Inhabitots

Small Plum Organic Baby Clothing

Sandbox Couture is a popular online children’s boutique which has always served up stylish threads for babies and toddlers. They recently went ‘green,’ and are now offering eco-friendly clothing for kids. Small Plum is one of the new organic clothing collections featured at Sandbox Couture, and the lovely, earthy designs and colors of Small Plum one pieces make them perfect attire for organic summer babies.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

NEW! Sugary Sweet gDiaper Summer Style

We’re excited about anything that keeps our landfills a little bit cleaner for new generations, like earth-friendly 100% biodegradable plastic free hybrid gDiapers. And when an adorable new style debuts, we get even more excited. Especially when the style is so darn sweet. The brand new summer-friendly girly girl ruffle gDiaper design is almost cavity forming. Sugary pink, ruffly bliss that your baby girl can wear all …

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Modularean Eco Prefab Dollhouse

Grooming tots to have a penchant for green architecture and an eye for good design is an effortless undertaking with the Modularean Eco House. Kids will literally have the tools for sustainable design and eco-friendly living in the palms of their hands while playing with this prefab dollhouse. Designed by David Baker and built by woodworker Julianna Sassaman, the Modularean Eco House may be the smallest prefab home on this planet, but its ‘wow’ factor is big.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 2

Whatchawant Children’s Stool – A Rocking Horse for Modern Tots

The Whatchawant children’s stool recently made its debut at the 2009 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and we were struck by its timeless sensibility. Created by independent, Swedish designers Charlotte Ryberg and Johanna Strand, this unique stool was designed with function, sustainability and style in mind.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 1

Offi Paket Table Transforms For Simple Storage

For busy families living in close quarters, smart design can make all the difference in the world. Case in point: the Offi Paket Table that transforms from a colorful cube into a full table and chairs set with the flick of a wrist. This simple solution makes turning an adult living space into an accommodating kid-friendly area a breeze… and clean-up is just as easy.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Ecotronic Eco Rocket

We’re already fans of Ecotronic battery-free toys, (remember the adorable Eco-friendly Handpump Penguin Night Light)? Now there’s even more to love. Ecotronic has a new Eco Rocket available, which is an ultra cool toy for green, outer space loving kids. Kids charge up the Eco Rocket via its hand crank, and listen to a countdown as they watch the launchers power up. They can then actually see the rocket blast off! Battery-free flashing lights and sounds are included, and the hand crank stores neatly inside the rocket body. Ecotronic also uses biodegradable packaging with no dangerous ties or wires. Previously, Ecotronics had mainly been available from UK shops, but now Canadian based Raspberry Kids is carrying the Ecotronic line as well.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

GREENPLAY Eco-friendly Airplane Furniture

How can we contribute to the well-being of the environment and continue to create imaginative design? This is the question the creative minds at Skyline Design seek to answer with each new addition to their GREENPLAY collection. They keep coming up with ingenious solutions, the most recent of which is the Airplane Activity Center which made its debut at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (May 16-19, 2009).

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Day

Ohdeedoh beholds the essence of the mighty T-Rex captured in this eco-friendly, animated toddler toy. We love that this handmade, wooden dinosaur boasts movable parts, making it even more appealing to tiny toy connoisseurs.

Tiny Decor Blog helps us all save some dough while getting more mileage out of quickly outgrown onesies, …

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

An Early Rider for Easy Riders

There’s a new wooden bike on the block. And with features such as embossed flames, an embroidered chopper-styled seat, and a fat black-walled rear tire, it’s bound to quickly race to the head of the pack. According to the website, Early Rider mini cycles are the “most stylish, perfectly made and safest bikes available.” While there really isn’t a quantifiable way to prove that last bit, just one look at these bikes confirms the first two claims.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 2

Olli & Lime Eco-Friendly Numbers Print

Olli & Lime is all about yummy design that kids and parents can adore together. Nothing fluffy, nothing in typical baby pastel, and nothing that lacks beautiful style. Earth-conscious parents and kids alike will be thrilled with these bold number prints; part of the new 2009 spring and summer line from Olli & Lime. The eco-friendly George Wall Art above is printed on 100% heavy weight recycled paper and printed with milk chocolate, lime, and aqua child-safe, digital inks that reduce waste and run-off into the water supply. This lovely print is also available in a Billie style with shades of roasted brown and burnt orange (see below). Frame is not included with print.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Elements Naturals 100% Natural and Renewable Baby Wipes

