Help me sort through play kitchens

[KBecks]

I've been through several older threads and am debating what to do. We were going to build one, but now time is limited so it will be faster and easier and possibly cheaper to buy one.

Here are some options. I'm not sure whether to purchase something less expensive or to get something more expensive and plan to resell later. Alek is 3.5, John is 21 months and we'll have a third so 3 kids will play. We also have a small house so this will need to fit in one of the kids bedrooms or the living room. $300 would be our max limit and I'd expect to get about 1/3 of the purchase price in resale.

My head is swimming with options. What do you think are the best features? Do kids need "counter space" in their play kitchens? Is a fridge needed? Do any of you have these kitchens and how do you and your kids like them? I'd love to hear more about your decision making. I'd like to figure this out soon and be done with it. I'm going to have to take a look at all the measurements more closely before deciding. Thanks for your input and insights!


From Wal Mart - $110
very similar to what Dave would have built. He may want to put in extra shelves and fix up the oven latch
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5811326

Islands like Marvel or Guidecraft / $280 / $260

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J4HXSE?smid=AKIF9H2938F9W&tag=nextag-toys-mp-20&linkCode=asn

http://www.amazon.com/Toys-Pretend-Play-G97255-Kitchen/dp/B0007P5H8S/ref=pd_sbs_t_title_2

Kidcraft kitchens

Ultimate wood
http://www.amazon.com/Kidkraft-Ultimate-Wood-Play-Kitchen/dp/B000K7CPLK/ref=pd_sbs_t_title_2

Small pastel
http://www.albeebaby.com/kidkraft-small-pastel-kitchen-53102.html


Willow
I'd be leaning toward Liam's kitchen
http://www.willowtoys.com/catalog.php?category=1

Land of Nod - just stove and sink
http://www.landofnod.com/family.aspx?c=3146&f=4051&pc=2893

Educo - inexpensive but seems small? maybe that's good?
http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/WH706920/WH-Swiss---Educo-French-Kitchen---FREE-SHIPPING.html

Constructive playthings classic wood kitchen, could get both pieces
http://www.constplay.com/family/default.htm (have to put kitchen in search to see)

Elves and Angels
http://www.waldorftreasures.com/naturaltoysandgames/elvesandangels/elvesandangels.htm

Or....l could get something plastic on craigslist pretty easy for under $50.
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bab/608235462.html

[Lolabee]

I've been eyeing that Marvel Kitchen too, so I'm interested to see if anyone else has a review of it.

[hellokitty]

We have the small kidkraft (and I have boys), and we like it (have had it since christmas 2006). The only thing that really bugged me is how flimsy the brackets were for the oven shelf they should have made it a long piece of wood on each side, instead of four small brakets for each corner. My kids broke it within 6 hrs of being introduced to the kitchen on christmas morning! My DH said he'd fixed, it, but never got around to it. It is totally functional w/o it, it was just the, "rack" for the oven. I guess it worked out ok, b/c my kids like to sit inside the oven anyway and close the door! Otherwise, it's a great set, my boys are hard on their toys, it is holding up fantastic (other than that shelf, which I believe to be more of a design issue) and I'm glad I did not get the bigger one with the fridge, b/c I think it would take up too much space. This one is just right, not too big, but not too small (we had a really cheapy set before this one and it was waaaay too small). An added plus is that I put their CD player on the top of the kitchen, so they don't really mess with it. I also thought the price was reasonable for what we got, at the time target had a good price with free shipping. Oh, and it was easy to put together too!

[hellokitty]

Oh, and I wanted to add that I did not want to get a plastic one, b/c my boys would find a way to knock it over and also I notice that plastic ones always end up looking really gross, b/c of the texture they use on the plastic. It gets grungy very easily.

As for the marvel one, which looks to be one that does NOT go up against a wall. My boys would also figure out a way to topple it over. That is why I went with a model that goes up against the wall. My boys have tried to climb our set before, I know the only reason it did not topple was b/c it was up against the wall. The play kitchens that are island styles just wouldn't stand a chance with my kids.

