Kids Armchairs in Australia, Compared (2026)
If you want a kids armchair that looks like real furniture, needs nothing built, has passed independent children's seating safety testing, and sits happily next to the grown-up chairs, that's the Grumpi Teddi ($209) or Beari ($219).
If a machine-washable cover is your top priority, or the lowest possible price, one of the options below may suit you better.
Grumpi is affordable furniture in a box, designed in Melbourne. Competitor details come from each brand's own site or listing, are linked at the bottom, and were checked on 15 October 2026. Check the brand's own page before you buy.
Comparison update, 15 October 2026: the linked Pottery Barn Kids insert is priced separately from its cover. Kids insert guidance now states ages 3–6 in its summary. Check the chosen size’s full guidance. Kmart Marketplace details refer to the linked Costway seller listing.
The comparison
| Grumpi Teddi / Beari | Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair | Foam kids sofa on Kmart Marketplace (Costway) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (AUD) | Teddi $209, Beari $219 | $150–$170 for the insert only. Slipcover sold separately. Complete-chair price depends on size and cover. | $49.95 |
| Suitable from | 18 months | Kids insert summary: 3–6 years. My First summary: 1–3 years. Size-specific guidance varies, so check the chosen product. | 3 years (listed for 3 to 4 years) |
| Safety testing | Passed SGS testing on the EN 17191:2021 clauses applicable to soft children’s seating. Some clauses were outside the report’s scope. See our testing details. Fabric fire tested to AS/NZS 4088.1, no ignition. | GREENGUARD Gold certified (indoor air emissions) | None listed on the product page |
| Build | All foam, one piece. Fabric bound to the foam. No hard frame, no fixings, no zip. | Foam insert plus a separate slipcover | Foam with a removable cover |
| Assembly | None. Unwrap it, full size in 24–48 hours. | Minimal assembly: fit the separately purchased slipcover over the insert. | None. Up to 48 hours to expand. |
| Fabric | Teddi: soft teddy. Beari: long-pile faux fur, the same faux fur as the Peachi and Tootsi. Both with little ears on the back. | Varies by slipcover. Cotton-twill and printed options are available. | Teddy fleece |
| Colours | Cream, Brown, Blue, Pink | Wide range of colours, prints and characters | Pink in the linked listing. Check availability of other colours. |
| Cleaning | Spot clean. Blot spills, vacuum with a soft brush. | Zip-off, machine-washable slipcover | Removable, washable cover |
| Size | 65cm W x 60cm D x 55cm H, seat height 25cm | Kids size: 64cm W x 53cm D x 57cm H | 60cm x 40cm x 41cm |
Who each one suits
A proper little armchair that belongs in the lounge room
Most kids chairs look like kids chairs. The Teddi and Beari look like a small version of the grown-up furniture, which is the point. They're built low so a toddler can climb in on their own, with a real back and arms rather than a slump. All foam, no frame, no fixings, nothing to screw together. And the Beari uses the same faux fur as the Peachi and Tootsi, so a cream or brown Beari sits right beside them like it was meant to.
Both passed independent SGS testing to EN 17191:2021, the European safety standard for children's seating. That covers rounded edges with no sharp points, no small parts that can come loose, no way for a child to get at the foam inside, and seat durability tested to 10,000 cycles. The Teddi's teddy fabric also passed AS/NZS 4088.1 fire testing with no ignition. Full details are on our Grumpi Facts page.
1 year warranty, on top of Australian Consumer Law. Metro delivery in 10 business days, or a $100 store credit if we're late.
The washable cover and the prints
If being able to machine-wash the cover matters most, the Anywhere Chair's zip-off slipcover is its big strength. It also has the widest choice of prints and characters, and a smaller size for 1 to 3 year olds.
The lowest price
If the budget is the whole brief, the linked Costway chair on Kmart Marketplace is a lower-priced example at $49.95. They're smaller and listed for 3 to 4 year olds.
Why the cover is bound to the foam
Slipcovers are easy to wash, but they're also loose. They shift, bunch and sag, and the zip is the first thing a curious toddler finds. On the Teddi and Beari, the fabric is bound to the foam instead. It stays smooth and tight, there's no zip to undo, and there's no zip access to the foam. The trade-off is that you spot clean rather than throw the cover in the wash.
Where Grumpi isn't the best pick
- No machine-washable cover. Spot clean only, because the fabric is bound to the foam.
- Four colours, not forty. No prints or characters.
What to check in any kids armchair
- Has it been safety tested, and to what? Look for a named children's seating standard and an independent lab.
- The age it's rated for. Check it matches your child now, not in a year.
- Hard parts. Frames, legs and fixings are where bumps happen. All-foam avoids them.
- Can a child get at the filling? Zips and loose covers are the usual way in.
- How you'll clean it. Washable cover, or spot clean?
- Whether it'll still look good in your living room. Because that's where it'll end up.
Quick answers
What's the best kids armchair in Australia?
For a kids armchair that looks like real furniture, needs no assembly and has passed EN 17191:2021 children's seating safety testing, the Grumpi Teddi ($209) or Beari ($219). For a machine-washable cover and lots of prints, the Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair. For a lower-priced example, the linked Costway chair on Kmart Marketplace.
Are the Grumpi kids chairs safety tested?
Yes. The Teddi and Beari passed SGS testing to EN 17191:2021, the European safety standard for children's seating, covering edges, small parts, access to the foam, seat durability and seat impact.
What age are the Grumpi kids chairs for?
The Teddi and Beari are suitable from 18 months and up.
Do Grumpi kids chairs need assembly?
No. They arrive vacuum-compressed. Unwrap them and they reach full size in 24–48 hours.
Can you wash the Teddi or Beari cover?
No, and that's deliberate. The fabric is bound to the foam so it stays smooth and tight, with no zip for a child to open and no zip access to the foam. Blot spills rather than rubbing, and vacuum with a soft brush head.
What's the difference between the Teddi and the Beari?
Same shape, same little ears. The Teddi is soft teddy fabric at $209. The Beari is long-pile faux fur, the same fur as the Peachi and Tootsi, at $219. Both come in Cream, Brown, Blue and Pink.
Sources. Product examples and terms checked 15 October 2026: Pottery Barn Kids insert and sizes, Pottery Barn Kids cotton-twill cover and care, Kmart Marketplace Costway chair. Prices and availability can change. Check the selected product and current terms before ordering.
Last checked: 15 October 2026