Elements Naturals baby wipes are the newest, eco-friendly disposable baby wipes on the market. Most mainstream baby wipes are a blend of polyester, polypropylene, cotton, wood pulp, and rayon fibers. In green contrast, Elements Naturals are made from 100% Ingeo fibers, a plant based man-made fiber from annually renewable resources. Ingeo fibers are chemical free and they do not leach any harmful toxins into soil. Ingeo fibers production requires 68% less fossil fuel resources than traditional oil-based materials.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Kid O Toys Explore Reggio & Montessori Philosophies

When their children approach 2 years of age, most city parents begin to wonder about pre-school options. (Some start earlier. I remember being on a school tour with a pregnant mom who was doing research for her unborn child). Schooling choices generally boil down to two philosophies: the open ended Reggio Emilia approach or the more structured methods of Maria Montessori. As enrollment deadlines approach, wonder usually gives way to panic, and it is easy to forget that school is supposed to be a fun, learning experience. Luckily, the proprietors of Kid O, a small children’s store in Manhattan, have not forgotten this, and they offer a search tool that groups toys designed with these two schools of thought in mind.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

COCO-MAT Mattresses Let Kids “Sleep on Nature”

Citizens living in lesser-developed, rural environs have long been hip to the concept of using natural fibers to make their sleeping arrangements more comfortable. Some stuff their mattresses with the dried husks of coconuts, while others turn to livestock such as horses or sheep, and seasonally ‘borrow’ fibers. These ideas were born organically out of necessity hundreds of years ago, and a small Greek company called COCO-MAT has modernized the various processes, providing today’s green seekers the option of “sleeping on nature.”

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

IsaBooties for Tiny Treehuggers

IsaBooties is currently the only leading line of soft-soled baby shoes to earn a listing in Co-Op America’s Green Business Network… which right away tells you that the IsaBooties company is doing something right. It doesn’t hurt that the shoes themselves are totally adorable… and in this case, pretty is as pretty does.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Maarten Baas’ Clay Children’s Chairs

If you have seen the Story of Stuff video, then you’re aware that after World War II, President Eisenhower’s Council of Economic Advisors came up with the sinister concept of ‘planned obsolescence’ (products designed for the dump). This is, of course, the antithesis of sustainable design. But along the continuum between products intentionally designed with an expiration date, and long-lasting items made from renewable materials, where would one fit objet d‘art? I thought of this question when I came across Maarten Baas‘ Child’s Chair from his Clay Furniture series.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 1

bObles Tumbling Animals

While on maternity leave with her first son, Bolette Blaedel noticed that there was a lack of children’s furniture that incorporated four important components: play, creativity, physical exercise, and good, Danish design. With help from her fashion designer sister, Louise Blaedel, the company bObles dk and a series of bObles Tumbling Animals were born. Tumbling Animals are multifunctional furniture pieces that your kids will adore, and you won’t mind sharing your living space with these vibrant, entertaining creatures.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 11

Nova Natural’s Handmade ‘Wooden LEGOs’

Wooden LEGO sets seem to be items of urban legend; but the Interlocking Blocks available at Nova Natural offer similar stacking fun. The pieces combine the natural color and feel of wooden blocks with a pared down version of the dowel and hole locking system that made those plastic Danish toys so famous.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 1

PARO: Therapeutic Baby Seal Robot!

Bet you’ve never seen a baby seal sucking on a pacifier before! What you are looking at above is PARO – an adorable fuzzy robotic seal pup designed to help sick and elderly people relax and heal through Animal-Assisted therapy. We spotted Paro at the ICFF, (not really sure why it was there, since a robo-seal isn’t exactly furniture) and instantly fell in love.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 4

CRAYON RINGS by Timothy Liles!

I just spotted these fantabulous crayon rings by Timothy Liles at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and I’m super excited about them! What a great idea, right? Fun for both kids and adults, crayon rings allow you to wear your artistry on your hands, and color with your knuckles. Now you never need to worry about forgetting your box of crayons. I’m sure parents with nice, clean, white walls will be thrilled that I brought this to your attention!

$50 from the Future Perfect
+ Timothy Liles
+ ICFF 2009

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Our Roundup of the Best Kids Design @ ICFF

If you read our parent site Inhabitat, you may have noticed us going a little nutty this past weekend over the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). The huge furniture trade show comes to New York every May, and design aficionados from all around the world flock to New York City to check out the latest trends in furniture and interior design. While most of the stuff on display is geared towards grownups, we always find some great new kids stuff every year. This year was no exception. Check out our pics below to see the eco-friendly kiddie gems we spotted this year at ICFF…

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 3

Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Day

LMNOP blog colors us happy with this DIY wall art for tots. Kids can get creative and decorate Cocoon Couture’s wall art tiles, then proudly hang them on the wall for all to enjoy.

A Pink Canary’s Nest gives us a clever, stylish way to immortalize and cherish …

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Chair Made from Playground Slide!

