The 10 Best Kids Vanities
Special Honors
Pottery Barn Kids Madeline Play Vanity The patina finish on the Pottery Barn Kids Madeline Play Vanity gives it a charming antique look, while its construction of medium density fiberboard and solid wood should help it last for years to come. It has a beveled three-panel mirror, offering plenty of reflective surface, and several cubbies for children to stash their belongings. There is a matching stool with a tufted skirt available for purchase separately. potterybarnkids.com
Kids Decor Therapy Vivian Vanity & Stool 2-piece Set The Kids Decor Therapy Vivian Vanity & Stool 2-piece Set is timeless and easy to match to most rooms thanks to its white color and minimalist design. It has a stationary mirror made of real glass, scalloped detailing along the bottom of the table, and a matching stool. bedbathandbeyond.com
Editor's Notes
July 24, 2020:
In selecting our kids' vanities, we looked for a combination of child-friendly features that are safe and spark imaginative play, as well as traditional components expected from this type of furniture. We also selected products with durable construction, since little ones can be hard on their belongings.
We liked the Step2 Fantasy 757999 and the Melissa & Doug Beauty Salon 3026, because they come with realistic beauty toys like hairbrushes and makeup, to encourage games of make-believe. They also have dedicated storage compartments for their accessories, making it easy for users to clean up when they're done playing. Though the Sweet Fairytales Salon has similar features, we had to remove it because its materials are too cheap.
In the category of durable construction, the Fantasy Fields Hand Carved Table And Stool Set stoodout due to its solid wood construction. The Guidecraft Dressup, which is made of a combination of solid and engineered wood, should also last through plenty of use.
Children who want a little entertainment while they apply fake rouge to their cheeks may like the Little Tikes Ice Princess and the Disney Frozen Crystal Kingdom 75456, both of which play music and light up.
Shoppers hoping for something with a large surface for kids to spread their stuff out on might like the Costzon Dressing Play Set and the Giantex Modern Multifunctional. The mirror portion of the Giantex Modern Multifunctional is actually separate, allowing the table to turn into a desk if needed.
March 15, 2019:
Depending on the age of your child, she may still want something that straddles the line between toy and real beauty station, or she may want something that looks just like the full-sized one in mom's room. If she falls into the first category, then she'll love the Sweet Fairytales Salon. It should encourage an entrepreneurial spirit while your cutie pretends her friends are her salon clients, using the faux hot tools and other fun features. The Step2 Fantasy is another great option for younger girls, since it has images of cosmetics that should spark the imagination. If your daughter is already turning into a little lady, then the Giantex Modern Multifunctional is ideal. There's nothing childish about this except for the dimensions. It's sophisticated and mature-looking. The Guidecraft G87404 is also good for kids hoping to feel more grown-up, as its design is rather modern, but it still features a lovely hue that's good for kids' rooms.
Why You Should Get Your Child A Vanity Mirror
It's no secret that young children love snooping through your things, putting on your makeup, trying on your jewelry, and so on.
Considering that you have many mirrors around your home and kid-friendly items to help your child use them, like stepping stools, you might be wondering why your little one should have a special vanity mirror of her own. It turns out, there are several good reasons. First, in case you haven't noticed, children love to copy what their parents do. There has been extensive research that shows how common it is for children to imitate the actions of their parents. Giving your child a vanity mirror presents her with the chance to copy you. Some vanities are incredibly detailed, down to the makeup lights and folding panels. Your child will love having her own version of this grownup item, so she can behave just like you.
The second benefit of giving a child a vanity mirror is that it will keep her out of your belongings. It's no secret that young children love snooping through your things, putting on your makeup, trying on your jewelry, and so on. If your child has a vanity mirror, along with some beauty items of her own, like face paint and hair accessories, she may be less inclined to use your belongings. After all, you'd probably prefer that your kid practices putting on makeup at her own vanity rather than at yours, because it's bound to get messy.
The third reason you'll be glad your child has a vanity table is that it will keep her looking in the mirror instead of at something else: the television. Watching a lot of television in early childhood has been found to decrease performance in kindergarten students. But, sometimes your child just wants to zone out and stare at something, rather than play a game or interact with other kids. It's much better she's staring at her own reflection than one more cartoon.
What To Put In Your Child's Vanity
Once your child has her vanity table, you can start decking it out with items she'll adore. Add a pretty jewelry box to the table so your kid has somewhere to store all of the charms and keepsakes you've given her over the years. She probably has several darling pieces of jewelry that you wish she'd remember to wear more often, like family heirlooms or bracelets given as school year graduation gifts. If you keep them on her beloved vanity, she may finally put them on. Your child will also probably appreciate a few of her favorite hair accessories, and maybe even some framed photos of her friends and family (just like you have on your vanity).
Remember, any time you give a child a place and some belongings that are uniquely hers, she feels more inclined to use them.
You can use your children's vanity area as a way to teach her about personal hygiene, too. Remember, any time you give a child a place and some belongings that are uniquely hers, she feels more inclined to use them. So put a small tissue box on the vanity table, some hand sanitizer, and maybe some nail clippers if your child is old enough to use these. Teaching children personal hygiene habits early in life is very important for their overall health and well-being. In fact, one study found a link between poor personal hygiene habits and morbidity rates in young children. While this may be an extreme example, there is no doubt that good personal hygiene is a healthy habit to instill in a child.
Consider putting a few things that can keep your child entertained at her vanity, too, like a small music box. This way, she can listen to classical music (something that's been shown to boost social and listening skills in children) while she brushes her hair. You could also put a few photo books that show your child how to create different hairstyles and how to do her makeup (if she's old enough to wear makeup).
What To Look For In A Kids' Vanity
Any good vanity, for children or adults, should have some makeup lights surrounding the mirror so your little one can see what she's doing while pretending to apply blush. Make sure the table has plenty of storage space, as well. Since children are prone to sprawling their belongings everywhere, you want to encourage your little one to put her things away after using her vanity. On the topic of tidiness, make sure the included chair slides neatly under the table when your child is done with it. Some models have mirrors and chairs that fold up, as well as small builds, making them easy to tuck away in the corner.
No matter what style you go with, you'll want to hang onto these adorable items for future children and grandchildren.
Since a child will be the one using this vanity, you want to make sure it has safety features. Look for a break-proof mylar mirror so your child doesn't shatter glass everywhere if she gets too rough with her vanity. Check the weight capacity of the tabletop. Even though children shouldn't crawl on top of their vanity, that doesn't mean they won't. Naturally, you'll also want a very sturdy stool. You should also make sure that the vanity is covered with non-toxic, lead-free paint.
Your child's personal taste will play a big role in which vanity you choose. Some are designed around popular cartoons and beloved characters. You might find one with a mirror encircled by a Minnie Mouse head or a table shaped like one of the vehicles from the movie Cars. If your kid's room has a special theme, there is likely a vanity that will match it. Meanwhile, some children just want to play grownup all the time. For those precocious munchkins, there are plenty of models that are essentially child-sized varieties of more adult, sophisticated vanities. No matter what style you go with, you'll want to hang onto these adorable items for future children and grandchildren.