When my older daughter was born, I received a gift of seven bibs, each one embroidered with a different day of the week. An adorable concept…if only the bibs hadn’t been white. Once she grew and moved on to solid foods, it wasn’t long before those beautiful bibs were permanently stained with mashed peas and peach puree. The “Friday” bib looked more like “Fdy,” while “Sunday” became just plain old “day.” (Easy for a sleep-deprived mom to figure out which bib to wear, but somehow I don’t think that was the point…) That’s why we can appreciate the Day-of-the-Week Bib Set from Petites Frites, a collection that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the touch. Made from an ultra-soft, two-ply cotton blend and colored with baby-friendly dyes, these bibs come in two assortments–rainbow and cornwall–and are awash in a eye-popping palette that will stand up to spit-up, strained peas and everything in between. We’re especially fond of the mood monikers, a different one reserved for each day of the week. We can relate to “Foggy Friday,” and are optimistic for a “Sunday Funday.”

In a Nutshell: Pack a little punch into your baby’s mealtime routine with a variety of bibs that will get you through all those round-the-clock feedings.

Tags: baby bibs, baby shower gift, Made in the USA baby products, organic baby clothing, Petites Frites

It’s an ugly day out there, in more ways than one. You know the kind of day we’re talking about: the one where you wake up and it’s so dark outside, you’re convinced your alarm clock is mistaken. You open the curtains to discover it’s raining cats and dogs, and you still must make it to the bus stop. Yeah, we know the feeling. That’s why we can’t help but smile at the little things that make our day: a hug from a child, a hot cup of tea and a unique umbrella that will turn any frown upside down. We recently raved about the latest Uglydoll, even going so far as to dub him Man of the Year, and now we’re tipping our hats to a trio of kid-sized Uglydoll umbrellas that bring some much-needed sunshine to our faces. Styled in either Ice-bat, Ox or the simply put Uglydoll Rainy Day, this rain gear accessory is an entertaining way to ward off the bad weather blues, and keep you dry. We’ll raise our cup of tea to that.

In a Nutshell: If into each life a little rain must fall, then let it be ugly. These fetching umbrellas have us singin’ in the rain…

Tags: kid umbrellas, rain gear for kids, Uglydolls, umbrellas

What kid doesn’t love music? Even from an early age, young children benefit from its calming effects and as they grow, they learn about the powerful influence of rhythm, melody and harmony on the sounds they make. My girls are fortunate enough to be exposed to music both in the classroom and at home, but everyone is not so lucky. Because of massive cuts in education budgets across the country, often the first thing to disappear from curriculum is the arts. If you’re one who can’t live without your iPod, imagine the thousands of children who may not be able to experience the timbre of timpani or the harmony produced by dueling harmonicas. Because no child should be deprived of such sounds, we feel the need to wear our heart on our sleeves–literally-and profess our passion for music education. To this end, our friends at SlickSugar have partnered with non-profit Little Kids Rock to create a special edition children’s T-shirt whose proceeds go to benefit underfunded public schools. The cotton tees for boys and girls sizes 6 months-5/6 feature a guitar and little bird singing around the Little Kids Rock slogan, “Keep the Music Alive.” We think it’s a great way to make a statement, both fashionably and politically.

In a Nutshell: Music shouldn’t be sacrificed at our kids’ expense. Help keep future generations schooled in reading, writing, ‘rithmetic and rhythm with these rock-ready tees.

Tags: boys' T-shirts, girls' T-shirts, kids' clothing, Little Kids Rock, music education, SlickSugar

What’s your New Year’s resolution? Like most moms, I’m debating between less snacking and more sleep. Guess which one inevitably wins outs? I never realized how crucial good sleep was until I had kids. I can’t blame my lack of shut-eye on 3 a.m. feedings anymore, and I haven’t quite gotten to the one-eye open until a car pulls into the driveway (the teen years are still a decade away). No, I’m more inclined to lay awake and listen to a lone cough echoing from one bedroom and the rumblings of a bad dream from another. Maybe my craving for more zzzz’s is why I invest so much in comfy PJs for both myself and my kids. If you’re thinking of an innovative gift for a new mom friend, how about a standing offer to watch Junior for a couple of hours, so Mom can get some much-needed rest, along with a delightful sleep ensemble for her little one? The Baby Bunch’s PJ Cupcakes are especially sweet for either a toddler boy or girl. These 100-percent cotton jammies are available in pink or blue two-piece sets and come in a whimsical gift box. Yes, good things do come in small packages. And lucky for Mom, these cupcakes are sugar-free.

