Dear Santa, This year, I'm asking you to avoid the following toys: Dolls in midriff-baring clothes, licensed-character clothing and anything so cheap it breaks before New Year's. And, most of all, lay low on things that need batteries. N…
If you've got a budding foodie in your house like I do, he just can't cook pretend Eggs Benedict or Strawberry Chantilly Crepes on some nicked plastic pan nabbed from a garage sale. The utterly gorgeous Soop Sori Breakfast Chef Set from …
I am never going to be the mom who walks around Michael's picking all the supplies for origami finger puppet ornaments or hot glue gun 3-D stuffed animal baskets or whatever the heck other moms are making with their kids these days. I am…
We love finding cool gifts and gear from small, up and coming designers, so we especially love when the humongo chains get smart and help turn them into big, up and coming designers. That's why we were excited to discover mom and pop fou…
I still remember seeing a colorful print called Lea's Alphabets on this site even back before I was writing here. What made that alphabet artwork pop for me was Gregoire Ganter's amazing photographs of street signs and images from cities…
Oh I just can't wait for all those obligatory stuffed animals that my baby will get over the holidays because really, what else do you give a newborn for Christmas? So here's a suggestion: An adorable duck rattle baby toy from Estella NY…
Timing is everything. Like I finally discover the excellent boutique Baby's Buzz , only to learn that they're closing up shop and moving onto other endeavors. Bad timing. But then I learn that it's actually all 40% off. Good timing! Head…
We have our fair share of toys that beep, blink or speak, but one of my son's favorites are his no-battery-required wooden unit blocks from City & Country School. Now available through the cool Kid O website , these 100% European Beech b…
Wooden blocks are a staple in any kid's toy chest, but wait until they get a look at the New Antics Ant Blocks from Uncle Goose. No matter which way your kids stack or place these wooden cubes they'll create an endless combination of ant…
Like plenty of kids, my own girls are obsessed with drawing--on paper, on their bodies, on their shoes, on the walls. Sigh. So I imagine they'd find themselves immediately in love with the Brooklyn-made Chalkboard Tee which is meant for …
I realize there are 26 letters in the alphabet, but my daughter Quinlan would like to think that there's only one. Aren't most kiddos infatuated with "their" letter? So I say let them obsess a little bit more and heck, learn a few other …
We launched our very first Safer Toy Guide last October during the "Year of the Recall" (remember that?) but just because we haven't been overwhelmed with toy recalls yet this year, doesn't mean parents don't want safer toys for their ki…
When I think of recycled baubles, pop top pins and earrings made of paper clips spring to mind. But in the case of Metal Pointus jewelry from Parisian artist (and father of nine!) Bernard Bouhnik, recycled pewter, copper and silver are r…
The recent proliferation of organic stuffed animals makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, but the story behind these latest creations is one that really shines. Since 1992, Maggie's Organics has been making cozy clothing that's both environm…
Wha-at? Kids pajamas that are cute but not cutesie? Why yes indeedy. They, along with earthy onesies, tees, and really wearable little dresses round out the collection of ?l?phant Couture , a label so new it's still got that new e-boutiq…
At Cool Mom Picks we definitely love all these awesome companies springing up that allow kids to create their own stuffed animals, monsters, or mutant alien hybrid creatures. But if you're on a tight budget , you must head directly for C…
It doesn't seem fair that kids can now have a nicer pretend kitchen than my real one. Then again, mine does run on more than just imagination. Our friends at Natural Pod has just debuted two heirloom quality wooden play kitchens that the…
I get the appeal of the no-mess paints and markers out there that let your kids create and be creative without completely ruining your kitchen table. But there is something about the experience of allowing them to delve into the real stu…
In concept, I'm all for kids making and decorating their own toys. But the fact that they generally involve sharp, pointy tools along with paint that does not come off with a simple bar of soap sort of puts a damper on my plans. But colo…
Thanks to my son's infatuation with cloth books, I'm able to enjoy a good portion of our daily car rides without having to ply him with 400 cheerios I end up cleaning from his carseat later. So I've decided to stockpile them, starting wi…
Taking my kids to a paint-your-own-pottery place is not in my job description. The drive there, the eternity spent as my children pick out the "perfect" piece to paint, my toddler--oh my toddler-- in that room of breakables... and then I…
Oh what my daughter wouldn't give to be able to pack up her beloved dollhouse and take it with her. So imagine what she did when she saw the set of Nested Country Cottages from Olie Bollen . These two brightly colored paper board boxes o…
Ever since coming across something called an "eco doll" that was made of pvc and served up in plastic packaging, I've been pretty skeptical of the eco label on toys. Sometimes it fits and sometimes...well, at least the intent is good. Bu…
For the most part, I don't spontaneously exclaim awwwww and get all teary when I get a new baby toy for review, but that's totally what happened when I peeled open the sweet little canvas bag to reveal the plush baby doll from Bumblebird…