Average Price: $79.00
Availability: online and in Pottery Barn Kids stores
Rating:
Product Link: My First Anywhere Chair

My husband fell in love with this chair the first time he laid his eyes on it in the store. He immediately plucked our then-4 month old son out of the stroller and plopped the confused looking baby onto it and declared it a must-have. A few months later when the little one began to crawl, we finally got our first Anywhere chair.

Toddlers being ever-mobile, our son refused to sit still in this chair for any extended amount of time. At first. Quickly he learned that it’s a comfy place to sit while reading a story… That is, for the length of time that a story keeps him occupied. He’ll also happily lounge in this chair while watching some Baby Einstein videos or gnawing on a teething biscuit.

This chair is sold in two parts: The “insert” which would more accurately be described as inserts (plural)- four cushions which make up the arm rests, the back and the seat. And the “cover” which holds it all in place.

THE COVER:
The cover comes in two styles- gingham or twill, and in eight different styles. (Five gingham and three twill)
The twill covers are a slightly heavier/rougher material that seems as if it will be more stain/spill resistant. All of the covers are machine washable and can be tumble-dried without shrinkage.

Pottery Barn offers a monogrammed cover option if you order the slipcover online. This is great for photo-ops and for an older child that is learning the letters and how to spell his or her name.

THE INSERT:
The insert’s four pieces are made of a squishy resiliant foam that is comfy to sit on, but that holds shape remarkably well with the assistance of a hold-to-shape netting.

ASSEMBLY:
Assembly is quite quick and intuitive- basically you stuff the inserts into the appropriate compartments of the cover. The only item of slight complexity is that the instructions state that there is an indicator on the cushions that shows “which way is up”. That indicator was missing on my chair. However, it is un-necessary as the cushions are largely symmetrical and if you insert them wrong way up it doesn’t make any difference in the usability of shape of the chair.

FEATURES:
There are some features unique to this chair that I really love- the large book pocket on the back of the chair, perfect for a few oversized story books, a throw blanket, or a toy. The handle on the back that makes the whole thing easily lug-able. And the fact that once your child outgrows the “My First Anywhere Chair” there are two more sizes above it. No reason for your baby to lose an old favorite- just buy the next size up and buy a new slipcover and pass it on to a younger sibling or a friend.

COST:
The foam insert + slipcover of this chair make it one of the least expensive armchair options. If you factor in the ability to replace torn/stained slipcovers and further extend the lifespan of the chair, the overall cost drops even further.

QUALITY:
The slipcover is very durable and well-made. I have read some reports where the slipcover started to tear- and where Pottery Barn Kids quickly replaced the torn slipcover. The cushions hold their shape very well even when older kids or even adults sit on the chair and squish it down. They are obviously not going to be as durable as a hard-bodied chair, but a harder chair won’t be as comfortable or as safe for a fledgling walker. One thing I have to note is that after months of use, this chair is still holding its shape– even though my husband insists on leaning/sitting on it himself when reading our son a story.

SAFETY:
This chair is entirely soft- no hard corners for a newly walking toddler to bump into. It is also very light so if your baby pulls it over on himself it won’t be trapped or hurt. One word of caution: A combination of the handle on the back of the seat, and the low seat and arms, make this chair an ideal object for your toddler to use for climbing practice. Avoid putting this chair near other objects that can be used to climb to higher points.

CONCLUSION:
Overall this is a great item of pint-sized furniture for your child’s playroom or nursery. I expect my son to have as many fond memories of it as I have of my first child-sized armchair.