In a Nutshell: Every kid looks cute in their PJs–even a trying toddler. Pick up a pair of these jammies and sweeten the deal with an offer to watch your mom friend’s little one for an afternoon. Now that’s a real BFF.

Tags: baby gift, Cupcake PJs, The Baby Bunch, toddler pajamas

Ah, the wonderful scents of the season are upon us! The gingerbread cookies baking in the oven, the freshly cut Christmas tree’s boughs of pine…and that god-awful smell coming from the guest bathroom (just kidding). If your home is about to be descended upon by a barrage of family and friends this holiday season, you’ll want to freshen up the facilities with a festive scent. Poo~Pourri Santa bathroom freshener is an amusing and surprisingly effective way to keep your powder room smelling more like powder than anything else. A pleasing combination of citrus and evergreen, this spray puts the kibosh any unpleasant odors with a simple spritz. If you’ll be Christmasing at someone else’s home this year, consider the Santa Poo~Pourri Toilet Paper Giftset as an unconventional hostess gift. Now, you won’t have to blame it on the dog anymore.

In a Nutshell: The nose knows: Stinky bathrooms take the joy out of holiday merrymaking. One spray of this stuff and you’ll wish it were Christmas every day.

Tags: bathroom freshener, holiday gifts, hostess gifts, Poo~Pourri, Santa gifts

Baby, it’s cold outside…In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be taking in the sights and sounds of the season–and that means dressing for the weather. A huge fan of layers, I always seem to outfit my kids as though they are headed to the tundra instead of suburbia. But regardless of whether you’ll be strolling city streets or hiking through the hills, if you’ve got a little one in tow, that extra layer of warmth will come in handy. This winter, we’ve got our eye on Maclaren’s buggy blankets. These ultra plush, generously sized throws are a love letter to the cityscapes in which they are detailed. From London to Sydney, New York to Paris, each reversible blanket features a detailed map of four of our favorite capital cities that make us feel as refined as these throws are sophisticated. Not only do they keep your baby well-covered as she traverses the globe, but their lively layout may just keep her preoccupied while waiting in line at Macy’s holiday windows. Our favorite, of course, is the NYC blanket, with its  flip side paying homage to Lady Liberty. NY may be the city that never sleeps, but maybe tucked inside this snuggly stroller blanket, your baby will give you the greatest gift of the holiday season: some shut-eye. Happy Holidays, and to all a good night!

In a Nutshell: Who says a baby blanket can’t make a fashion statement? This stylish one looks and feels great when you’re out on the town.

Tags: baby gifts, buggy blanket, Maclaren, NYC baby products, stroller blanket

The 7-year-old me would be so psyched at just how cool stickers have become. Forget about waiting until you’re a kid to start your collection; if you’ve got a super-hip mom, you can begin your love affair with stickers in utero. Earlier this summer, The Talking Walnut reported on Sticky Bellies, a line of adhesives that moms-to-be can affix to their growing bellies–a clever way of answering the never-ending “when are you due?” line of questioning from strangers everywhere. Now, we’ve just come across another company offering a similar product: Belly Banter from SlickSugar. In addition to a line of pregnancy decals featuring witty sayings like “running out of womb” and “I love pickles,” there’s an assortment designed for new babies’ onesies. Remember propping up your baby next to a sign proclaiming six months (even when she couldn’t quite sit up without being propped up, too)? Well, put away the marker and paper–now your little one can proudly profess his age with Belly Banter decals. They come in unisex-, girl- and boy-themed sets, each containing 15 removable stickers that easily adorn any ordinary onesie. The makings of a memorable baby shower gift, Belly Banter is one way of saying age is anything but a number.

In a Nutshell: Dress up an everyday onesie with an age-appropriate accessory Here’s to one time in life when you don’t mind revealing just how old you are!

