The post Strollever: Futuristic Stroller for Space Babies first appeared on Dornob.

What’s the point, you may ask, when it’s still made of plastic and ordinary bottles can accomplish the same thing? According to Dentsu, the “Father’s Nursing Assistant” enables contact between fathers and infants that’s normally reserved for mothers, offering enhanced opportunities for bonding. It also frees up a hand so you don’t have to awkwardly prop the end of the bottle up with your chin.

The machine vibrates to help soothe the baby to sleep and makes use of heated silicone “breasts” to mimic the feel of skin. It’s similarity to the feeling of actual nursing could be especially helpful in situations where babies have a hard time adapting to bottles, making it easier for moms to take a break and pass on their feeding duties to other caregivers.

Dentsu adds: “The amount of time infants in Japan spend sleeping is shorter compared to the rest of the world. Much of the parental stress and difficulties surrounding childrearing are related to feeding and sleeping, and generally the rate of participation by fathers tends to be low. Breastfeeding is also effective at helping the parent sleep — a benefit that is currently skewed toward women. Focusing on breastfeeding, we aim to decrease the amount of burden on mothers and increase the amount of time infants sleep by enabling fathers to breastfeed.”

“This is realized with the Father’s Nursing Assistant wearable device. Based on advice from pediatricians and babysitters, who say that babies tend to touch the breast with their hands when feeding and that the softness seems to sooth them, the product has been shaped to resemble a woman’s breasts. As a result, a father can hold his baby in both of his arms, creating a deeper kinship between them and enabling the baby to sleep peacefully in his father’s arms. The Father’s Nursing Assistant has a tank for milk on one side and the breastfeeding system on the other. The device also senses the infant’s breastfeeding and sleep timing and is linked to an app that facilitates a better visual understanding of the infant’s condition.”

Predictably, the nursing device has been met with a bit of controversy on social media, with some arguing that it could never replace “the real thing” and others worrying that it could contribute to negative perceptions of bottle feeding. But perhaps Dentsu missed an opportunity to broaden the marketing of the Father’s Nursing Assistant by framing it as an assistive gadget for any parent, including those who have adopted infants, use donor milk, or are physically unable to breastfeed themselves.

Some parents are just fine with bottle feeding, but others crave the kind of intimacy only nursing can provide. The Father’s Nursing Assistant offers a new option among a range of infant feeding solutions so that both parents can decide what’s best for them and their babies.

The post Thanks to This Japanese Nursing Device, Dads Can Now Breastfeed Too first appeared on Dornob.

The post Toiletry Bottles Stack Like LEGOs first appeared on Dornob.

Instead of shaming mothers for providing their babies with sustenance, what if we just made it easier for them to nurse more comfortably and in relative privacy within public spaces?

A new ergonomic bench called “heer” hopes to make this vision a reality. It seats up to four people on one end while offering a semi-enclosed swivel chair on the other. The idea is that mothers can breastfeed right “here,” regardless of whether they’re in an airport, at the mall, or on a corporate campus.

“The idea for ‘heer’ came to us when we witnessed a mother being shamed for breastfeeding in a public place,” says Ivana Preiss, Design and Strategy Director for the Prague-based design and consultancy firm 52 Hours. “We thought the solution must be in design.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLIyU_qwYik

Preiss took the concept to her partner Filip Vasic (now the company’s Creative Director), who in turn enlisted award-winning industrial designer Nikola Knezevic to help bring heer to life. They envisioned it as an oasis of peace in hectic environments that could also be used to soothe fussy babies and help them fall asleep faster.

The seat itself not only swivels so the user can position themselves however they like, it also rocks — something that can be pretty hard to find in public places. The shield around the seat is purposely oversized to provide a bit of privacy and protect babies from distractions while allowing parents to keep an eye on their surroundings. The attached bench makes it easy for them to stay close to any other children they might have with them or continue conversations with a group.

The heer bench is designed to go virtually anywhere, since, as the designers put it, “babies could be hungry anywhere.” Preiss and Vasic sent a questionnaire to over a hundred mothers in several countries to better understand their needs before they got started on the project, and even then they tested the resulting prototype with a group of fifteen mothers and their babies. Reactions were “overwhelmingly positive,” needless to say.

“Our approach is practical, not ideological. We are not deciding whether mothers should breastfeed in public spaces or not. Of course they should breastfeed wherever and however they wish. What we are trying to offer is a choice to those mothers who currently feel they don’t have it. We are glad that so many mothers understand this and support us.”

They add that they are “aware that social norms and habits can’t change overnight. In that sense, we see our product as one of the steps toward breaking the stigma.”

