What is the Nugget and why are people obsessed with it?

The Nugget couch has built up a following over the years, with parents getting extremely psyched to have one of these foam-filled, couch-slash-indoor play gyms in their homes.

Last year, stock in the United States was limited on the oh-so-hyped Nugget couch, leaving moms and dads scrambling (and even entering a lottery) to try to get their hands on one. And if you were Canadian, forget about – you still can’t get one without paying exorbitant amounts of duties!

The good news if you’re in Canada: There are plenty of great alternatives to consider if you want to pay a little less, are looking for something more eco-friendly, want a couch with more play options or just like to have other options to choose from.

The Nugget, also referred to as “the original play couch,” was first introduced as a Kickstarter in 2015. It’s a four-piece set of foam building blocks, which you can arrange into a couch, fort or any other creation. Over five or so years — and especially in the past two — demand has gone through the roof. Parents in the What to Expect community often rave about it, discuss how to get their hands on one or ask why they’re so life-changing. The simple answer? Growing kiddos just love exploring, crawling and climbing over these comfy cushions. It’s designed to promote kids’ imaginative play and gross motor skills, so there’s a developmental component to it, too. Some parents even find themselves resting on them!

But there’s the cost to contend with. At $229USD (and crazy duty fees), the Nugget is more expensive than other play couches or indoor activity gyms. The Nugget is also an extremely large item, so there’s also the issue of available square footage. Luckily, there are plenty of Nugget alternatives to give your little ones a similar experience if the original doesn’t suit you.

What to look for in a play couch

An alternative to the Nugget should be some sort of foam structure. There are nearly identical dupes, and others that are made of similar materials. These are the key components to look out for:

• Cleaning. Undoubtedly, you’re going to need an easy-to-wash fabric cover on your play couch. The Nugget is made of a machine-washable microsuede, which you can wash cold by itself (but spot-cleaning is recommended for smaller spills). If you’re seeking out a Nugget alternative, look for one that has a cover you can easily throw in the wash. 
• Shipping. Shipping can currently take up to 10 weeks for the Nugget in the united states— that’s just about as long as a custom couch you might order for yourself! Consider when you’d like this item in your home, and then assess which option can get to your door in the timeframe you need. The good news is that the options above are in-stock and ship next day!
• Price. Whether the Nugget is a splurge item or totally out of your budget, determine the price you’re comfortable paying for a play couch. While some Nugget alternatives are a bit more expensive, other competitors cost considerably less.
• Size. For many parents, your living room or playroom might not be able to accommodate such a large structure. Measure your space and find out the best size for your play couch.
• Safety. The main perk of the Nugget’s soft structure is how safe it is for little ones. Your Nugget alternative should be gentle on kids’ skin and help them have fun all day long.
• Environmental impact. Be on the lookout for materials that are Greenguard Gold- and/or CertiPUR-US-certified. These are better for the environment and your home. 

How we made our picks for the best Nugget Couch alternatives

To select the best Nugget Couch alternatives for your kiddos, we considered the above factors, plus turned to members of the What to Expect community, as well as our editors, to see what play couches they’ve tried and loved.

Above, we’ve rounded up Nugget couch alternatives to fit every parent’s need. These options are more cost-effective, ready to ship in days or offer space-saving solutions.