Safe and Unique Children's Rocking Chairs

Yesterday, we talked about the safety standards used by Levels of Discovery in producing a unique line of safe and fun children’s playroom furniture. Today we want to share with you just one of their recent awards:

Parent Tested Parent Approved ... “Because Parents Know Best!” … PTPA Media’s mission is to discover and appraise new products designed for children and families. They research new products and coordinate testing with parents. Award-winning products are selected based on value, functionality, quality, and appeal.

The Levels of Discovery Alphabet Soup Rocker was PTPA’s 2008 Award winner. This imaginative, educational, fun child's rocking chair was designed to match the CoCaLo Baby Crib Bedding Collection. Your little one can relax and learn with the Alphabet Soup Rocker! Colorful and detailed, this precious rocker has “A, B, C” and “1, 2, 3” spinning tiles along the seat back to encourage learning and fun. Also available are the matching toy box bench and table & stools set.

Click here to learn more about the Alphabet Soup Rocker and other fine children's rocking chairs made by Levels of Discovery. These are safe children's playroom furniture.

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Kids' Playroom Furniture Safety Standards

One Purple Frog is proud to offer Level of Discovery's line of unique children's rocking chairs, rocking horses, toy box benches and playroom tables and chairs.


   
   
In recent years there have been many warnings issued regarding the potential dangers of unsafe product, especially that which is produced in China. At Levels of Discovery they take these matters very seriously. Quoting their Founder and CEO, Jeff Hutsell, their safety standards and procedures include:

"1. We produce our product in a single factory in China where we are virtually the only customer. Therefore, the standards are our standards and are rigorously upheld and followed by the factory's management and staff. Prior to founding Levels of Discovery, I had been doing business with this factory for fifteen years and it continues to have an excellent and unblemished quality and safety record.

"2. All of our products are tested by an independent, 3rd party, internationally recognized testing laboratory. They conduct all required and recommended testing as developed by the CPSC (US agency) and other regulatory agencies. No product is allowed into production until all tests have been passed and I have received the full, detailed report.

"3. Our paint is continuously re-certified to ensure compliance with all standards for lead or heavy metal content. As we have said before, 'We treat our products like they are being made for our own children!' In fact, the entire Levels of Discovery team owns and regularly gives our products to family and friends."

Click here to discover the level of fun your child can have with any of these safe, unique children's rocking chairs, rocking horses, toy box benches and playroom tables and chairs.

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Sports Ball Bean Bags for Kids and Adults

Looking for the perfect gift for the sports fan in the family? Consider a bean bag chair! They are available as baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, and footballs!

For the little ones, you might want a Vinyl Sports Ball bean bag chair. The vinyl cover is easily wiped up when those inevitable spills happen. At 88” in circumference, a small child can easily get in and out of it. And, the polystyrene bean filler keeps the bean bag chair light weight enough so a small child can move it around.

For the bigger sports fans there are Fuf Sports Balls. These feature cotton blend fabric covers and durable, supportive urethane foam fill. The Baseball, Basketball and Football Fuf Sports Balls measure 36” x 36” x 36”, while the Football is 48” x 36” x 36”. The foam fill of these bean bag chairs assure that even a young adult will be supported and comfortable.

All of the sports ball bean bag chairs we offer feature double-stitched seams, locked zippers and a one year warranty against manufacturing defects. Check it out!

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Keeping Your Bean Bag Chair Looking New - Part 3

Fluffing Up a Foam-Filled Bean Bag Chair

One of the best features of a foam filled bean bag chair is the fact that while it conforms to the shape of whoever is sitting in it, it can be fluffed up (like a good quality bed pillow) to provide individualized comfort for the next person.

There are four simple steps:


Step 1:
Grip the seams of the bean bag chair.



Step 2:
Lift the bean bag chair, rolling it to turn it over.



Step 3:
Continue to lift and roll several times.



Step 4:
When it is full and round, sit yourself down and be engulfed by the comfort.




