"When I became a mom, I swore I would protect my living space as much as humanly possible. In other words, I would try to stay away from overflowing toy bins and unnecessary baby and toddler gear occupying every available nook and corner. This means I’ve always taken a skeptical approach to basically anything modern and trendy. “Well, we didn’t have *insert trendy, modern must-have item* when I was growing up, and I turned out just fine,” I often find myself thinking in the most crotchety internal voice my 30-year-old self can muster.
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For years, I resisted the ultra-popular, epitome-of-modern-play Nugget Play Couch. Despite the rave reviews I’d read online or received through word of mouth, I had a very difficult time imagining how this not-small-at-all item would be worth the real estate it would occupy in my home. Physical footprint aside, I also didn’t love the idea of essentially teaching my kids that it was OK to climb all over furniture. The purpose of this toy felt very counterproductive to my constantly telling them to stop running across the couch or jumping from the ottoman in a manner akin to that of flying squirrels.
But after three years, my resistance became futile. After a long winter trapped inside with our 3-year-old and 18-month-old (both kids were practically crawling up the walls come March), my husband and I were desperate to make physical play indoors more accessible for our kids. And so, we got a Nugget. And not just the original play couch—oh no. We went all in and also acquired their latest product: Chunk. Here’s my honest review of the new Nugget Chunk play ottoman.
What is the Nugget Chunk?
Chunk is described by Nugget as “The World’s First Play Ottoman.” It’s circular in design and includes four pieces total: One large ring with two chunky discs (“Pucks”) that fit neatly inside the ring and one slimmer disc that sits on top. It’s a streamlined design that allows for versatile play and nests neatly for clean storage.
What makes it different from the Nugget play couch?
The Chunk is a standalone product but, as you can imagine, pairs well with its predecessor, the play couch—more on that later. In its nested, ottoman configuration, the Chunk is 33 inches wide and 14.25 inches high.
While many of Chunk’s qualities are on par with what parents have come to expect from Nugget—functional, high-quality, and easy-to-clean—its shape and corresponding play possibilities set it apart from the original play couch. It also costs a little bit less, ringing in at a purchase price of $199-$219, depending on the fabric you choose.
Honest Review: My experience with the Nugget Chunk
First and foremost: My kids love the Chunk play ottoman. And in fact, they play with it more than the original play couch. It has proven to be more than worth the real estate it occupies in my home (which is less than the Nugget couch). Here’s what makes Chunk a win for me and my family.
My kids truly love it
As it turns out, when you’re a baby or child, an ottoman is way more fun than you could ever imagine. I was skeptical of how much my kids would actually use the Chunk ottoman. After all, the couch can be transformed into an indoor slide—a slide! But, as mentioned above, if I had to pick which piece the kids play with more, I might honestly pick Chunk. This is certainly the case with my 18-month-old, who could (and has) spent literal hours diving into the large Chunk ring. (Side note: Because the recommended age for Chunk is 3+, I’m always there to supervise).
If you’ve always wanted a Nugget in your home but don’t have a ton of space to dedicate to one, you could easily pick up Chunk as a standalone piece. I’ve owned Chunk for approximately one month now, and my kids have played with it every single day.
The Chunk makes the Nugget couch better
I personally asked myself if it would be worth buying the Chunk play ottoman if you already owned a Nugget couch. And to my own question, I answered: Yes. 100 percent. While I acquired both pieces at the same time, I can still advise with certainty that Nugget play gets even more fun and engaging when you have both sets.
Aside from satisfying the imagination and desire to play in different capacities—for example, a couch piece turning into a slide versus a Chunk ring you can roll across the floor—the two pieces of furniture were designed to go hand-in-hand. Nugget provides a host of building inspirations on its website that utilize both the couch and the ottoman. So far, my kids have enjoyed turning the combined sets into an imaginary car and a makeshift obstacle course.
Can you use the Chunk without a Nugget couch?
While I do believe having both pieces of play furniture enhances the overall experience, I also believe that the Chunk is a lot of fun on its own. My 1-year-old personally gets the most joy out of jumping on and into the Chunk pieces, but I also love that the product ages to accommodate more mature uses. You can turn it into a ball pit, a table with two stools, a reading chair with a footrest, and more.
What are the features of the Nugget Chunk?
It’s easy to clean
Similar to the original play couch, the Nugget Chunk’s removable covers make it easy to clean and care for. I’ve also found the fabric to be relatively stain resistant, as I’ve easily spot-cleaned milk spills on more than one occasion. If you have young children, I don’t have to tell you what a tremendous benefit this is. With a price tag of $199, it gives me peace of mind knowing we’ll be able to keep our Chunk looking fresh and clean over time.
It’s aesthetically pleasing
I thought that Nugget products would be a bit of an eyesore in my home. But in reality, they’re truly not! Similar to the original play couch, the Chunk comes in a variety of fun colors—some whimsically vibrant and others more subdued. While you can match your Chunk to your Nugget couch, opting for the same color in each product, you could also vary color to keep the pieces differentiated. I chose Willow green in each, although I was equally tempted by Blueridge. Both the couch and the ottoman are some of the most aesthetically pleasing “toys” to cross my threshold to date.
It aids my children’s development
As a mother, I am a very big believer in the importance of play. And while I don’t believe in the general ideology of spending money to solve problems, I do believe some products are superior to others and can truly make a difference in our lives. Not all toys are created equal. Nugget soars above many.
I’ve truly enjoyed watching my 3-year-old build with the Nugget pieces—constructing slides, tunnels, and fortresses with the couch and ottoman. I can practically hear his mechanically inclined brain whirring as he engages both pieces of “furniture” to create and play. Similarly, I’ve also enjoyed watching my 1-year-old learn spatial relations through play—climbing, tumbling, and rolling to her heart’s content.
I genuinely believe both of my children benefit from the time they spend playing with the couch and Chunk ottoman together. And that has brought me so much joy.
Is the Nugget Chunk worth it?
In case it’s not coming through loud and clear through my review of the Nugget Chunk thus far, my previous concerns and hesitations related to Nugget products have since been assuaged. My kids haven’t associated Nugget play with roughhousing on the furniture because they see the pieces as I’ve now come to: A really fun way to create, explore, play, and exercise indoors. In regard to the space these items occupy in my home, I now say this: Let them have it. The joy the play couch and ottoman have brought to my kids’ lives have made them well worth every square inch.
If you already own a Nugget couch, trust me when I say you need a Chunk. And if you’ve always wanted to buy a Nugget for your kids but lack the space, get a Chunk. Basically, if you’re reading this, buy a Chunk. You (and especially your kids) will be so glad you did.
Can older kids use the Chunk?
While the Nugget Chunk is geared toward older toddlers and littler kids, my second grader can’t get enough of it. I wasn’t sure he would be interested, but when the box arrived, he and a friend at our house immediately ripped it open and were so excited. Then, they spent over an hour rolling the big section around and spinning in it, building forts, and using the different sections as part of their superhero game. Finally, they used it as a table for pizza night.
—Roberta Correia, Editor-in-Chief
