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

Oopsy Daisy!

http://www.2littlemonkeys.com/ is a web-site that has some hip art for kids rooms. Most wall art for young ones is your typical ABC's, princesses and trucks...not true for this web site. My favorite section of the site is called Oopsy Daisy Art. Soooo Cute!!!!!

Three In One

Check out Zoobies Pets that I found at www.geniusbabies.com/. They are stuffed animals that open up to become a pillow with a plush fleece blanket stored inside. And if you wanted to get creative, you can also use these to store your childs PJs during the day. They cost $29.95 and you can choose from a pink hippo, red ape, giraffe or a crocodile. Best of all, each animal comes with a unique African-safari name!

Nap Mats

Its that time of the year when its time to go off to school or if you are just enrolling your child in daycare, you know that naptime is essential to keep them going all day long. A nap mat is perfect to keep them warm and comfortable while away from home.I have been looking for cool nap mats and came across these that are custom made. You can custom order the mat by fabric, by length and add a name plate if you wish. Or you can order a mat that has already been pre-made. Mats run from about $90- $140 depending on your choice. Check them out at http://www.custombabybotique.com/. Plus they do a ton of other items that are personalized.

Charms to Cherish

Forget hanging your child's artwork on the refrigerator, make it into jewelry instead! All you need to do is upload the art and for $ 95 www.mammytags.com will turn it into a silver "Doodle Tag" charm. Jewelry and your child's masterpiece...can it get any better than that????

Paint Your Own Polo

At Ralph Lauren (http://www.ralphlauren.com/ under Children) they have added a great new way to customize a polo. Kids now can paint there own! On the site it gives instructions on how to have a Paint Your Polo party. And best of all, the net profits from the sale will go to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Pediatic Art Program. They run about $45 for each Paint your Own and once you are done, you can upload it and they will post it on the site.

Organic sunscreen

A friend of mine led me to a site called Organic Divas (http://www.organicdivas.com/) On the site they sell cosmetics, but they also have a few baby producs including this sunscreen. Here are a few words about the sunscreen that I copied from the site. "A new study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in March of 2008, revealed that 97% of Americans are contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient called Oxybenzone that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. A companion study published one day earlier revealed that this chemical is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy.UV Natural Baby Sunscreen DOES NOT contain Oxybenzone."

Metro Baby

If you love photo cards as much as I do, you have got to check out http://www.metrobabycards.com/. I ordered my sons birth announcements and I just ordered his first birthday party invitations. The prices are great and the card designs are so creative and hip. There are coordinating thank you cards and address labels as well!

Small Talk, Big Benefit

My husband and I frequent a local wine bar and always end up revolving our conversation around these little cards called Table Topics that are placed on each table. Table Topics is basically a stack of small cards, each card has a question to get you thinking and talking. Well, guess what I found...a kids version!

This version has questions to keep young minds entertained anywhere--perfect for the family or with friends. Sample Questions:*What would be a really good flavor for toothpaste?*What's your favorite Disney character? 40 Questions in a plastic slipcase...$9.00 www.tabletopics.com This totally beats TV!

Happy Baby

While running through my local grocery store the other day, I found Happy Baby Foods in the frozen sction. My first thought was "Wow, this is amazing" and my next thought was "why didn't I have this choice when my kids were young enough? Life is just not fair". Happy Baby Foods is a line of organic frozen foods and cereals for infants. The food consists of vegetables, chicken and other wonderful foods for your 6+ month old. I was impressed to see that they even add mint to the peas to help soothe colic and they have a salmon dish. To find them at a local grocery store, check out http://www.happybabyfood.com/. The web site is great and your can check out all the ingrediants in their menu before you hoof it to the store.

Monkey Around

All babies have fun monkeying around with keys so why not make them even more fun for you and your kids? These little monkey faces just slide right on your keys...how simple and cute is that? Unlock your inner chimp for just $9 at http://www.loftparty.com/

Give Me a Boost

I love this hilarious yellow pages booster seat!

Great to take along to restaurants or just use at home. You can pick up this unique booster for $22.00 at http://www.psychobaby.com/ This web-site has many other unique items... I totally recommend taking a look!

Build Your Own

FAO Schwartz has a wonderful website section called "Build your Own" where kids can build their own tutus, make their own monster stuffed animals, or create their own comic books. The pricepoint runs anywhere from $30- $300. The great thing is allowing kids to make their own creative item which will hold special meaning for them. (www.faoschwartz.com)

So Fresh & So Clean

Like many parents, I am conserned about my household cleaning products causing or contributing to family members asthma, allergies and irritations. I found a web-site that offers many natural product options including wood floor cleaner, window cleaner and so on.

