Young kids and counter height chairs/tables?

groovygrl

We just moved and my twins are 2 1/2. Our kitchen table and chairs are my in law's old ones from when MH was a kid and are sooooo beat up and disgusting and even held together by 2x4s. We kept it when they were young bc we knew they'd destroy it even worse than it was, which they did, but now we live in a new home and I am so grossed out by this table, not to mention it looks horrific in this setting. We have a counter height bar in the kitchen and thought it would be nice to get counter height table and chairs w two extra for the bar that could be used at the table when needed. But, I am not sure about kids this age climbing up on that height of chair, esp when they have boosters seats on them (we have the kind that strap onto the chair). I won't be getting another kitchen table for many years so I want something good that will last and serve us well but would love thoughts on little kids and higher chairs. I know I hate when they try to climb on our old barstools bc of the tip factore and falling off once they're up there.... Thanks!

Brewtowngrl

They are going to climb whatever is there.  DS1 gave himself a black eye this winter on a stool, but he would have done it on a regular height one too because of how he fell.  We do have good chairs that are for our counter height table instead of stools. Make sure they are nice and study with 4 legs and i would not worry.    

daisies0406

we have had a bar height table since before we had kids and both kids have been fine with climbing up on the chairs.  there were some tumbles when they were learning to climb, but nothing horrible.  dd (4 yo) uses just the chair and sits on her knees and ds uses a booster seat (he'll be 3 in may) and he climbs into his booster seat just fine.

2bulldogmom

We have a counter height table with four chairs in our kitchen.  There is a rung on the chairs and DD is able to climb up them very well.  At first I was hesitant about her climbing up them, but she does a good job getting up and down.  Our booster seat was just fine on them.  DD even climbed up into the booster chair at dinner.  I don't see a problem with the height of the chair at all.  Plus, I like the higher chair so that I can scoot it up to our counters so she can help/watch me prepare food.  It also helps her reach the kitchen sink better to wash her hands.

annibes

We have one and I was worried about it at first, but O does fine. He doesn't use a booster. He climbs up and sits pretty well. He sometimes tumbles when he tries to get down fast, but he doesn't do it often. I go back and forth on the table. I like it, but you do have to be more careful about chairs tipping and kids climbing. One thing I would do differently is that I don't have cushioned chairs and O slides all over the wood when he is squirmy. I don't want to tie a cushion because that would slide, too. That and I don't feel comfortable putting him in a booster that high up, so he kneels. Something with padding would be more comfortable for him (but also more messy, so there's that catch). Ha. Good thing I came here and wrote a novel that doesn't help at all... Good luck on your search! 

groovygrl

2bulldogmom:

We have a counter height table with four chairs in our kitchen.  There is a rung on the chairs and DD is able to climb up them very well.  At first I was hesitant about her climbing up them, but she does a good job getting up and down.  Our booster seat was just fine on them.  DD even climbed up into the booster chair at dinner.  I don't see a problem with the height of the chair at all.  Plus, I like the higher chair so that I can scoot it up to our counters so she can help/watch me prepare food.  It also helps her reach the kitchen sink better to wash her hands.

Great points... Thanks everyone for your input! It seems silly not to go w the best option over something they can learn to do quickly and wouldn't be an issue in 4 months...I guess we will se what is out there!

Mrs.BoomBoom

My kid's not a climber and can't even get into our 'normal' chairs so I don't know how he'd get into a counter height chair.