[KBecks]

Thanks so much. I thought the island ones would be better because there is more room to play but I think we don't have enough floor space to put it somewhere where the kids can be all around it anyway. The price is also on the high end and more than I'd like to spend if shipping is added in.

I'm glad to know the smaller size Kidkraft is working well for you. Thanks!

[tylersmama]

We have the Play Wonder kitchen (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/601-8126539-0341756?asin=B000R05W92&AFID=Shopzilla&LNM=B000R05W92%7CPlay_Wonder_Big_Kitchen_Center_Se t&ref=tgt_adv_XSB10001) from Target. It was $99. It's relatively small, made of wood, not plastic (for the most part). I will say that it was a PITA to put together, but other than that, I've been completely happy with it. It's nice and sturdy. And I appreciated that it was blue, not pink! :)

I didn't look around too much. My best friend has this same kitchen for her DD and I already knew that DS loved playing with it when over at their house. The price was right, it was wood, not plastic, and it wasn't too girly. Plus, I was able to pick it up locally and not have to wait on or pay for shipping.

[Aishe]

We have the Educo kitchen. It's just about the cutest thing I've ever seen and my 2 yr old dd loves it. But it's really quite small and I can't imagine three children playing with it at the same time. Two would probably work, but definitely not three.

[pastrygirl]

I have the Educo one, too. It IS small, but perfect for my 21-month old! He loves it! I think he'll play with it for a long time, but I agree that it's not big enough for a few kids to share. We didn't have much space for it, and the price was right (around $80 shipped) so it was a great choice for me.

[MamaMolly]

Since everything you are considering except the last one are wood, then I'd get wood. It seems like that is the way you are leaning.

I think the first one from Walmart is a nice choice. I don't think you'll have the room for the island style. And I don't know why, but the pastel ones are sooooo icky to me. Maybe because it isn't all one color?

I love the Land of Nod kitchen. Why don't you want the fridge, too?

[1964pandora]

How about $350 including shipping? I haven't regretted this purchase for one minute. It's heirloom quality. You could most certainly get most of your money back if you decided to sell it. It's GORGEOUS IRL. I know it's not practical for most people, but my boys play with it every, single day and I expect them to continue for a while, so it was totally worth it.

http://www.palumba.com/product/31/18

If my link doesn't work, it's Camden Rose's simple hearth, made entirely from cherry wood with walnut and birch accents. Rosie Hippo's sells it too.

Susan

[deenass]

Not to confuse you any more, but we have the blue "retro" kitchen from KidCraft - it was very important to my son that it be blue because, it is one of "his" colors.

We ordered it from Walmart - if you have it shipped to a Walmart store and then fo pick it up there is no shipping fee.

DS 2 likes to open and close the doors, DS 1 likes to play restaurant with his friends with it - I've been happy with it (the microwave even has a rotating tray!)

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8153911&sourceid=1500000000000003260420&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8153911

[WatchingThemGrow]

We have the Primary Island Kitchen from Kidkraft. Got it from Costco.com for $118 shipped last fall as an early Christmas present from the ILs. Totally cool, takes up like 2 feet of wall space if it's in the "island" mode (the sink side is pushed against the wall today), 2 wheels, a lot taller than their retro kitchens, gender neutral colors, great storage space, I could go on and on... I know I got the last new one on the planet, though, so that's not an option for you.

What I CAN tell you, though is about Kidkraft. The quality of it is not spectacular (compared to PBK) in terms of everything fitting together just right. Maybe it was my friend who put it together when DS was born, or maybe it was the kitchen itself. HOWEVER, Kidkraft has been EXCELLENT to deal with! I never would have imagined, but they sent me new pieces TWO times. If a part wasn't working right (our issue or a manufacturing problem), they have *free of charge* sent the new parts to us asap. Granted, it was no fun having to turn the thing over and install a new wheel bracket, but I've never had such great customer service. DH is storing the extra parts in the attic, and I think he's going to try to build a 2nd kitchen one day with all the parts we have!

