The Sleek (& Ingenious) Baby Product Swedish Parents Swear By

I’ll never forget the first time I brought my newborn son to Sweden. My Swedish cousins were baffled—first, by the fact that I swaddled him, and second, that he napped in a crib. In Sweden, swaddling isn’t really a thing, and naps? They happen in a stroller, ideally outdoors, even in winter. That was just the beginning of many differences between how I was raising my American baby versus the Swedish way.

But it wasn’t all contrast. In fact, there’s one Scandinavian parenting essential that has found a permanent place in both Swedish and American homes (including mine): the Stokke Tripp Trapp chair.

First launched in Norway in 1972, the Tripp Trapp was designed to bring babies right up to the dining table—and can now be found in more than 15 million homes worldwide. In fact, my parents used it for me in the '80s, and incredibly, that same chair is still in use decades later and looks just as good today. How many baby products can you say have that kind of durability?

I’ll be honest—one of my top concerns when shopping for baby gear was aesthetics. So many products are, well, not exactly easy on the eyes (no offense to the neon jungle-themed activity chair that currently occupies my living room). The Tripp Trapp, however, is sleek, modern and made with easy-to-clean European beech wood. Finished with water-based, nontoxic paint, it’s available in a range of colors (including fjord blue, glacier green and serene pink).

But what truly sets this chair apart is its ergonomic design. It grows with your child—from infant to teen—and is engineered to make kids feel supported and safe while eating. But don’t just take my word for it. Pediatric occupational therapist Judy Katz OTR/R is a fan and previously raved: “If adjusted correctly, baby’s legs can bend, and their feet can rest on the footrest instead of dangling down or cramping up. This, along with the ergonomic seating, creates an overall design that provides freedom of movement, while being supported and safe. This is essential because posture is so important while eating, because it affects the internal organs and the complicated anatomy of mouth and swallowing structures. Eating is a job, and babies need to be seated properly to eat efficiently without being exhausted in the process. With proper physical support of the baby’s head, core and internal organs, eating can be the focus—and it can be enjoyable, which is the most important thing.”

From giving my son his first spoonful of purée (avocado, in case you were wondering) to sitting down with him now to help him do his math homework, this chair has been a constant in our day-to-day family life. So much so, in fact, that we got a second one when my daughter was born. For her, I especially love the plastic gliders that attach to the back legs for increased stability—a handy feature for my wriggly toddler. And now, I am currently in the market for a third Stokke for my infant (you can purchase an additional insert to make the chair usable from the newborn phase). Yes, it’s not exactly cheap (prices start at $299) but this is one baby-product engineered for longevity—seriously, the chair can be used from newborn to adult thanks to its adjustable seat and footplate.

And that, I’ve come to realize, is one parenting principle my Swedish and American sides can totally agree on: Invest in the things that last—especially if they make everyday moments a little more comfortable, and a lot more beautiful.