Tags: baby shower gift, Belly Banter, growth stickers, milestone stickers, SlickSugar

The results are in: when a national marketing research firm recently polled a number of kids as to what they’d like to be for Halloween this year, the top choices were princess, witch and superhero. Oddly enough, Wall St. powerhouse didn’t make the list. Have our kids been taking sneak peeks at our downloads of “The Daily Show” or glancing at the Post and Daily News headlines? In more ways than one, I too long for the good ol’ days of Halloween, spent trick-or-treating from house to house, rather than in the shopping mall. I miss being able to recognize and greet the motley crew of characters that paraded down the dark streets, instead of seeing the same Harry Potter and Lady Gaga get-ups outside of Target and JC Penney’s . For those looking to emulate superheros that never go out of style comes a dress-up collection that also makes for a great Halloween costume in a pinch. My 1st Career Gear lets little kids experiment with some traditional roles in the working world before they go into post-college debt. Ranging from chef to construction worker uniforms, this set of six costumes suits the fickle child who changes what he wants to be every five minutes, as well as the family with multiple siblings. (They are also available separately.) We love that long after the pumpkins have been smashed and the ghosts are all booed out, this collection will find a second life for itself inside the dress-up box…alongside the princesses and ninjas. After all, role-playing doesn’t have to be limited to a night camped out in Zuccotti Park.

In a Nutshell: When the worlds of make-believe and reality collide, it makes for great dress-up potential. Enjoy Halloween (and any other day) with this real-life attire for kids.

Tags: Aeromax Toys, dress-up, dress-up clothes, Halloween, kids' Halloween costumes, My 1st Career Gear, role-playing

A friend has been lamenting about her latest parenting frustration: what to dress her son in. Even though he’s only in second grade, he’s already developed an opinion about what’s hot–and what’s not (and apparently, Mom just isn’t in on the up and up). Just when you thought clothing was only a battle zone for mothers and daughters, we have entered neutral territory. And while there are plenty of stylish labels devoted to girls, there aren’t as many boy brands that moms and their sons can agree on. This past spring, The Talking Walnut reported on a boys’ graphic T trend that is hit across the board. Since then, we’ve noticed another new name joining the ranks of this fashion movement: iNTAKT caters to young boys (ages 12 months-7 years) who want to look cool without acting like they care. Call it Joe Cool Jr., if you will. The line will launch in January with its spring/summer 2012 collection, which includes hoodies, long shorts and–you guessed it–skate, surf and street pop tees. Standouts include terry shorts with a rough-cut bottom and a polo shirt in a paint splatter print. The look is hip, modern and fresh, and we can’t imagine any boy putting up a fight when it getting dressed.

In a Nutshell: Boys will wish they could fast-forward straight to next summer with this ready-to-wear line of casual duds.

Tags: boys' clothing, iNTAKT, kids' clothing, spring/summer 2012 clothing collections

When my now-preschooler was an infant, her pacifier was her best friend…and mine. It seemed like the only way to stop her frequent crying jags was with a translucent green pacifier that quickly soothed her spirit and helped dry her tears (even if it was only for a short time), as she suckled away, Maggie Simpson-style. Sometimes, my husband and I would hold our breaths when it inadvertently popped out of her mouth, and the sleeping babe failed to notice its absence, her little lips moving back and forth, no different than before. As she matured, but had not yet grown out of the pacifier stage, we feared those moments when she would realize exactly what had happened and cry her head off. Lucky for us, she kicked this habit long before it became a problem. But those babies who are still attached to their all-day suckers, it helps to have a friend in the right place. Paci Buddy, a pacifier holder/stuffed buddy, is one first friend you and your little one will come to appreciate. This snuggly pal named MochiKo (whose endearing name means “rice cake nose” in a Japanese-Korean translation) holds a pacifier atop its head via a simple loop. Made from eco-friendly bamboo, it’s a safe way to keep your baby’s pacy contained. And when your little one has bid adieu to her pacifier, it also doubles as a snuggle buddy. We love the hidden strap that lets you secure MochiKo to your car seat or stroller, so you can take it with you, wherever you roam.

In a Nutshell: You learn quickly just how important a pacifier can be to your baby. With Paci Buddy, you don’t have to learn  that lesson the hard way. Approved by smiling babies everywhere…

Tags: eco-friendly toys, new baby gift, Paci Buddy, pacifier holder, Spotlight Baby