[KBecks]

I love the Land of Nod kitchen. Why don't you want the fridge, too?

It's not about not wanting the fridge, it's just the high cost of both pieces.

[MamaMolly]

It's not about not wanting the fridge, it's just the high cost of both pieces.

Ah! I guess that in my giddiness of spending all your money I overlooked just one teensie detail ;) . Luckily there are still plenty of great choices out there that are more reasonable. Let us know what you decide and how your kiddos like it.

[citymama]

We have the Educo one and it's fantastic. It's beautifully made, doesn't take up too much room, comes with great accessories - and is affordable. It'll be great for your 21 month old and new baby, but if your oldest is into play kitchens, I think it might be small for him.

Maybe it's just a personal style thing, but I love wooden kitchens and don't care much for the plastic lights-and-sounds ones. That said, I don't think I'd spend hundreds of dollars on a Willow or PBK kitchen. And given that we have very little space, am very happy with the Educo. After we bought ours, I saw a Willow on our local craiglist for under $80, so I would recommend keeping an eye on craigslist (search for wooden kitchen!) if you're on a budget.

BTW, there are *extensive* archived discussions on play kitchens on the board, so do a search! Those old threads helped me when I was deciding which one to get last Xmas. The $100 Target blue wooden kitchen looked great to me at the time, and people who have it have liked it. I think $150 was the outside limit of what I was willing to spend for a wooden kitchen, but if I was on a bigger budget, that Liam Willow kitchen is pretty adorable.

Good luck!

[KBecks]

We have the Play Wonder kitchen (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/601-8126539-0341756?asin=B000R05W92&AFID=Shopzilla&LNM=B000R05W92%7CPlay_Wonder_Big_Kitchen_Center_Se t&ref=tgt_adv_XSB10001) from Target. It was $99. It's relatively small, made of wood, not plastic (for the most part). I will say that it was a PITA to put together, but other than that, I've been completely happy with it. It's nice and sturdy. And I appreciated that it was blue, not pink! :)

I like how the Target play wonder one looks. I wonder if it is big enough for two kids to share, though. It's a nice option.

[KBecks]

How about $350 including shipping? I haven't regretted this purchase for one minute. It's heirloom quality. You could most certainly get most of your money back if you decided to sell it. It's GORGEOUS IRL. I know it's not practical for most people, but my boys play with it every, single day and I expect them to continue for a while, so it was totally worth it.

http://www.palumba.com/product/31/18

If my link doesn't work, it's Camden Rose's simple hearth, made entirely from cherry wood with walnut and birch accents. Rosie Hippo's sells it too.

Susan


It's absolutely gorgeous, but I'm hesitant to put $350 into a kitchen. Last night I was thinking I should try to keep it under $200. I think you have a fantastic kitchen though!

I need to decide where this play kitchen will go...... if it should be in our living room, or if it should be in John's bedroom, or if I should tuck it into the family room.

I'm thinking the Constructive Playthings is a nice value at $160, and I like the Kidkraft options too. I think the Wal Mart magic chef ones are too short, I'd like 24" to the counter.

Will do more measuring and I will let everyone know what we do!

[KBecks]

Not to confuse you any more, but we have the blue "retro" kitchen from KidCraft - it was very important to my son that it be blue because, it is one of "his" colors.

We ordered it from Walmart - if you have it shipped to a Walmart store and then fo pick it up there is no shipping fee.

DS 2 likes to open and close the doors, DS 1 likes to play restaurant with his friends with it - I've been happy with it (the microwave even has a rotating tray!)

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8153911&sourceid=1500000000000003260420&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8153911


I'm glad you pointed this one out, thanks. I found it in red too.

[KBecks]

We have the Educo one and it's fantastic. It's beautifully made, doesn't take up too much room, comes with great accessories - and is affordable. It'll be great for your 21 month old and new baby, but if your oldest is into play kitchens, I think it might be small for him.

Maybe it's just a personal style thing, but I love wooden kitchens and don't care much for the plastic lights-and-sounds ones. That said, I don't think I'd spend hundreds of dollars on a Willow or PBK kitchen.
Good luck!