The Fuf Chair and Jaxx Pillow Sac are two quality foam-filled bean bag chairs that can be fluffed up time and time again … keeping your bean bag chair feeling like new every time!




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Keeping Your Bean Bag Chair Looking New - Part 2

Tips for Re-Covering Your Bean Bag Chair

After you have laundered the outer cover, placing it back on the bean bag chair can be a challenge. The quality foam-filled Jaxx Pillow Sac and some of the larger Fuf Chairs can be particularly difficult just by virtue of their size. We have three suggestions that you may find helpful:

• the “Plastic Bag Technique”
  
• the “Pillow Stuffing Technique”
  
• the “Remove Some of the Fill Technique”.

The “Plastic Bag Technique”
works well if you have teen-agers in the house! It involves placing the bean bag chair in a brand new, heavyweight plastic bag. A leaf bag or contractors bag works well. Gather up the open end of the plastic bag and then “body slam” the bag with the bean bag chair in it, to remove some of the air from it, re-closing the opening to keep air from going back in. Repeat as necessary until the bean bag chair is smaller than it was. What you are doing is a manual version of vacuum-packing. Then, unzip the outer cover, place the plastic bag with the squished-down bean bag chair into the cover, remove the plastic bag and zip up the outer cover.

The “Pillow-Stuffing Technique”
is best described as similar to placing a Standard-sized pillowcase on a King-sized bed pillow. Unzip and open up the outer cover. Grab a portion of the bean bag chair and stuff it into the cover. Grab another portion, stuff that in while also pushing the first portion further into the cover. Working one side and then the other, rolling and filling as you go, seems to work best. Repeat as necessary until it is all in. Zip up the cover.

The “Remove Some of the Fill Technique”
is absolutely guaranteed to work! But be forewarned … it is the messiest procedure! You might want to work in the garage! It is recommended that you place a large plastic sheet (an inexpensive painters’ drop cloth works well) on the floor first. Open up the inner liner of the bean bag chair and remove some of the fill. Place the foam-filled liner (which is now smaller) in the outer cover. Once in, put back the fill that was removed, zip up the inner liner, and zip up the outer cover.

All three of these techniques will work for putting a cover on any Fuf Chair or Jaxx Pillow Sac.
Keeping your foam-filled bean bag chair looking like new means you and your family can enjoy its comfort for years to come!

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Keeping Your Bean Bag Chair Looking New - Part 1

How to Clean Your Bean Bag Chair

Most families quickly discover that their foam-filled bean bag chair is everyone’s favorite place to relax. With everyday, ordinary use, it is inevitable that the time will come when it starts looking dirty.

Best suggestion: treat the outer cover with Scotch Guard when it is new. Then clean up messes shortly after they happen.


If the bean bag chair you have does not have an optional inner liner, the outer cover can be easily spot cleaned with a good carpet and upholstery cleaner such as Resolve.


If you have a Fuf Chair or a Jaxx Pillow Sac that does include the inner liner, the outer cover can be removed for laundering:

• unzip the outer cover by inserting an unbent paper clip into the head of the zipper (this creates a pull tab and the leverage needed to unzip and open up the cover)
  
• remove the outer cover
  
• launder at home or send to a professional dry cleaner.

The quality foam-filled bean bag chairs we have available are created using upholstery grade materials. These cotton blend fabrics are machine-washable.

To launder your bean bag chair cover at home:

• pre-treat any really bad spots
  
• turn the cover inside out and zip up until it is almost closed
  
• use COLD water and a GENTLE cycle for washing
  
• place in a WARM (not hot) dryer for a short time
  
• line dry until completely dried.

Keeping your bean bag chair looking new is not difficult. In Part 2 we will provide tips on how to easily place the freshly laundered cover back on your bean bag chair.

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Foam Furniture - Perfect Dorm Room Furniture

When shopping for dorm room furniture, look at foam furniture. Many dorms have narrow hallways, making them difficult to navigate with traditional furniture. In addition, over the course of four years of college, such furniture is likely to take a beating … making it an ill-advised investment.

