Kitchen sets, toy pots & pans, food: Suggestions?

[Headmeister]

My 18mo DD *LOVES* playing with kitchen utensils to the point of always getting underfoot when I'm in the kitchen trying to do anything. We don't have any play kitchen or play pots & pans yet and I'm shopping around.

as for the kitchen, I need something that isn't gigantic and looks more old school than the newer, plastic/rounded edges type ones they have. I found this one on Craigslist new-in-box for 1/2 the price they sell it on Amazon and I really like it (there are also tons of great reviews of it on Target.com, though they no longer sell it). It's only 28" wide and that was a huge selling point for me, as space is limited. I'm planning on buying it and picking it up this coming weekend but if anyone has any negative reviews of it, please share them with me!!!

As for play food/pots/pans/etc... What do you suggest? For this I'm at a loss. There are SO MANY sets out there - plastic, wooden, some cardboard (which I think would stink and be useless rather quickly)... What do you have for your kids and which ones do you love/hate?

Thanks!

[FLmommyathome]

Ikea has some awesome sets that are just like the real thing only kid sized. Decent priced, too.

[Ruthie's momma]

DD has a cute little play kitchen that I put together with pieces purchased from an assortment of locations. Plus, she was gifted several accessories.

DD's wooden sink and stove were purchased from Etsy. Her wooden oven was purchased *new* from eBay. Opa gifted her SS pots, pans and utensils (they came from the after Christmas clearance shelf at Border's bookstore). Grandma gifted her some plastic play food. Auntie and momma made some felt playfood. I also re-purposed several things (my childhood apron, a tiny wooden spoon and whisk, a miniature set of chopsticks and chocolate molds, recycled glass jars, etc.).

[Anastasiya]

The kitchen I know nothing about other than I saw it assembled once in Target and wasn't as impressed as I am with the online picture.

We started with stainless steel dishes for the kids, but that quickly got WAAAY too noisy and the pieces aren't as durable as adult pieces, so several handles and lids broke or bent. Stepped on plates quickly got misshapen and bowl rims bent all up.

Then we went with wood, but the wood was too loud too - so much banging around and dropping on the floors, and the Littles would take the wood dishes and bash them into walls and furniture. The finish got cruddy looking, several pieces cracked and splintered, and I tossed them.

Now we use BPA and phthalate free plastic. SO quiet. We use these and these. The kids love them, take very good care of them, and all pieces are still perfect.

[lookatreestar]

Originally Posted by Anastasiya

The kitchen I know nothing about other than I saw it assembled once in Target and wasn't as impressed as I am with the online picture.

We started with stainless steel dishes for the kids, but that quickly got WAAAY too noisy and the pieces aren't as durable as adult pieces, so several handles and lids broke or bent. Stepped on plates quickly got misshapen and bowl rims bent all up.

Then we went with wood, but the wood was too loud too - so much banging around and dropping on the floors, and the Littles would take the wood dishes and bash them into walls and furniture. The finish got cruddy looking, several pieces cracked and splintered, and I tossed them.

Now we use BPA and phthalate free plastic. SO quiet. We use these and these. The kids love them, take very good care of them, and all pieces are still perfect.

ive been lusting after those sets since i saw them at target, then they stopped carrying them!! (atleast in my store) i think i will just order online. do you have any recs for food? i tried some wooden chopping food and the velcro pieces are coming off, the m & d is getting all chipped already... not sure how fabric food would hold up with 3 year old and 8 month old.

[lookatreestar]

oops double post

[gorgorita]

Just out of my experience - kids LOVE to play with mama in the kitchen with real spoons, pans, etc. When it comes to play kitchens, however, it's more for older kids(think 3 and up) and even then, not everyone is into it. I myself bought a nice wooden kitchen off craigslist. I was so excited. Well, me only. DD didn't and still does not care for it. And yes, she still plays with my utensils. She is only two so everything can change but as I see it, don't hurry. Just my opinion. I am not saying it's right
I didn't have a play kitchen growing up and am an excellent cook. My sister as well. I know many who had it and don't cook at all. So as for acquiring the skills, the play kitchen is not necessary. But I can see why you want it. I did too. I was hunting craigslist for quite some time.
Now, about the food and pans. I can give you reviews about what we have - Melissa and Doug cutting fruits - awful. They chip and are huge (don't fit into pots). We also own a tea set from Green toys - I didn't get what all the fuss is about. Except the fact that it's made in US and from recyclable materials. I did not like the colors, the size and the tea pot is cheaply made. I would have rather wait until a kid is a little older and get a nicer porcelain set. W also have pots and pan set from Land of Nod. It's fine but you can get similar for half the price. Ikea has good prices.
Sorry, my reviews and opinions are negative but I wanted to let you know a different opinion

