We love all things convertible that bring multiple functions to one beautiful object. A great example: Argington’s Ayres Twin Bed, which is a pint-sized twin bed for your tots, with a second trundle that pulls out for sleepovers (or proof that there AREN’T monsters under the bed). Argington uses FSC woods and non-toxic finishes, all designed with sleek and simple kid-friendly aesthetics.

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Here’s a fun board game that provides a great eco-design twist. Play Rethink: The Eco-Design Game encourages children to rethink existing everyday projects with the environment in mind. Perhaps you can redesign a chair using locally sourced materials or come up with new functions for an out of use shopping cart — the game challenges players to think environmentally friendly and stretch their eco-design creativity! READ MORE >

Pkolino’s ever-clever design approach comes through again with their P’kolino Klick — a workstation for toddlers that functions like a kid-size puzzle, with the chair fitting into the desk just so. Kids can get excited about learning and working with a desk and chair made just for them.

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Proving that great materials and classic Scandinavian design never really loses its feathers, Bird by renowned Danish architect Kristian Vedel is a simple but metaphoric addition to your child’s nursery. The design has a great history and is still as beautiful as it was when first designed by Vedel in 1959. The initial design was as an expression of three generations of a family - children, parents, and grandparents. While only the small “baby” bird actually went into production, it very quickly became one of the most successful and popular Danish wooden toys, something of an icon in the 50’s. Luckily for you, the craft masterpiece is still available today to honor your own family’s generations.

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The minimalist aesthetic of modern design can sometimes be too austere for children’s environments—”clean” tends to go against a kid’s lifestyle. But the husband and wife team behind Spot On Square found a way to unite simple modern design with the softer characteristics of youth products.

Bob and Nicole Springer have twins and a third child born just 18 months after the first two. With a handful of toddlers on their hands, the industrial designer and teacher applied their know-how to launching a small line of furniture and wall décor for kids like theirs. They use only non-toxic paints, adhesives and finishes in their pieces, as well as recycled and reclaimed MDF. Parents who choose the bamboo for their hardwood selection when customizing their furniture end up with a highly sustainable product.

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For skin as soft as your babies, look to the very delicious organic skincare product line by BABYBEARSHOP. Founded by uber-momma Diana Lussenden Stewart, BABYBEARSHOP was kind enough to donate their lip balms to Inhabitat’s 2007 party, and the goods were gone in no time! The eco, mama, and baby-sensitive company has set the highest standards for certified organic and healing skin care for both you and your newborn, using only the best ingredients and production processes. Check out their balms for baby buns and more.

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The “cradle to cradle” concept really comes home in the YiAhn bassinet — an infant cradle that transforms as the baby grows, taking on new functions as the child’s needs change. The bassinet, intended for babies from birth to 4 months, converts into a toy bin and book shelf that the child can use until age 4, and then into a chair and table for kids learning to read, write and draw. If a new baby comes into the family, the materials can once again be assembled into a bassinet.
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Cute kids and sustainable style go hand-in-hand as evidence by UK-based Nixie Clothing and their line of boho miniatures for tots and toddlers. READ MORE >

It’s fairly common knowledge these days that water bottles are environmental sins. According to the Container Recycling Institute, only about 14% of all disposable water bottles are recycled, and those that are recycled are down-cycled into a lower form of plastic, rarely getting turned back into more bottles. On top of that, plastic can leach harmful chemicals into your kids’ apple juice. Even Nalgene is rethinking their plastic recipe. We say ditch the plastic altogether, and look to SIGG aluminum bottles, which are 100% recyclable, and 100% inert, ideal for kids and adults, and come in tons of colorful designs in every size.

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If you’re like us, and never really outgrew your love of treehouses, here’s a chance to live vicariously through your children’s toys. This recycled wood model treehouse from TreeBlocks is made from recycled cherry and elder wood and stands a kid’s sized 22″ tall. A perfect home for dolls, Transformers, or other favorite playthings, it’s easy to assemble and comes fully-equipped with retractable stairs, rope ladder, bucket and pulley, and three platforms.

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If you have a little wrangler running around the house, hook yourself a Giddyup Rocking Stool and let the kids find out what a real saddle feels like. Designer Tim Wigmore created these rockers with reclaimed leather saddles, oiling them back to health and attaching a base of sustainably grown hoop pine timber.
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If you have a newborn, or you’re in need of an eco-friendly baby gift for a friend or relative, the Sckoon Baby Kimono Set is an obvious choice. The 100% organic cotton set includes a tiny kimono in light blue, rose, or natural, along with an elf cap and a matching doll. The kimonos are perfect for tiny newborns with sensitive belly buttons who can’t wear onesies yet. Sckoon also makes adorable booties, bibs, diaper covers, and blankets.

$39.50 from Sckoon

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What better way to scare away monsters under their bed than with flutters on their walls? Ditch the traditional clunky (and inefficient) night lights for these low-energy UK-designed butterfly lights from creative forces Soner Ozenc and John Wischhusen. The Glowings/El Flutter collection of glowing butterfly nigh lights are safe and cool, emitting a soft diffused light from their wings using an electroluminescent fabric. Great for your little one’s rooms when they’re scared of the dark. Maybe buy an extra for yourself, too.

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We’re probably stating the obvious to say that its a goal of most parents to raise creative, ‘hands-on’ children who enjoy art projects, and learning about the world through making things. If you want to encourage the inner Bucky Fuller in a child in your life, here’s an inspirational book that is sure to get those creative juices flowing. D.I.Y. Kids is a crafty, beautifully illustrated how-to book that shows kids how to create new things from common household materials: from book-binding, to making clothes, to making stickers and toys.

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You’ve no doubt seen the $100 laptop before, in its various prototypes and all over the news. It’s been both criticized and hailed as some of the best socially-conscious design ever, but regardless of your stance, it’s worth acknowledging as a feat of both design for the greater good and energy efficiency. The XO computer designed for the One Laptop Per Child program, hopes to bring technology, education, and interactive experiences to children worldwide. They’ve distributed tens of thousands, and last fall did a Buy One Give One program that brought the laptops to retail customers and developing markets alike. And while they haven’t quite hit the $100 price point yet, the devices is cute as a button, and uses only 10% of the energy of regular laptops, thanks to Mary Lou Jepsen’s technological genius, combined with green energy elements like a hand crank.

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My Sust House is an educational green design website for kids and boy does it take the cake in terms of cuteness. We all want to do good and live green of course, but sustainability is made infinitely more appealing by cutey-cute anime style cartoon narrators with charming Scottish accents. Created as an educational tool for teachers and parents, the online game is dedicated to exploring “what sustainability means and how it relates to our homes.”

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