This Month in Cool Things for Kids: A Dreamy Cottagecore Nursery Glider
Plus a sale on Oeuf’s bear-shaped play chair.
Published Jul 26, 2023 1:30 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 for the 12-and-under crowd. Aside from the best deal of the week our editors Slack about regularly, we’ve also been gushing over Nurture&’s new convertible bed frame, a hair-care line that won’t sting your little one’s eyes, and a New York chef’s kid-friendly design hack.
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.
Something New: The Kids Bed and Daybed
Finding a bed frame fit for the toddler years and tween stage can be tricky—stylistically, functionally, and purely from a safety perspective. But Nurture&’s latest launch is designed to grow with your little one. The chic rounded structure is fully convertible; you can add matching sleeping rails to squash rolling-off-the-bed fears or a storage trundle to combat clutter if you’re tight on space. And when your kiddo is ready to make the upgrade to a full or larger mattress, perhaps even fly the nest altogether, you can snatch up the daybed conversion kit to transform it into an adult-friendly place for impromptu guests to spend the night. Plus there are 12 different color-blocked combos to choose from in a velvetlike performance fabric that’s easy to clean.
Artist Series: Meet the Lithographer by Gaby Bazin
This isn’t your typical bedtime story. Gaby Bazin’s Meet the Lithographer is only the second children’s book to be offered from David Zwirner Books and the first to take a deep dive into the art of lithography for a younger audience. Flipping through the hardcover’s 40 pages is like getting a personal tour of one artist’s workshop as they walk you through how the printing process has changed since Alois Senefelder first invented it. The bright, colorful illustrations (a creation of just three colors) also showcase all the different tools used, past and present, to implement the technique. It dropped just last week, and we’ve been eager to gift copies to all of the creative kiddos in our lives ever since. Hot tip: Save this one for a birthday or the holidays.
Nordstrom Anniversary Deal: Silver Cross Reef Stroller
There are some shockingly good stroller deals in this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, including perennial favorite Thule gliders. But for a truly luxurious, multi-terrain traveling system, there’s nothing as splurge-worthy as Silver Cross—especially when there’s a discount on an exclusive new neutral colorway. The Reef stroller not only comes in a chic sandy finish, but it’s now essentially $300 off. The single seat is capable of converting into four different modes, including reclining, rear-facing, forward-facing, and a folding bassinet primed for car seat adapters. One reviewer writes that they returned their Uppababy Vista for the Reef before it was even on sale. “I feel like a princess pushing this dream of a stroller. It has so many details that are absolutely gorgeous,” they write. “The feature set on this beats everything else that we have seen, has a super-amazing fold, and pushes like butter.”
Go-To Gift: Jellycat Stuffies
Our shopping director, Liz Buxton, says you can’t go wrong with a Jellycat when gifting for kids. She’s been buying them in bunches to have on hand for whenever a third birthday sneaks up on her. They also make for an ideal last-minute present idea if you happen to be an Amazon Prime member. We’re partial to the Chick, Fox, and Frog.
Spillproof Slipcovers: Bemz Modern Maximalist Couch Covers
You’d never guess that the living room in New York–based chef Nasim Alikhani’s apartment was kid-friendly, mainly because the sectional is all white. It’s all thanks to a custom-made, washable slipcover. By using the cover, she says, she has prolonged the life span of her sofa—by 15 years. If you don’t want to go the bespoke route, there are plenty of other couch covers on the market tailored to fit certain styles; for instance, if you own a sofa from IKEA, we can’t recommend Bemz enough, especially if you want to experiment and handcraft one of the best patterned sofas. Just last week, the company came out with a maximalist line offering checks and block prints with ruffled details, box-pleat skirts, and more. Or stick to taking a page out of Alikhani’s book and play with patterns and pops of color in the form of throw pillows.
Stylish Swivel: Sarah Flint x Namesake Crawford Glider
Shoe designer Sarah Flint recently teamed with nursery brand Namesake to design not baby apparel but two pillow-back swivel gliders. Available in green and blue lattice patterned eco-weave slipcovers (that are water repellent and stain resistant, to boot), the classic silhouette has us swooning—particularly when paired up with the matching ottoman. While a bit on the pricey side, there’s a timeless appeal to this hand-upholstered chair. As Flint has said, “I wanted to collaborate with Namesake on this Crawford glider because I designed my own nursery with all of their pieces after being so impressed with their safety testing and sustainability measures.” Consider us influenced.
New Brand Alert: Up to 50% Off Tiny Cottons
At about the same time we stumbled upon this ethically made kids’ clothing, toy, and accessories brand, based in Barcelona, we saw that it is hosting a seriously good sale. The clearance section is up to 50% off, and you can take an additional 10% off with the code EXTRA10TINY for a limited time. After this discovery, we made a beeline for the beachwear section, where we spotted the most darling gingham swim caps, bloomers, and trunks. We highly recommend perusing everything, from graphic-print onesies to saturated beach towels that encompass the look and feel of a Mediterranean summer vacation.
Mop Maintenance: California Naturals Hair Care
California Naturals founder Shelby Wild shared with us that while adults are the target audience of the new clean brand (available at Target), the products have become a welcome part of her daughter’s hair-care routine, too—especially since she detests having her hair brushed or getting soap in her eyes. The entire line is 98% naturally derived (i.e., cruelty-, sulfate-, phthalate-, and gluten-free), which means it’s safe for sensitive skin, scalps, and eyes. Plus it’s suitable for kids with all hair types, particularly those who spend most of their days in a pool, ocean, lake, or stream.
Last Chance: 30% Off Select Furniture at Oeuf
We clocked a few cult-favorite pieces and apparel from Oeuf—the Brooklyn-based, French-inspired design studio—on sale and had to get the deets. Here’s the scoop: The Arbor crib and Bear walnut play chairs are marked down 30% until they’re sold out. These are the very items you may recognize in Christene Barberich’s nursery and Studio AF founder Ariella Fried’s playroom, so if you’ve been waiting to score a good deal on either, now’s the time to finally bring them home.