kids

The NY Times personal shopper pointed out that a toy caddy of some kind would be a good addition to a kids' room after Christmas so that there will be someplace to keep all of their holiday goodies. Shelves seem a little too functional to inspire kids to use them on their own, but the BB2 Toy Caddy they recommended nicely bridges the gap between toy and storage unit. Made of natural, finished wood and measuring 23" high x 15" wide, the caddy can be used as a chair or toy cart, which just might be enough to motivate child to use it for storage, rather than just leaving everything for you to put away. But if that's a little too optimistic, at least you're getting a cute, multi-tasking piece of furniture in the bargain. Price: $250.

The other day I noticed a woman with a stroller so large that she couldn't fit it through the door of the coffee shop she was trying to enter and needed someone to go in and purchase her latte for her. Perhaps she was unaware that there are far more fashionable strollers that are not the size of midrange SUVs. The Xplory Complete is one such stroller. Its award winning design features an adjustable seat that keeps children higher up off the ground, giving them a better view and giving parents easier access without back strain. It can also be used as a high chair. The seat can be adjusted to sit upright for older children or to lie down, so babies can rest comfortably. A number of accessories are available, including a baby bag (included), car seat adaptor, changing bag, mosquito net and a parasol. Price: $950.

I have to say that with all the bags that I've featured on Luxist, I have never done one quite like this one. No, I'm not talking about handbags from Diesel, although I must admit that they have been sadly lacking in this feature. I'm talking about a handbag for kids. Diesel's Walla Bag is a cute way for girls to graduate from a backpack to a purse, adding something a little more stylish to their growing wardrobe. It is made of a soft, light gray fabric with green trim and has reflective accents, as well as an adjustable shoulder strap and zip top. Price: $65.

If you're not going to splurge on a solid gold rocking horse for the kids this year, a more affordable alternative would be the Playsam Rocking Horse. The Scandinavian-designed horse is wood, but is finished in a satiny black lacquer that will make any child think that s/he has just gotten her own little Black Beauty. It's aimed at ages 1-5 and measures 33.5" x 13.5". The only downside is that your child might want to get a "real" pony at some point after this - which is significantly more expensive than a wooden one. Price: $225.

Volkswagen, not wanted to neglect any portion of their potential customer base, has a line of winter off-road vehicles for those who are still to young to drive. Their sleds are inspired by the designs of some of their cars. The Schlitten Snow Future GTI (pictured), for example, features an ergonomic design that was modeled after the Golf GTI., with lookalike grille, tachometers and steering wheel. It is made of high-quality, strong double-walled plastic and steers easily due to its central front ski. It will probably be a bit easier to place your order if you know German because the sleds are available from the German Volkswagen site. This one runs $144 (€109).

[via carscoop]

CNN Money notes that regular toys just aren't good enough for some kids anymore - especially the children of the very, very wealthy, who tend to buy children's versions of some of the same indulgent things that they treat themselves to. For example, they might buy a summer house for themselves and a fantastically imaginative Daniels Wood Land Tree House for the kids. Other picks on the list include a life-sized replica of Robbie the Robot from the Forbidden Planet for $50,000, a gas-powered miniature off-road vehicle for two, and a $47,000 version of the Cinderella Coach - horses/mice not included - for a little girl's bedroom.

This pillow may be designed with kids in mind, but it's hard not to appreciate something so cute. Made by Decaf Plush, the 17-inch pillows are made of velvety soft felt and have down feather inserts, which can be removed through a concealed back zipper. Each pillow - pink for fall and green for spring - has a hand-appliquéd retro-inspired design that will appeal to kids of all ages. Price: $70 each.

[via daddy*drama]

The Keinu Rocker isn't the only chair that updates the classic rocking chair, but it is probably one of the most modern in its use of materials in addition to updating the design to some degree. The Mod Rocker, on the other hand, uses a traditional material with an entirely new design. It is also kid-sized. The rocker is wide and low, made of bent plywood - from sustainably grown forests - with a maple veneer. It won Honorable Mention in 2006 I.D. Magazine's Annual Design Review and measures 16.25w x 22.25d x 18.75"h. Price: $320.

How old were you when you got your first car? This could be baby's first Bentley. From the Bentley Collection, the toy is just the thing to get a kid on the right road to appreciating a quality vehicle. Called Blower the Bentley, the soft and squeezable car has removable wheels for making "bedside repairs." We suspect that they could be used for other things, too, such as throwing at older siblings, though we recommend trying to keep Blower in one piece for a smoother ride. Price: £16.98 ($32).

This famous, beautiful structure is known as Atomium. Located in Belgium, it was built for the World's Fair in 1958 and is a replica of an iron molecule, enlarged 65 billion times. Atomium was not intended to be a hotel at all, but when the complex was renovated this year, a portion of the structure was turned into the Kids Sphere Hotel, which just opened this month. Unfortunately, parents can't just book their children in and take off for a romantic evening. The hotel can be reserved only for chaperoned groups.

[via The Cool Hunter]

If you have a nice set of dishes, though luxury consumers tend to prefer basic tableware, you might not want your kids eating off of it, especially if they are very young. Not only could they have an accident, dropping a plate or bowl, but working with a knife and fork that are too large for their small hands can be quite difficult. The Kid's Stuff Complete Dining Set from Alfredo Haberli is kid sized and much more refined than those cartoon-covered plastic dish sets that are often given to children. It includes a plastic tray, porcelain bowl & plate, glass, a four piece flatware set, wooden cutting board and spreader and everything is sized to the proportions of a child, with wide grips that are easy to hold. The cutting board is designed to encourage children to cut up their own food, rather than waiting for an adult to do it for them. Price: $150.

It goes without saying that the iChair is a better idea than the iToilet. The plush chair is upholstered in a super-soft faux suede and has speakers built into the wings just above ear level. The sound is further enhanced by the subwoofer built into the base of the chair. There is a control panel and a pocket to hold an iPod while it is plugged in on the side of the chair. It also comes in black, which looks a bit more dignified than the sky blue pictured here, though the speakers are easier to see on the blue background. The black chair has black speakers, not grey. You can also take an interactive look at the chair here, complete with streaming music from the Veronicas and Tyler Hilton. Price: $399.