Thank you Modernmini
for providing me with a product to review, free of charge.
These are my own honest opinions.

Sometimes -not often enough-, I come across a new store or boutique and my heart skips a beat because I feel like I’ve stepped into a new world, full of discoveries and light years from the commercial ‘everything looks the same’ atmosphere of large retail stores. It is rather rare nowadays to find a boutique dedicated to celebrate and promote kids’ imagination, creativity and development, and that’s why Modernmini is such a refreshing boutique to come across.

Modernmini is a New York based boutique and online store that is devoted to bringing unique Scandinavian designed products for babies and children to us. They offer products from 6 different brands and their products range from stroller to dishware to dollhouses. All their products exude the simple elegance and functionality of modern Scandinavian design.

As you can see, the simple aesthetics of the products offered by Modernmini is refreshing and pleasant for us as adults while being stimulating and engaging for little ones. The line of products that caught my eye the most was bObles and I was thrilled to have the chance to review one of their products.

bObles was founded in Denmark in 2006. Each product is made of solid EVA-foam which is free of toxins and phtalates and is designed in the shape of an animal. They are referred to as ‘tumbling furniture’ because of their unique shapes which make them tiltable, rockable, rollable, and stackable. They are intentionally created to be multi-purpose and children can play with them in many different ways and therefore develop their motor skills in a fun and whimsical way while they can also be used as functional furniture. For example, the chicken can be used for tummy time, as a seat, as a seesaw, as a step stool,  making it a very versatile product.

For this review, I received the bObles Crocodile in lime green. It measures 9.8″ by 23.6″ and is 7.7″ in height. The playful crocodile shape is also a 3-step staircase. The crocodile can be flipped on its back to provide a flat angled surface. It is made of lime green and apple green strips of EVA-foam which is soft and lightweight and won’t leave marks on your walls or furniture nor scratch your floors. It can hold up to 350lbs. It is easy to clean with a damp cloth.

From the second my daughter saw the crocodile, it was love at first sight! It was wonderful to see her explore it, push it around, and climb on it. She knows how to climb stairs but the size of the crocodile makes it a lot easier for her to climb like a ‘big girl’ rather than on all fours. She also quickly figured out that she needed to be careful when stepping off of the crocodile’s head because it is a much bigger step. She likes to hold onto something (usually the couch or my hand) to step off. Then she’ll run back to the crocodile’s tail and do it all over again. Over the course of a few weeks, it’s amazing how much confidence she gained from this simple exercise which just feels like play to her. The crocodile is wide enough that it is very stable so it doesn’t tumble over easily which is nice when little ones are just learning how to keep their balance.

She also figured out that the crocodile is a perfect step stool to get on the couch. She pushed her crocodile against the couch and is now able to climb up and down without our help (she always struggled to get up the couch by herself). I like that the crocodile gives her a bit more independence to do the things she wants.

We tried a few times to flip the crocodile over to lay on it to read a book or use it as a seesaw but so far, she prefers to sit on it or climb the steps. I’m not pushing it because I know that soon she’ll want to explore those positions as well and I’d rather see it coming from her when she is ready.

One of my daughter’s favorite uses for her crocodile is a little table. She likes to sit on one of the steps and put her snack or cup on the step beside her. I’ll often find her like that when she watches TV or reads a book.

Overall, I am very pleased with our bObles Crocodile! I will definitely get other animals because they are so cute and practical and I love to see my daughter learn and develop her skills in such a fun way! I am so happy to have discovered this brand through Modernmini. I want to add that their customer service is amazing: they quickly respond to emails and are eager to answer any questions you may have.

Buy It: Head over to Modernmini to see for yourself the great selection of modern Scandinavian baby and kid products  they carry.

Connect: Don’t forget to like them on Facebook and follow them on Pinterest for all the latest news and promotions. Speaking of promotions, Modernmini is offering our readers an amazing 25% discount on their first order. Simply use the code WELCOME at checkout.

Rachel