As any sleep-deprived parent will tell you, there's nothing quite like the joy of seeing your precious newborn drift off to sleep in a safe environment … if only because it means you might get a few minutes' rest yourself. As such, there are countless products on the market which promise to help you achieve this almost mythical state of sleep, and soon there could be one more - a hypoallergenic bowl-shaped baby bed.
Bubble Baby from designer Lana Agiyan is a vacuum-thermoformed and blow molded acrylic baby bed, which was inspired by a traditional Russian tumbler-toy called a Nevalyashka. The transparent bed can rock in any direction up to a 17 degree angle, but will return to an upright position thanks to a 15-kilogram (33-lb) plexiglass weight center.
The mattress itself contains a layer of buckwheat hulls - said to be ideal for babies because it's naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, anti fungal, breathable, insulating and odor resistant - and is said to give the impression the baby is sleeping on a cloud within the acrylic bubble, allowing anxious parents to watch their child's every move.
One of the most unusual aspects of the Bubble Baby is the liquid polymer containing a nano-titanium dioxide coating, which the bed has been treated with. Created in conjunction with Estonian-based firm Nanoformula, it is claimed to improve optical transparency and to ionize the bed, making it self-cleaning and odor-eliminating.
The photocatalytic effect of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles means the bed begins to degrade dirt and air pollution when exposed to sunlight. The coating also "heals" potentially germ-harboring scratches in the bed, making it safer for little sleepers - it is also said to be eco-friendly, and certified for use in the EU.
The Bubble Baby - which can be used from newborn to five months and then used as toy storage or a swing - is currently being developed with an Indian furniture firm that hopes to take it into production soon. There's no word on how much it will cost.
Source: Lana Agiyan
