"While I’ve internally said that every single stage of my daughter’s life has been my favorite, for the current stage, I really mean it. We’re midway through 2, and it has been filled with lots of tantrums (so many). But it has also brought about one of my favorite parts of childhood: pretend play and imagination.
Seemingly every hour, my daughter decides she’s a new character or is living in a new fantasy world. One second she may be Belle singing through a quaint French town. Then, she quickly makes a hard left turn to become a doctor who needs to diagnose me ASAP. It’s adorable, it’s hilarious, and it’s something I want to encourage as much as humanly possible when it comes to the toys and additions we bring into the house.
But it’s because of this phase that I was immediately interested in trying out the new Mini Nugget. Described as a tiny version of the classic play couch, I was immediately intrigued at how the product could fit into my daughter’s play routine. And whether it’s worth the cost. Read on for my (and my daughter’s!) honest review of the new Mini Nugget play couch.
What is the Mini Nugget?
At this point, every toddler parent knows about the Nugget (or the many comparable pieces that have been made). It’s a play couch that comes with four foam pieces that can be mixed and matched to make different shapes. So you can use it as a couch, a play tunnel, a fort, or whatever your little one’s heart desires!
Since the launch of the initial product, the brand has expanded to add more pieces. They released the Nugget Chunk ottoman earlier this year. And now, we have the Mini Nugget play couch. This little product is the same four convertible pieces but in a much, much smaller size.
Mini Nugget Size
I’ll admit when I first heard of the Mini Nugget, I pictured a product that could serve as a tiny couch able to fit one small toddler. However, the Mini Nugget is small enough that it’s more intended for your toddler to play with. It’s meant for them to use with their toys, stuffed animals, etc. Here are the exact dimensions:
- Depth: 9.75 inches
- Seat Height: 3 inches
- Length: 19.25 inches
- Total Height: 6.75 inches
By comparison, the regular Nugget has a total height of 22.5 inches and a length of 66 inches. So you’re looking at a truly miniature version.
Where to Buy the Mini Nugget
Currently, the Mini Nugget is available exclusively on Nugget’s website. Available for $59, the fun-sized Nugget is available in five colors:
- Moonshot (Lilac)
- Lolly (Candy Pink)
- Neptune (Cobalt Blue)
- Fairway (Kelly Green)
- Lemonade (Classic Yellow)
Honest Review: My Experience with the Mini Nugget
At 2.5, my daughter is starting to get really into playing pretend, whether that’s putting her toys to sleep or creating an imaginative world for them to live in. For that, the Mini Nugget has been a great addition.
We have had the regular-size Nugget for about a year now, and it gets nearly daily use. However, the pieces are all still big enough that it’s not easy for my daughter to move them around herself. She still needs plenty of help reconfiguring it into different shapes. At a much smaller, more manageable size, the Mini Nugget has been a fun opportunity for her to take charge and do things herself (her favorite thing to do, admittedly). It’s a welcome change from having to watch her struggle to move the larger Nugget around, all while denying help with shouts of “I do it!”
That being said, I think you really need to manage your expectations when purchasing the Mini Nugget. When I first told my husband about it, he imagined a Nugget that was probably twice the size of this one (much like I did). We thought it would be one that we could set up for movie nights or relaxing downstairs. He was a bit taken aback when he saw the actual size, realizing it was meant more for playing with toys than as a functional piece of toddler furniture.
But, between the small size, maneuverable pieces, and creative configurations, my daughter became a quick fan of the Mini Nugget.
What are the features of the Mini Nugget?
Easy to clean
Similar to the regular Nugget, the Mini Nugget is notable for how easy it is to clean. Each piece comes with a microsuede cover, which can be taken off and easily washed. That way, if any doll tea parties go awry (with more than pretend liquids), it’s simple enough to just wash everything and put it back on.
“Fun-sized” version of the Nugget
If you already have a full-sized Nugget (or similar product) in your house, this will be an especially fun addition for your little one to be able to play with themselves. My daughter was already accustomed to her own Nugget play couch. So to be able to set a smaller one up for Pooh Bear and friends was a delight to her.
Smaller footprint
While we love our full-size Nugget, I will admit that the size is quite cumbersome in a smaller house. In fact, the larger furniture took up so much space that we needed to move it out of our living room. This made the Mini Nugget the perfect solution to still provide that creativity and play in the space where my daughter mainly plays. The small size makes it easy to store and pull out to play with when needed. Now she can come up with creative configurations without taking up (what feels like) the whole room.
Is the Mini Nugget Worth It?
As with any product, whether something is worth it will ultimately depend on you and your family’s needs. If you are looking for something that combines the creativity of the Nugget but for a much smaller space, you may find the Mini Nugget is a worthwhile option to consider. This is especially true if you have a young kid that enjoys playing pretend with their toys.
Now, will the Mini Nugget replace the same uses you’ll have for a regular-sized Nugget? Definitely not. While that serves as a full play couch for you and your kids to use, the Mini Nugget is very different and is more specifically intended for play with toys instead. While my daughter could technically sit on it, it hardly serves as a couch on its own for her.
So, with that in mind, is the Mini Nugget an essential item for the house? Probably not. But if you have a kid that loves their regular-sized play couch and would benefit from the creativity of a much more fun-size version, the Mini Nugget can be a great addition to their play routine. Whether it’s as a bed for dolls, a race car track, or Rapunzel’s tower (true story), the Mini Nugget can play a role in your child’s growing creativity.
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Morgan Flaherty, Contributing Writer
Morgan is full-time writer, editor, and mom. Along with her work as a contributing writer for The Everymom on all things Disney World, beauty products, and the latest fashion trends, her writing has appeared in Well + Good, InStyle, Scary Mommy, Byrdie, and Baby Chick.