You don't need us to tell you about the latest Elmo toy or Hannah Montana guitar, so we work hard to point you towards toys and other playthings from small companies or independent artists that you might not know about yet. After a year …
The ordinary rubber duck received a needed makeover a few years back, when BUD luxury rubber ducks started invading bathtubs. Funky and fun, they didn't just look cool, these Australian born duckies ditched the phthalates long before any…
Personally I'm a fan of the Deglingos dolls, though I understand the quirky hedgehogs and crazy-eyed lobsters aren't everyone's cup of stuffed animal tea. But the brand new Woodours bears from the same French company, Ebulobo, I'd imagin…
Jade's Toy Box no longer exists I'm starting to think that group gifts are the way to go. Chip in with a bunch of other folks, and get someone one seriously awesome something-or-other that they'll really appreciate. And I think that's wh…
Stokke's Tripp Trapp high chair is a classic that's been around for 37 years--in fact, my daughter recently sat in the one that I had used as a kid. How's that for longevity? The basic principle behind it remains as popular with parents …
Since I've become a parent, my delight with Peter Rabbit has been replaced with a desire to give him a time out for eating Farmer Brown's veggies and disobeying his mama. He's figuring out how to win we me over again though, by going gre…
There are few things that scream New England more than the ubiquitous lobster, but since I'm afraid a lobster may actually scream, I have never brought one home to cook for dinner. If you're like me, go a different route and bring home t…
Magic Beans may sound like something a frat guy tried to slip me back in college, but it's actually the name of a super stocked Boston area baby gear and toy store. The mom/pop team of Eli & Sheri Gurock have done a great job streamlinin…
It sort of pains me that my kids will probably not grow up to the zipping of the sweater and the tossing of the shoes that made Mr. Rogers so endearing. But thanks to reruns, CD compilations, and toys, like these awesome wooden blocks fr…
The thought of an infant gumming on a New York City taxi sounds pretty unsanitary until you see the adorable, soft crocheted baby rattle toy found at Estella NYC . Handmade by Peruvian artisans, this small taxicab is the perfect size for…
Growing up, no Valentine's Day was complete without a bagful of Be Mine and Hug Me heart candies. Sure they were cute, but let's be honest: they tasted like chewable antacids. Conversation Heart Rattles from Yellow Label Kids are a much …
Of course those gihunda baby activity centers and Exersaucers are a big hit for new parents because the kid will happily swat at some puppets or jingle balls in there long enough for you to hit the shower and wash the pureed chicken out …
Babies look cute in hats with bear ears. They just do. That's the rule. But the truth is, babies also look cute in hats with Joop ears, Balob ears and Tada ears. And if you have any idea what I'm talking about you're evidently familiar w…
My heart is going thumpity-thump on seeing the new Alexander Girard alphabet blocks by House Industries. Yes okay, so the set is 100 bucks at maXimo design but the truth is, if I add up all the disposable plastic toys we've received for …
We are talking about getting a dog, which makes it official: No more babies for this household. And I'm pretty much okay with that fact until I see a store like YarnBall Stories . This absolutely adorable Etsy shop has safe and soft croc…
My go-to standard baby shower gift was, for a long time, either a baby bathtub, or infant footie sleepers. Useful, and admittedly a little uninspired. These days, I want to give something unusual, beautiful and creative: both moms and ba…