let's overthink kitchen playsets

SunAndRain

Is bigger better?

I'm thinking this Hape set is a really great deal at $80.  The Melissa and Doug is also selling for $80 right now.  I like that they are simple and small....and $80.  The Hape also comes with load of wooden accessories which makes it especially appealing. I think it is an excellent value.

Is it worth the $$ to spend upwards of $150 on a bigger set such as the KidKraft Cook Together Kitchen?

 We have one 16 month old (I'd put it away for her 2nd bday) so she doesn't need to share it outside of playdates.   I really don't want to turn around and buy a bigger set in a couple years.  Will we regret not buying a bigger set initally?

 

 

 

 

SunAndRain

ah, good point!  Yes, I'm set on a wooden one.

DaisyJanie

I'm in the same spot you are, OP. Debating about kitchen size. Right now I've got the Kidkraft Vintage on my wish list, it's only $129 on Amazon right now. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A2QTRC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2QHW245LWTZ0W&coliid=IT9RKYT0CEG3R

emberlee3

My parents just bought one at Ikea. it is pretty small, but we have a small house. I think the kids will love it, and we can always add an extra cupboard or something later. I would not spend $150 on one.

SunAndRain

OK.  I bit the bullet and ordered the  Melissa and Doug

Otherwise I'll obsess over this for months.  The colors and style will go well with her Dr Seuss playroom.  It fits the size bill, not too big not too small.  And something tells me she won't miss a microwave.

And since it doesn't come with many accessories, if anyone asks what to get her for her 2nd bday this will be a nice option.

aglenn

We purposely got a small one because we don't have a ton of space for it and it has been great.  Both kids plus friends they have over can all play together just fine.  Ours is plastic, but just to give you an idea of size this is it.  I think either of the ones you're looking at would work just fine.

Reilly626

I have to recommend not going overboard. Initially I would have been that way also but someone gave them a tiny step 2 kitchen and they love opening and closing everything. They are 16 months old. I love that its tiny enough to fit on a wall in my kitchen so we can "cook" together. I also have twins and its plenty for them and easy to clean. I would go smaller. Happy shopping!

ebp913

We got the Kidkraft corner kitchen and I'm glad we did.  It's definitely has room for 2 kids to play in it and I expect it's the only play kitchen we'll have.  We have the space for it though so that wasn't really an issue.  

jasminelorraine20

We were able to grab the Mellissa and Doug for $80 online as well. I think it's the perfect size for my small condo and DS will have a good time with his play pots and pans regardless, so that's what we went with.

rubber_chicken

We just went through this ourselves.

First, we identified WHERE in the house we're going to put it.  We've turned a slice of the dining room into her play area, and have a particular wall it's going on, so we measured it and then ignored all the playsets that were bigger - which turned out to be a lot.

Then we looked at our options on playkitchens.com (free shipping and it arrived in less than a week!!) I wanted something gender neutral, not so bright that it would look hideous in the dining room, and sized so it would last through DD's childhood (and any future kids we may have).

We went with this one: https://www.playkitchens.com/play-kitchens/kitchens/kidkraftespressotoddlerplaykitchenwithmetalaccessoryset.cfm

We've already received it, and I have no idea how we're going to wait until Christmas to give it to DD!!

wychets

We have the Step 2 party time kitchen set I brought from Craigslist for $30 in EUC. I called Step 2 to order the replacement parts my total plus shipping was $27. I ordered the phone, the 2 sizzle pots, the cultery/dish set, and the 10pc food set. My grand total for everything was rougly $60 and she loves it. The orginal price for this exact kitchen is $149.99 at BRU. Saved us a lot of money. They have tons of nice kitchens on craigslist if you were trying to go the cheaper route.

FemShep

We're getting the adjustable kitchen PP linked to since DD2 is a peanut and will be 18mo in December.

Also, pro tip-get an automatic screwdriver.  That thing will change your life when assembling a play kitchen (and for years of toy assembly to come).

eyenigh

Nicb13 said:

I don't know if you are set on wooden but here are some we are looking at for Xmas:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008N6INE8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1MDE0QUCHIMUH&coliid=I36LZOAMH8FJZ1 (might be good because it's adjustable)

OR

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QXDIX6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1MDE0QUCHIMUH&coliid=IQ51PV7CSV4D3

We haven't decided yet but these are some items on my Amazon wish list. I'm sure any of them will be a pain in the ass to put together....

 

 

Just a heads up on the first one @Nicb I read the reviews on that since I was thinking of buying it for A but there were a lot of complaints that it was way too low for a decent sized toddler in the wide mode. I went and checked it out at TRU and it is crazy low-- like my kid would have to be on his knees to use! I know your boy is on the taller end as well so just wanted to pass that along.

I just bought this one over the weekend since it was $25 off at TRU:

Little Tikes Ultimate Kitchen

It looks like a decent height and his playroom has blue furniture so it worked well with that, too.

