Play kitchen for 2-year-old twin boys - help!

[amybds]

I've started looking at play kitchens for my twin boys for their 2nd birthday in March, thinking there will be deals around the holidays. The kitchen would replace our FP Laugh and Learn one, which they're outgrowing.

I think I've narrowed it down to a couple choices, but am having such a tough time deciding and keep second guessing. We don't have a huge space and I want to keep the price to $150 or less. My boys also are on the short side, so I'm worried about getting anything too tall because it will take awhile for them to grow into it. They love to open doors/cabinets and love the fridge. I like the look of wood better, but I don't mind the plastic versions.

My top two choices are:

The Kidcraft red vintage kitchen that's on Costco's site for $130 - http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11287412&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|25429|78460&N=4034793&Mo=6&pos=6&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=78460&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC5938-Cat25429&topnav=

Or the Step2 Gourmet Cafe kitchen ($90 at ToysRUS) - http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1652

I like the look of the Kidcraft one, but I worry that it will be too small for two kids to play at the same time. The Step2 one seems to be set up well for two kids, but I wonder if it has enough cabinets, doors, etc. or if I would be better off getting a Step2 model with more "stuff." I haven't seen the Kidcraft one in person. I do worry that they'll outgrow either one, though maybe they won't be that into play kitchens in a year or two.

Anyone have any experience with either of those kitchens?
Thanks!

[sue_g]

I've started looking at play kitchens for my twin boys for their 2nd birthday in March, thinking there will be deals around the holidays. The kitchen would replace our FP Laugh and Learn one, which they're outgrowing.

I think I've narrowed it down to a couple choices, but am having such a tough time deciding and keep second guessing. We don't have a huge space and I want to keep the price to $150 or less. My boys also are on the short side, so I'm worried about getting anything too tall because it will take awhile for them to grow into it. They love to open doors/cabinets and love the fridge. I like the look of wood better, but I don't mind the plastic versions.

My top two choices are:

The Kidcraft red vintage kitchen that's on Costco's site for $130 - http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11287412&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|25429|78460&N=4034793&Mo=6&pos=6&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=78460&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC5938-Cat25429&topnav=

Or the Step2 Gourmet Cafe kitchen ($90 at ToysRUS) - http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1652

I like the look of the Kidcraft one, but I worry that it will be too small for two kids to play at the same time. The Step2 one seems to be set up well for two kids, but I wonder if it has enough cabinets, doors, etc. or if I would be better off getting a Step2 model with more "stuff." I haven't seen the Kidcraft one in person. I do worry that they'll outgrow either one, though maybe they won't be that into play kitchens in a year or two.

Anyone have any experience with either of those kitchens?
Thanks!

We have the regular wooden Kidkraft one from Learning Express and never had a problem with my two boys using it.

[hillview]

We have a KidCraft one (older model -- got at Costco) and my 2 boys and sometimes friends play well with it. It has held up well. I'd do Kidcraft again (it is similar although not identical to the new one you posted).
/hillary

[Melaine]

I heard this one is great for twins, because it has two sides for play:

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/187-9001272-2618738?ASIN=B00083HKHK&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B00083HKHK|Little_Tikes_InsideOutside_Cookin_G rill_Kitchen&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B00083HKHK&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

This shows the other side:
http://www.babyage.com/products/450b_little_tikes_little_tikes_inside-outside_cook_n_grill_kitchen.htm?cp=affiliate&utm_source=GAN&utm_medium=default&utm_campaign=Primary

[SnuggleBuggles]

About the height...my ds2 has been playing with our Step 2 Lifestyle Dream kitchen since he could stand (9m) and has always been happy to play in what he could reach and hasn't been frustrated about not being able to reach everything. DOn't let height sway you one way or the other. Kids grow. :)

Beth

[amybds]

Thanks for all the advice. I do like the idea of the taller ones as something they could grow into. I saw the Kidcraft one in person today and it was really cute, but it is small, which is both good and bad, I think.

