In 1972, while platform shoes, waistlines, and the first recorded Pong scores were high, a young boy in Norway was feeling, literally, pretty low. Thor had outgrown his high chair, and conventional furniture left him struggling for a place in the adult world, particularly at the family dining table. Luckily his father was Peter Opsvik, an industrial designer who has made a career of rethinking sitting and believes that children and adults should interact at the same level. Activated by his own son’s situation and aware of a universal need, Opsvik designed the Tripp Trapp chair, an innovative and completely adjustable high chair that can be used at any age. Today over seven million Tripp Trapps have been sold. Here at MoMA, visitors to the Century of the Child: Growing by Design, 1900–2000 exhibition will encounter a “Maxi” version of the design, made to provide adults with the point of view of a three-year-old. This interactive introduction to the exhibition facilitates an important perspective shift.
It’s also really fun. In the video above, Opsvik and I give the “Maxi” set a go; as with many other examples from Century of the Child, this design success is not just about scale, but about empathy. Century of the Child is on view in MoMA’s sixth-floor Special Exhibition Gallery through November 5. Century of the Child: Growing By Design 1900–2000,Pick up in-store Today! See All Lowest Price of the Season! Save up to 1/2 Price for Baby's Nursery Save up to 1/2 Price for On the Go with BabyThe idea of shopping for your baby is thrilling at first -- until you realize just how much they really need, how much it costs, and how much energy went into making it. By choosing gently used secondhand strollers, high chairs, toys, books, and carriers, you can save resources and trim your budget -- think of it as adding to the college fund.Before you buy any used items, be sure to check for recalls on the products you're considering. Experts recommend never buying a used car seat, and make sure any other items meet the most current standards for safety.
If eBay isn't already your first stop for, well, just about anything, then you might be surprised by the extensive collection of barely used baby gear you'll find there, from bedding and furniture to nursery decorations and strollers.The handy search feature lets you search for exactly the brand you want, and on many pieces you can choose either the Buy It Now option (to guarantee you get that fought-over Bugaboo) or bid (in hopes of getting a killer deal). Rocka-Buy Gear/Screen captureDon't want to worry about winning an auction or negotiating a price with a seller? Rocka-Buy-Gear lets moms list their used items -- furniture, strollers, blankets, toys, DVDs, and more -- for a flat rate; then gives sellers five days to ship the item once it's sold.The site also donates 2 percent from each sale to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and reviews popular items so you get a parental perspective before you order. Baby Outfitter/Screen captureBaby Outfitter is the brainchild of Kate Upshaw, a self-described "children's clothing, book, and toy shopoholic" who now sells secondhand everything -- from classic books to swaddling blankets -- and ships them for a flat rate.
(She also sells tons of clothes for the chic little weehuggers in your life.) Swap Baby Goods/Screen captureSwap Baby Goods is set up for parents to list the items their families are finished using for sale -- or for swap. Posters assign each item a value and offer other site users the option of purchasing it or trading for something they need.The listings, organized by categories like bedding, bouncers & swings, diapering, feeding, furniture, strollers, toys, and more let you navigate the hundreds of items without missing out on what you really need. ReCrib/Screen captureNew York City-based ReCrib was started by parents who wanted to sell the high-design items they'd invested in for their baby.Now you'll find cribs from Bloom, Stokke, DucDuc, and NurseryWorks; strollers from Bugaboo, Peg Perego, Maclaren, and Quinny; and furniture from West Elm and Pottery Barn (among others). You can also view the listings on a map to find out where your nearest sellers are; Postings are found across the country.
Craigslist/Screen captureIf you want to avoid paying for shipping -- and calculating the carbon footprint of having your new crib delivered from across the country -- then check Craigslist for baby gear for sale from your neighbhors and other nearby sellers.You'll find toys and books, dolls and trucks, furniture and strollers, high chairs and mobiles -- and you might even make friends with other local parents when you're dropping off or picking up.Bonus: The site includes safety and recall alerts at the top of its "Baby and Kid Stuff" listings so you can double check before you buy. Encore Baby Registry/Screen captureEncore Baby Registry doesn't sell items directly, but it does offer brand-new parents an alternative to traditional store registries. Here's how it works: You create a wish list with everything you want for your baby -- furniture, clothing, toys, strollers -- using the search tool and share it with your friends and family.But instead of going to just one store to purchase the items, givers are encouraged to wrap up their own used versions of the items -- or get them at a thrift store -- and check off the registry that way.
Baby gets everything she needs and you get to feel less guilty about where it all came from: It's a win-win.Deal likelihood of working: High"Give code to cashier or use on-line. Official: Valid through 3/6/17. Online and in-store purchases only. Limit one coupon per customer and for one-time use in-store or online. Not valid on discounted items. "@CraftyMomsShare 3d agoView screenshot of working deal"Use code 2368 online or present barcode in stores. Valid through 03/06/17, 11:59 p.m., PST. Redeem for $5 off purchase of $25 or more, $10 off purchase of $50 or more, or $15 off purchase of $75 or more. Purchase total must be made in a single transaction. Limit one coupon per customer. Valid for one-time use in stores or online. Not valid on sale, discounted or clearance items. Cannot be resold or used for commercial purposes. Cannot be used toward the purchase of gift cards or combined with any other coupon, discount or offer. Not applicable on prior purchases. Excludes sales tax and shipping charges.