[petey44]

We got our dd a kitchen, some pots, and fake food for Christmas, she was 15 mo at the time. She plays with them almost daily. Here's what we have for the kitchen and the pots (they are noisy, but she loves them and they haven't even so much as chipped yet- and she is ROUGH with them): http://www.novanatural.com/elves-ang...stinas-kitchen we really like the kitchen for a lot of reasons, but one thing especially is that the sink is just a metal bowl, so you can take it out, put water in it, and then just take it out again to dump the water when it's time to clean up. My dd LOVES washing her food and stuff in it.
I agonized over the food, nothing seemed right for that age, and there's so many sets that have junk food in them, or meat, which is fine for some people but not us. Finally just ended up getting her M & D fruits and vegetables (plastic). Found them at Toys R Us.
My SIL also got her a real little kids baking set to use for play. It has a little mini-muffin pan that fits perfectly in the oven of her kitchen, little apron, measuring spoons, wooden spoon, whisk, etc. She got it at HomeGoods, don't know if you have those wherever you are, it's like a discount home store.
I also have seen cute stuff at Ikea as PPs mentioned, though I haven't been there recently. I'll have to schedule a trip soon!

[Anastasiya]

Originally Posted by gorgorita

We also own a tea set from Green toys - I didn't get what all the fuss is about. Except the fact that it's made in US and from recyclable materials. I did not like the colors, the size and the tea pot is cheaply made.

I agree that the tea pot is stupidly made. It has a horizontal seam on it where the top half and the bottom half meet and you can't fill it with water because it leaks out the seam. STUPID design.

The other things we have from Green Toys - well, I am very much loving them. They just have a nice feel to them. Not like that slick cheap plastic you find everywhere else, but really durable, textured plastic. I don't know how else to describe it. Very pleasant. And I love the colors.

[Anastasiya]

Originally Posted by petey44

but one thing especially is that the sink is just a metal bowl, so you can take it out, put water in it, and then just take it out again to dump the water when it's time to clean up. My dd LOVES washing her food and stuff in it.

My kids love washing their dishes too but we do it a less messy way - makes for happy kids and a SUPER HAPPY MOM!!! I squirt some dish soap in my sink, then fill the sink with water from my sprayer hose. That makes a HUGE mound of bubbles all over the top, which I then scrape off and put in their sink. When they run out, I give them the second batch. It really cuts down on the water mess, but still gives them enough wetness to "do" their dishes and have lots of bubble time!

My SIL also got her a real little kids baking set to use for play. It has a little mini-muffin pan that fits perfectly in the oven of her kitchen, little apron, measuring spoons, wooden spoon, whisk, etc. She got it at HomeGoods, don't know if you have those wherever you are, it's like a discount home store.

We have that same set from Target. I made little wooden muffins for the muffin tin. Our baby is obsessed with them.

[serenbat]

The kitchen I know nothing about other than I saw it assembled once in Target and wasn't as impressed as I am with the online picture.

we also saw it put together and we think it's very cheaply done, we didn't think it would hold up so we didn't get it

may be if you don't think it will get a lot of use- we did vintage (old from a yard sale and it is holding up great) and very cheap too $$

[nerdymom]

You could also make your own. We are planning to give DS a play kitchen for his 2nd birthday, and we're going to make it with used odds and ends and stock it with some of the pots and pans and dishes from Ikea and second hand stores. So every time I find a super cute play kitchen I bookmark it.

Some good links for making your own kitchen:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/kid-size-kitchen-670727/ This one is very simple.

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/inspiration/nevas-budget-and-earth-friendly-play-kitchen-069736 more elaborate

http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2...1_archive.html recycled nightstand kitchen

http://betterafter.blogspot.com/search/label/kiddie Old dresser kitchen
Gotta love ikeahacker!

http://mammaamericana.typepad.com/ma...en-part-3.html
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/play-kitchen-for-under-200.html Another Ikea knock off.

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/how...ponents-066719 Adorable Ikea hack for [reportedly] less than $50!

Don't forget your felt food!
http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2...food-toys.html
http://rowena.typepad.com/rostitcher....html#comments

[slgt]

DH made a wooden kitchen for DD 2 out of various salvaged wood & bits that we had around the house & shop, but he's kind of unique that way. She plays with it some but I think will play with it more when she's older. DD LOVES helping us in the real kitchen.

One toy that's been a big hit is a baking set from KidKraft. SHe makes pizza, cookies, soup, turtles - you name it, and she has mixed it, baked it, and served it in soup!

[almadianna]

We got a wooden kitchen from Camden Rose when Kate turned 2, she is now 3 and her little bro is 17 months and they play with it every.single.day. Without exception.