Foam Furniture – Affordable, Durable, Versatile
Foam furniture, on the other hand, is more affordable and can stand up to college students! Best of all, it is particularly versatile. It can be used whether you are studying or socializing. It can be easily moved. Shop here to find a variety of chairs, couches, and loungers, all made with urethane foam and high-quality construction. This is dorm furniture that can last you throughout college and beyond.

Dorm Furniture in Many Shapes and Sizes

College students are no longer restricted to furnishing their rooms with bean bag chairs. Today, there are many choices available. The Chillum Chair is a nice update to the classic bean bag chair. With a built-in back, it supports your neck and head. It fits nicely in a dorm room of any size.


If you need furniture that will let you stretch out and relax, take a look at the Wedge Lounger. When combined with the Wedge Ottoman, it provides adjustable comfort for students of all sizes. You can also use the Wedge Ottoman for additional seating in your dorm room.


Looking for seating for two or three that can also serve as a bed? Look no further. The Fuf Couch can fill that need. It is now available in two sizes: a 6-footer and a 7-footer. When purchased with the optional inner liner, the outer cover can be removed for laundering, which keeps your Fuf Couch looking nicer, longer.


But if you are looking for a more sophisticated, contemporary design, check out the Tempo Chair. This is a foam-filled video rocker that has an additional outer frame that elevates it off the floor. On the floor, as a video rocker, it is a great gaming chair. Place it in the outer frame and it provides comfortable seating when parents come to visit!

Foam Furniture – Useable Beyond the Dorm
Not only is foam furniture perfect dorm room furniture, it can serve you well when furnishing your first apartment. So, be a smart shopper … look for quality products from a reputable dealer.

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Reasons Why Foam Fill is Better

Manufacturers of better bean bag chairs use urethane foam instead of polystyrene beans ("packing peanuts") for filler. Traditional furniture makers, when creating sofa cushions, have used urethane foam for decades. When urethane foam is used to fill bean bag chairs, the large chunks are cut down into smaller pieces.



King Fuf Chair


Jaxx Pillow Sac

The Fuf Chair by Comfort Research and the Jaxx Pillow Sac by FoamLabs are two good examples of better bean bag chairs. By using urethane foam fill, these better bean bag chairs provide:

• a soothing cushion of foam that engulfs the bean bag chair occupant
  
• substantial support for all members of the family, including adults
  
• filler that can be “fluffed up” after use to provide individualized seating for the next person
  
• a durable filler that will never break down, unlike polystyrene beans
  
• fill that is quiet … there is no rustling noise when you change positions
  
• no hard edges or pressure points, so it serves as comfortable seating for anyone with special needs.

So, when you are shopping for better bean bag chairs, be sure to look for a product that offers urethane foam fill. We are sure you will find it well worth the extra cost!

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Discount Bean Bag Chairs

In today's economic climate, it is more important than ever to shop around and find the best deal. And, there is no easier place to compare prices than on the internet. As the old “Yellow Pages” ad used to say: “Let your fingers do the walking” … but be aware you need to be an informed consumer … make sure you are comparing “apples to apples” when shopping for discount bean bag chairs!

Surfing the internet for the best price on a bean bag chair can become very confusing:

• bean bag chair images on the internet are easily used by others and are not always representative of the product being offered for sale
  
• not all web sites provide accurate and complete product specifications on their bean bag chairs
  
• not all web sites are kept up-to-date
  
• some web sites require you to input your credit card information before letting you know what your final, total purchase price is.

So, what you want to do is, at each web site, look for answers to these questions:

• Is this truly the same bean bag chair, made by the same manufacturer (i.e., a Fuf Chair or a Jaxx Sac, etc.)?
  
• Are the size, fabric, filler, and features the same (i.e., filled with polystyrene beans or urethane foam)?
  
• What is the construction of the bean bag chair (i.e., double-stitched seams and dual locked zippers)?
  
• Does the price include an inner liner or an upgraded fabric?
  
• Is the product covered by a warranty against manufacturing defects?
  
