Smart Kid: A Multifunctional Bedroom Set That Grows With Your Child
by Jasmin Malik Chua, 03/12/10Think of Andensen Furniture’s “Smart Kid” as a child’s bedroom-in-a-box, except that in this instance, the box also happens to be the crib. Made from solid birch and plywood, the multifunctional kit starts out as a crib/changing table/dresser combo, but it can easily be taken apart and reassembled as a playpen, a desk, a chalkboard and book rack, or a junior bed for tykes up to 10 years of age.
Bednest MK2 Co-Sleeping Crib & Travel Cot Keeps Baby Close at Hand
by Jasmin Malik Chua, 02/16/10If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to catch up on more ZZZs, come hell or colicky baby, you’re in luck. Bednest has unveiled the latest iteration of its co-sleeping crib for 2010. Available on February 19, the MK2 is a sleek, modern co-sleeper for parents who prefer a little personal wriggle room in the family bed but still want their bambino at arm’s reach.
Eco-friendly ‘Oops’ Crib by Structured Green
by Jennifer Chait, 01/03/10The Oops Crib by Structured Green features a bold new aesthetic in baby furniture. The “Drop” detailing of the crib, comprised of variegated strips of reclaimed woods, results in a wonderfully unique and modern nursery look. Structured Green’s mission is to use quality materials that are sustainably produced, certified or reclaimed, recycled or recyclable, to create their lovely furniture pieces. The Oops Crib fits the bill with the sturdy, child-safe sides made of bamboo, water safe adhesives, and a finish of raw, food grade tung oil. The designers give insight regarding the origin of the ‘Oops’ name offering, “When Mom said you were her happy accident, she was only half kidding. We love you just the same.”
2.1 Million Stork Craft Drop-side Cribs Recalled Due to Infant Suffocations & Injuries
Stork Craft, a juvenile furniture manufacturing company based in British Columbia, and the CPSC have issued the largest voluntary recall of cribs in North American history. 2.1 million cribs made by Stork Craft, some also bearing the Fisher Price logo, have been recalled after 110 reported incidents of the drop-side breaking off — resulting in 15 entrapments (12 in the US, 3 in Canada, 4 of which caused the suffocation death of four infants). Also included in these incidents were injuries ranging from concussions to bumps and bruises which afflicted 20 infants who fell from the cribs.
Sibis Suiko Convertible Baby Bed and Cradle by Sirch
The Sibis Suiko Baby Bed and Cradle by Sirch is a juxtaposition in Japanese minimalist design: austere in appearance yet highly accommodating in function. A cradle for babies that converts to a cot for kids up to age 4, this sleeping haven is made of white laminated birch plywood and its sides are covered in faux leather. The slatted frame is …
Leander Convertible Crib is Five Beds in One
Think of the Leander Bed as the Optimus Prime of baby cribs. The oft-coveted yet incredibly elusive Scandinavian import isn’t your typical crib-to-toddler-bed twofer: Leander’s molded European beech bed can be configured in five different ways, growing as your own baby grows — and then some.
NEW! Seed Organic POD: Eco-Friendly Moses Basket and Cradle
The Seed Organic POD is a brilliant new eco-friendly Moses Basket and cradle from Australian company Babybaby Nursery Products. Recently making its grand debut in the U.S., the POD follows on the heels of the wildly popular Seed Organic Cradle, and it is actually two baby products in one — a ‘Pod’ cradle with stand that will keep baby close to you during the night, and a removable Moses Basket that allows you to move your little one with ease, even when he’s sleeping.
NEW! Dwell Studio Organic Cotton Poppy Blossom Crib Set
If you’re looking for classic, natural, no frill nursery style, the brand new Poppy Blossom Crib Set fits the bill, combining timeless elegance with modern eco-savvy design. The entire Poppy Blossom Crib Set by Dwell Studio is made with 100% organic cotton and printed with low-impact dyes; and it is formaldehyde and AZO free. The quilted Poppy play blanket …
Bamboo Soil Clock is Powered by DIRT!
Sending the kids back to school can be a happy time for parents who are eager to get their youngsters out of the house after a looooong summer! But kids may want to stay home well past the 8am school bell! If you’re looking for an inspiring way to help your child get to school on time in the mornings, get him or her this awesome Bamboo Soil Clock powered by — dirt!