I'm pretty sure my oldest will play in the kitchen, so I want something that gives him a chance to play and most importantly gives both boys a chance to play together without pushing. The 22" / 24" width of the Willow / Elves & Angels seems small to me, so I'm really thinking about whether that will work out or if I should get a longer unit or if I need an extra fridge piece to give them both space.

The one reason I think I could spend more is because the kitchen should work for 3 kids and then I can justify it, kind of. Goodness knows what I've spend on wooden trains, it's not like I've never spent on toys before. :)

I found the mother of all kitchen threads last night and bookmarked a lot more items.

[Lolabee]

Just in case anyone interested and in the Chicago area, I was at the Land of Nod outlet over the weekend and they had one of their kitchen sink/ovens at a pretty significant discount. I'm guessing that it was a floor sample.

Hope that helps someone, I almost snatched it up myself but we're waiting until we move into a bigger place this summer before we actually purchase a play kitchen for our kids.

[KBecks]

OK, I think I've got this somewhat narrowed down...... I'm going to focus in on....


The Target Play Wonder Kitchen - $100ish?
http://www.target.com/Play-Wonder-Big-Kitchen-Center/dp/B000R05W92/ref=cm_reviews_dptop_next/601-0167941-1955344?ie=UTF8&sortOption=-SubmissionDate&alt%5Fview=custReviews&start=11


One of the KidKraft Kitchens

Large
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3335014
anyone know how bright the pink is on this?

oh but I found it in primary colors too, more $
http://www.ctcgifts.org/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1125

Small
http://www.albeebaby.com/kidkraft-small-pastel-kitchen-53102.html

Retro
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8153911&sourceid=1500000000000003260420&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8153911
i've seen this in blue and red online

and this appears to be a new design, I think it's adorable!
Prairie Play kitchen
http://eplayfurniture.com/prairie_play_kitchen.htm

or the Constructive Playthings Kitchen set - $160
http://www.constplay.com/family/default.htm


OK, I think the Constructive Playthings might have the most versatility because it is 2 pieces, and I'm inclined to go that route. Anyone have it?

I thought the Target Play wonder looked small in the store, but I'm a lot bigger than my kids. I think its' cute and I like that it has the little counter to the side. The Target reviews about assembly are scaring me.

I like that the KidCraft larger kitchens are nice and big and wide so both boys could play. I am not sure about pastels and I don't like that it doesn't have "counter space" but we have a little table that is good for that. I'm not sure it's worth it to pay more for the primary colors and the diamond backsplash makes me dizzy, at least online. The smaller one is a very good buy also. I like the new white one.

I love the natural wood but that would be more for me than my kids, and we would only get a basic stove/sink for $200. Maybe that's all they need though. I still like the natural wood ones. Do you think a fridge is necessary?

[MMMommy]

If you want multiple children to play with the kitchen at the same time, I probably wouldn't get the Target Play Wonder Kitchen. In person, it seems pretty small. The Kidkraft large kitchen (pastel or primary) has been around for years and is very popular. I would pick the Kidkraft large kitchen for its size and price. I also think the retro Kidkraft one is cute too, but it seems smaller than the Kidkraft large kitchen (though I don't know for sure).

[brittone2]

We have an E&A kitchen and fridge and I love it. That said, DS had an MDF curbside find (I couldn't even tell you the brand because I think it is pretty old) that we picked up before our move several years ago, thinking we could use it until we were settled into the new house, etc. It had a fridge built in (it was kind of like a small scale kidkraft). DH painted it a bit, and we spruced it up, and DH played with it a lot for more than 2 years.

This past Christmas I decided to replace it, thinking it wouldn't make it through 3+ years more of play (now that we have DD). We opted for an E&A kitchen. It was definitely for me, because DS was really happy with his free, cheapo curbside find kitchen ;) We put the other one on our porch Christmas night, and didn't get rid of it, thankfully. DS was actually sad to see it outside Christmas morning :( He loved that thing. We still have it LOL. DH is building the kids a big play structure and I think we're going to put it outside since it isn't really worth anything anyway. It won't last forever outside (under the fort portion of the play structure), and if it falls apart I'll probably pick up a 10-15 dollar cheapo play kitchen from craiglist to put outside.