The cleaners are, all natural, non toxic, biodegradable and free of coloring and dyes. Natural - Non-toxic - Biodegradable-Earth Friendly - Kid Friendly - Pet Friendly-No Synthetic Chemicals or Fragrances

Only $6.99 at http://www.vanessasgift.com/

On the Go

So, I heard about a great website called http://www.theportablebaby.com/. It was brought to my attention by a good friend of mine who raved about the Phil and Ted Travel Crib that they have available for $149.00. The crib is perfect for camping and for travel down the street or around the globe. It packs up into a very small and weighs only 8 Lbs!!! Another great feature is that you can remove the top to make it more similar to the crib at home for babies who are adjusting to a new place to sleep. I love any website that encourages parents to travel with their kids and if you are like me, you will love what this site has to offer.

For the Big City Baby!

This is one of my favorite baby books...Urban Babies Wear Black. This board book is available at http://www.urbanbabyrunway.com/ along with other great books for $6.95. The author also wrote Country Babies Wear Plaid and Beach Babies Wear Shades.

BlaBla...

So, you have probably seen the blabla knitted dolls around boutiques and in certain catalogues, but have you checked out the website? http://www.blablakids.com/, shows that the company goes beyond the cute dolls and expands into hats, clothes and backpacks. Handknitted by Peruvian artisans, the colors and designs are adorable.

Gourmet Getaway

I found this great insulated bag at http://www.urbanokids.com/ It is so cute and will keep cold food and drinks cold and hot food & drinks hot for up to 4 hours!

Tested for lead safety - no vinyl or PVC used. The soft-grip handle makes transporting easy & comfortable. The bag stretches to hold and protect a variety of items. It's perfect for school, office, camping, travel, beach, etc and is machine washable. $24 and available in a variety of colors.

Update Cards...

I found these baby quarterly update cards at http://www.redenvelope.com/ where they are actually on sale. Cute little cards that you can mail to family or friends or keep for yourself are great for updating folks on how your little one is changing. For $34.99 you get 10 humerous cards for each quarter of the year. The great thing is that the questions are multiple choice, so they are a time saver!

Amazing Easel

I was leafing through the Toys to Grow On catalogue (www.ttgo.com) when I stumbled across this easel that allows kids to paint directly onto the acrylic without going through rolls of paper. You just wash it off and start again. However, if you are partial to paper, there are clips so you can paint on that instead. It goes for $99.50 and can be used on both sides if you have more than one child who wants to use it. You can also order colors to go along with the easel but basic tempera or finger paints will do.

A Package Deal

Check out this cool bedding design site called Serena and Lilly that I just found. (http://www.serenaandlily.com/) The best thing, is that you can buy bedding and decor as one package. So, pick out your duvet and bedding along with a matching headboard, lamps and the coordinating paint colors. It can be so hard to find bedding and to decorate, imagine ordering everything at once. Plus, the bedding designs are amazing!

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

Check out these cute and reasonable alarm clocks from Land of Nod (http://www.landofnod.com/) As Summer quickly slips away, its time to think of the new school year. If you have a kid who just won't get up in the morning grab one of these cute clocks and they will hop out of bed on their own accord. When the alarm goes off, the child hears animal sounds insead of a bell. They go for about $16.00

Don't Forget Your Veggies!

Nothing innovative or anything...just damn cute! This carrot baby bottle brush is $11.50 at www.sparkability.net The product is made from certified and tested, Non toxic materials.

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite!

OK...I know it's bit expensive at $200-$400 per set but you have to just check out this new line of organic bedding for babies and kids!

The prints are adorable...and arn't we all sick and tired of pink and blue by now anyway???This bedding is domestically produced using only 100% certified organic cotton sateen, 220 thread count, which means that no herbicides or pesticides have been used in this production. The prints are done with low impact dyes using a low impact printing process approved by the Organic Trade association. They fill the comforters, bumpers, and pillows with Eco-Spun 100% regenerated polyester fill that does not give off gas or emit any traceable VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The packaging is made with recycled kraft paper. The fabric texture is smooth to the skin and remarkably soft. And above all....it is all natural and too cute for words!

http://www.sparkability.net/

Every Breath You Take...

A friend of mine swears by this new baby monitor. It's called Baby's Quiet Sounds Day and Night Monitor By Summer Infant. You can get it at quite a few common retailers including Babiesrus. (http://www.babiesrus.com/). The slick feature on this video monitor is that you can see baby at night without painfully having to get up in the middle of the night. The monitor runs about $179.00. Although its more than a audio only monitor, isnt it worth it to stay in your comfy bed?