OXO Candela Guardian: The Perfect Portable LED Nightlight
If you’re tired of stumbling around in the dark during late night feedings and diaper changes, then the OXO Candela Guardian nightlight is the perfect solution for you. This LED lighted rechargeable lamp is super portable with a nice handle that stays cool …
Hushamok Dream Baby Hammock and MySeat
The Hushamok Dream looks so restful, we wish the company made a version for exhausted parents to sneak 40 winks in. Designed for at-home and on-the-go use, the sleek setup includes a lightweight aluminum stand, an organic cotton hammock for babies up to 22lbs, two fitted organic cotton sheets, a removable (and machine-washable) poly-filled hypoallergenic mattress, and a travel bag to pack everything …
Uroko House Book Igloo is a Book Lover’s Dream Bed
If you’re a bibliophile like me, you may have fallen asleep amidst a pile of your favorite books as a youngster too. I would have loved nestling into the Uroko House book igloo with all of my treasured fairy tales. Dreamed up by Point Architects, the cozy enclosure that surrounds a child’s bed is also a storage-filled bookshelf. Now your little ones can nod off to dreamland surrounded by their beloved bedtime stories.
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.”
Ninetonine Zebra Crib
What’s better than stylish baby furniture that treads lightly on the earth? How about stylish baby furniture that is fun, playful and celebrates the earth’s creatures, all while maintaining a small environmental footprint? We love this Zebra crib by Ninetonine design for this exact reason. Forgoing the same-old same-old jail bar crib design that characterizes the majority of cribs these days, Ninetonine’s zoomorphic Zebra crib brings a safari spirit to your nursery, with a crib that literally looks like it is about to take off on a gallop across the savannah.
Ancient Design Principles for Modern Parents
Two Eastern philosophies may help parents reclaim the disaster zone that is their child’s room. First, is the Chinese practice of Feng Shui (fung-shooy in Mandarin, fung-schway in American English), shipped to American shores and made wildly popular. Second, are the lesser-known vedic principles dictated by Vaastu Shastra (vaastu meaning ‘man-made constructions’ and shastra meaning ‘sacred text’). When put into practice, the somewhat rigid rules that govern both principles can turn a clutter-filled kid’s room into a space where positive energy flows, leading to more focused, constructive play, and sounder sleep.
BABY ZZZs: Organic Sleep Aid For Babies
Every parent knows that sleep deprivation goes with the territory of having a baby. You may try to ‘nap when the baby naps’, or opt to let your baby ‘cry it out’ when he’s a little older, but it is pretty much a given that as a new parent you will have dark circles under your perpetually sleep-deprived, bloodshot eyes. Until now! Herbal medicinal company Cradle-2-Cradle has just released a revolutionary new product that promises to solve every new parent’s biggest woe: sleep deprivation. Their new supplement, Baby ZZZs, is an infant sleep aid that can be added to breast milk, formula, food, or simply dropped into a baby’s mouth to encourage long, deep sleep, (with no waking) for up to 10 hours at a time!
WIN A FREE INHABITOTS T-SHIRT OR ONESIE!
Are you a mother or father of a young child? Have any opinions on the sleep debate? Co-sleep? No sleep? Sleep training? Few topics are as controversial and divisive for parents as the issue of sleep. We believe that it is time to stop listening to so-called ‘experts’ and start talking amongst ourselves, as every child is unique, and every parent knows their own child best, but our experiences as parents can …
THE GREAT SLEEP DEBATE: Tell Us What You Think!
There’s nothing that seems to be a more universal conundrum, or a more divisive issue for parents, than how their babies sleep. The first question that I get hit with in almost every discussion about my kid is, ‘Does he sleep through the night yet?’ ‘Sleeping through the night’ seems to be the panacea of every parent. But is it natural, a reasonable expectation, and is it the best thing for babies? As the mother of a six-month old, I really don’t know what to think. My husband and I have poured over tons of parenting books (including the entire Dr. Sears collection), and have gone back and forth between a number of philosophies on the sleep issue. Now, with a six-month old who sleeps in our bed and wakes up for a comfort nibble 3-4 times per night, we’re rethinking the issue and our perhaps overly literal interpretation of Attachment Parenting. We’d love to hear what you think about babies and sleep – so please leave a comment below! To foster a dialogue and encourage a forum discussion about this issue, we will be sending a free Inhabitots T-shirt (or onesie) to our favorite response in the comment section.
