by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
One of the best pieces of advice I got at my baby shower was to save the gift bags. Sure enough, I reused almost all of them–except that one that already looked reused enough. I’ll withhold names to protect the regifter.Mom Jennifer Paretta liked the idea...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
The smell brings me right back to childhood, but the first time I found my daughter with a wad of Play-Doh in her mouth, I wondered, “what the heck is in this stuff?” An all-natural alternative is the unscented eco-dough, made by a family in California My...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
With my kids loving their play kitchen (hello, best investment ever!) I’m getting a little tired of the heavy spaghetti and meatball dinners. How about a little summer fare, like this adorable BBQ Grill set found at Nico & Zoe? Almost identical to the real...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
My daughter is destined to be the artist of the family, no doubt about it. If she’s awake, she’s got a crayon in her hand. This is great news when we take her out to restaurants because she’s easily occupied. But it’s bad news when I forget to...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
We’ve found a whole lot of companies that transform your children’s art into everything from custom lamps to chic jewelry to delicate handbags. It’s so cool to us that those favorite scribbles and stick figures can have a life beyond the refrigerator...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
At last count, we had twelve ride-on toys in our garage so I am definitely an expert in that department. Of all these toys, I want to sing the praises of two that stand out from the crowd: The Mini Micro scooter and the oddly named Skoooch. (Yes, there are three...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
If there’s one complaint I have about some eco-friendly toys it’s that they tend to look pretty eco-friendly. That’s great when you love ecru with a side of pale, but not so much when you’re trying to engage your little one with bright fun...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
Last year’s scandals about lead levels in toys were really a wake-up call for many of us. Toy safety became serious business, and while you can always turn to resources like our Safer Toy Guide (and a new one coming out soon!) what’s a Mama who just wants...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
Ever since my daughter was pegged as The Budding Artist, she gets about 14 boxes of crayons at every gift-giving holiday. Boy would she love to get her hands on the custom name crayons from Story Blox. For around $5, depending on the length of your kid’s name,...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
It’s hard to be one, or so it seems to my one-year-old niece who longs to keep up with her older brother. Try as she may, her wobbly legs are no match for her brother’s racy, zig-zaggity gait. Things have changed now that she rides the Cheeky Chic, a...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
As bathing suit season approaches, I mourn that I am not more of a gym person. I am more of a sit on my butt and play Guitar Hero then complain about how bad I look in a bathing suit person. So I decided to give the new Wii Fit a whirl. Oh my goodness, am I smitten....
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
I don’t care how technologically advanced baby toys get, how many bells, whistles, batteries, voice chips or solar panels they have – a baby’s favorite toy is still going to be a jingly clutch ball. Also a spatula. Massachusetts mom Kwan...
