Stokke Tripp Trapp vs IKEA Antilop.
£295 vs £25.
The two most recommended high chairs in the UK sit at opposite ends of the price spectrum. One costs twelve times more than the other. This comparison explains exactly what you get for the difference — and who should buy which.
Both chairs were used by the Modern Parenting team over extended periods. The Stokke Tripp Trapp was tested from 6 months to 4 years with the Newborn Set and Baby Set; the IKEA Antilop from 6 months to 18 months. Scores are from our high chairs buying guide. Prices correct as of May 2026.
At a glance
Design, build quality and ergonomics
Solid European beechwood, noticeably heavy and satisfyingly rigid. The footrest and seat board slot into the chair’s uprights and can be repositioned as the child grows — this is the Tripp Trapp’s defining feature. The seat and footrest always adjust to maintain the 90-90-90 posture (hips, knees, ankles all at 90°) which ergonomic experts recommend for comfortable, distraction-free eating. In the Baby Set configuration (additional £80), it has a high backrest and removable harness suitable from 6 months. The Newborn Set (additional £70) extends use from birth.
Moulded polypropylene shell with steel legs. Feels lighter and less substantial than the Tripp Trapp, but is genuinely robust — it doesn’t flex or rattle and handles toddler abuse well. The fixed-position seat cannot be adjusted, which means younger babies may slump slightly forward and older toddlers find their feet dangling — both small issues that don’t affect safety but do affect comfort over long meals. No footrest to speak of. The separate tray snaps on and off very easily. Not suitable from birth — this is a 6-month-plus chair only.
Ease of cleaning
This is the clearest advantage the Antilop has over the Tripp Trapp — and it is not a small one. Anyone who has cleaned a high chair daily for two years will understand why it matters.
The wooden seat board and footrest wipe clean easily. The Baby Set (hard plastic backrest and sides) also wipes down without issue. The harness is the problem — it has multiple fabric straps that cannot be removed for washing in most configurations and food inevitably gets into the buckles. Stokke sells a separate harness for the older child configuration. The slot channels in the uprights where the seat board sits also trap food debris and require a brush or narrow cloth to clean properly. Not difficult, but noticeably more work than the Antilop.
Smooth, seamless plastic with nowhere for food to hide. The tray pops off in one click and is dishwasher-safe. The chair itself can be wiped down with a damp cloth in seconds or stood in the shower. There are no fabric parts, no straps, no crevices. This is the single most practical high chair to clean at any price point. At three meals a day for two years, this adds up to a significant real-world advantage.
Longevity and long-term value
This is where the Stokke’s price premium starts to make more sense — but only if you actually use it for the long term.
The Tripp Trapp’s case
With the Newborn Set, the Tripp Trapp can be used from birth. The Baby Set takes over from around 6 months. The chair itself — without any accessories — can be used from roughly 3 years old as a standard chair at any table, and remains suitable through childhood and into adulthood. Stokke offers a lifetime guarantee on the chair itself. Second-hand Tripp Trapps consistently sell for £100–150 on Facebook Marketplace, making the effective long-term cost considerably lower than the sticker price. If you plan to use it across multiple children, the per-child cost drops significantly.
The Antilop’s case
At £25, the Antilop is almost impossible to beat on absolute cost. It is usable from 6 months to approximately 3 years, which covers the period when a high chair is most needed. After that, it is not suitable as a chair at the table. At £25, replacing it rather than reselling it is not a financial issue. For a first child where budget is tight, or as a second chair for grandparents’ houses or travel, the Antilop is the rational choice without question.
Who should buy which
Buy the Stokke Tripp Trapp if:
You are planning to use it from 6 months through childhood, you eat at a table as a family and want the chair to join you without a separate tray, you prioritise ergonomics and adjustability, you value aesthetics and the chair will live in a visible part of your home, or you are planning more than one child and can spread the cost. The Tripp Trapp is genuinely one of the best-designed pieces of children’s furniture available — it earns its 9.5/10 score.
Buy the IKEA Antilop if:
Budget is a consideration at all, you have a small kitchen and want a chair that stores or travels easily, you prioritise minimal cleaning effort above everything else, you need a second chair for a relative’s house, or you are unsure how long your child will use a high chair and don’t want to commit to a significant purchase. The Antilop’s 8.6/10 reflects genuine quality for its price — it is not a compromise, it is a different set of priorities.
The Tripp Trapp is better. The Antilop is the right choice for more families.
The Stokke Tripp Trapp is an exceptional product — adjustable, ergonomic, durable and genuinely beautiful. If budget is not a constraint and you plan to use it long-term, it is the best high chair available in the UK at any price. Its 9.5 score reflects a product that does everything well.
The IKEA Antilop is the most practical high chair for daily use. It cleans in 30 seconds, costs £25 and works well from 6 months to 3 years. For most UK families — particularly first-time parents who aren’t sure what their child’s eating patterns or temperament will look like — the Antilop is the sensible starting point. You can always buy a Tripp Trapp later. You can’t get back the hours spent scrubbing harness buckles.
If you’re weighing other options, see our complete high chair buying guide or try our high chair finder quiz for a direct recommendation based on your specific situation.