[new_mommy25]

We have a Kidkraft Cosctco kitchen from a few years ago. I think ours is a little larger and two can play. The quality is good and it has held up well (I think ours is almost 4 years old). At my DD's preschool they have a Little Tikes kitchen that I just think is darling.
Here it is for $150
http://www.meijer.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=121819&cmpid=goobase&CAWELAID=317678923
And Amazon reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-Deluxe-Kitchen-Laundry/dp/B001BL2NOS

[Melaine]

We have a Kidkraft Cosctco kitchen from a few years ago. I think ours is a little larger and two can play. The quality is good and it has held up well (I think ours is almost 4 years old). At my DD's preschool they have a Little Tikes kitchen that I just think is darling.
Here it is for $150
http://www.meijer.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=121819&cmpid=goobase&CAWELAID=317678923
And Amazon reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-Deluxe-Kitchen-Laundry/dp/B001BL2NOS

I think that one looks SO cute too. It's made me wonder if Little Tikes and KidKraft are in cahoots, because it looks so much like this one: http://www.amazon.com/KidKraft-53186-Cook-Together-Kitchen/dp/B002ODY1CY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1258633795&sr=1-9
Weird huh?

[fivi2]

When my twins were two I got them a super cheap plastic island style one. (You can play on both sides. It isn't made anymore) It was so cheap it fell apart! But they loved it and played with it all the time.

This past year, at 3 yo I got the Melissa and Doug classic deluxe (on sale at amazon during the holidays). It is a one sided, against the wall type, but a pretty good size. They almost never play with it.

I don't know why. I don't know if they miss the island style, or miss the plastic, or what, but it is really cute and gets no play. They will play with a friend's plastic (step 2? maybe) one, but still not a ton.

So, if I were starting over, I would stalk craigslist or consignment for a used plastic one (Step 2 or similar). I think that my girls prefer the extras that come with the plastic ones, and they wouldn't mind if it were used. (my girls also prefer plastic dollhouses and other toys - given the option they ignore the cute wooden ones and go straight for the Fisher Price/step 2 option). And, I might stick with island style if you have the room for it. Although they look smaller, they take up more space because you can't push against the wall. But everyone (play group etc) loved our island one.

Oh, (this is getting long!) I looked at the costco one last year and felt it was two small for my twins, but of course, ymmv. I also have a friend with the older target one and a friend with that cute green educo (or something) one, and I also think they'd be too small for my twins. YMMV!

[WatchingThemGrow]

We have this Kidkraft Island one (http://cgi.ebay.com/Kidkraft-Primary-Island-Kitchen-53162-100-Feedback_W0QQitemZ180426417024QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a0240a380) and love it. You CAN push it against a wall, you just lose some of the play area. I've done it on one side for a week, flipped it around the other way the next week. Lots of kids can play around it, and I like that it will grow with them.

[amybds]

I don't know why. I don't know if they miss the island style, or miss the plastic, or what, but it is really cute and gets no play. They will play with a friend's plastic (step 2? maybe) one, but still not a ton.


I do worry that they've gotten used to the little plastic Fisher Price one they have and wouldn't like a wooden one as much. We probably would need to put an island one against the wall, but I like WathingThemGrow's idea of switching it around to keep things new. That Little Tikes version is so cute!

There are just too many kitchen choices out there ...

[cottagemom]

We have this one and it gets played with every day. Also my boys like to sit in the booth and eat their lunch. I think Step 2 offers free shipping on this item.

http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1561

[The Review Mommy]

We have twins and a step 2 grand walk in. I would get the deluxe one. For some reason theyre crazy about that one. And get the Learning Resources playfood at Costco. The step 2 food is cheap and does not see play. The Learning Resources is life like and life sized. We were going to get ours off craigslist they look new and are about half the price. I'd check there first. We got ours at Sams Club last year.

http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1218

I also like the little tikes wooden one with the laundry. That kitchen looks like my kids would actualy play with that one too. They have played with the smaller step2 kitchens but they dont like them enough.

[amybds]

We have this one and it gets played with every day. Also my boys like to sit in the booth and eat their lunch. I think Step 2 offers free shipping on this item.

http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1561


Now, I think I'm leaning toward this one.
I really like that it has a little table and the design seems good for two kids to play at the same time.

I can get it for about $130 shipped at Meijer - anyone seen it cheaper or think there will be a deal on it in December?