Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have 2 children who are 2 years apart in age. I bought one chair when my oldest was 2 1/2-ish and I needed the highchair he was still using for my then nine month old daughter. I have a small home and only enough space for a breakfast table. I needed the extra chairs for guests. So it was worth it to me to buy an additional chair for my child. Also, I read one reviewer who said that kids will squirm less and be interested in their food if the chair they sit it fits them well. I found that to be true. My kids are now 6 and 4. Each of them has a Stokke chair that fits them well AND that they have always been able to climb into and out of themselves. I think this is important for their sense of self reliance. I have two complaints and they are small (and this is why fours stars instead of five): 1) the sticker on the back with the warnings is ugly and has to be removed with goo gone takes a good half hour. 2) the straps never worked right, I never used them and eventually took them off. I could not adjust them properly and the kids would struggle to get out for only the reason that they felt confined. Both of my kids have fallen out of their seats without injury- I believe this is part of childhood and they learn very quickly to sit properly. The seat itself has never toppled- EVER. Because I found the straps useless I recommend that you not use this seat until the child is able to climb up on his or her own- like at age 2 or more. These chairs are pricey but the cost of replacing or repairing our nice dining chair (which is part of a matched set) after it is scratched/stained from having a booster seat attached to it is probably comparable. My advice is this: spend your money on the items that you use everyday- seats like these, rockingchairs/furnishings, quality cribs and sheets, quality adaptive equipment like stools and toilet inserts. Get things that will hold up and feel secure for children to use. The added benefit is that when you are done with them and have enjoyed using them they have life left in them and you can sell them for a fair price at your next garage sale, or on craigslist, or hand them off with pride to someone else etc. The chairs are durable and look brand new still. ps. I don't have the cushions. Just one more thing to wash. I don't feel they are necessary for comfort or anything. 8/29/12 update: Still in the same tiny house and still using the Stokkes chairs. Kids are now 7 and 9. I've offered to have them sit in the regular dining chair but they refuse! We just keep adjusting the foot rests for their growth. The chairs have held up beautifully. My daughter pushes her Stokke chair over to her electric piano for her lessons she likes it better than the piano bench because she sits higher and her feet don't dangle. An unexpected benefit! I upgraded to five stars.