Swivel Stool with Back - Yeah or Nay?

Updated on April 17, 2015
V.S. asks from Coatesville, PA
17 answers

I am looking to buy a new counter table that comes with swivel stools with backs. They swivel 180 degrees. Part of me thinks it is easier b/c young kids can't push the chair closer or further from the table and this way they will already be in position. Does anyone have younger kids and use these? Does it work out well? thank you - I love this forum!!

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Backs but no swivel IMO. I am going to get some for my DIL and sons new home this week so we just had this discussion this morning.

3 moms found this helpful
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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Not of fan of stools for young kids. Falling from that heighth is dangerous.

Once they're older? Always a back.....you wouldn't believe the percentage
of falls w/o backs.....approx 98%. Always better to err on the side of caution.

2 moms found this helpful

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J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I have three at my kitchen counter, they swivel and have backs. My kid is 8 so her age is not a problem. I find sitting in them with the back is more comfortable and I usually hang my purse and stuff from them.

Young kids grow up so just keep an eye on them if the chair swivels or not. Our old home had non swivel chairs and they were fine too.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

Our stools swivel and have backs, the problem here is that they get banged together all the time.

M

3 moms found this helpful
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L.Z.

answers from Seattle on

We have swivel stools with backs. I love the back, but the kids do tend to swivel around a lot and accidentally ram the back of the chair into the granite countertop. Not good. One other thing to keep in mind is safety. Ours are metal and if the kids were younger I would worry that they would pinch their fingers in the base, since they swivel. Do a check and make sure they won't hurt themselves if they put their fingers inside the base.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

How old are your children?
If you talk to them about expected behaviors, do they follow the rules?

My husband grew up in a home that had backless tall stools. Straw seats wore out.His mom recovered them with padding and fabric.
They did not have any problems. She purchased them at the "Store House".. Remember those stores?

The lake house has always had tall stools that swiveled with backs. No problems there, they are wrought iron. They were purchased in 1961. Heavy as heck..

2 moms found this helpful

O.H.

answers from Phoenix on

We had a breakfast counter with 5 solid oak barstools that swivel and have backs. The kids sat at them all the time and the backs got a nick in them from where they continually hit the counter. Not sure what you mean by the kids not being able to push the chairs closer or further from the table? Are they attached to the table? Or you think the kids aren't big/strong enough to move the chairs? Regardless, kids grow and unless you replace your furniture often, you likely will have it when the kids are bigger. Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

No swivel, yes back.
If you get any sort of a swivel the kids will be twirling on it all the time.
If it has a back while they are twirling it's be hitting the table/counter and might cause damage to stools/table/counter.
A stool with a back I just feel more secure sitting on plus you can hang a small purse or light jacket on the back if needed.
We have a few spare wooden bar stools - when I don't need them for anything else they end up holding up potted plants in front of a sunny window.

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P.R.

answers from Cleveland on

I don't have them either but am considering putting in a kitchen counter with stools and will absolutely get ones with backs. Your kids won't be young forever and it's way more comfortable to be able to lean back and rest. And I'd be worried about kids falling over backwards if there was no back rest.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Get what you like. Kids are young for such a short period of time.

I so regret not getting a walkout basement but at the time I did not want a high deck. Really stupid of me. The kids grew up so quickly and now we have a house that won't ever have a walkout basement because it is cost prohibitive.

I have counter stools with backs but don't swivel. They work.😊

1 mom found this helpful
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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

I like counter height and have young children, and that has been fine. I would not get swivel though if that is an option. They constantly swivel on them and bang them into the table. Also - freak accident, but when I was a child, I went to jump off the chair (not in a crazy way, I was just in a hurry to get down), and the chair swiveled as I pushed off, fell, some how the back got caught between my legs as I fell and I needed reconstructive surgery on my vulva.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Portland on

I don't have a set, but my sister has very heavy, sturdy ones at her counter island.

They look like a Windsor style chair (the rungs) and don't move when the kids are on them, slightly rounded so kids are kind of cupped in. My kids and hers have never fallen off of the stools.

My kids LOVE them and fight over them when we visit.

So long as they were really sturdy and couldn't topple, they would probably be fine. They also have to withstand being climbed up onto. My kids were doing this just as soon as they were able.

I love this site too :)

Good luck :) I like those sets too.

ETA: the stools I am mentioning swivel 180 degrees too if that helps.

1 mom found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

is the counter table a new thing, or replacing an old one?
i really don't get the desire for counters with high stools. i'd rather just have a regular table and chairs, and open up the counter area.
you don't say but it sounds as if you're thinking about stools that are attached to the counter and can't be pushed in or pulled out. that would bug me. sometimes i like to snug myself in close, and sometimes i want to push back.
i'd definitely want backs. the swivel i could take or leave, but if you have littles they WILL swivel back and forth. all. the. time.
khairete
S.

1 mom found this helpful
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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

I think it really depends on the age of the kids.
We don't have them at home, but it never fails, every year, our vacation rentals have them at a kitchen bar counter. Have not had any injuries but I have found them to be STRESSFUL when kiddo was small.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I like the swivel better than the stationary. By far.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

Swivel is always best for counter height - it's harder to pull in a chair up close when there is no swivel.

As for the kids, they'll be fine. My SIL has had these always and the kids were always in them no problem.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I have swivel stools, no back at my island. Love them. Mine are not high stools. Also no damage marks from swiveling too far and hitting the counter, etc.

We even ordered more for the game room upstairs ( higher stools ) with pool table. Easy access, takes up less space and the Stools allow for more use of the room.

Good luck!

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