I like that the E&A is heirloom quality. I opted for that over Willow because before the holidays I was able to find a coupon code for threesisters for 12% off or so (on the E&A), which helped. My favs are E&A, Willow, and the Camden Rose pieces. The pine does dent, but I think that's part of the rustic charm. We have the fridge but it is mostly just storage. You could certainly do without it. I liked the E&A kitchen that had the small built in fridge.

I like supporting a small family owned business. I like that we can sand and repair "real" wood. Pine doesn't have the offgassing of formaldehyde like MDF/particle board types of pieces (although I have plenty of those in my house as well, unfortunately).

In terms of play value, I think kids tend to enjoy any version of a kitchen. How much aesthetics, made in the USA vs. abroad, MDF vs. wood, etc. matters is just personal preference IMO. I doubt your kids will care, which is the good news :)

[KBecks]

Aaaaah, Beth, I knew I would get the wood kitchen lust. If I were to go that route, it would either be the cheapest one they have with sink, stove and cabinet, for $200 -- or..... this one

http://www.hazelnutkids.com/cgi-bin/item/EA1893/america/Elves-&-Angels-Victoria's-Wooden-Kitchen


OK, so now I'm looking at all the E&A sellers and Blueberry Forest mentions that several models are discontinued in March 08, but other sites are showing them still for sale. We'd probably go with one of the basic models anyway. I'm not sure we're going with an E&A kitchen but I do see the benefit of the finish and made in USA, lifetime warranty and no assembly required. We could start with the sink/stove and add a fridge later if we think we need it. More to think about. Beth, which one did you get and the transition to the new kitchen really went OK? Is there anything you don't like about it?

[brittone2]

Sorry to add to your confusion :)

I was stuck between the Suzanne and the Julianna kitchen. We ended up with the Julianna's and are happy with it. If we went w/ the Suzanne it would have been a bit cheaper, and we really, really have pared down our play food (got rid of a lot of Target and M&D stuff), so we don't need a ton of storage overall. I just wasn't sure how tiny the fridge portion was on the Suzanne.

I really like the one you posted too. When DS was really small he loved the dishwasher on one of the PBK kitchens they had in store. It was his favorite part!

[LBW]

We've had the Willow kitchen for a few (couple? my memory is awful!) years, and I can't say enough good things about it. I love the way it looks and feels. It has such longevity. DS1 still plays with it - he's 5 1/2. My middle son is finally "cooking" now, too. The boys' friends also enjoy playing with it. We also have the fridge, which is mostly used for storage.

I *love* that it is solid wood. We've had other toys that were MDF or fiberboard, and they just haven't held up to the way my rough and tumble boys play. The kitchen, however, still looks great. The wood had darkened into a lovely, dark honey color. It fits in well with our family room furnishings, adding a great homey feel.

I know it's a lot of money, but you will have it for a long time. You'll look at it every day...so pick the one you love the most.

If you add Willow back to your list, check ebay. The maker used to sometimes list them on his ebay store for a little less. You could also try emailing him for a better price. I know I bought ours when he offered a BBB discount.

[1964pandora]

Karen, I should add that my niece got the kitchen from Costco this Christmas and it is a total mess right now. Her younger brother has been able to really mess it up. It came with a refridgerator that was so poorly made that they had to put it away. It also tipped over very, very easily. I mention this because I think it's a Kidcraft or something like that, made of MDF. I really think that real wood is the way to go. Seriously, I wish you could see this MDF kitchen and the sad shape it's already in after 2.5 months! It's not just the MDF vs. wood issue. It's the craftsmanship. My niece's kitchen is so poorly made that the screws fall out, and my SIL finds them all over the house. Kitchens like E&A and Willow have countersunk screws, and sturdy craftsmanship that the other kitchens we're discussing just do not have. The E&A or Willow ones really seem soooo great compared to those other ones.

