Wishlisted Feature: Baby Sunglasses That Are Too Cute for Words
By Stacy Brown
By Stacy Brown
By Gen Cohen
Baby's first holiday or birthday can't pass unnoticed. Though they may have more fun with the box than anything in it, there are still plenty of fun gift ideas to add to their toy chest. From activity gyms and bead toys to an adorable rocker and the softest play mat ever, here are our 36 favorite baby gifts for this year!
Your little one can chew away on their first slice of pizza with this adorable Pizza Slice Wooden Teether ($13).
Once your baby is holding themselves up a bit, they can sit in this Busy Baby Activity Chair ($129) that has a bunch of activities built right into the seat.
Got a drooler on your list? These chic, playful Matimati Baby bandana bibs ($22) keep their clothes dry while still looking stylish.
No baby toy bin is complete without these Classic Baby Beads ($15).
On the Ringmaster Baby Activity Gym ($89) your baby can explore and play with the hanging animal rattles.
Freshly Picked Metallic Leather Moccasins ($34, originally $60) are the sweetest kicks for little ones who aren't up and walking yet but need a layer other than socks in cold weather or on a special occasion.
These Monique Lhuillier Security Blankets ($69) come in three styles — elephant, lamb, and bunny — and have the potential to be your child's favorite lovey.
These fleece and velour Farm Animal Rattle Blocks ($34) are a soft toy for your little one to grab and squeeze.
Not much will be cuter than watching your little one move around on the Fisher-Price Bright Beats Learnin' Lights Dance Mat ($35, originally $40) this holiday season and beyond.
These Celestial Baby Rattles ($20, originally $24) make delightful rattling noises and are easy to grip to provide hours (OK, minutes) of fun for baby.
Little Lotus Swaddle ($75)
What's better than a cozy pair of zebra and tiger baby booties ($6)? A pair that rattles! These rattle booties are so sweet and will give babies who've just discovered their feet something new to do with them.
The LilyPad Playmat ($120) is the perfect squishy mat for your baby to play on and will grow with them straight through the toddler years.
The Fun on the Farm Stacker ($39) is a silly take on the classic stacker that will teach your little one all about farm animals.
More than just a blanket to lie on, the Shape Up Baby Activity Mat ($79) has a bunch of different shapes in different colors and textures for the perfect amount of stimulation for your baby.
Skip Hop's line of toys is full of great items that encourage infant development. Among our favorites is the Skip Hop Treetop Friends Stroller Bar Toy ($20). With multiple textures and activities — and a mirror so they can see their own adorable face — it's sure to keep the attention of little ones.
There's no doubt that unicorns are having a "moment," and while your baby may not be following the trends quite yet, this plush rocker from Pottery Barn Kids ($179) adds an element of whimsy to any nursery or playroom. You can also personalize it with an optional monogram or baby's full name.
A playful take on the classic stacking rings, this wobbly stacking tower ($20) from The Land of Nod is a great toy for helping infants develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
The night sky might not be visible from your little one's nursery, but this star cloud mobile ($98) brings the gorgeous elements indoors! From the handmade cloud to the hanging metallic stars, it's a chic yet sweet accent to any crib.
Janod's magnet stacking toys are always a favorite of ours, and the Pingoo penguin stacker and rocker ($16) may be the cutest of the bunch!
This organic Cat in the Hat stroller toy ($20) is made from cotton that's untreated, unprocessed, and unbleached and is a sweet way to introduce tots to the iconic literary figure.
Talk about the perfect gift! Aden + Anais's new collection of Cuddly Companions ($25) combine two of our favorite things from the muslin blanket leaders — an amazingly soft and functional swaddle blanket and a stuffed animal based on the popular characters from their playful patterns. There's a giraffe, a monkey, a penguin, and more, but the circus lion may be our favorite!
Have you ever seen a chair as plush as this one from RH Baby and Child? The Cuddle Plush chair ($85, originally $95) comes in three animal varieties, but we're partial to this sweet pup!
Go back to basics with Janod's beautifully constructed Caramel Rocking Horse ($100), which features a smart support frame to keep the smallest riders safe and sturdy. The frame can be removed when your baby's equestrian skills advance to the next level.
As baby begins to crawl, cruise, and eventually take those first steps on their own, they'll want the comfort of a friend to take along with them. Restoration Hardware's simple and sweet chambray whale pull toys ($53) come in petal or gray on a weathered wooden base.
Skip Hop's Giraffe Safari Activity Toy ($19) includes eight multisensory activities and a triangle ring that lets you attach the cute giraffe anywhere!
