Bambu

Bambu is a company that focuses on using Bamboo , the renewable resource, to create housewares. One of the neat thing that they have created is a kids line of utensils and plates that are great for kids and better for the environment. Check out this cook spoon/fork made out of bamboo. The perfect tool to meet any food challenge. You can find the reasonable line at http://www.greenfeet.com/ under kids Bambu.

Smencils

Our daughter recently received a cool gift from her Godmother for her first day of school; it was a pack of Smencils. Smencils are pencils that are made of %100 recycled newspapers and then they are dipped in gourmet scents and sealed in a tube. It is such a cute gift for a child. They come in different size packs and are about $12 for a pack of 10 smencils.

Ready, Aim...Potty!

Piddlers are dissolvable, non-toxic, flushable foam shapes designed to make potty training fun for little boys...and maybe even dads! Piddlers are eco-friendly, made of starch and dyed with food coloring. 30 targets for $5.95

Sleep Tight

This looks a little creepy but it's such a sweet idea. It's an infant positioning system called Zacky Infant Pillow. We all know how it feels when our baby is fast asleep in our arms and the second he or she gets put down...well you know the rest! This replicates the look, feel, weight, and warmth of a parents hands providing soothing comfort for baby. $49.99 at http://www.ababy.com/

Cool Covers

Itzy Ritzy (www.itzyritzy.com) has a fantastic selection of nursing covers for breastfeeding moms who are seeking privacy in public. The covers can also be worn over front baby carriers to keep sun, wind and other inclimate weather away from your baby. Even better, the fabric is made of baby bamboo which is an eco-friendly fabric. So you can be stylish and eco-conscious. They run about $50.00 and come in many beautiful prints.

Baby Burritos

Babies love to be swaddled after they are born and now you have a chic way to do it. Swaddle Keeper (http://www.swaddlekeeper.com/) is a swaddling cloth developed by a Newborn Care RN who was searching for a way to soothe babies. The warm and cozy swaddeling blankets can help your baby sleep and feel like they are back in the womb. For between $22.00- $34.00 you can find an adorable swaddling blanket on the site and help your baby find comfort while they sleep.

Back to School

Whether your child is starting school or pre-K, a backpack is in order. Created By Dante Beatrix (http://www.dantebeatrix.com/), these adorable backpacks are perfect for your little one. You have your choice of many animals or you can even chose a "furry" backpack. They run about $38.00. You should also check out their Eco-backpacks entirely made of recycled plasic drinking bottles. How great is that?

A Room Without a View

Here is the answer to a child's room without a view...decorative adhesive window film. This easy to apply, peel and stick film is not your grandma's window treatment...it's way cute and a unique finishing touch! At www.designyourwall.com you can get this reusable, red floral adhesive for $65.00 (18 in. wide 49 ft long). They have many styles and patterns to select from!

Hospital Chic

Its the greatest moment of your life, why leave it up to a gown that is ugly and has been worn by thousands of others? Dear Johnnies is a company who caters to the fashionable crowd. Their designer hospital gowns come in stylish prints just what you need to make you feel better and they will look great in all those pictures. They range from $68.00-$72.00 and can be found at http://www.dearjohnnies.com/.

Handle It

Check this out...a cute, unique cover for your infant car seat. You can cover your sleeping baby while still having the ability to use the carrying handle. The web-site is www.handlebaby.com

It's the simple, innovative products like this that make life with a newborn so much easier!

Drip Stik

Summer may be waining, but ice cream and frozen treats are delicious all year long. What isn't so great are the sticky hands and stained clothes from the dripping treat. Well, now the problem has been solved by a product called Drip Stik (http://www.dripstik.com/). In one end of the Drip Stick, you can place an ice-cream cone and for Popsicles, you just flip it over and place the treat in the slot made for Popsicle sticks. You can buy them in all sorts of colors and they cost around $8.00 for a set of two.

The Art of Photography

Turn your favorite photo into a work of art! http://www.customphotoarts.com/ will take any photo and transform it into the style of art you select...charcoal, watercolor,oil, and pop art among others. You can have the art printed on high quality paper or canvas. It costs $99 for the art design and the price goes up from there depending on the size and material you desire. Check it out!

