This Month in Cool Things for Kids: Mini Backpacks, Design-y Desks, and More Back-to-School Must-Haves
For the 12-and-under crowd.
Published Aug 31, 2023 1:03 AM
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The Internet can be a dizzying place for parents to navigate when they’re in search of the latest (and greatest) kids’ stuff, which is why we like to rely on word of mouth for uncovering hidden gems in the 12-and-under category. Aside from the best deals of the week our editors Slack about regularly, we’ve also been gushing over pint-size backpacks covered in colorful checkered prints; H&M Home coming out with the cutest desk-and-chair combo; and a new West Elm Kids collaboration with fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra.
TL;DR: Allow this monthly roundup to be your formal invite to our Domino group chat. We’ll document all of the editor-favorite kids’ products, buzzy brand launches, design hacks, and other children-centric finds occupying space inside our heads every month.
One-Stop Shop for Newborns: Etsy Launches Baby Registry
Expectant parents can now turn to Etsy for their nursery needs. The online marketplace officially added a baby registry to its platform earlier this month, allowing wish lists to be fulfilled by small shops and specialty designers across the globe instead of mass retailers. So far, “vintage and heirloom pieces of furniture” is one of the most popular keyword searches. Others include “farm animals” and “modern circus,” the latter of which will lead you to this hanging lamp that is handmade with 100% wool felt in the shape of a tent. But it isn’t the only playful pendant to gift. The BuoKids storefront is filled with all sorts of fun light fixtures (think: puffy clouds and spaceship sconces) that can now be added to a registry with the simple click of a button.
Creative Combo: H&M Children’s Desk and Chair
H&M Home has been our go-to for nursery bedding, playroom decor, and even toys—and now furniture. The brand finally brought its line of chairs, lighting, and side tables to the U.S. last week. Upon closer inspection, we were shocked to discover that a decent chunk included kid-friendly wares. Among the scalloped and wavy wall shelves and rattan seating, we couldn’t stop thinking about the pinewood desk and chair. Available in a range of pastels, we see the duo being the perfect craft, gaming, or homework station. The built-in storage compartment can help corral pencils, papers, and pens, and the hanging bar can keep other supplies nearby with tie-on baskets.
Chapped Lips Champion: Poppy & Pout Lil’Poppies
Chapped lip season is upon us. If your little one’s aversion to Vaseline has yet to be conquered, we’d give Poppy & Pout’s latest launch a try. An Oprah Winfrey favorite, all of the brand’s flower-powered balms are made in small batches with natural ingredients and packaged by hand in eco-friendly, cardboard containers. And as of this month, there are now three new vegan formulas designed specifically with kids in mind. The triplet of playful, easy-to-use tubes—Banana Fanna, Bloo Razeloo, Chipper Cherry—smell and taste just like the treats they’re named after. So reapplying is a sweet request rather than an impossible one.
Back to School in Style: Milk Teeth Small Backpack
Milk Teeth, a retailer that’s been on our radar as a great source for gender-neutral clothing and the cutest baby shower gifts, recently added a bunch of back-to-school styles that we collectively swooned over. And to no one’s surprise, our favorite piece from the release is already selling out. This mini backpack from Dutch brand Sticky Lemon is now only available in the purple-and-brown–checkered combo, but we still think it’s worth scooping up for a stylish first-day pic. It’s practical, too: The recycled PET exterior gives way to a waterproof pear-print lining inside featuring a customizable name tag and elastic band to keep beverage bottles upright.
Furniture for All: Pottery Barn Accessible Collection
Pottery Barn makes one of our all-time favorite kids’ desks, but there’s a caveat: It isn’t ADA compliant. This month, the brand’s largest back-to-school drop included its Pottery Barn Kids Accessible Collection of gear and furniture, with an update to the popular Morgan design. It now comes equipped with pull-out drawers and handles, which are easier to grab, and a wider seat opening to allot enough room for wheelchairs, as well as a lowered desktop. For teens, the Hampton storage desk was given a similar treatment.
Sweet Skies: Joseph Altuzarra x West Elm Kids
Of all the jobs fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra has held, none has been more important than being a dad. In fact, his capsule collection with West Elm—which just dropped a couple days ago!—is an ode to his two daughters, 3 1/2-year-old Emma and 1-year-old Charlotte. Pieces range from nursery to big kid, pulling inspiration from the sky: There’s a cloud-shaped shelf, moon-and-stars–adorned rug, and full-length mirror with a minimalist frame that looks like planets orbiting the sun.
Messproof Floors: Ruggable x The Home Edit
Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of The Home Edit recently collaborated with Ruggable to create machine washable floor coverings (named after their kids!) in rainbow patterns of stripes, gingham, and dashes. The collection consists of 10 choices (eight rugs in either classic or premium piles, plus one doormat and bath mat) to bring a different kind of order to interiors. These are made to be placed in mess-prone spaces, from the entryway and the kitchen to the playroom and children’s bedrooms. And starting today (and through September 5), you can take 15% off one product or 20% off two for Labor Day with the code LD23.
Fall Feels for Cool Moms: Lisa Says Gah x Tubby Todd
Apples aren’t just for eating. To dress up its fall fruit–scented duo of body wash and lotion for kids and babies, Tubby Todd enlisted the talent of Lisa Bühler to create a limited-edition label. As a mom, Bühler was already on board with the brand’s whimsical and lighthearted spirit, dialing up that factor with classic Lisa Says Gah illustrations of apple baskets and ribbon-tied sticks of cinnamon. The design is sure to add a stylish, seasonal accent to a cool mom’s shower shelf for the autumn months ahead.