FemShep

eyenigh said:

Nicb13 said:

I don't know if you are set on wooden but here are some we are looking at for Xmas:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008N6INE8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1MDE0QUCHIMUH&coliid=I36LZOAMH8FJZ1 (might be good because it's adjustable)

OR

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QXDIX6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1MDE0QUCHIMUH&coliid=IQ51PV7CSV4D3

We haven't decided yet but these are some items on my Amazon wish list. I'm sure any of them will be a pain in the ass to put together....

 

 

Just a heads up on the first one @Nicb I read the reviews on that since I was thinking of buying it for A but there were a lot of complaints that it was way too low for a decent sized toddler in the wide mode. I went and checked it out at TRU and it is crazy low-- like my kid would have to be on his knees to use! I know your boy is on the taller end as well so just wanted to pass that along.

Well, hell.  Now I'm overthinking kitchen playsets too!  Has anyone tried the Step2 Party Kitchen?  https://www.amazon.com/Step2-703100-LifeStyle-PartyTime-Kitchen/dp/B003NVJ7WK/ref=sr_1_8?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1385151240&sr=1-8&keywords=step+2+kitchen

eyenigh

FemShep said:

eyenigh said:

Nicb13 said:

I don't know if you are set on wooden but here are some we are looking at for Xmas:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008N6INE8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1MDE0QUCHIMUH&coliid=I36LZOAMH8FJZ1 (might be good because it's adjustable)

OR

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QXDIX6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1MDE0QUCHIMUH&coliid=IQ51PV7CSV4D3

We haven't decided yet but these are some items on my Amazon wish list. I'm sure any of them will be a pain in the ass to put together....

 

 

Just a heads up on the first one @Nicb I read the reviews on that since I was thinking of buying it for A but there were a lot of complaints that it was way too low for a decent sized toddler in the wide mode. I went and checked it out at TRU and it is crazy low-- like my kid would have to be on his knees to use! I know your boy is on the taller end as well so just wanted to pass that along.

Well, hell.  Now I'm overthinking kitchen playsets too!  Has anyone tried the Step2 Party Kitchen?  https://www.amazon.com/Step2-703100-LifeStyle-PartyTime-Kitchen/dp/B003NVJ7WK/ref=sr_1_8?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1385151240&sr=1-8&keywords=step+2+kitchen

That's one that they have at our day care and the kids seem to love it (and it's a reasonable height for a toddler!). The sizzling pots are a huge hit.

eyenigh

Nicb13 said:

@eyenigh Thanks dude! Just the advice I needed!

No problem. I've been comparison shopping kitchens for a few weeks! I should add, that red kitchen isn't bad when it's pushed together-- it's only when it's wide, but I was thinking that it seems like kind of a useless feature if we can't even use it. We're not even having more kids so it's not like anyone will ever use it at that height!

groovygrl

my 4+ yr old twins play with theirs just as much now as at 2-3 yrs old, in fact htey're really into playing restaurant now, one will be the waitress/waiter & one the cook...so I would get one that can last awhile. We have the step2 'diner' one which is adorable, has 2 seats & a table plus the kitchen area but that works well for us w/ twins, though it is nice for kids on playdates too.

daisy662

https://www.onestepahead.com/KidKraft-Wooden-Play-Kitchen-Set-with-Stools.pro I am looking at this one. Anyone have it or have seen it in person? I think the island is so cute! They have it on amazon much cheaper... So glad you posted this, I was about to!

mae0111

Ditto for the step 2 kitchen.  We got it for DD for her 2nd birthday, and now at age 4, she still uses it on a regular basis.  It's going to be a big hit for DD2 soon, too.

Just an FYI - kidcraft is on Zulily today.  Use ebates for more savings!!

MNgirl326

If I could go back and do it over- I wouldn't do a kitchen at all. LO has one at day care but at home he has played with maybe 15 times over the last 2 years. Mostly he just spreads the food and dishes all over.
I agonized over which one to get debated over plastic or wood. Finally found a nice simple wood nod from target.com. I made dh put it together before Christmas and everything and although he likes it, it hardly gets played with.
We'll hang on to it for now, but meh, I don't ever see it being played with like I thought it would.

skibunny59

We just bought DD this one.  

https://www.zulily.com/p/world-trump-pink-play-kitchen-59406-662352.html?pos=0&e=1&ns=ns_025178880

It was $58.99 from Zulily.  We didn't want something so huge because we don't really have a lot of space in our house but I hope it is not too small for her.  Originally I had wanted something gender neutral but we just couldn't pass up the price.  We've not assembled it yet.  DD loves helping me cook in the kitchen so I hope she likes it.

Samiantha101

I just want to add that Menards, yes Menards, has a decent kitchen set for $29. I don't remember the brand, but it doesnt look much different from those selling for 2-3 Xs the amount. It was in their ad this week.

sweetsunnyc

OMG- I have been over thinking kitchen sets all morning long! Seriously- I am so happy to see that I am not the only one that agonizes over simple decisions.

I have been looking at this one: https://www.amazon.com/KidKraft-53186-Cook-Together-Kitchen/dp/B002ODY1CY/?tag=brainz-20

But it is a little pricey for me....I really like the idea of the smaller ones that the OP listed. Space is limited for us as well