My son, who turned one in November, has finally started eating more solid foods besides Cheerios. Over the holidays, he received the Skip Hop Mate, a phthalate-free, PVC-free, and BPA-free combination divided plate and place mat. The plate is an oval-shaped plastic plate that is divided into three sections. The non-skid mat is rectangular and shaped so that the plate nests right in the center. The mat also has two little knobs that poke up where the fork and spoon fit. The mat has a cute smiley face cut into the bowl area, which also helps in taking the plate out.


The Skip Hop Mate has worked well for our set up where our child is sitting at the table with us. At the grandparents' house, where he has a space-saving high chair, we were unable to use it because his tray wasn’t big enough to fit the whole mat. It is meant to be used as a table setting anyways, but just know that if your child sits in a high chair with a tray, you will have to make sure it fits. (At home our son uses a Stokke Tripp Trapp, which is used like a chair, set up at the table). The non-skid surface does a good job of keeping the mat in place on our wood table. The way the plate pops into the tray makes it almost impossible for a child to pull the plate out of the mat, but picking up the whole mat with the plate is still a possibility. For some reason my son hasn’t attempted this one yet.

The plate is stated to be microwaveable on a low setting, although I avoid microwaving any sort of plastic as a precautionary measure, and ZRecs as a whole advises against it, too. All the pieces are dishwasher safe, top-rack only. The one thing missing, that would have made this set complete, would be a lid so you could cover the plate and store it in the refrigerator, instead of having to use plastic wrap or foil.

The Skip Hop Mate comes in three eye-pleasing colors - sky blue, orange, or raspberry - and is available at Amazon.com or the Skip Hop website. Skip Hop also sells extra utensils for $3.50 and extra plates for $5.

When I got pregnant I was excited to buy cute baby clothes and toys, but what I wasn’t excited about was having my home taken over by garishly colored baby equipment such as swings, playpens, and bouncy chairs that would turn my living room into a circus. So when it came to finding a high chair, I wanted one that didn’t stick out as obvious baby furniture but was still functional. What I found was the Stokke Tripp Trapp. There are a number of features about this high chair that make it a great chair and also a greener option compared to a traditional high chair.

The first thing I noticed is its simple and clean design. It is made from cultivated beech wood, making it a more environmentally-friendly option compared to the majority of plastic heavy high chairs. It comes in a number of different solid colors including a natural wood color that matched perfectly with our dining set. The back of the chair isn’t much higher than our table so if you were looking around our room you might not notice that it’s there. It takes up the same amount of space as a regular chair so there isn’t a need to create a huge space just for the high chair.

The Tripp Trapp does not come with a tray, which might turn off some people to it who like the idea of the baby having their own space to make as much of a mess as they want. Instead, the Tripp Trapp is meant to be pulled up to the table so the baby can eat at the table along with the rest of the family. For those who like the idea of a tray, Tripp Trapp sells an accessory called Table Top that is basically a tray that is put on the table.

There is an optional cushion that can be bought but we found it unnecessary; our baby sits comfortably without the cushion. The cushion would have also been one more thing to be regularly tossed into the washing machine. Without the cushion, the high chair is a breeze to clean. Many baby high chairs have nooks and crannies in which bits of food can accumulate. The Tripp Trapp’s simple design makes it easy to wipe down.

Two other optional accessories are the Baby Rail and a Baby Back Rest, which can be bought together as the Baby Set. The Baby Rail provides extra support and security for the baby. Although it is sold separately, I would highly recommend this accessory if you plan on using this high chair with a baby. I would not feel secure putting my baby in the chair with only the straps.

The one complaint we have with this chair is that the straps can be difficult to attach when the Baby Rail is in place since you must squeeze your hands between the baby and the rail to snap them in.

The Baby Back Rest, which can only be purchased together with the rail in the Baby Set, provides additional back support for the baby. This accessory was not available when I purchased the chair, and looking back, I don’t think we would have needed it anyway. It may come in handy when the baby is first using the chair and learning to sit up, but is something that the baby will quickly outgrow.

The Tripp Trapp is an adjustable chair that grows along with your child. The seat and footrest can be moved to different heights as your child grows taller. Eventually the straps and footrest can be removed to hold a full-sized adult of up to 300 pounds! This makes the seat a much greener option since the lifespan of the seat is much longer than your typical high chair, which can only be used until your child is about three years old. The price tag is steeper compared to other high chairs, but is comparable to other all-wood, well-designed high chairs, a price range that makes sense when you consider that it can be used throughout your child’s life, into adulthood, and perhaps even passed down to the next generation!

Have you used another brand of well-made, sustainable high chair, or the Tripp Trapp? Share your assessments or recommendations in the comments!