This week, I was so excited to be able to attend the annual Baby Buggy Bedtime Bash for the first time. This infamous NYC faily carnival and fundraiser supports one of my favorite local charities, Baby Buggy (which Cool Mom Picks readers surely know by now). Founded by the amazingly dedicated Jessica Seinfeld, they do a fantastic job of getting essential gear, clothing and baby essentials to families in need, and we couldn’t love them more.

Click over to see some of the cool celebrities we met–and their cute kids–and learn more about how you can help.


The sponsors came out in droves including Children’s Place and Britax–which kindly offered pint-size guests a lift from the edge of Central Park over to Wollman Rink. Urban Sitter had pros on hand to escort kids on rides, for those parents who needed a little grownup time. Fairy Tales Hair Care was there to streak our kids’ locks purple and orange (and uh, our pillowcases thank you for that), and even our friend Nicole Feliciano of MomTrends sponsored what was easily the most talented crew of face painters I’ve ever seen.

But what was especially nice was seeing the 75 families of the Forestdale Fatherhood Initiative who were welcomed as VIP guests, riding kiddie coasters and mini railroad cars right along with the NYC glitterati.

Hosts Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld; Kyle and Callum MacLachlan

Rosie Pope, Lyss Stern, Cool Mom Picks’ Liz Gumbinner; Rosie’s awesome shoes!

Peter Hermann, Mariska Hargitay, August and Amaya; Nigel and Jasmine Barker

Tiffani Thiessen and Amber Smith; two adorably cute Bedtime Bash guests

It was also pretty neat bumping into parents like Today’s Moms‘ Maryann Zoellner, Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi, and the hilarious Ali Wentworth who was there filming for her web series, Daily Shot. (I kind of love her.)

So yes (because I know you’re wondering), the celeb parents were all cool and very nice. And boy is it a joy to see how great they all are with their kids. And of course, my own kids pretty much thought they were in heaven, what with the ability to ride every single ride AND walk away with Mickey Mouse Band-Aids in a gift bag. But most of all, I left feeling quite moved by how incredibly committed everyone there really is to Baby Buggy’s mission, and how they come out again and again to support the charity. The feeling is contagious.

In fact if you’re in the NY area next summer, I’d say go to the 2013 Bedtime Bash if you can. It’s a heck of a fun way to make a charitable donation you won’t regret. And neither will your kids. -Liz

If you want to get involved with Baby Buggy by donating gently used or new goods, money or even time to help out families in need, find out more at the Baby Buggy website. You can also follow them on twitter at @LoveRecycled.

[most photos: gary gershoff for wire image; rosie pope photo via lyss stern]