• Is a “real person” available to assist with choosing the right fabric or size (either via email or toll-free telephone number)?
  
• What is the final, shipped price?

When shopping for discount bean bag chairs, there is truth in the adage: “You get what you pay for”. You may want to consider paying a little bit more to purchase a bean bag chair from an online dealer who offers good customer service … someone who will “be there for you” when you have questions or difficulties!

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Choosing the Right Size Bean Bag Chair

When choosing the right size bean bag chair, there are a couple of challenges. If it is too small, you won’t be comfortable. If it is too large, is may not fit in the room, or your child may not be able to get up into it! And, of course, there is the cost factor: why pay extra for something that is much more than you actually need?

Guidelines for choosing a bean bag chair size …
Quality manufacturers will indicate the size of their bean bag chair products. Here is a simple summary of what is currently available:

• Extra Small Bean Bag Chair – “2.5 Footer” - for Pre-Kindergarten through Middle School aged children
  
• Small Bean Bag Chair - “3 Footer” - for Grade School through Middle School aged children
  
• Medium Bean Bag Chair - “3.5 Footer” - for Middle School and High School students, as well as young adults.

These smaller sizes are perfect for your child’s playroom, bedroom, classroom, or dorm room!

For adults, you will want to shop for foam-filled bean bag chairs, for the durable, substantial support they offer:

• Large Bean Bag Chair - “4 Footer” - big enough for a 6-foot man to sit comfortably, without “bottoming out”
  
• King Bean Bag Chair - “5 Footer” - will accommodate two adults who want to “cuddle up”
  
• Extra Large Bean Bag Chair - “6 Footer” - for two adults, with room to lounge comfortably together
  
• Extra Extra Large - “7 Footer” - room for a small family!

Be forewarned …
These larger bean bag chairs are BIG! You will want to be sure to measure the space you have available in your apartment, living room or family room! And don’t forget to measure two ways: left to right and front to back!

Choosing the right size bean bag chair will save you time and money, while providing you with comfortable, quality casual seating!

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Reasons Why Today's Bean Bags are Better

Perhaps you remember: a number of years ago, there was a product recall of some bean bag chairs after a few children unzipped the bean bag, crawled inside and suffocated. Also, there were news stories of children who choked after inhaling the small polystyrene beads used as filler.

Today’s bean bags - better bean bag chairs …
Quality manufacturers have addressed those issues by designing bean bag chairs that feature:

• Double-stitched seams: seams that will withstand the daily use of an active family.
  
• Double zippers: incorporating both an inner zipper as well as an outer zipper.
  
• Locked zippers: zippers that have had the pull tab removed so a young child is unable to open them
  
• Urethane foam filler: a material that will never break down and leak out.

Other reasons why today’s bean bags are better bean bag chairs …
The biggest differences in today's better bean bag chairs are:

• Construction: bean bag chairs are best described as a soft ball full of filler. Being frameless, there are no hard edges, no sharp corners, nor rigid surfaces for a child to bump into or slip off of.
  
• Size: bean bag chairs come in a variety of sizes, from small enough for toddlers to large enough for an entire family to cuddle up on.
  
• Design: when a person sits or lies down on a bean bag chair, the bean bag molds to the shape of his or her body, providing individualized comfort and support.
  
• Therapeutic: bean bag chairs are sometimes used by therapists in working with children who have sensory-integration problems. In addition, doctors have recommended bean bag chairs for patients recovering from back surgery.

So, when you are shopping, be sure to look for products that have the features of today’s updated bean bag … better bean bag chairs.

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History of the Bean Bag Chair

Conceived in the late 1960’s
Bean bag chair history goes back almost fifty years. The original bean bag chair was conceived in the late 1960’s by a team of Italian designers. It was pear-shaped (incorporating a head-rest) and made of leather. Called a “Sacco", when it was mass-produced, it was made of vinyl fabric and filled with polystyrene plastic pellets: materials which had only recently been developed. The Sacco revolutionized the concept of a chair with its rigid, hard surface design.