Set their standards in vehicles high from an early age with the award-winning Spherovelo Ride-On Car ($120).
Fisher-Price's Laugh and Learn Learning Kitchen ($44, originally $64) is full of activities for babies, inside and out. Babies can open and close the refrigerator, flip the light switch, and stir the soup, while enjoying more than 20 sing-along songs and musical activities. There's even an introduction to Spanish!
Commemorate the first Christmas of a special new addition with a customized baby block ornament ($26, originally $43) that's just for them. Available in green, natural, and red, these are sure to become a holiday heirloom.
Babies through toddlers love exploring B. Toys' interactive barn ($33), which is packed with sensory experiences including lights, sounds, doors that open and shut, and even a spiraling silo.
Moulin Roty's Brindille Donkey ($52) is soft and sweet, but there's so much more to him than that! A squishy belly, feet that rattle, and an attached ring, carrot, and mirror make for plenty of interactive fun.
For babies up to 12 months, Haba's Aircraft Baby Swing ($142, originally $160) is as cute as it is fun. A rattling propeller adds a little extra vroom, and the adjustable height, seat, and straps help accommodate growing infants.
No matter your price point or the size of the gift recipient's home, there's a place for Jellycat's snuggly Fuddlewuddle Lion Plush Toy. He comes in a range of sizes from $25-$75.
These supersoft baby blankets ($76) come in a fun array of animal-print, polka dot, and floral designs and are just the right size for your little one to snuggle in the stroller.
The Finn and Emma Play Gym ($135) is an eco-friendly gift that comes with removable organic cotton dolls that can be played with anywhere baby goes.
Designed to ease the transition from the womb, the Ollie Swaddle ($59) decreases irritability while promoting self-soothing.
By Gen Cohen
Like most women, I was nervous about becoming a mom and worried a lot about what it would be like. I tried to prepare myself as best I could, and while I didn't read all the baby books, I definitely asked around. Before I gave birth, I knew I might be surprised by the challenges of breastfeeding and the weird noises my newborn would make in her sleep. I heard all about the squeeze bottle I'd soon keep by the toilet. And I was warned to get my sleep in now.
But there are some things I realized soon after becoming a mom that no one ever told me and I certainly didn't find while flipping through What to Expect When You're Expecting, or even when reading articles online chronicling the "37 Most Shocking Things You Never Knew About Motherhood." Here, 10 of the real WTF surprises and pieces of advice for first time moms.
By Gen Cohen
Before we dive into this awesome list of 7 bike trailers for kids, it's important to remember to protect those little eyes with our Roshambo Shades for babies, kids and adults! They're light, comfortable, and they keep your junior's eyes safe from harmful UV rays!
Going for a bike ride as a family is a fun and fit bonding activity, but if you have a tiny one who isn't quite riding a bike on their own yet or can't keep up the same pace as older children, it could be difficult to execute. Don't skip the ride or have anyone stay behind — with one of these accessories, you can bring the entire family to the bike trail with ease.
Read on for seven bike accessories that will change your family's bike rides this Spring and Summer.
By Gen Cohen
Before we dive into this helpful article by Colleen Lanin, it's important to note that whether your vacation goes to beach or snow, protecting your kid's eyes is extremely important, and Ro·Sham·Bo Baby's baby polarized sunglasses are perfect for the job! Check out our pink and white kids' Wayfarer sunglasses!
Have a fun and stress-free vacation with baby by navigating on-the-go naps, time differences and cramped hotel rooms.
By Colleen Lanin via parenting.com
Does "vacationing" with your baby sound like an oxymoron? As someone who has ventured on road trips, beach getaways, cruises and more with my two kids, and who is writing a book about family travel—The Travel Mamas' Guide—I know that vacations now are not as easy as they were prebaby. And while there are tons of tips on how to get there, there's not much advice for how to manage once you arrive. A few simple tricks have saved some of my family's trips.
Just as important as what you pack—and you can check out get-ready checklists here—in my opinion, is how you unpack.
As soon as you arrive (unless someone in the family is overly cranky or tired), set up your room to make it as close to home as possible. Put the baby in the playpen or hotel crib with a pile of toys and occupy an older kid with a coloring book. Or have your partner take the older sibling out to get the lay of the land while you unpack. Settling in will help you remain organized (and sane) throughout your stay.
Bring a box of wipes, lay out a changing pad (I like to put a disposable changing pad on top of a hotel towel) and stack a bunch of diapers in one area. That way, you won't need to chase down the diaper bag when that first big poop occurs.