The most recent prototype for heer is made of recyclable composite plastic. 52 Hours is still in the planning phases of this project, but the designers hope to stir up demand for the novel breastfeeding bench all over the world. If you’d like to see heer come to your city, you can submit it for consideration at inviteheer.com.

All photos by Marija Gašparović

The post This Clever Swiveling Bench Makes Breastfeeding More Comfortable first appeared on Dornob.

Here’s a look at nine modern baby items that will bring sleek minimalist flair to your nursery in progress.

Monte White Rockwell Bassinet — Crate & Barrel

No clunky silhouettes or chintzy materials here. Crate & Barrel’s offshoot Crate&kids offers the gorgeous handcrafted Monte Rockwell Bassinet, featuring a copper-plated steel frame, walnut rockers, a removable microsuede cover, and 100 percent cotton sheets.

Mid-Century 3-Drawer Dresser — DwellStudio at AllModern

Your midcentury style doesn’t have to stop at the door to the baby’s room. The Mid-Century 3-Drawer Dresser by DwellStudio presents clean lines, vintage hourglass-inspired drawer pulls, and space for a changing pad on top. It’s made of solid wood and comes in crisp white and dreamy french gray.

Midcentury Crib and Mattress Set — West Elm

This midcentury crib by West Elm is pleasing to look at, and it’s made from Fair Trade certified, sustainably sourced wood and finished with a water-based sealant to boot. It’s even GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means it either meets or exceeds stringent chemical and VOC emissions standards, and it comes with a GREENGUARD-certified mattress, too.

Dottie Bookcase — Babyletto

Here’s a piece you’ll wish you could scale up to use in the living room. The Dottie Bookcase by Babyletto is a stylish way to keep the nursery organized, and it comes with an anti-tip kit for extra safety. It’s made with sustainable wood and non-toxic water soluble paint finishes, with customizable pastel accent buttons available to bring in some subtle colors if you please.

Babycrib Lola — Bermbach

Sculptural, breathable, and just plain beautiful, Bermbach’s Babycrib Lola takes inspiration from traditional basket weaving, with a little added transparency so baby can gaze around the room.

TIBU High Chair — Charlie Crane

Not only will the TIBU High Chair by Charlie Crane look amazing at your dining table, but it’s also multipurpose, transitioning from a high chair for babies as young as six months (when used with an add-on baby set and tabletop) to a booster seat for kids up to eight years of age. Optional washable floral cushions switch up its look and provide a little more comfort, but all of the surfaces on this simple seat are easy to clean.

Compass Rocker — Nursery Works at 2Modern

Chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time sitting in a rocking chair after your baby is born, so you might as well go for max comfort and style. The Compass Rocker by Nursery Works offers padded support for your back, neck, and arms, and its arched metal legs make soothing baby to sleep as smooth as possible.

Mint Green Crib with Gray Felt and Matching Baby Gym — &Me

Handmade in the Netherlands, this crib by &Me harkens back to the 1960s with its fuss-free shape and comes with a felt guard for safety. Pair it with the brand’s sweet baby gym, which itself has been outfitted with beads and rings for visual and tactile stimulation, for a harmonious effect.

The post The Modern Baby: Minimalist Cribs and Furniture for Your Latest Addition first appeared on Dornob.

The post Modern Baby Bouncer Mimics Mom’s Soothing Motions first appeared on Dornob.

“Equal-opportunity parenting” is the name of the game for the designers at Lalabu. Gone is the assumption that only mothers need and want to bond with their newborns. The company has developed baby-snuggling shirts for both new moms and new dads, encouraging everyone to participate in that all-important parent-baby bonding time in the first few months.

The Soothe Shirt, created for moms, actually looks stylish (no more frilly fronts and loud flowery “mother” prints these days, thankfully). The fabric is designed to expand as baby grows, and since it’s a tank, you can wear it under layers of clothes in the winter or by itself when spring and summer hit. However, even though they’re aiming for equality, Lalabu still knows moms and their needs.

The Soothe Shirt has a discreet nursing bra built right in, so you can feed your baby when you’re out and about. “The bra features two fabric layers for extra coverage and a soft elastic band for support,” the designers say. “It also keeps your stomach covered while nursing, so you have the modesty and coverage you desire to confidently nurse no matter where you are.” Perfect!

And of course the baby needs to be comfortable too, so there’s a head support that folds up to stop that wobbly head jiggling as you walk. Just push it back into the pouch when you’re not using it. The shirt keeps your child so close and comforted that she’ll probably doze off while you’re walking.

Worried that you’ll get too hot? They’ve got that covered as well: the US-made pouch has a mesh panel inside to keep both of you cool.

