For those who travel with little ones and don’t want to risk rickety and unsanitary hotel cribs, GoCrib’s portable crib and play yard is just the thing. It is a full-size crib (and it thankfully uses regular, fitted crib sheets) that doesn’t require a moving crew to transport. I’m in Cancun for a week with my niece and her parents are ever so appreciative of their GoCrib. Long-gone are the days of using the Pack ‘n’ Play as your travel crib (which was never an ideal option, aside from the weight and non-compact, barely collapsible feature). GoCrib has inflatable legs so you get a sturdy, complete frame, but the whole thing packs down to a backpack! You have the option of tucking your tot in from the top, or if you’re like me and can’t handle killing your back, you can unzip the side and have access that way. GoCrib can also be used as a playpen and the inflated sides make safe bumpers. Assembly is not hard, but you must read the instructions, especially about how to turn the valve for the auto-inflate. That’s right: auto, as in no need to be out of breath blowing up this thing! The price might be an issue, but it’s totally worth it for those who are always on the move. It’s so light and easy to use, you might even just take it to the park or beach for the day. Tots do need their naps – and you need your quiet time! On Amazon
Everybody knows women are natural multi-taskers. And once you have a baby – that’swhen your multi-tasking skills kick into high gear! Which is one of the reasons why breast-pumping is terrible in more ways that you can imagine. At least you can minimize the wasted time spent by freeing up your hands.
Designed by four sisters who are, of course, also moms (because only someone who has been there would come up with this!), this brilliant bra might look a little intimidating, but it’s absolutely ingenious. Not only does it provide full support, it’s adjustable and compatible with any electric breast pump out there. Choose between pale pink and black, then just strap it on and let those pumps do their job.
When you’re a new mom, it’s all about double-duty and getting as much done in as little time as possible. Now 30 minutes of tedious pumping can turn into a truly productive session! On Simple Wishes for $39.
The way I see it, little tots who are just starting to explore always end up on the floor anyway, so why not just accept it and make it a cozier place for them? Giggle seems to have the same idea. Their Sleep Sheep Snug Rug (try saying that five times fast! Luckily, this lamb is more comfortable than its tongue-twister title) is a super-fluffy floor pillow that also doubles as a naptime buddy. Or an all-the-time buddy. Seriously, this thing is so soft and inviting, your tot won’t want to put it down.
Use it as a padded rug or play area (it has a no-slip bottom so this sheep isn’t going anywhere), then toss it in the washing machine and they can rest on it as an old-fashioned pillow. This is the perfect instant home away from home when you’re on the road. Forget about counting sheep – all they need is this one! At Giggle
Pediped has the tots’ shoe market cornered, and for obvious reasons. Their comfort, quality, and sense of cuteness cannot be beat. Yes, like myself, my tots have A LOT of shoes. I’m to blame for indulging them, but I think I’m finally starting to learn: they always go to Pedipeds. Even they have figured out that comfort outweighs most other factors when it comes to footwear. Sure, they wear dress-up shoes around the house for fun, but when the girls need to hit the ground running, it’s Pedipeds all the way.
So to appeal to their vanity – and mine – Pedipeds require no compromises to go with all their fancy, flouncy Easter dresses. (For us, it’s not just the one Sunday. Spring means an entire season of over-the-top, frou-frou dresses.) From sequins and shimmer to blooming appliqués, the Originals Ruby and Emily ($33), along with the Flex Evie ($39) are all equally charming. How could I resist?
The boys’ shoes might not have floral embellishments, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t as bright and eye-catching. Boys don’t care about the look of shoes as much, and they are definitely more upfront about appreciating the comfort of these styles. Get a couple of pairs, like the boat-inspired Flex Flipper ($53) or the sporty Originals Jones ($33), and you’ll be set until they out-grow them.
There are few things in life more fun than shopping for little girls’ dresses. There is so much out there, it’s overwhelming – each summery style is more delightful than the last. I have managed to narrow the fun-in-the-sun dresses down to five of my favorites, from the beachy to the party-worthy. Seriously, it is not possible to get any cuter than this! Equally adorable from the abstract to floral to nautical, you can take your pick of prices. As you as can see, the most expensive is not always the best.
1) Kico Kids Tulip Tank Dress: With a painterly pattern and voluminous skirt, this gauzy frock is so alluring I’m envisioning one in grownup sizes. At Saks Fifth Avenue for $150.
2) DKNY Ruffled Dress: Tiers upon tiers of garden-print ruffles look good enough to eat – and that’s exactly what you’ll want to do with your tot when she’s dressed up in this! At Saks Fifth Avenue for $38.50 (from $55).
