"Kid friendly" coffee table ideas

[Anonymous]

Land of Nod has a cute one that comes with a roll of paper attached so the kids can color right at the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually posted this same question about a year ago when my daughter was 6 months old. I agonized what to get, and in the end we just got what we wanted. The walking/falling phase is pretty short, so if you watch your kids then, you will be fine!

You obviously do not have rough and tumble kids--we have two boys and one split his upper lip while wrestling with his brother. You cannot watch your kids every second (I was in the shower--boys were 6 and 8). As one PP mentioned, the ER doc we saw said that he sees some version of a kid needing stitches due to a coffee table incident every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually posted this same question about a year ago when my daughter was 6 months old. I agonized what to get, and in the end we just got what we wanted. The walking/falling phase is pretty short, so if you watch your kids then, you will be fine!

You obviously do not have rough and tumble kids--we have two boys and one split his upper lip while wrestling with his brother. You cannot watch your kids every second (I was in the shower--boys were 6 and 8). As one PP mentioned, the ER doc we saw said that he sees some version of a kid needing stitches due to a coffee table incident every day.

Agree. If you have more than one, it becomes much harder to watch them all the time. And it isn't just the toddling phase where there is a danger. Even after the first few years, even after they are walking more stably, children are children and may be playing around furniture. It may not look like a danger, but their bodies are still developing and changing and they are getting used to new motions all the time, such as interacting with other children or adults, or moving around obstacles that accidents can happen even when they are older. Plus as they get older, you don't watch them all the time and again, accidents can happen. My preschoolers are long past the toddling phase, but they still have cases where I leave them sitting on the couch watching TV to go and get their lunch ready and come back to find some accident has happened like if one wants a pillow and the other takes it first and the first child reaches for it from a kneeling position on the couch and falls over...towards the coffee table. The kid landed on the top of the table and only nicked his shoulder on the edge, but could easily have fallen at a slightly different angle and landed his forehead on the edge instead of the shoulder.

[Anonymous]

We got a reasonably attractive rounded Ikea table, and I am glad we did because there are teeth marks all over it. We'll trade it in for something nice when he's an older toddler.

[Anonymous]

We have a coffee-table sized ottoman from West Elm. We have a tray on top.

It's great.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback. I've decided to buy this table since it is on clearance. Better than glass, but still not soft like an ottoman. I'll make sure my kids wear their bike helmets in the living room.

http://www.ballarddesigns.com/durham-coffee-table---graywash/356822

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an L-shaped sectional. We got a pie-shaped coffee table which worked out. When the kids were little, we didn't let them sit on the couch without one of us. We have big soft lounge chairs on the other side of the coffee table and they could sit on those without us. So, without us, they could be on the rounded side of the coffee table. With us, they could be on the side with the flat edges and the one corner.

I'm having trouble picturing a pie-shaped coffee table with an L-shaped sectional. You don't mean round, but like a slice of pie? Why have so many pointy corners with kids?

[Anonymous]

we actually are forgoing the coffee table for now (youngest is 1). We'll think about it when they're older.
-we would wind up pushing the damn thing out of the way for playtime every day.
-guarantee there would be lots of cuts and bruises and split lips
-guarantee we'd find both kids standing on the thing, also lots of crayon marks, teeth marks, who knows what
-due to age of kids, we do not allow anything besides water in the living room (as far as they know... what happens after bedtime...) so no snacks, etc.

we have end tables, one for each couch, and they are mostly there to hold up the lamps. sippy cups and water bottles tend to wind up on the floor anyway. One day when they're older and we can all play a board game or have a movie with snacks or something... but not right now. We do have a very nice kids table, C&B I think (handme down) that goes really well with our furniture and is pushed to one side (aka ginormous end table). If we're having a party or something it gets pulled to the middle and magically is just about the right height.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an L-shaped sectional. We got a pie-shaped coffee table which worked out. When the kids were little, we didn't let them sit on the couch without one of us. We have big soft lounge chairs on the other side of the coffee table and they could sit on those without us. So, without us, they could be on the rounded side of the coffee table. With us, they could be on the side with the flat edges and the one corner.

I'm having trouble picturing a pie-shaped coffee table with an L-shaped sectional. You don't mean round, but like a slice of pie? Why have so many pointy corners with kids?

PP here. It's set up very similar to this (although not the colors or decor!) The corners are pretty hard to get to and fall against unless the kids are on the couch.

[Anonymous]

This has been a perfect coffee table with our 21m DD. Makes rotating toys quick, can just swap what's on the bookshelf with what's in the ottoman after she goes to bed. Holding up really well, too.

http://www.target.com/p/threshold-nolan-bonded-leather-living-room-round-storage-cocktail-ottoman-with-flip-top-espresso/-/A-13290283

[Anonymous]

Round ottoman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually posted this same question about a year ago when my daughter was 6 months old. I agonized what to get, and in the end we just got what we wanted. The walking/falling phase is pretty short, so if you watch your kids then, you will be fine!

You have one child, barely 18 months, and feel qualified to say this?

[Anonymous]

I have a long leather ottoman. It has storage and the top can flip over for drinks/snacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually posted this same question about a year ago when my daughter was 6 months old. I agonized what to get, and in the end we just got what we wanted. The walking/falling phase is pretty short, so if you watch your kids then, you will be fine!

You obviously do not have rough and tumble kids--we have two boys and one split his upper lip while wrestling with his brother. You cannot watch your kids every second (I was in the shower--boys were 6 and 8). As one PP mentioned, the ER doc we saw said that he sees some version of a kid needing stitches due to a coffee table incident every day.

Agree. If you have more than one, it becomes much harder to watch them all the time. And it isn't just the toddling phase where there is a danger. Even after the first few years, even after they are walking more stably, children are children and may be playing around furniture. It may not look like a danger, but their bodies are still developing and changing and they are getting used to new motions all the time, such as interacting with other children or adults, or moving around obstacles that accidents can happen even when they are older. Plus as they get older, you don't watch them all the time and again, accidents can happen. My preschoolers are long past the toddling phase, but they still have cases where I leave them sitting on the couch watching TV to go and get their lunch ready and come back to find some accident has happened like if one wants a pillow and the other takes it first and the first child reaches for it from a kneeling position on the couch and falls over...towards the coffee table. The kid landed on the top of the table and only nicked his shoulder on the edge, but could easily have fallen at a slightly different angle and landed his forehead on the edge instead of the shoulder.

Eek! We have one daughter, and while she is somewhat rough, she is definitely not a crazy rough and tumble boy. We also have a separate playroom which gives her a little more space to run around. So I guess take my experience with a grain of salt!