Safe Co-sleeping With the Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper
We’re big advocates of co-sleeping here at Inhabitots, as we believe it makes life easier and healthier for both mother and baby and is helpful for creating a special bond between parents and children. However, it is not advisable to try to turn any old platform bed into a ‘family bed’ without some sort of modifications. For those of you who are interested in co-sleeping, but have a raised platform bed, don’t worry! Your salvation has arrived in the form of the Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper – a small bassinet-type device that attaches to the side of your bed so that your baby can sleep safely in his own bed, just an arm’s reach away from you.
Kumo Friends Organic Pillows
Say goodbye to bedtime and nap time blues with an organic pillow that doubles as a stuffed friend. Kids will love cuddling up to Jaya Loves Tekeko’s Kumo Friends pillows day and night. The unique assortment of characters includes Owlie, shown below, Raindrop, Leafgirl, Professor Acorn, Hedgehog and Eggboy. Pillows are a blend of organic bamboo and organic cotton, stuffed with kapok, and hand printed with PVC and phthalate free waterbased inks. Kumo friends will not only look adorable as cushions for your kid’s sweet head, they’ll provide hip decor wherever they happen to land around the house. We’ll rest even easier knowing that a portion of Jaya Loves Tekeko sales is donated to Planting Peace, an organization dedicated to cleaning the environment and saving humanity from disease and famine.
Eco-friendly Dozy Dolphin!
If you’ve had a baby or gone to any baby showers in the last five years, you might be familiar with the ‘Sleep Sheep’ – the ubiquitous cuddly sleep aid for babies. Manufactured by Cloud B, the Sleep Sheep is a plush sheep toy that plays relaxing sounds to help little ones fall asleep. Now Cloud B has just introduced a brand new eco-friendly sleepy pal called the Dozy Dolphin! Since I’ve got a little one who sometimes needs help falling asleep, I couldn’t wait to check out this eco dolphin.
SECONDHAND KIDS SHOPPING
Last Economy’s Trash = This Economy’s Treasure
Once thought of as a case strictly for charity, reusing clothing items has become an integral and environmentally savvy facet of green parenting. Now that Goodwill clothing is ‘hip’ (the D.C. stores have a Goodwill Fashionista on their payroll), and we are witnessing the advent of the ‘frugal teen’, can a shift in thinking among parents who once turned up their noses at the idea of hand-me-down or gently-used options for children be too far behind?
Loyale’s Pomeroy 100% Organic Cotton ‘Faux Fur’ Throw
It’s not often that you come across an eco-luxe design that demonstrates true versatility in terms of its use for the entire family, regardless of age or playtime indulgences. The Pomeroy Faux Fur Throw by Loyale is a simply irresistible eco treat. This vegan luxury blanket offers a great way to combine eco-chic living with plush comfort. Tummy time and naptime for both parents and little ones never looked so eco-fashionable or felt so delightfully dreamy.
Behind the Baby Brand: ducduc™
When a company trumpets its simple philosophy of being a good citizen, you can’t help but want to know more. More about its manufacturing processes, its employment practices, its impact on the community and in my case, more about its branding and logo design. Luckily ducduc™ Director of Communications, David Harris, made himself available to tell us more.
ECO NIGHTLIGHT: Moon Jar Solar Powered Lamp
As the proud mama of a nightowl newborn, I’ve suddenly found myself spending more time awake during the night than the day. Nightlights weren’t on my baby gear list, but they should have been. Not only do new moms need a guiding light for all those late-night feedings, but older toddlers and older children like to sleep with nightlights as well to keep the boogeyman at bay.
So what’s an eco-minded mom to do? Seek out solar power and energy-efficient LED lamps of course! Fortunately the two green technologies go hand-in-hand in one cute little package in this Moon Jar solar powered LED lamp.
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!



























































































































