Stokke Tripp Trapp vs Joie Mimzy Is the Premium High Chair Worth Five Times the Price?
An honest comparison of the Stokke Tripp Trapp and Joie Mimzy Snacker — two of the UK’s most popular high chairs at opposite ends of the price spectrum. We look at longevity, ergonomics, cleaning, resale value and real total cost to find out which is actually better value.
At a Glance
① Stokke Tripp Trapp — The Iconic Premium
The Stokke Tripp Trapp has been in continuous production since 1972 and is one of the most recognisable pieces of children’s furniture in the world. Its design premise is deceptively simple: a wooden chair with two adjustable horizontal boards — a seat board and a footrest — that slide up and down the angled side rails to accommodate the child at every stage of growth. From a 6-month-old using the baby set harness, through toddler, child and school-age use, and finally as a regular chair for a teenager or adult — the Tripp Trapp is designed to last a lifetime.
The ergonomic argument is strong: the adjustable footrest maintains the child’s feet supported (rather than dangling), which promotes upright posture and reduces fatigue during meals. Research on children’s posture consistently shows that supported feet improve trunk stability and comfort at the table — the Tripp Trapp is designed around this principle while most budget high chairs only gesture towards it. The beech wood construction is solid, repairable (replacement parts are available) and comes with a 7-year guarantee.
The honest limitations: the Tripp Trapp requires the £69 baby set (harness and guard rail) for use from 6 months — it is not safe without it for young babies. The tray is a further £39 add-on. The total entry cost with all accessories is approximately £407. It does not recline, which some parents find limiting for very young babies in the early weaning weeks. And it does not fold — once placed, it occupies its footprint permanently.
② Joie Mimzy Snacker — The Budget Contender
The Joie Mimzy Snacker at £59 is the UK’s bestselling budget high chair and consistently tops independent value rankings in the under-£100 category. Unlike many budget chairs that cut corners on the features that matter most for daily use, the Mimzy includes a dishwasher-safe tray (from the outset, no add-on required), an adjustable footrest, three recline positions, a five-point harness, and a compact fold that stores the chair in approximately a third of its open footprint.
The adjustable footrest — typically absent or poorly implemented at this price — is the Mimzy’s strongest ergonomic feature and the primary reason it appears in this comparison with the Tripp Trapp. Both chairs support the feet. The Mimzy does it with four adjustable positions; the Tripp Trapp with infinitely adjustable sliding boards. In practice, the Mimzy’s footrest adjustment is adequate through the high chair stage.
The Mimzy’s steel and plastic construction is robust for its price tier. It cleans easily, the tray lifts off with one hand for dishwasher cleaning, and the padded seat wipes down. Where it differs from the Tripp Trapp most significantly is longevity — the Mimzy is designed for the high chair years (approximately 6 months to 3 years), not lifetime use. It will not be a teenager’s chair. And it resells for £10–£20 rather than £150–£200.
③ Head-to-Head Comparison
④ Cleaning — The Real Daily Difference
Any parent who has cleaned a high chair after a bowl of bolognese or pureed squash will tell you that cleaning ease is not a minor consideration — it is something you deal with multiple times every day for years. On this dimension, the Joie Mimzy Snacker has a genuine practical advantage. The tray lifts off with one hand and goes into the dishwasher. The seat wipes down with a damp cloth. The footrest is smooth plastic. There are no crevices in the main food-contact areas that require a toothpick to clean.
The Stokke Tripp Trapp requires the cushion (sold separately at approximately £39) to be comfortable for young children — and that cushion, while machine washable, requires removing and replacing. The wooden seat board and frame clean easily enough, but food that gets into the joint between the seat board and the harness of the baby set requires attention. Parents who do not buy the optional cushion find the wooden seat adequate but confirm the Mimzy’s smooth plastic seat is quicker to wipe. The Tripp Trapp cleans well — but the Mimzy cleans more easily.
⑤ Real Cost Over Time — Including Resale
The net cost comparison over five years (through the high chair stage) is approximately £286 for the Tripp Trapp versus £47 for the Mimzy — a difference of £239. The Tripp Trapp’s strong resale value narrows the gap significantly (it retains more than half its purchase price second-hand), but the Mimzy is still substantially cheaper in net terms. If the Tripp Trapp continues to be used into the school-age and teenage years — as many are — its per-year cost falls further. A Tripp Trapp used for 10 years and sold for £150 has a net cost of approximately £296 over that period — or about £30 per year, not dramatically more than the Mimzy.
Buy the Tripp Trapp second-hand. Or buy the Mimzy new. Both are the right answer depending on your budget and priorities.
The Joie Mimzy Snacker is the honest recommendation for families who cannot or do not want to spend significantly on a high chair. It includes everything needed, cleans easily, adjusts correctly, and does the job well for the three or so years a high chair is needed. At £59 it is extraordinary value and there is no meaningful ergonomic or safety case against it.
The Stokke Tripp Trapp is the right choice if you want a chair that grows with your child into adulthood, that looks as good as any adult furniture in your home, and that will be used long after the high chair years. The smartest purchase route is second-hand — a well-maintained Tripp Trapp bought for £80–£120 and resold for a similar price after use gives you premium ergonomics at budget-chair net cost. If you are buying new and the £407 all-in price is within budget without strain, the Tripp Trapp is a genuinely excellent long-term purchase. If £407 requires financial juggling in the first year of parenthood — buy the Mimzy without hesitation.