Susan

[KBecks]

DH has OK'd a $200 kitchen (or thereabouts - so I'm hoping for under $250 shipped) so I think I'm going to go for a Willow or E&A kitchen. I think the appeal of coming pre-assembled is a big bonus for us, and I think it will resell fine if I want to later. So now it's a matter of deciding the exact model and what store to use. Yay!

[1964pandora]

DH has OK'd a $200 kitchen (or thereabouts - so I'm hoping for under $250 shipped) so I think I'm going to go for a Willow or E&A kitchen. I think the appeal of coming pre-assembled is a big bonus for us, and I think it will resell fine if I want to later. So now it's a matter of deciding the exact model and what store to use. Yay!

Double yay! Happy for you!

Susan

[KBecks]

Now I need to decide b/w the Juliana and Lucy - elves and angels. I wasworried the extra shelf on top would get in the way but it looks ok. The Lucy also has a shelf inside the cabinet and an oven window. The best price I found was blueberry forest.

http://www.blueberryforest.com/kitchen_grocery_play/wooden_kitchen_furniture.htm

which one?

[brittone2]

We have the Julianna but our door opens like the Lucy (hinge on bottom not the side) and it has the cut out door like the Lucy. It has one shelf vs. two.

Depending on your needs for storage, I might opt for the 2 shelves/inner shelves in the cabinets on the Lucy if you aren't getting a fridge. I think it depends on if you see you/your kids displaying a tea set, food, etc. on the shelves. If you think that's reasonable, the extra space on the 2nd shelf of the Lucy might be nice.

That said, we have the Julianna (w/ a separate fridge) and I don't miss having the 2nd shelf at all.

[MMMommy]

Between the Juliana and the Lucy, my vote is for the Lucy! I think the Lucy is cuter, and I like the shelf on the bottom level. Cute!

[KBecks]

OK, I ordered the Lucy tonight. I hope they love it. I took a long look at that cherry $350 but then came back to reality. This should be a great kitchen. I was concerned that some people said their kids stand on the oven door, which made me consider the Juliana, but then figured they could just as easily get on the Juliana oven door if that's what they wanted to do and I think the extra shelves will be nice. I hope I love it. :)

[KBecks]

Oh, and I think if we run out of storage, I'm going to put extra play food into an adult size picnic basket. We had one but I may have given it to goodwill before kids. I need pans too.

[1964pandora]

I need pans too.

The pan set at Palumba is fantastic. My kids have abused them terribly and there's not a dent on them.

[KBecks]

The pan set at Palumba is fantastic. My kids have abused them terribly and there's not a dent on them.

I can't find pans on their site. I see a cute and reasonably priced strainer. You know I contemplated the cherry kitchen again a good while before finally going with the Lucy kitchen. It is very nice, but we'll be OK and DH is happy I didn't spend another $100.

Let me know where the pans are! I saw some adorable enamel dishes at nova natural that are so adorable but they were very spendy.

Otherwise I'm thinking of the M&D set? I scoped out a couple things at Amazon but nothing that grabbed me.

[citymama]

M&D cutting play food is pretty good. I looked at HABA but absolutely rejected it because of the size - that stuff is a choking hazard! Especially if you have a new little one on the way. Plan Toys also makes wooden play food that looks cute.

Re pans - we just got the baking and cooking sets from IKEA in stainless steel and they ROCK! They look like very expensive kids' cookware, but they're relatively inexpensive. And they're made out of the same stainless steel as regular IKEA cookware, so with supervision, they can actually use the little cake tin to bake a cake in your real oven one day! We also have some wooden cookware that came with the Educo kitchen, which is very nice.

[1964pandora]

Oops, looks like Palumba stopped selling it. It was the set that is shown in the photos with the kitchen. I'm sure you'll find a great set. It sounds like the one at IKEA is really good!

