I spent the weekend mulling through toddler reading nooks (as you do) and didn’t really come back with a lot of good inspiration. Not that I didn’t find a multitude of adorable and cute toddler reading nooks. Reading tents and comfy pillows strewn across the floor, beautiful shelves, window benches with coordinating throw pillows and blankets. But as I explained to Dave, “I want somewhere where she can curl up reading a book for hours and maybe accidentally fall asleep and then wake up and keep on reading. These bean bags aren’t cutting it.”

Oh, did I forget to mention that I spent most of my childhood nose-down in a book?

Dave laughed at my description, but you fellow childhood readers know what I’m talking about right? I need function over form. Help me figure something out.

My criteria are: 1) something with an arm for laying sideways, neck and legs propped up and spilling over. 2) Insanely comfortable to permit the aforementioned hours of reading (let a mama dream.) 3) Low to the ground so that toddler-Bean can use it like child furniture. 4) But, also grow with her to (hopefully) accommodate teenage-or-at-least-preteen-Bean. 4) Wide enough that we can have parent-child reading sessions.

Above, I’ve picked out a few options. (I’d either get two chairs or one sofa)

1) PB Teen Eco Lounger – This seems to be a bean bag chair with structure, which might just be the combination I’m looking for. Since it’s PB Teen, the patterns aren’t childish and may potentially grow with her.

2) Ikea Klippan Sofa — The sofa seen on college campuses the world over. I figure I could take the legs off for toddler-Bean and put them back on for preteen-Bean. Also, lord knows the white slipcover won’t last, but we could toss it in the laundry for easy cleaning.

3) Big Joe Roma Chair — These chairs remind me of the Ligne Roset modular sofas, obviously nowhere near the same price, though. I figure if you bump it up against another one, you can get that cocoon feel. But, the reviews say kids complain about back pain after sitting in them. (How bad must it be if children report back pain after sitting in them?)

4) PB Teen Cushy Club Couch — Speaking of cocoon, hello. PB Teen also stocks a chair version, and I see us pulling them together to form reading nests.

5) PB Teen Cushy Lounge Love Seat — And these remind me of the Roche Bobois modular sofas. I can see us putting the loveseat straight onto the ground for preschool years, then adding the bases later for big kid years. The only (huge) downside is the price tag.

6) PB Teen Beanbag Chair — The requisite bean bag chair. At least the patterns are fun?

7) PB Teen Flip Floor Lounger — Also reminiscent of the Ligne Roset modular sofas. My concern is that sofas without arms are really never that comfortable right? Like how a futon sofa is never that great for lazing on?

What do you think? Think back to mini reader you — which one would you have loved to have in your room growing up?