Please help me choose between these two wooden kitchens!

[citymama]

I'm looking to buy a not-too-large wooden kitchen for my 20-month old DD. I've narrowed it down to these two (unless I get some other wonderful suggestions to add to the mix!). I would love to get any advice or votes for and against either of these, especially if you have one of these two kitchens. I'm looking for something that will last and she can continue to play with as she gets older.

1) The HaPe/Educo French Kitchen sold by Oompa Toys:

http://www.oompa.com/cgi-bin/item/WH706920

OR

2) The KidCraft kitchen sold by Sensational Beginnings:

http://www.sensationalbeginnings.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=G+4+135X

The KidCraft one looks sturdier - stainless steel faucets and sink - but is made of MDF. It doesn't say where it's made. The Educo is wooden, but made in China! :-(

Let me know what you think! Thanks.

[taraalissa]

I would suggest doing a search for wooden kitchens on this board. They have been discussed excessively........

[citymama]

Yes, I've viewed all the recent ones, and contributed to them too! I haven't seen much written much about the KidCraft Euro Kitchen (although I first heard about it here), and not much about the Educo either. I know several of us have been weighing these 2 and a couple of others - so if there are any folks out there with real-life experience with these, let me know! I still would appreciate the advice. Many thanks.

[AmyZ]

Well, I don't have either, but I'm wondering how big they really are (I know measurements are listed, but my mommy-brain is not working). I just want to caution you that you might want something a bit bigger/taller if you are looking for something she can really grow into.

We've got this one, and it has been great.
http://www.sensoryedge.com/kiwoprplki.html

Amy Z

Eliana 2/04
Abigail 1/07
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[Meatball Mommie]

Hearthsong also sells your kitchen #1 (same price). Their catalog says that theirs is made from Baltic birch, although it doesn't say where it's manufactured. Hearthsong has a blurb in their catalog about product testing that's worth reading, so I'd feel comfortable about ordering from them. BTW, they call it the "mini kitchen" HTH!

Karen
Mommy to 2 boys (2.5 and 4 yrs)

[citymama]

Thanks for the feedback re product testing; that's good to know. I've read elsewhere that the parts (including paints) are all European, and assembled at HaPe's factory in China.

There are two versions of the HaPe Kitchen - the stand-alone French Kitchen (http://www.oompa.com/cgi-bin/item/WH706920)
and the tabletop Mini-Kitchenette (http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/WH706910/Educo-French-Kitchenette-Instantanee---FREE-SHIPPING.html).
Based on other postings re kitchens, it sounds like the mini-kitchen might be a little too small - plus I like the idea of having extra storage space for all the little kitchen stuff!

[megulis]

Pretend Kitchen Furniture

http://hearthsong.com/hearthsong/product.do?section_id=0&bc=1005&pgc=492&cmvalue=HS|0|Normal%20Search%20Result|P3

We have the sink and stove combo. It isn't small and works well with my almost 2 yo and 4 yo. It has a small footprint, and it isn't flashy. It is a bit more than you are looking for, but it is big enough so my 4 yo can go in and stick his head out of the sink hole opening.

I'm not sure if this would help, but there are some codes through shop.com :

http://wow-coupons.com/search.php?Search=hearthsong

Edited to say: This is much cheaper! Same but different colors. I think I would still buy the one at Hearthsong, but some may like the price on this MUCH better!

http://www.sensationalbeginnings.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=G+4+521X&Cat=

[citymama]

Thank you so much! I was also looking at the Small World Toys kitchen on the Sensational Beginnings website. I don't know enough about Hearthsong to know whether their kitchen would be a better product for the extra $50, but it's good to know it has worked for your kids. Always good to get the kid-tested product plug!

[kellij]

Hi. I sent you a pm.

Thanks,
Kelli

[megulis]

I believe they must be the same. They look the same and is sold under the Small World brand name.

Here is the google search:

http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=small+world+sink+stove&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1

As you can see both colors show up.

[citymama]

Hi Kelli, I didn't receive a PM from you, so try resending! Thanks. :-)

[megulis]

Post doubled.

[megulis]

Hmm... It may be that Pintoys is the same. It seems a mix between the red and white Small World sink and stove and the primary color one.

http://www.littlefishtoys.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=693

The only thing I would be careful of is the dimensions because sometimes it is discounted because it is a smaller version or more cheaply made.