The next person who simpers that kids' music is just too watered down to really rock is getting locked inside my minivan with the Candy Band's new CD -- cranked up to 11 until they cry uncle. Because there is nothing wishy washy about th…
Words I never thought I'd hear come out of my husband's mouth as he strolled by our living room: Whoa, that's some cool-looking pack-and-play. While I've never thought of a portable crib as particularly cool, I do admit this is one that …
My nieces and nephews from Israel are on their way visit grandparents. My 2 year old son will probably not have a chance to visit but would like to send something to them while they are here. Any ideas for a gift to help entertain the 2 …
Super storyteller/singer Randy Kaplan is no ordinary kids' music performer. Oh, sure, he may sing about monkeys, bears and queen bees, but on his latest CD he also has my kids asking me to explain Freud, the definition of Hebrew terms, a…
My children would give just about anything to apparate inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort . The early reviews (and word from CMP Editor Liz who worked with Universal early on in the development) make i…
I've read to my kids since they were wee little things and have never felt like they were lacking in books. Especially since birthdays, holidays and frequent trips to the book store insure they always have new titles to enjoy . But, then…
When Seattle's The Not-Its! blasted onto the kids music scene last year with their debut We Are The Not-Its! , I took a lot of notice. It wasn't just that the songs were great indie rock tunes. It was that their sound was so tight and au…
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of super-fun kids' musicians The Okee Dokee Brothers: I gave their debut CD Kids with Beards a gushing review, and it's still one of my kids' most-played CDs two years later. And now they have a brand n…
It has been a long time since I've willingly rocked around the clock, but I still love me some good ol' rock-n-roll during the daylight hours. Thanks to Putumayo Kids, I now have some of our favorite kiddie rockers assembled in one place…
You guys are so great at finding great gift ideas , and so I come to you with this: I have my fourth niece/nephew to buy a gift for . . . Hoping you have some good ones up your sleeves! -Christina W. Congratulations again! I hope these i…
Maybe toddlers shouldn't fish. I remember thinking this as I watched my 3-year-old niece clutch a big fishing pole while my husband tried to keep her from falling into the deep dark water or skewer him with the sharp fishing hook that wa…
It was a red-letter day in our household when each child was old enough to get his or her own library card. They love picking out books, handing their card over to the librarian and then skipping out with their new reads. What they don't…
I have no trouble getting my kids to go outside on a summer's day, it's getting them to stay outside when the siren song of kids' cartoons and super-exciting video games beckon from the air-conditioned comfort of our home. That's when I,…
The first time I took my daughter New York City, she spent so much time swiveling her head in every direction, I was afraid she'd tip over. I could have done a better job planning New York City for kids, and prepping my little suburban d…
I will always have a soft spot for Laurie Berkner, the first children's singer to transfix my oldest daughter on Nick Jr., and then, years later, charm my youngest son with Rocketship Run . For those of us with older kids, I'm sure we ca…
I've fought the princessification of my girls valiantly, as a mama who wants her girls to admire heroes who don't wait around for some dumb prince to find their happiness. As you may guess, it didn't work; they love princess everything, …
Whether you stay up late enough for fireworks this year or you're lying in bed in the dark, fingers crossed that the loud noise does not wake the baby (PLEASE GOD DO NOT WAKE THE BABY), all of us at Cool Mom Picks wish you a Happy Fourth…
Remember, today is the last day to enter to win ALL of the travel items seen here and on Pregnancy + Newborn Magazine this week! Strollers are great, except when you try to maneuver one through throngs of tourists or push one along a san…
Well, July is here. And if you are anything like me, you don't even start looking for the beach toys until beach season is well underway, and the kids are sitting in their car seats, eager and ready to go. And that's when you discover th…
I'm no germaphobe, but the idea of putting my bundle of joy in a hotel-supplied Pack-n-Play which may have been cleaned with industrial-strength chemical cleaners or worse, nothing at all, gives me the heebie jeebies. Fortunately, the so…
Unless your family summer plans involve hibernating in the local million-plex theater and surviving on popcorn and Twizzlers, you can be assured of one thing: There will be sun. Which means we mamas can't leave home without packing plent…
One of the greatest joys of travel is not having to cook, do dishes or feel the slightest bit insulted when one of my kids pushes something off their plate. Yes, I do love eating out, though I know all too well what can happen when I arr…
We're thrilled to be partnering with Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine this week to present some of our favorite picks to make summer travel a bit easier with baby in tow. Check out our picks each day this week, then make sure to click over t…
There are loads of companies jumping on the eco bandwagon, but this is the first time I've ever heard of one that started in an eco village. Heck, this is the first time I've heard of an eco village! But this is indeed where New Zealande…
