I finally bought a kitchen island and am now looking for stools. I think swivel stools (with backs) would be most comfortable and in my mind easiest for our kids to access - I think it eliminates having to pull and push a chair forward as they can turn the chair and climb up onto it. My husband wonders if the movement of the chair will make it more dangerous for them to fall off. Any thoughts? Thank you for all of the input.
Unless you constantly want to remind them or any children who are guests to stop swiveling in their chairs I'd get stationary stools. And maybe its just me but I'm not a fan of it. Especially when they are banging them into the cupboard.
I think either one has risk for falling.
Swivel stools are so much fun. Actually more practical because there's less wear and tear on the floor from not having to drag the stool in and out.
Stationary.
Less chances of kids getting hurt. Plus they are sturdier.
Stationary stools are sturdier for little ones, but you have to push to move the chairs around. Swivel stools are easier to use, and your children *will* spin themselves around and around until they fall off them, at least once or twice, until the novelty wears off. So there's your choice. Swivelers may be best for the long run; are you prepared for the "short run"?
Stationary. Much safer.
I grew up with swivel chairs with backs loved them. Yet I own stationary chairs because the style I was looking for only came in stationary. LOL
After about 15-20 years of daily use, 1 by 1 all of the chairs eventually died. Some peacefully and others not so much. They were replaced with stationary chairs.
I hope this helps.
Most swivel stools don't move that easily anymore due to their design. I'd suggest trying them out first & see how they work for you. I personally prefer swivel over stationary b/c they ARE easier to use, easier to get on/off of compared to stationary. Either stool can fall over whether it's stationary or not, just like a chair can...stools can a bit easier just b/c they're higher off the floor. If it's young children using them, I'd suggest helping hold the stool 'still' while they get on til they're tall enough to do it themselves. Getting off isn't as difficult so they prob won't need help getting off.
On another note, backless can be a bit easier to get on/off of b/c you can get on it from all angles, no need to swivel it around to get on. The kids (and others) can then use the countertop to hold on to, to get on instead of the seat back...most kids will grab whatever is handy to climb up...countertop is stable as opposed to the seat back & also the ones WITH the seat backs can often be uncomfortable for some..think of guests who may use them also. Also, if the kids grab the seat backs thinking they can 'help' themselves up that way by grasping onto it may cause it to swivel more causing them to fall off or pulling on it may cause it to fall over on them or so IMO swivel but w/o backs I think would be best & safest. If you do end up w/the swivel WITH the backs, I'd definitely consider teaching the kids to use the countertop to hold on to instead of seat back to climb up onto the stool. Hope this helps, good luck!!
It's much harder for a short person to reach the floor to scoot a chair out than to simple swivel and then slide out.
The kids cannot push a stool back. Get the swivel ones.
Be aware though.
Bar stools are about 30"
Counter stools are between 24" and 26"
Measure and find the ones that fit your island best. If it's the same height as your kitchen counters then you can't get bar stools, they'll be almost the same height as the island top.
I have a breakfast bar that's counter height. I have an island that is 1" higher than my counters. So I bought one stool 24" and one stool 26". The 6 year old sits on the taller stool and the 9 year old sits on the 24" one. This fits for them right now but once the 6 year old has a growth spurt and gets taller he's not going to be comfortable on the 26" stool. The 2 year old sat on the 26" stool this weekend and he did just fine. He can also do well with a regular bar stool too but his knees were barely under the edge of the island.
The more moving parts a thing has, the easier it breaks.
Kids WILL swivel till they drive you crazy.
AND the back of the stool will beat up any edge it's near on the island, near a wall or counter or anywhere else.
You can minimized how much a stool drags on the floor by using these things that look like big tacks but have nylon on the bottom.
Kids will fall off any kind of stool till they learn not to mess around on it.