Instantly popular
The Sacco became an instant worldwide phenomenon and a leading icon of the 1970’s. Because a Sacco placed the sitter close to the floor and accommodated a variety of lounging body positions, it met the casual social behavior needs of the times. Consumers liked the fact that the chair molded to each individual’s body shape. Professional decorators liked the lightweight, mobile nature of the furniture. Therapists discovered that the bean bag chair helped children with sensory-integration problems. And, doctors recommended bean bag chairs for patients recovering from back surgery.

Now available from many manufacturers
As its popularity grew, many furniture manufacturers added bean bag chairs to their lines, each incorporating their own unique elements to the design. In the 1990’s, as the world of fashion made “what was old is now new", bean bag chairs evolved from “cheap furniture" to “comfortable, casual seating designed to meet a variety of needs".

Bean bag chairs in many shapes and sizes

Today, you can find bean bag chairs in many shapes and sizes. There are companies who manufacture bean bag chairs with washable, removable fabric covers. And there are some who use urethane foam as filler: a material that provides durable, substantial support.

The history of the bean bag chair is interesting in that is never really "went away" ... it evolved over the years. Today’s bean bag chair is not only versatile and fashionable, but can be custom-made to meet your needs for a good number of years!

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Safe Kid Furniture - Foam Filled Bean Bag Chairs

Reasons Why Foam Filled Bean Bag Chairs are Safe Kid Furniture

As adults, we often exhibit a considerable amount of self-control in how we use our furniture. Your kids, however, may not exhibit the same restraint that you do. For that reason, you may want to consider getting them their own furniture so that they can be uninhibited, comfortable, and safe.

Furniture for adults many times is not suitable for young children:

• it is too big for them to get up into
  
• it is too easy for them to fall out of
  
• expensive fabrics can be easily damaged by dirty shoes and dirty, sticky fingers
  
• wooden and metal framework and trim can cause injuries.
  

If you are looking for safe kid furniture, frameless foam-filled furniture is what you want to shop for. Foam furniture is perfect for children, featuring:

• no hard surfaces
  
• soft cotton blend fabrics that are easily kept clean
  
• double stitched seams for durability
  
• dual, locked zippers for safety
  
• high-quality urethane foam fill that is long-lasting and supportive
  
• available as either a traditional-shaped bean bag chair or as an arm chair.

Today’s foam-filled furniture for children, however, is nothing like the bean bag chairs that you might have encountered in the past. While bean bags filled with polystyrene beans (i.e., “packing peanuts”) need to be replaced, sometimes within as little as one year, urethane foam fill lasts forever.

Tink Chairs and Tink Couches – for children 2 to 6 years of age

The Tink Chair is more than just a bean bag chair. It is a frameless, foam-filled arm chair designed for the youngest members of the family. Available in five dozen colors, fabrics, and patterns, it can be made to match any playroom or family room décor. These chairs are not only soft, but also light, so you can move them into your living room if your child prefers sitting on his own chair when you watch movies, read a book, or play games together. If your child is very social and entertains a lot, you will want to consider the Tink Couch and, perhaps, a matching Ottoman.

Fuf Chairs – a better bean bag chair in sizes to fit everyone

Fuf (pronounced “Foof”) Chairs are the original foam-filled bean bag chair. They are available from Extra Small (the “2-Footer”) to Extra Extra Large (the “7-Footer”). Fuf Chairs also offer an optional inner liner, which allows you to remove the outer cover for laundering (particularly important when your household includes children and pets). Urethane foam filler is better because:

• it can be “Re-Foofed” again and again, providing individualized seating for everyone
  
• it is quiet ... there is no rustling noise as you change positions
  
• the support that urethane foam provides is substantial enough that a big man can sit in a Large Fuf Chair and not "bottom out"
  
• there are no hard edges or pressure points, so it serves as comfortable seating for anyone with special needs.

When shopping for safe kid furniture, the comfort and quality of Tink Chairs and Fuf Chairs is hard to beat! All Fuf Chairs, Tink Chairs and Tink Couches are made in America and come with a one-year warranty!

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