As a mom of 3, and one who went through the pandemic with a toddler and infant, I have tried and tested more toys than I care to admit. From climbers and play couches to play tables and kitchens, I am someone who searches for the best products that will keep my kids busy. As a mom of three young kids, whenever the holidays or birthdays roll around, I find myself looking for quality toys that my kids will love. Ones that will withstand the test of time. I bought the original Nugget play couch when my now six year-old was a toddler. Little did I know that this simple, modular couch would become one of my kids’ most played with toys in our home half-a-decade later. Is the Nugget couch worth it? Here’s my honest and in-depth review. 

 

Is the Nugget Play Couch Worth The Hype?

 

When I first saw the Nugget, I didn’t get the hype behind this kids play couch. Sure, my daughter sat on it, and the quality was great, but my mind wasn’t exactly blown. But turns out that it’s a lot of fun. It’s one of my kids’ favorite toys, and is one they’ve come to use more as they’ve gotten older, which, if you ask me, is the true test of a great product. There are so many toys and products that you’ll only use for a short time. Some they’ll outgrow, and others they’ll tire of. My six year-old still loves the nugget, and loves to build forts with her younger sister.

I can’t speak to other play couches, but the Nugget couch and chunk are amazing. I usually keep the play couch in our basement, but my kids have been taking our sofas apart to make forts, and are constantly putting our sofa pillows on the floor. Moving the play couch and chunk into our family room has kept the kids busy, and my pillows are on the couch where they belong. 

My toddler son is all about the chunk right now. I just purchased it, and it’s been a huge hit with all three. But he will sit in the middle of the ring piece and drive his cars around the side. My kids use both of them every single day. My older two build forts, and my son likes to load the Nugget up with his cars. 

 

 

What Is the Nugget?

The original play couch is part toy, part modular children’s couch made up of 4 pieces. There’s a sturdy base cushion, a soft cushion, and 2 supportive triangle pillows, and fabric covers for each piece. Nugget’s thinnest piece is really cushy and perfect for little ones to play on. Use it as a play mat on hard surfaces, or to practice tumbling. Designed to be a couch, fort, climbing structure, play mat, and much more, are are endless different ways to use your Nugget.

My kids have turned the Nugget into a pirate ship, obstacle course, castles, and even a makeshift slide. They’ve used it as a stage for performances, a cozy reading nook, and a mat for indoor gymnastics. The softest piece of the nugget got the most use when my girls were really little, but they use all 4 pieces now. The Nugget comes in a variety of colors that will work in any room in your home, from your play room, kids’ room, or the living room. It’s also lightweight and easy to move, and can be folded and stacked, or left out as a couch. It’s so great that I’ve debated investing in a second Nugget. And I just added the new Nugget Chunk to our collection. 

 

Why I Love the Nugget

One of the things I love most about the Nugget is how versatile it is, and how my kids always go back to it – it’s the base of most games that they play. And it’s a toy that has gotten over 5 years of use, and we will easily get another 4 years out of it since my youngest isn’t even two. It’s worth the price when you consider how long it lasts. I

The two base pieces stack together to make a couch. One is a bit more firm and sturdy, and the other is really cushy. The triangular pieces are great for support or a back pillow. Its durable microsuede fabric cover sets can be thrown in the washing machine. The suede-like finish is soft, beautiful, durable, and washable. The washable fabric cover is easy to clean when your kids get them dirty, which they will.  I can’t tell you how many times we washed ours. You can also add a waterproof liner set to further protect the pieces of foam. We don’t have a liner, and haven’t had any issues with it. In hindsight, I should have ordered one but the foam pieces are fine five + years later. We’ve made it this far, but I’d probably make the investment just in case. 

Storing the Nugget

You can fold the large bases, stack them, and put the triangles on the top of the nugget. Or, leave the two bases out and use the nugget couch like a sofa when your kids aren’t building forts and castles. And I 100% see the benefit of having two of either (or both) of the play couch and chunk. My kids all want to sit inside the center of the hoop. If we had two or three chunks, they’d get used all the time. Buying three seems a bit excessive, but you could easily get two of each. My kids would love a second play couch to make larger forts. 

And as an added bonus, Nugget’s products are greenguard gold certified. 

What is the Nugget Chunk?

I recently decided to invest in the Nugget Chunk and a new nugget cover in surfside, a double-brushed microsuede. Our cover wasn’t damaged, but after over five years of use, it was looking a little dingy, and I was ready for something fresh. After a few hours, I was pretty convinced that we needed a second chunk. And maybe a third. The Nugget Chunk is the perfect complement to the Nugget Couch, but would be great on its own, too. Four sturdy foam pieces nest together to create an ottoman or soft coffee table.

It includes 3 pads and one ring, which can be everything from a chair to a ball pit. My toddler son likes to sit in the middle of the ring. It’s the perfect spot for little ones to play – he uses the side of the Chunk as a road for his cars. We’ve used it for movie nights and creating a giant, cushioned seating area that everyone can pile onto comfortably. It’s also been a lifesaver this winter when it’s too cold to play outside. The Nugget couch is a great option on its own, but the two are amazing together.

 

 

Custom Zipper Garages

The Nugget zipper garage is a small flap of fabric that covers the zipper pulls on the Nugget’s removable covers. It prevents kids from opening zippers during play, and protects walls from scratches, too. 
 
 

A Toy That Grows with Your Kids

One of the biggest selling points of the nugget is that it will get years of use. My kids have only used it more as they’ve gotten older.  When my oldest was a toddler, the Nugget served as a soft and safe toddler couch. As she grew older, she started building forts, tunnels, and obstacle courses. Fast-forward to today, at six years old, and she’s creating more elaborate structures. 

My kids are always flipping, stacking, and moving the pieces, and they’ve shown no signs of wear or tear. The cover started to look a little run down after over five years of use, so I purchased a new cover to match our Chunk cover. Knowing that this one purchase has lasted through three kids gives me confidence that it will continue to get a lot of use in the years to come. 

If you’re on the fence about whether Nugget couches are worth it, I can confidently say it’s one of the best purchases I’ve made as a parent. I am seriously debating getting a second Chunk, and there is no question that my kids would use a second Nugget sofa. Whether you’re looking for a safe space for a toddler to explore, a tool to spark imaginative play, or a piece of furniture that can adapt to your family’s needs, the Nugget Couch truly delivers. For us, it’s not just worth it—it’s priceless.

 

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