What to look for when choosing a toy kitchen

It’s not easy choosing a kitchen. At least not when it’s a toy kitchen for a very special person.

Fifteen-month old Baby Girl is getting a toy kitchen for Christmas, and it’s resulted in me spending hours online and in toy shops looking at different models.

There are simply too many to choose from, and initially I didn’t know what to look for. But that soon changed after reading up on the different ones and seeing a variety of kitchens.

Here’s my list of what to look for when choosing a toy kitchen:

Material: Do you want it to be wooden or plastic?
Assembly time: Are you prepared to get your tool kit out to put it together?
Room: What shape suits the space? Will it be up against a wall, or in the middle of the room? How tall can it be? Can it be painted in any colour, or do you have any preferences?
Play: Does it have enough features to be fun for your little one to play with? Are there doors to open and lock? Are there any buttons to press or knobs to turn?
Practicality: Does it have enough storage space for pretend fruit, vegetables, pots and pans? If your little one has other kitchen appliances or will be getting other kitchen appliances, such as a coffee machine or a mixer, is there enough space for these on the worktop?
Safety: Does it meet UK safety standards? Is it appropriate for your child’s age? Are there any small parts that can come off? Are the doors safe to play with, or could they hurt your little one’s fingers if slammed shut?
Longevity: Is it sturdy and likely to last for several years? Can it be used for something else than a pretend kitchen?