Stash toys and books on a low shelf or in a drawer, or keep all the playthings in one corner. Creating a place for your baby to play will make the room feel homey and keep it from looking like a disaster area.
Even if your room doesn't have a kitchen or bar area, establish a spot where you'll keep bottles, dishes, baby food, snacks, formula and dish soap. Sometimes the bathroom is best if it has the only sink in the room.
Your baby needs her naps, but you don't want to spend your whole vacation watching her snooze. Follow these strategies for squeezing in that daytime sleep:
When my daughter, Karissa, was a baby, she wouldn't nap in a strange crib while on vacation. So we planned our days around taking long walks with her napping in a stroller. Some moms advise bringing the lightest, most compact umbrella stroller on vacation to save room, but I always pack a stroller that reclines completely to make stroller slumber easier.
If your baby doesn't sleep well in a stroller, try a front carrier (like the BabyBjorn) or baby backpack. If you've never used one at home but think it might be convenient on vacation, try it out a few times before you leave. Not all babies will like it, and it might be too hard on your back.
Try taking leisurely drives to check out the area while your baby naps in the car seat. And on some trips, you can coordinate drive time between destinations with sleep time.
If your tot isn't an in-transit sleeper, don't be afraid to schedule naps back in the room. While it's a different vacation rhythm than you're probably used to, an a.m. break and midday siesta can be relaxing for you, too. Just consider your baby's napping style when booking accommodations; if you'll need to return to the room often, a hotel near the beach may be a better bet than a spot farther away, even if it's a bit pricier. If you can, book a room with a balcony or patio so the parent "on duty" can enjoy the outdoors, too.
One of the most worrisome things about traveling with a baby is getting your tot to sleep in a new place. Here's how to up your odds of at least a few peaceful nights:
If you're bringing a portable travel bed, have your baby sleep in it for a few nights before you leave. That way, it will feel like a familiar, comfy spot to go night-night on vacation.
While it can be tempting to throw in the blankie and drive home in the middle of a sleepless vacation night with an inconsolable baby, I implore you to power through. Eventually, babies will adjust to their new surroundings and schedule, and sleep. If you can survive a couple of nights, I am (almost) willing to promise happy vacation days ahead.
If bedding down in the same room means no one will get any sleep, consider booking a suite or connecting rooms. A suite may offer the convenience of a kitchen area, but connecting rooms may afford more space at a cheaper price.
If your baby's bedtime ritual at home includes a bath, lullabies and a bottle, do the same on vacation to make up for the change in location.
Instead of expecting your infant to shift her internal clock and adjust to a new time zone, shift your day: Stay up later or get up earlier than usual by a few hours.
Sampling local cuisine and splurging on restaurant meals are vacation pleasures I refuse to give up. Dining with babies can be done.
Because our times to swim, hike, shop or visit an aquarium are limited by morning and afternoon naps, it makes sense for the entire family to eat something quick in the hotel room. So we pack plenty of ready-made breakfast foods like mini-bagels, cereal bars and fruit (bananas, apples).
If your baby drinks formula, it helps to pack more than you think you'll need. To save space, empty powdered formula into zipper-lock plastic bags. Or order heavy staples like diapers and formula—even baby shampoo—from a site such as diapers.com or Babiestravellite.com that will ship to your destination (and since you won't have to carry the formula, consider splurging on the ready-to-feed type).
You can breastfeed anywhere you are legally allowed to be.
To enjoy dinners out, you may have to encourage what you would normally consider bad behavior. I don't let my kids watch TV while eating at home, but we always bring portable DVD players when we eat out. Putting on some Sesame Street for them allows us to actually taste the food we're shelling out big bucks for.
Sure, a romantic dinner would normally be at 8 p.m., but by dining out at 5:30, you'll likely have an empty restaurant, room to park your stroller, and a short wait for your food. Alternatively, if your newborn loves to sleep in her car seat, make later reservations and then feed her a bottle or nurse her while you wait for your appetizers. Hopefully, she'll be out for the rest of the meal.
Now, go enjoy! Toss out all your old ideas about what a vacation should be and embrace the new craziness that is traveling with a baby. Laugh at the fact that you're at the local playground by 6 a.m. and in bed for the night at 8 p.m. Consider all the gear and baby-lugging as great vacation exercise. And then savor going back home to "regular" life that much more.
Colleen Lanin is the creator of Travelmamas.com.
www.roshambobaby.com
By Gen Cohen