Peg Perego Prima Pappa: A High Chair With Style
Written: Feb 06 '01 (Updated Feb 06 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy, durable, height and angle adjustable
Cons: Lining is not easily removable or washable
The Bottom Line: An excellent high chair that will last from infancy through the preschool years for multiple children.
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| tjarnold's Full Review: Peg Perego Prima Pappa High Chair Roller |
When my husband and I originally purchased the Peg Perego Prima Pappa High Chair for our then one-month-old son, I think we chose it as much for the beautiful Italian design and glamour factor (inasmuch as high chairs can be glamorous) as for its usability. Three and a half years and a second child later, I’m no longer prone to such attacks of idiocy and delusion, but I still love our Prima Pappa. It’s as sturdy and durable as any high chair I’ve seen and continues to score high points from a design standpoint.
Both of my children were comfortable tasting their first bites of rice cereal while nestled in its comfortable, padded chair, and both still sit in it regularly, whether for a meal or while completing a particularly messy art project. I’m convinced it will outlive my childbearing ambitions, even if I have another baby or two. And although it’s not flawless (see the Cons section below), I think it’s worth the hefty price. Although it is not a breeze to remove and wash the chair’s lining (its only significant flaw), I nonetheless give the Prima Pappa the full 5 stars for its excellent durability, reliability, adjustability, and good looks.
Features:
~ Extra large tray (52 x 28 cm) can be easily removed with one hand and adjusted to two positions
~ Fully collapsible to 28 cm deep x 93 cm high
~ Seven height positions (from 23 inches to 34 inches)
~ Well padded and roomy enough even for preschoolers
~ 3-point harness (with stabilizer bar now available on new models)
~ Removable and washable lining
~ Chair reclinable into 4 positions
~ Wheels have rear brakes
~ Peg Perego Activity Tray sold separately
Pros:
~ The Prima Pappa is one of the sturdiest high chairs I’ve used, and I’ve never worried about it tipping over (even when one of my children is climbing on or hanging from it, both strictly forbidden activities of course, but therefore highly desirable).
~ The large tray is spacious enough for a multiple course meal or an elaborate art project, and it is very easy to clean. I usually remove the tray and clean it in the kitchen sink with dish soap and warm water, but I’ve also been known to douse it with a disinfecting spray and vigorously scrub it with paper towels if the sink is full.
~ The multiple height adjustments make it simple to place your child at the desired level, whether exactly at table height or in the lowest position so a larger child could actually place his or her feet on the floor.
~ The seat is roomy enough to accommodate children even as old as 4 or 5, depending on size. Smaller infants might need some extra support in such a large seat, but a soft, folded towel usually suffices in such situations.
~ The fact that the seat is adjustable to 4 positions is convenient for younger babies in particular. I recall several times during which my child fell asleep while eating or watching me do chores from the safety and high perch of the Prima Pappa.
Cons:
~ Although Peg Perego claims that the padded lining is easily removable and washable, I strongly disagree. Upon my first attempt at removing the lining, a hidden snap tore free from its backing. After examining the materials of the lining upon complete removal, I am not fully confident in its ability to withstand machine washing, so I wash it by hand.
~ We chose to purchase the Prima Pappa in white leatherette because, at the time, we were determined not to fill our home with garish and inelegant fabric prints. Three years later, the house could never be mistaken for anything other than that of two young children, and the white high chair lining shows every irremovable stain to which it’s ever been subjected. I strongly suggest a print (which will camouflage stains), and particularly one with darker colors. Available patterns vary, but check www.perego.com or your favorite retailer for options.
~ Although it is easily collapsible, the Prima Pappa does take up a good deal of floor space when open (approximately 27 x 23 inches).
~ Not unlike some other high chairs, there are a few difficult to clean nooks and crannies in the Prima Pappa. If I were a Perfect Mother, I’m sure I could clean out every crumb and speck of dried pabulum with a toothpick and a Q-tip, but since I’m far from the ideal, I try to quickly look the other way when such encrusted crevices come into my line of sight.
~ Some users complain that the tray is a bit high for younger infants, such as those just beginning to eat solids at 4 months, but since babies of this age are not exactly feeding themselves or holding their own bowls and spoons, I did not find this to be an issue. I simply tipped the seat back to an appropriate angle and removed the tray to feed my younger babies.
Warranty:
The Prima Pappa High Chair comes with a 90-day warranty which covers the original retail purchaser against defects in material and workmanship.
Availability:
I purchased the high chair from the Baby Catalog of America (www.babycatalog.com), which has an outlet near my home, for approximately $150. Click on the “Check latest prices” tab on the right side of this page for an excellent comparison of online retailers’ prices, or visit www.perego.com to find the closest brick-and-mortar Perego dealer near you. Because Peg Perego is a higher end brand, its high chairs and strollers tend not to be carried by mass market merchants such as Toys R Us (even though its ride-on vehicles are sometimes seen in these retail outlets).
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tjarnold
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Location: Connecticut, but I'm a Hoosier at heart
Reviews written: 83
Trusted by: 88 members
About Me:
Mother of two, manager of many. Whatever happened to the myth of "The Total Woman"?
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