The New Dad Shirt is an ingenious way for new fathers to keep active and enjoy bonding with their baby at the same time as well. It looks like a regular slim-line fashion tee, but it actually serves as a kangaroo pouch! “There’s no wrapping, adjusting, or tying,” the company says to reassure the skeptics out there. Just pop the baby in the pouch and head out the door. We’re not surprised that the Atlanta, Georgia-based company’s slogan is “Simple Babywearing.”

As with the Soothe Shirt, the New Dad Shirt has an inner mesh lining to keep you both cool while you snuggle and the flip-up head support for the baby. The short-sleeve, V-neck T-shirt is offered in “calm blue” and “simple gray” right now, so it’ll match jeans or chinos if you’re out for a casual dinner with friends or just a walk around the neighborhood to catch some air.

Lalabu says the pouch in both shirts is designed to hold newborns weighing between 7 and 15 pounds. “The pouch does support much of your newborn’s weight; however, we still recommend that you always keep one hand on the baby while they are in the pouch,” they advise. “It’s not a ‘carrier’ to hold your baby while you do other things. Much the opposite, our desire is that it promotes mom-baby bonding and actively doing life together.”

We suspect these shirts will be snapped up by friends and family looking for new, creative spins on a baby shower gift—practical and thoughtful, all in one comfy package.

The post Baby-Cuddling Shirts for New Moms and Dads first appeared on Dornob.

Baby furniture typically comes in two options: bare and utilitarian or over-the-top garish. Parisian furniture company Charlie Crane combines functionality with style in a pair of baby furniture pieces. The furniture draws inspiration from modern minimalist Scandinavian design and uses organic materials.

The LEVO baby rocker is for young ones who can’t yet sit up on their own. The bent beechwood frame features curvy legs that help to rock baby to sleep without the need for an ugly electric-powered swing. The soft seat is made from 100% cotton that comes in four colors to match the rest of your decor.

The NOGA changing table is an incredibly functional object that frees up tons of floor space in baby’s room. It works as both a changing table and a small storage space. When it’s closed it looks like a modern curved cabinet, but open up the front and a small diaper-changing surface drops down.

NOGA is suitable for babies up to 40 pounds, so it should be useful for quite a while. Also made of bent beechwood, NOGA comes in blue or white and the company sells a matching changing mat. All of Charlie Crane’s furniture is made in France and can be purchased in more than 10 European countries for €189 (LEVO) and €420 (NOGA).

The post Oh Baby! Minimalist Infant Furniture That Won’t Cramp Your Style first appeared on Dornob.

Buying stuff for a new baby is one of the most exciting moments of life, but that excitement quickly turns to disbelief when you realize just how much stuff they need and just how quickly they outgrow everything. The Froc adjustable highchair is meant to grow with your child, giving you one less thing that needs to be replaced every few months.

The Froc is so adjustable that it can grow with your child from the ages of six months to approximately 10 years. For babies, the Froc is a high chair with a safety seat belt. As the child gets bigger, the seat, footrest and back rest all change positions to accommodate the growing bundle of joy.

Because kids love to do things that they probably shouldn’t, the Froc is stable enough to stay upright even when it’s being climbed on. The wide base does not allow the chair to fall, even if a child stands on the footrest or leans back while sitting on the seat. The innovative chair is made from natural materials and can be assembled in just a few minutes, making it ideal for taking on trips.

The coolest part is how customizable it is. You can go to Froc’s website to design your own chair, choosing from the various textile options available and different harnesses and seats for various ages.

About Froc

“Matej founder of the company had the idea for a fully adaptable highchair soon after the birth of his older son Taj. How did this happen? After he and his wife Maruša had failed to find a proper fully-adaptable, modern, wooden highchair on the market they’d want to have for their kids, Matej set out to develop one himself. Soon after the launch, Froc received the first awards and, more importantly, Matej’s second born daughter Kiara got a pretty pink Froc chair just for herself.”

The post Froc Adjustable Highchair Keeps Up with Your Kid’s Growth first appeared on Dornob.

Baby clothes grow too small so fast – and the same is often true of furnishings for such littler folks. In typical German style, this transforming object addresses a problem without undue fanfare.

Available from Massivholz (literally: big wood), the side slats of the crib can be lifted up and taken out as needed, making for a three-sided couch or bench.

In turn, one of the thinner ends can be half-removed to make for the foot of a bed while the other piece remains in place as a headboard. Nothing too fancy or complicated, just simple, practical and efficient evolution that ages with your child.

The post Crib, Couch & Bed: Convertible Furniture Grows with Kids first appeared on Dornob.