3) Pink Chicken Olivia Dress: Anchors away! She’ll be ready to take to the sea and set sail all summer long in this classic sundress. On Axl’s Closet for $72.
4) Little Marc Jacobs Floral Dress: She will have everyone squealing with delight when she’s wearing this flutter-sleeved, fluttery floral-print dress that’s too sweet for words. At Barneys New York for $123.
5) Misha Lulu Hello Kitty Garden Dress: We might not be able to get away with flaunting our soft spot for Hello Kitty, but our tots certainly can. Perfect for a picnic, this dress has a cool seventies vibe. On Art Bebe for $70.
I’m the first to admit it: shopping for your tot can get oh, so tiresome. Sometimes it seems infants and toddlers grow so fast, you can’t keep up even if you have an arsenal of gear ready to go. Which is why I’m excited to announce the launch of Wittlebee, a super-savvy new e-commerce site dedicated to taking the “oh, lord, not again!” out of shopping. Sure it’s fun, when you have the time! But if you are just rushing in and out to grab the essentials, why not have this service take that pain out of your routine?
Just fill out your style profile, then talk to mom-stylists who will actually understand what you want and need. After you sign up for the membership, you get a box full of tot-snob goodies shipped automatically each month. Think custom packages of soft, high-quality products that grow in size just as your tot does, from T-shirts to onesies to leggings. You get the basics and you can relax and enjoy when you are buying the fun stuff. Great for working parents and you can stop this service when your tot stops growing every 5 minutes!!
Even better, they have a “1 for Onesie” program. Every time you order a onesie for your Wittlebee box, the site donates a second to Baby Buggy, Jessica Seinfeld’s famous nonprofit that clothes underprivileged families. Shopping on autopilot and onesies for all tots – what could be easier?
I have a rainbow maker for my tots in their room and they love it! The downside is it is battery operated and takes up room in their already cramped space (it has a rather large base). But I found this alternative space-saver option.
Unlike the one we have, which does not teach about light and spectrum, this one uses natural sunlight and a prism and is – wait for it – solar powered! Best of all, it has a suction cup that sticks to the window to get all the light it needs. And doesn’t take up precious space. Brilliant, right?
I got mine at the Science Center in LA, which has the coolest stuff. But you can get one cheaper on Amazon. (Isn’t that true for everything?) There’s nothing like waking up to a rainbow every morning to start the day bright!
On Amazon
Diane von Furstenberg for Gap Kids launches today. You cannot imagine how exciting this is for me. I wear more DvF than any other designer, so my love will definitely trickle down to my kids. Hey, I’m the one buying so I get to decide the styles for my tots for now =)
She has taken her best elements and tailored them for tots. College prep blazer has extra pizazz that kids appreciate, the patches look more like stickers giving it a giddy attitude. Easy tanks are so easy and fun for the summer, no brainer dressing is the only kind you should consider when it comes to tots. Of course she has to have the wrap dress but this is faux wrap so you don’t have to fuss with all that twisting and wrapping. Even the onesies are extra special with her signature DvF print. Shoes are geared toward older girls, the slight heel on the espadrille looks a bit too grown up for the little ones.
Now, let’s get shopping, go to The Gap
It is so sad that all these bookstores are closing. There is nothing like browsing through books with your tots because you never know what they will gravitate toward. We now go to the library, which of course is wonderful, there are some books you just have to keep, which we buy on Amazon. This process is obviously less direct.
The best thing about looking at physical books is, my tots get to decide. Some books don’t even look that good, to me that is, but then my daughters will fall in love. Their recent obsession is Stay, The True Story of Ten Dogs. It is about a man who rescues shelter dogs and they in turn rescue him. The story introduces each dog, who are all given away because they have some undesirable quality but they are given a second chance because Luciano, their rescuer, sees only the good in them. The love story runs deep and kids seem to fully understand, connect and relate. This book really brings to light the enormity of a child’s heart.
Plus, there are cute pictures of cute dogs! At Amazon
Seriously, now that my tots have grown out of needing these things, all the cool stuff comes out! This collapsible tub is the most ingenious thing I have ever seen. Bathtubs are usually hard to store, annoyingly bulky when they aren’t being used, and constantly in the way. The Naked Collapsible baby bathtub addresses that issue and more!
The unique design features two fold-down legs, and the tub itself collapses so you can easily tuck it in the corner once splash-time is over. But it’s a one-piece design with no loose ends. And not only does it store easily, it also expands and grows with your tot from newborn to toddler. And this means you only need one tub! (I got three different ones that are all now taking up room in my garage.) This tub is even compact enough to take on the road with you (but stick to road trips – you wouldn’t want to pack this in a suitcase!). At Giggle