely low, while the Tripp Trapp builds adjustability and foot support into the chair itself.

Is 3 months too early for a highchair?

For standard upright highchair use, generally yes. NHS guidance says babies are usually ready to start solid foods from around six months, when three important signs of readiness appear together.

These include being able to stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady.

That is why a young baby should not simply be placed upright in a highchair before they have the necessary head and core control.

The Tripp Trapp Newborn Set is different because it is a separate reclined attachment designed for younger babies. It should not be confused with sitting a three-month-old upright in the normal highchair position.

What is the 90-90-90 rule for highchairs?

The 90-90-90 position refers to a child sitting with approximately:

90 degrees at the hips
90 degrees at the knees
90 degrees at the ankles

with their feet firmly supported.

NHS occupational therapy guidance recommends this kind of supported sitting position at a table and specifically notes that children's feet should be firmly supported.

Good positioning matters during mealtimes because a child has a more stable base from which to concentrate on eating.

This is one of the Tripp Trapp's strongest practical features. The footplate is already built into the chair and can be moved as your child grows.

With a highchair such as the IKEA Antilop, which doesn't include foot support as standard, an adjustable footrest needs to be added separately if you want to create a similar supported position.

At what age should a child stop using a highchair?

There isn't one exact age. Many children transition away from a conventional highchair during the toddler years as they become able to sit safely and comfortably at the family table.

The Tripp Trapp works slightly differently because you don't necessarily have to stop using the chair. Instead, the Baby Set can eventually be removed and the seat and footplate repositioned as your child grows.

That longer usable lifespan is an important part of the Tripp Trapp's value proposition, particularly for families who prefer buying one adaptable chair rather than moving through several different seating stages.

IKEA Antilop and Stokke Tripp Trapp highchair with accessories from azebabydream

What is the best highchair in 2026?

There isn't one highchair that is best for every family.

A better way to choose is to decide what matters most to you.

If budget and easy cleaning are your priorities, something like the IKEA Antilop may make more sense.

If you want adjustable foot support, a wooden chair and something designed to grow with your child, the Tripp Trapp is a very different proposition.

Space, budget, cleaning, posture, design and how long you plan to use the chair should all influence the decision.

Save 15%

Sage Gingham Stokke Tripp Trapp highchair accessory bundle

Sage Gingham Bundle

£55.25 £65.00

Full details

Already have a Tripp Trapp? Here's what parents usually add

One advantage of the Tripp Trapp is that you don't need to add a separate footrest.

The two accessories parents are more likely to consider are a cushion for added comfort and something to make cleaning the tray easier. At AZEbabydream, we've combined both into our Stokke Tripp Trapp Cushion & Placemat Bundle.

Our cushion adds a softer, wipe-clean layer to the wooden seat, while the full-cover silicone placemat fits over the Tripp Trapp tray to help protect it during messy weaning meals.

Sage Stripe is currently our bestselling Stokke design.

You can buy the cushion and placemat separately, or save 15% permanently when you buy them together as a bundle, £55.25 instead of £65.

This isn't a temporary sale price. Our 15% bundle saving is available year-round.

During periods such as Black Friday, we may highlight our existing bundle savings and clearance lines, but we don't increase the bundle discount beyond the existing 15%.

FAQ

Does the Stokke Tripp Trapp come with a tray?

The standard Tripp Trapp chair does not include a tray. A Stokke tray can be added as part of the appropriate Baby Set setup, or the chair can be positioned directly at the family table depending on your child's age and how you intend to use it.

Does the Tripp Trapp come with a cushion?

No. A cushion is an optional accessory.

The chair can be used without one, but some parents choose to add a cushion to make the wooden seat softer and to introduce colour or pattern to the highchair.

Does the Tripp Trapp come with a harness?

The exact setup depends on the Baby Set generation and accessories you own, so always check Stokke's current compatibility information for your particular chair.

This is also one of the reasons we regularly receive questions from customers about Baby Set versions and whether cushions work with their harness setup.

Will an AZEbabydream cushion fit with the Tripp Trapp Baby Set?

Our cushions are designed specifically for compatible Stokke Tripp Trapp setups and can be used with the Baby Set configurations listed on the product page.

Our cushions do not have cut-out harness holes, which is something customers regularly ask us before ordering, so check the compatibility information on the product page if you're using a particular harness or Baby Set version.

Is AZEbabydream's Tripp Trapp bundle the same as a Stokke highchair bundle?

No. When retailers advertise a Stokke Tripp Trapp bundle, they may be referring to combinations containing the chair, Baby Set, tray, harness or Newborn Set.

The AZEbabydream Stokke bundle is an accessory bundle containing our cushion and full-cover silicone tray placemat.

It is designed for families who already own, or are planning to buy, a compatible Tripp Trapp setup.

So, is the Stokke Tripp Trapp worth it?

Tripp Trapp makes the most sense for families who value adjustability, built-in foot support and a chair that can remain useful beyond the baby stage.

It is undeniably more expensive than a simple highchair, particularly once the Baby Set, tray and other accessories are factored in.

But price alone doesn't tell the whole story. Before buying, think about how long you want to use the chair, whether an adjustable footplate matters to you, whether your baby will eat at the family table and which accessories you'll genuinely use.

Already have a Tripp Trapp? Explore our Stokke Tripp Trapp cushions, full-cover silicone placemats and 15% off bundles, designed to make everyday mealtimes more comfortable, easier to clean and a little more your style.

Can I use the cushion when I remove the Baby Set?

Yes. The fastenings allow you to adjust the same cushion into a different shape for use directly on the Tripp Trapp chair without the Baby Set.