One of my children's very favorite thing about Grandma's house is the the swing in the backyard. We are city-dwellers after all, and swings are generally something you have to wait in line for. This one started as a little baby swing han…
Confession: I've never totally understood the stuffed-animals-that-turn-into-blankets thing. Pulling a blankie out of a stuffed animal's middle always seemed kind of... weird. Of course, it's not up to me--kids seem to love them. And luc…
On Earth Day or any day , I love the feeling a wooden toy creates; fresh, clean and perfect for a creative little mind. It's no secret we are fans of Little Sapling's all-natural wood toys. Now the husband and wife team, Nick and Kimber,…
I am an absolute sucker for handmade dolls and dress up clothes. It really makes dramatic play a personal and organic experience for kids. So I tend to shy away from synthetic fibers and licensed characters when I can, in favor of someth…
Just before Christmas, I was at a craft show and bought the sweetest set of wooden play money (yes, wooden bills!) for my kids. Then, I promptly lost the business card for the creators. As luck would have it, last week a Facebook friend …
Any fab gift ideas for 9 month old boy who has everything? - Alysia, via Twitter If you're about to visit a little one who has "everything" (a slightly daunting proposition when he's not even a year old!) I like giving toys that can be b…
Our inbox is jammed lately with parents asking for non-caloric Easter gift ideas. As luck would have it, we have quite a few. The latest being the adorable, affordable handmade creations from Etsy's Bossy's Feltworks--and just in time fo…
Have you ever given an infant or toddler a paper book only to have returned to you in one mushy mess? Thanks to Wee Gallery's organic soft book , we found a beautiful solution last year. And now there are 3 modern, colorful new soft book…
When Liz got back from her Disney World trip, she laughed about the ubiquitous turkey leg that seemed to be everywhere. Which is probably why I can't get over the sheer awesomeness of this handmade rattle. Yes, it's a rattle in the shape…
I am a terrible procrastinator when it comes to Easter basket ideas, always shopping for my kids' gifts a few days before the holiday and wishing I had planned ahead for once. But, this year, I've found a few special picks that you'll ne…
So I'm a sucker for everything handmade with a nerd-chic pop culture reference built in. It's like three of my favorite things all in one glorious, slightly weird package. And the handmade finger puppets from Abbey Christine fit the bill…
My kids inherited a rocking horse that's all bells and whistles--it whinnies, neighs, clip-clops, and plays some sort of country song. I'm pretty sure it says "yeehaw," too, which doesn't really make sense. It's too much, even for them. …
I am all about empowering girls. Especially when it seems like so many media messages out there do just the opposite. So I'm glad to find some handmade girl power on Etsy. The Super Girl doll is handcrafted goodness to the tune of braide…
Owls are some seriously cool animals. They have big eyes, they're nocturnal, and they "whoo." They're also the requisite cute kids motif of the decade, which you know if you're an avid Cool Mom Picks reader. You know what's cooler than a…
I grew up playing with muñecas de trapo (rag dolls ) so when I saw the new modern doll line by Cool Mom Pick favorite Petit Collage I was instantly smitten. They're just like the dolls I grew up with -- except that, well, they're not exa…
Well of course you all know we already love Martha Stewart Living , but we now have an extra- special thing for the February issue, since you'll find Cool Mom Picks in it. What a huge, huge thrill for us! Check page 30 for our tips from …
Enjoy these, our Editor's top picks of 2011 for toys for babies, tots, and big kids too--all of which we think will keep kids happy for more than a few minutes. That's pretty rare these days. And not a battery compartment in sight! Littl…
If Santa's elves make everything, why do the boxes say "made in China?" my little sister asked me several decades ago. Her prescient question rings more true now than ever, where it seems unlikely that the handiwork of elves had much to …
Sometimes it feels like we're in the middle of a plastic doll takeover. Those little dudes are everywhere (pretty sure most of them are in my living room) I am more convinced than ever that the last thing the world needs is another plast…
One of the best things about having a baby is knowing how loved she is by so many people, even before drawing her first breath. Gifts that express that very sentiment just might be my favorite. Another thing I love: this organic baby gif…
As a homeschool mom, I've got plenty of creative ways to teach numbers and counting to my littler ones. But that doesn't mean there aren't more creative options out there, like this one from artist and mom CarrieSue Gustafson who I recen…
There's a box on top of my fridge overflowing with punk-rock ponies, witches on broomsticks, and smiley-faced dolphins, each one representing a special stage in my daughter's artistic development. They're amazing in two dimensions. Can y…
We've long been fans of the beautiful handmade wooden baby toys from family-run Little Sapling Toys, and now there's one more item that can make you the most awesome gift-giver ever . These personalized wooden alphabet blocks are lovingl…
With all the round stacking toys out there, I was starting to think that there was some unwritten rule that toddler toys can only resemble inner tubes or wooden doughnuts. But I'm relieved to tell you that is not the case, thanks to this…