Toddlers share a universal affinity for going “Weeee!” down slides. Designer Evan Dublin has transferred the giddiness of a child’s gleeful descent down a playground slide into his cheery, bright yellow, Slide Chair, which was built from a reclaimed slide component found at New York City salvage yard, Build it Green.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 1

ecoKIDS 100% Recycled Paper Sketchbooks

Recycled paper supplies can look a little dull for the candy colored tastes of kids -  lacking design and appearing in neutral colors. But Ecojot offers a vibrant, eco-friendly, playful line of sketchbooks that are colorful enough to appeal to kids, and green enough to please eco-conscious parents. Ecojot products are Canadian made with 100% post-consumer recycled, acid-free, chlorine-free, …

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Kalon Studios Ioline Dresser

Kalon Studios‘ Ioline Crib was recently awarded one of the top 100 eco designs in the world in TIME Magazine’s “Green Design 100″ issue, and we’re equally impressed with the Ioline Dresser, which shares the same eco-friendly design qualities and aesthetic appeal. Kalon Studios, founded by husband-wife team Johannes Pauwen and Michaele Simmering, have created many innovative delights for tots, and we love their sustainably designed, modern IoLine Dresser which is just as befitting for the nursery as it is for mom and dad’s bedroom. What a great, green concept if you’re sharing close quarters with baby.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 3

NYC Apartment Boasts Built-in Scavenger Hunt

Lurking just beneath the surface of the Klinsky family’s real life home in Manhattan, is a secret world that could double as the set for a Harry Potter film. Architect Eric Clough built a secret scavenger hunt into their $8.5 million, 4,200 square foot Fifth Avenue apartment; complete with riddles, ciphers, poems, hidden doors and compartments, mazes, treasures and games. No child, or adult, for that matter, could ever claim boredom again, dwelling in this enchanting masterpiece.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 2

Argington’s Design-Savvy Miniature Furniture Set

With New York Design Week about to get underway, the contemporary design set has migrated from Brooklyn Designs to ICFF for the annual showcase of furniture innovation and chic modern living collections. It is unusual at these grand events to come across bold eco-friendly designs crafted for a Lilliputian universe. Argington has done just this with their latest limited-edition miniature furniture set. I was totally smitten with these adorable, diminutive models of their full-size pieces while touring Brooklyn Designs last weekend. A design collection that fits neatly and efficiently into a sleek wooden valise, is probably the best way to sport both sustainability and ‘mini-me’, space-saving style.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

NEW Plan Toys Green Dollhouse

The brand new Plan Toys Green Dollhouse is drool worthy to the extreme. Like any smart green home, this dollhouse incorporates renewable energy design features such as passive solar via solar panels on the roof, and a wind turbine. An eco-friendly green plant biofacade is included to keep dollhouse temperatures perfect year round, along with a useful shade canopy that your child can pull down in order to prevent or allow sunlight and wind to flow through the house. There’s a sweet rain barrel for collecting rainwater; perhaps for washing little Plan Toys Eco Vehicles or watering the garden! A very nice set of recycling bins are included as well.

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

VIDEO: Hugh Hayden Discusses His FUNature Tennis Ball Chair

Hugh Hayden, an architect, furniture designer, and Dallas transplant now residing in Brooklyn, has only one desire: to put the ‘fun’ back in functional with his FUNature collection of chairs and tables. An Inhabitat darling who recently earned the ‘Most Innovative Use of Materials’ award at the BKLYN Designs show (May 8th – 10th, 2009), Hayden took a few moments from exhibiting his whimsical structures to give us some background into his fuzzy, day glow Tennis Ball Chairs. (Watch the video above).

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Sabrina Arini’s Color-It Footstool

Like a coloring book turned three-dimensional, Sabrina Arini’s Color-It footstool encourages kids to get out their pencils and make their mark on furniture. Made of corrugated cardboard, the stool “supports up to 66 pounds in weight,” and remains sturdy “without the use of glue or screws.” It is decorated in a motif of simplistic line …

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Oh Plah! BPA Free Teething Bracelet

The Oh Plah! Teething Bracelet, made by Roundhouse Design Collaborative, answers the age old question of how to soothe a teething baby when you’re out and about and forgot the teething toys: let him chew on your handy teething bracelet, of course!

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 0

Japanese Wooden Lacquerware Children’s Dish Set

This beautiful Children’s 4-Piece Japanese Wooden Lacquerware Set is a great alternative to plastic dishes and a nice switch from the typical eco-friendly stainless steel baby food dishes we usually see. This lovely handcrafted dish set comes with a bowl, a cup, a fork and a knife. The set is made of wood coated with a natural lacquer using a traditional Japanese …

READ MORE >

email this email facebook this facebook this 1