Innovative Design For The Early Years

From a purely materialistic point of view, becoming a parent means transitioning into an existence crammed with a mind-boggling amount of stuff—stuff to acquire, assemble and incorporate into your (increasingly hectic) daily routine. It can be overwhelming, which is why thoughtful design that brings a sense of joy and clarity really matters.

Today, we’re highlighting three brands that bring a well-matched sense of wonder and imagination to design for children and newborns.

Sara Adam Slywka, co-founder of children’s furniture brand Nestig, says the company was born out of a desire to bring delight back into the experience of preparing for a new baby.

“As a veteran of the baby industry, I felt that there was a huge opportunity for a brand that reflected the joy of getting ready for a new baby back to its customers,” she said. “Putting together a space for a tiny new family member is such a special experience. You get to create a space for shared memories, a place to share the things you love and a place for your baby to become who they are.”

Nestig’s ethos, she said, is “to create delightful children’s furniture and decor with the highest standards and care to make the everyday moments a little bit more magical.”

That blend of purpose and playfulness informs everything at Nestig. “As a design company, we know that design is about more than just appearance,” Slywka said. “We think through each part of the experience—assembly, daily use and how people feel seeing the product in their space.”

Slywka pointed to the company’s Wave Crib as a flagship piece that illustrates Nestig’s philosophy. “When we first launched Nestig, we saw how much the crib category lacked innovation, both in form and function,” she said. “Our Wave Crib raised the bar on both and parents have loved this product since the beginning.”

The Cove Montessori Shelf, crafted with solid Brazilian pine and bamboo for rattan-like detailing, is another offering that encapsulates the Nestig spirit and ethos. “We thought through how a child would interact with the shelf, like wanting to select books at their own level, and so we added an elevated rattan detailing to the visual design. My son’s eyes lit up when he first saw all his books on display on his Cove Montessori Shelf and I love the way it complements the pieces in his room.”

Durability and sustainability are also central to Nestig’s mission.

The products are handmade, with sustainably sourced materials, in a family-owned factory in Brazil (“where employees are treated kindly,” according to the Nestig website) with a manufacturing process that blends modern technology with traditional craftsmanship.

Crucially, products are designed with longevity in mind to grow alongside families: Nestig’s newest product, The Wave Montessori Kids Bed, can be used all the way through to the teen years. Similarly, the brand operates under a “just enough” philosophy, avoiding excess inventory and large warehouses, thereby reducing its carbon footprint.

Nestig is responsive to parent feedback, especially when it comes to usability. “Our Cove Montessori Bookshelf is a perfect example of that,” said Slywka. “We heard from parents that they loved the product but that the assembly was too tedious, so we completely reworked the design to make it a simple 4-step process.” The Wave Kids Montessori Bed was also developed in response to parent input about the difficulty of finding stylish, functional floor beds.

“We’re proud to make products that get to be part of life’s most special moments,” Slywka said, “and help spread more of that everyday magic.”

For over 60 years, Valco Baby has been a trusted name in infant mobility—beginning as a small Australian family business and growing into a global brand. While the company has grown, it has never lost sight of its roots. “We remain committed to our founding values: creating functional, high-quality products that provide lasting value for growing families,” said Jeffrey New, Head of Product Development at the Valco Baby Head Office.

Parenting trends have come and gone in that time; the brand has adapted accordingly. “As a third-generation family business, our approach to stroller design has been shaped by firsthand experience,” said New. “Observing our own family members using our products has given us invaluable insight into how to continuously refine and improve them.” One key change: parenting has become more mobile. “Fifty years ago, larger and heavier bassinet strollers were the norm. Today, parents prioritize lightweight designs, compact folds and easy maneuverability.”

Valco Baby’s strollers are designed to grow with families, accommodating children from newborns up to 45 pounds. The strollers offer configurations for every stage, with car seat adapters, classic bassinets or a fully reclined seat with a newborn footrest enclosure. Many models include third-seat attachments and ride-on boards to support multiple children. “This adaptability ensures our strollers continue to meet the needs of growing families,” said New.

As a city-dwelling parent-of-multiples-to-be, I was an instant fan of the compact Valco Baby Slim Twin strollers. With a width of just 26 inches—narrow enough to fit through standard doorways—the stroller is designed for easy maneuverability and storage while not short-changing comfort and performance. Each seat includes adjustable footrests and a built-in cocoon for newborns, with a tall seat design to accommodate older or taller children; the canopies offer UPF 50+ sun protection and magnetic peek-a-boo windows; mesh paneling provides additional ventilation. For parents on the go, each seat has a large back pocket for essentials. Plus, the stroller is compatible with infant car seats via an adapter (sold separately); terrain versatility and weather protection are also built into the design.

Key innovations at Valco Baby have been driven by a willingness to listen to parents. “The most valuable feedback comes directly from our customers—especially moms—who use our strollers every day,” New said. That feedback led to features like the aforementioned dual canopies for double strollers, ultra-compact designs under 29.5 inches wide and the “cleanfold” feature that protects the seat fabric during transport. “We were among the first to incorporate these kinds of features, which really came from hearing what parents needed most.”

When Teddy Fong launched Babyletto over a decade ago, the goal was to bring accessible, modern nursery design to a market that sorely lacked it. “When we first started, modern baby furnishings were hard to come by,” said Fong, founder of Babyletto and CEO of Million Dollar Baby Co. “We launched Babyletto to fill that gap and offer beautifully designed, high-quality nursery furniture that parents could trust.”

Safety and functionality are the brand’s top priorities. “But we also believe the nursery should be a place of joy, creativity and style,” Fong said. “It’s a room where new parents spend so much time, and it should reflect their personal aesthetic.” That vision has led Babyletto to become one of the most awarded modern nursery brands in the U.S., with a growing global following.

The Yuzu All-Stages Crib is a celebrated highlight of the collection. “It was the first 8-in-1 crib on the market and quickly went viral for its unmatched versatility and value,” said Fong.

In 2024, Babyletto expanded its lineup with the Pogo Collection, adding a playful, Scandi-inspired design sensibility to the brand’s functional, grow-with-you concept. These are items designed for the nursery but beautiful enough for use throughout the home. The Pogo dresser features one-of-a-kind ‘push to open’ drawer hardware with a soft-closing mechanism for even more safety and longevity.

Durability and sustainability are central to Babyletto’s production model. Ninety-eight percent of the brand’s wood pieces come from the same factory, and 100% of our upholstered furniture is made in a dedicated facility. “One of our biggest strengths is our close, long-standing relationships with our factories.”

All Babyletto products are tested for over 10,000 chemicals and VOCs to support better indoor air quality. Nearly all of the brand’s wood pieces are FSC® certified, and its eco-performance seating uses upcycled Repreve® fabrics made from recycled water bottles—over 6.2 million of which have been diverted from landfills. “We are proud to be the most GREENGUARD Gold-certified baby furniture brand in the world,” Fong added.

Another top concern: ease of assembly, something that’s especially important for time-strapped expecting parents. Most of the brand’s dressers come pre-assembled. Each product is tested in Los Angeles with the goal of keeping assembly under an hour. “We want our cribs to offer a stress-free assembly process, from clear instructions to pre-assembled elements and thoughtful packaging.”

Babyletto recently opened its flagship store in Los Angeles—something which, Fong said, will allow more direct connections with its customers. “We want to talk to you, understand what you need, and how we can improve to serve each customer’s needs.” Ultimately, Babyletto wants parents “to be wowed at every touchpoint they have with us. From the little details that we put into every product, to the customer service team that helps guide your shopping experience.”