Review: Step 2 Lifestyle Custom Kitchen

One of the many cutest things my son does is stand on his little stool in the kitchen and help mommy cook dinner. He likes to play with the measuring cups and spatulas and bang the pots and pans together.

We decided he was ready for his own toy kitchen. So we bought this Step 2 Lifestyle Custom Kitchen. Here's the scoop.

Assembly

Because I'm horrible at putting anything together, including my outfits in the morning, my wife took on this task. She did have a few problems some problems, made worse by the fact that the instructions left out a very important step. However, it was still easier to put together than the Cozy Coupe.

A few of the kitchen parts require batteries, which, like every other child's toy, are not included.




Perhaps the toughest part of the whole thing was figuring out where to put it in our living room. It is on the big side and a little awkward.

Durability

There's not much to say here except this is a very durable product. My son plays with it every day, and he can treat it pretty rough. Nothing has broken, fallen off or exploded. Even the accessories that come with the kitchen (like plates) are pretty durable as well.

Playing Fun

My son loves it! It has all the same features a real kitchen has, only these don't work. The little microwave does make noise, as does a little wireless phone. The fridge opens and closes. There are drawers the pull all the way out. He has put a lot of his small toys in those drawers.

And in typical bachelor male fashion, the sink is always full of dishes.

A kitchen Gordon Ramsey would be proud of.

The only real problems we've had is that sometimes our DS gets fussy because he can't put his water bottle in the fridge (for example). But that's really about it. The kitchen does keep him occupied for good chunks of time.

Of course, the box the kitchen came in occupies him even more.

Verdict

Yes, I'd definitely go for it. Whether you have a son or daughter, this is a toy worth the money. It retails on the Step 2 website for $89.99. You can also buy more accessories. This is a great investment, especially for those toddlers who are exploring more and try to imitate what mommy and daddy do.

Disclaimer: I did not receive this product for free to review. Further, I did not receive any other for of compensation (monetary or otherwise) for a favorable review. We purchased this product at retail price and this post represents my unbiased opinion.


Photo Credit: Me