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Playrooms everywhere have been getting slimmed down in the wave of minimalism and care to stimulation levels… but one toy has survived the cleaning warpath of parents everywhere. Meet The Nugget Play Couch ($249), the viral kids staple that’s inspiring a play revolution. Part-furniture and part-toy, this couch is specifically designed to be played with in every way imaginable – literally! But is the couch worth the investment for your family?
We like
- 15+ colors and patterns to choose from
- Inspires creativity and active play
- Covers are machine washable for easy cleaning
- Nugget has a referral program so you can earn as you share your love for it with friends
- The brand focuses on giving back – with over $658k in donations to date to non-profits
We don't like
- Higher price point for a “toy”
- Takes up a large footprint
- It helps to have multiple couches for “fun” configurations
Taste Order the Rainbow
Perusing Nugget’s website is a happy experience, plain and simple. In a world of “beige moms,” I’m fighting to keep color around our home (in a tasteful way, of course). Nugget offers 15+ fabric colors, as well as 3 different fabrics, to ensure you get the best style for your home. We have kind of a green-theme going on in our home, so I went with the Bamboo, which is the microsuede fabric. For us, microsuede was an easy choice because it is the most resistant to pet hair, which is important with our two XL pups. The website is easy to use and offers pretty timely shipping – and free shipping, to boot.
Delivery Day & Unboxing
I get quite a few packages, but this is one I actually was looking out for. Like… checking the tracking number, scrolling through our Ring doorbell-level excited for it. When it arrived just a few days after ordering, I couldn’t wait to open the big, signature orange box. Very similar to a bed-in-a-box, the Nugget was tightly sealed up into a box that is smaller than a carseat box. As I began to tear open the plastic, the couch began to grow quickly before my husband and I.
Have you ever played with those sponge toys that grow in the bathtub or the sink? That’s what it reminded me of. Slow at first, but a quick growth all of a sudden! The couch was admittedly a bit wrinkly to start, but this is expected as the couch takes up to 2 weeks to fully “inflate.” Don’t worry, eager beavers, Nugget encourages play on the couch during this period! In fact, it actually helps it set up more quickly. We found that the couch quickly took its expected form within just a day or two.
One of the things that struck me during unboxing was the quality of the fabric. The fabric felt durable, but still soft for kids. Plus, it felt like I could easily wipe stuff right off of it. A few days later and I can attest that this is actually the case… nothing like a little baby throw up on your new thing, right?
The Toddler Test
As thrilling as unboxing was, I was really interested to see what my 2-year-old would do with it the next day. Would he just sit on it? Would he know it’s for play? The honest answer is I don’t know if he knew what to do with it, but this is where the joy of being a playful parent comes in. We set up a few forts, slides, and other silly configurations, and my toddler couldn’t get enough. While I do think he’s on the young side to set these configurations up himself, he was non-stop enjoying the Nugget… so much so that his other toys didn’t even make it out of their storage bin.
If imaginative play makes you nervous, you are not alone. I had the sinking feeling I’d lost my imagination a few years ago – and it was awful. Frankly, I still struggle with that feeling. But slowly, with the help of Nugget’s Build Ideas, my playful mind is coming back to life. The Nugget can be anything you dream it up to be. It is far more than a fort or a slide… it can be a pirate ship, a golf course, a space shuttle. The sky is truly the limit – and you’re invited to be a part of it. The one bummer I’m learning is that more Nuggets does in fact seem to equal more fun. With more than one Nugget, the build options become even more limitless. For us, with our current small space, this just isn’t a reality. Plus, it is another $250 investment to get another. But, I am betting we’ll be a 2-Nugget-fam at some point in the not-so-distant future.
To Nugget or Not to Nugget?
As I left tonight a bit before bedtime for dinner with a friend, I sat in our entryway just listening. The sound of perfect toddler giggles and my husband’s loving voice rang through the house as they played “slides” with the Nugget. This was a moment every mom dreams of. Not every day is as sweet (seriously!) but listening to this playtime was a moment I’ll never forget… and I have the Nugget couch to thank for it.
Surprise your little Nuggeteer with a practical “toy” you’ll both love for a long time!
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