While I submit that no one in their right mind gives a kid a harmonica--even with a how-to book--I got the chance to poke around the Klutz site recently and there are definitely some cool new options from one of my favorite childhood mai…
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…
With all the holiday invitations coming up, I'm trying to broaden the girls' party wardrobe without succumbing to either scary appliquéd sweaters or velvets and tulles that will be a bitch to get the Christmas punch out of. Sparrow LA is…
As I read my own childhood picture books to my daughter, I also read the handwritten dedication penned on the first page of most of them. To Rita, on her third birthday, from Mommy and Daddy. To Rita, from Grandma and Grandpa. But of cou…
Feet certainly don't get any cuter with age, so I figure I might as well leave my kids' toes bare for as long as I can. But while bare toes are adorable, they look a little out of place paired with a velveteen dress or flannel trousers i…
Dear employer, I respectfully request that from now on you pay me in Euros. Or possibly Yen. Because then I'd be far more likely to be able to afford the black and grey collared dress from Verde Mela for my daughter at West Village Kids …
I've learned in my humble five years as a parent that no matter how hard you try, kids are going to like what they like - and around here it's trucks and mermaids . But what I have figured out is that it doesn't necessarily have to be th…
I've never been one to coordinate every aspect of my baby's clothes, which is obvious based on the blue socks, pink pants, and yellow onesie my newborn is sporting right now. But I will say there have been times when I've bought some pre…
We're a no-shoes-in-the-house kind of family, which is no problem in the summer. But when the cold weather arrives, I'm stuck with a couple of kids with darn chilly feet. If you've got a kid who thinks slippers are torture devices, then …
Considering we were just wearing shorts last week in Atlanta, the cold snap took me and my son's poor little head by surprise. No wonder when I tried the hat from Eli's Lids on him, he refused to take it off. Designed and handmade by mom…
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 …
It's not hard finding a handmade baby blanket these days, and we most certainly have our favorites. But one made completely in the USA from organic fibers using decidedly "green" practices? Well, that's just a bit harder to come by. Not …
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 …
I used to collect books the way other people collect whatever it is they collect, but since having kids, my book-buying budget has been re-allocated to board books, and a trip to the library means sitting in a circle for story time. Then…
When my girls hit shoe sizes in the double digits, I was dismayed at how grown up some of the styles were. Heels for a preschooler? Eek. Thankfully, the new line of fall shoes by Eleven , the big brother/sister line of CMP fave See Kai R…
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…
With just a week to go, it's time to admit that your grand plans for making your kid's Halloween costume are simply an overambitious fantasy. Really, points for good intentions and all, but it's time to get back to reality. Fortunately, …
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…
With a son who is obsessed with all things that go, it's not a surprise that his favorite shirts are covered in adorable little planes, trains, and automobiles. And now, a new addition: The ultimate motorcycle shirt from our good friends…
As my son marches out of toddlerhood, I find myself swooning over clothes that bridge the gap between baby and big boy. Take this pint-sized black and white bowler shirt by LilaFrances , just one of the adorable options at the shop. This…