It's Like NetFlix for Toys!

http://www.babyplays.com/ is a site that offers a monthly toy exchange program. You select the toys you want from the web-site, they ship them to you and when you are finished, just send them back in exchange for more new toys! All you need to do is select a plan based on the number of toys you want per month ($35-$65 per month). All of the toys are lead free and sanitized after every use. Can you imagine not having to purchase or store a bunch toys that the kids outgrow or get tired of after a few weeks of use? This is a convenient and extremely eco-friendly way to play!!!

Big City Baby

Every major city has it's own lilaguide. A lilaguide is a reference book for family friendly hot spots in your local area. The book includes retail & resale stores, restaurants, parks and much more. This is a great gift idea for new parents! $16.95 at www.lilaguide.com

Great Clips

Is this the cutest hair clip/barrette you have ever seen??? This and other adorable clips are available for only $7.50 at http://www.lbellebaby.com/ What a unique gift for the little girl in your life!

Peas In a Pod

This is called a nesting pod and it's basically a modern day play pin for babies! It's pretty large and can be folded up and taken anywhere...the park, the beach or your living room! They have a great selection of fabrics to select from. Take a look at http://www.thenestingpod.com/

For a Cause

Tom's Shoes have recently gotten a lot of attention not only because their shoes are becoming popular, but also for their good cause. For every pair of shoes purchased, Tom's will donate a pair to children and/or adults in need. You can visit their site at http://www.tomsshoes.com/ and for $36.00 you get a pair of shoes for your child and for someone who really needs them.

Horsing Around

I was in a toy shop over the weekend and spotted these cool colorful latex horses called Rodys. They are made in Italy and not only do they look unique, but the web site claims that therapists use them to help with coordination and other learning skills. They are made for children ages 2-4 and they can grow with you child. Depending on the age and size of your child you just add more air. They come in an array of colors and go for $42.99 at http://www.rodytoys.com/.

Sweet Shoes

Check out these skips by Sweet Shoes at http://www.urbanbabyrunway.com/ They are adorable shoes for about $26.00 and they have great boys styles as well. The sizes only go to 24 months, so buy them while you can.

Lost and Found

While looking for iron-on name labels for school clothes, I came across a web site called Oliver's Labels (http://www.oliverslabels.com/) where they have labels for shoes, mini labels, iron-on labels and bag tags. The coolest feature is that each label contains a special tracking code system in case your item is ever lost. The labels contain a web site that the person who found the item can log onto and it connects to you via your email account. Brilliant and private all at once! Imagine having a mechanism in place to reunite you with your childs lost shoe. I bought 60 labels for $23.00 including tax and shipping. Check it out

Take Note...

Keeping a journal is great at any age and I think these way cute, eco-friendly journals will encourage kids to do so. They are only $9.00 at www.paperposey.com The site has all kinds of design options that kids are sure to love. The company that makes the journals uses 100% recycled materials so the tree hugger in all of us can feel good about this purchase!

Under the Stars

Check out this nightlight by artist J Schatz (http://www.jschatz.com/). The ceramic egg emits light at night to produce a star filled night for your little one or for you. The egg lamps come in many colors to fit any decore. They sell for $135.00 but are a nightlight that will grow with you child and will never go out of style.

Natural Diapers

My sister bought some Natural Choice environmentally-sensitive diapers for us to try out and I have to say that we were impressed. Stuck between not liking cloth diapers and feeling guilty about diapers in landfills, these diapers are a great option. The environmental benefits are as follows:

Totally chlorine-free pulp and usess 20-30% less petroleum-based materials than the leading brands.

Backsheet and topsheet material made from annually renewable resources

• 30-40% more sustainable materials than the leading brands


• Comparable features and performance national brand premium products


• Full stretch side panels
  

You may be able to find these at your local grocery store, if not check out http://www.amazon.com/ where you can get a pack of 180 diapers for $53.00