I was very, very surprised, but we love the Haba food more than any other play food. I used to think it was too small, but when I saw the kids playing with it I realized that it's the perfect size for little hands. It's not small enough to choke on, though. I got it all deeply discounted from some on-line store.

Susan

ETA: Make sure you tell us how you like your new kitchen! I'm sure you'll love it and so will your kids. LOL

[KBecks]

I wish I had an IKEA nearby. A friend goes near one in Chicago once or twice a month, so an option would be to ask her to pick some pans for us. Otherwise I'm looking at these 2 sets at Amazon.

Melissa & Doug wood
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000VWQ6C8/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Stainless steel set
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000KFWQKW/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ADUDTVVT31V3E&v=glance

I just looked at the kitchens again and I think the Juliana is cuter than the Lucy. Gaa! It will be OK. It will be OK. I wonder how long it will take for our kitchen to get here?

I am hoping to make some felt play food but I'm sure we'll get some other play food items too eventually. I want to be careful and not overdo the amount of stuff.

[KBecks]

I decided to order the M&D set since the pan sizes seem nice - 4 and 5 inches, and its' wood (less noisy?). We'll see it when it gets here. I thought I remember people liking M&D pans but maybe I'm wrong.

[Drag0nflygirl]

I think you made the right call. We have the Ikea set and it's really small. I wouldn't mind something a bit bigger - but for $9 it's hard to argue.

[citymama]

We have the Ikea set and it's really small.

the M&D set looks great - will go well with your kitchen. As for the IKEA set, maybe they have 2 versions? Our set looks to me like the same size or larger than other play cookware I've seen - any larger and it would be competing with our real cookware!

Some of the Haba food can be a choking hazard - we had to take away the tea bags and a few other items because they had tiny parts which could easily come off and pose a choking risk. The retailer who sold it to us insisted that it was 3+ for a reason, and she was right. I imagine that's only true for some of the food though - I would just recommend looking at it IRL in a store rather than ordering online, if it's for an under 3 child.

Wow, can't believe how much I have to say about play food and toy kitchens! I really should go back to my grown-up life now...:-)

[KBecks]

Our kitchen arrived yesterday. It's very nice! It came with a metal sink basin, not plastic as I had expected. The boys have already climbed on the oven door a little. I still am unsure whether we should have gotten the model without the extra shelves, but this seems good because we don't have fridge, but I think the ideal would be to have the simpler kitchen and the fridge, the oven door is higher then and more square instead of rectangular. This is fine though, I tend to over think the details.

Johnny loves it. Alek took interest too. Our pans hopefully will arrive soon, and I'm going to make some felt playfood as soon as I feel awake enough at night to work on it.

I do love the unfinished real wood, I can put this kitchen in any room of our house and it will blend right in. It's nice to have just the kitchen now also because I can fit it in a small area, whereas finding a spot for the fridge and kitchen would take a little more effort.

I'll take some photos at some point and share.

[Kindra178]

Kbecks and all posters:

thank you for this thread. it saved me a lot of work.

[KBecks]

Update -- our Melissa and Doug pots and pans arrived last week. They are nice, I think they're not a great value for $30ish they cost but they are OK. The paint looks like it might not be the most durable. On the bright side, they fit perfectly in the kitchen, 3 pans seems to be the perfect amount, and I liked the handles on these more than the metal pans I was looking at, these handles seemed easier to hold. Johnny loves the little potholder that came with the set -- who knew he would like that!

The boys play with the kitchen. I need to get on making play food. John has been sneaking real food into the play kitchen, a little gross, we'll need to watch that.

In retrospect I wish I had not bought as many "real" kitchen things, but it's OK. I got a Target play dish set that has 2 little stainless steel mixing bowls and had little measuring spoons a little measuring cup, etc., and this M&D set came with 2 utensils. I bought them 2 whisks, 2 spoons, a timer, little towels, more measuring spoons and a mini rolling pin. It's not that bad but I didn't need to buy as much as I did. We had the kitchen play things prior to the play kitchen and just had a kitchen box of stuff they would play with. I also got a cute picnic basket to store extra food in.