It’s a jungle out there, especially if you’ve got little ones running around at home. When I’m making dinner, I swear there’s a stampede of elephants overhead–and not just two little girls playing. If you’re in search of a way to keep your playroom accident-free and spare newly mobile toddlers from acquiring more bumps and bruises than necessary, consider the Skip Hop Zoo Playspot. A refreshing alternative from the ho-hum hopscotch patterns we’ve seen in one too many kiddie gyms, this fashionable print may just bring out the wild child in your little monkeys. The adorable faces of a dog, bee, owl and monkey are so cute, they may be entertaining enough to coax your constant crawler into actually sitting still for more than five seconds. We like that the puzzle-like pieces snap together easily to create an intimate play space of 4 spots or up to 12 spots wide for multiple movers and shakers. And if you’re extra concerned about safety, you’ll appreciate that these tiles are BPA-, PVC- and Phthalate-free. And that makes for smiles all around.

In a Nutshell: Protect your precious little ones–and your hard wood floors–with this soft covering that’s as playful as it is practical.

Tags: foam tiles for babies, kids' furnishings, playmats, playroom decor, Skip Hop, Skip Hop Zoo Playspot

Today, on our weekly supermarket jaunt, my 3-year-old and I were treated to a display of hearts-shaped place mats, cupid cookie cutters and all things red and pink. That can only mean that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. If you happen to be the proud parent of a new bundle of joy, or have a best bud who’s expecting, it’s time to introduce that little babe to the good life with an infant seat she’ll simply love. Bloom’s limited edition coco rosso rocker may be designed for a baby, but it definitely has grown-up appeal. We love that it looks as comfortable as it feels, thanks to a specially designed Plexistyle soft seat. The 5-point harness ensures that your little one stays put, even as she rocks herself to sleep. The coco rosso doesn’t sport any fancy bells and whistles, lights or sounds. If you’re looking for one baby product that fits in with the rest of your contemporary home decor, the coco rosso is it.

In a Nutshell: A sweetheart of a baby gift, the sleek lines of this stylish infant seat make it baby gear you’ll be proud to showcase.

Tags: baby gear, baby rocker, baby shower gift, Bloom, Bloom coco rosso, infant seat, new baby gift

My daughters share a hand-me-down craft table that’s seen its fair share of crafting sessions and tea parties. If the faded marker smudges and discolored tabletop is any indication of its storied past, we know this particular piece of furniture has taken quite a licking over the years. Maybe that’s why we’re intrigued by the Brunswick Play Table. Part of the Pottery Barn Kids Spring 2012 Collection, this good-looking, yet highly functional table is the ideal focal point piece for any spacious  play room. Made from a solid wood construction, it’s designed to withstand years and years of play, from one sibling to the next. The table’s dark finish, poised to hold up to potential craft supply stains, is balanced out by six card catalog-style, rainbow-hued drawers that are generously sized to fit everything from unwieldy poster paper to buttons and beads. There’s plenty of work space for at least four young artists to roll up their sleeves and get busy (and another two spots if leg room isn’t an issue). We think the Brunswick Play Table is so appealing, there’s life for it beyond the play room…perhaps as the perfect spot for an aspiring novelist? Hmmmm…

In a Nutshell: If your family’s play room is due for a make-over this spring, let this conversation piece from Pottery Barn Kids take center stage and prove its worth.

Tags: kids' craft table, kids' furnishings, play room furniture, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Kids Spring Collection

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

Happy (almost) 2012! If you’ll be welcoming a new arrival into your family this year, chances are you may be registering for baby bedding. And if this isn’t your first child, you may already be familiar with the potential health risks associated with crib bumpers. They may look pretty, but are deemed unsafe by the American Academy of Pediatrics with regards to SIDS prevention . That being said, any bedding set that can pull off the look of a complete bedding ensemble–minus the actual bumpers–gets a nod in our book. Skip Hop’s Complete Sheet Collection is just that product, offering a bold printed sheet whose design extends to the mattress sides and features a contrasting pattern on top. Finished with linen piping, the 100-percent cotton, 200-thread count sheet achieves the look of a bumper without having one in place. Now there’s no need to worry about your newborn becoming entangled in her sheets. And that means a more restful night’s sleep for the both of you.

In a Nutshell: It’s a ban on bumpers; this sheet set makes great strides in bedding for babies that is both safe and stylish.

Tags: American Academy of Pediatrics, baby bedding, crib bumpers, crib safety, crib sheets, SIDS prevention, Skip Hop, Skip Hop Complete Sheet Collection

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

You’ll never catch me carving up a pumpkin. The closest I get to making faces out of food is limited to a fruit plate of banana eyes, a grape nose and a orange slice mouth. (My nickname wasn’t “Fruit” for nothin’!). But because I still love to decorate for Halloween, we invest in equally festive (and not as messy) alternatives: inflatable ghosts, flickering electronic candles and tons of wall decorations. We think WallCandy Art’s  Design Your Own Pumpkin Kit is a great addition to this year’s pumpkin patch. Little goblins who love to help decorate, but aren’t keen on getting their fingers in pumpkin goop will be able to let their creative juices flow, mess-free. This set of easy-on, adhesive decals includes 3 pumpkins, 35 parts to create eyes and mouths, 6 bats and 16 candy corn pieces. Perfect for a Halloween party activity for the kiddies or for your own home decorating, this kit will let you create some boo-tiful scenery. So when Halloween rolls around, I’ll leave the knife-wielding creativity to my husband who can make a thing of beauty out of simple gourd. Meanwhile, I’ll just sit back and raid the kids’ trick-or-treat bags…

In a Nutshell: Leave your Butterfingers in the candy bowl where they belong, and stick to a safe way for decorating this Halloween. Happy Haunting!

Tags: Halloween, Halloween decorations, kids' Halloween activity, pumpkin carving alternatives, WallCandy Arts

When you’re looking to buy something for a girlfriend and her little one, you inevitably wind up making more than one trip to the mall. Now that school has begun and we moms are more time-pressed than usual, we can appreciate a shopping destination that has it all. Enter Layla Grace, an online boutique that recognizes your discriminating taste for gifts that make lasting impressions. Stocked with everything from baby bedding to bubble bath, you’ll find no shortage of ideas for new arrivals, new moms in need of pampering and new homes that beg to be outfitted in style. In our quest for quality merchandise, we were particularly pleased by the Matteo line of linens for the nursery and the dining room (those linen napkins will be the piece de resistance on your holiday table). We’ve no doubt you’ll find something worth savoring.

In a Nutshell: An easy order to fill: gift-giving that doesn’t sacrifice style for convenience. We’ll take two, please.

Tags: baby bedding, baby gifts, Layla Grace

Last month, we told you about the Nursery Designer tool from Carousel Designs that lets you create a customized room design for your little one that you can visualize before committing to a specific style. Well, now the good folks at Carousel Designs have partnered with Natural Mat to offer a contest that helps you get started on those nursery furnishing purchases. From now until February 4, you can enter to win a Carousel Designs Organic Lime Scroll 4-piece bedding set and a Natural Mat Coco Mat organic crib mattress. Simply visit Carousel Designs’ Facebook page and “like” both Carousel Designs and Natural Mat. Deadline is 12 midnight EST on February 4. Good luck!

Tags: Awesome Organics giveaway, baby products giveaway, Carousel Designs, Natural Mat

When my husband decided to paint my older daughter’s nursery, it was a nightmare. Her room, which was a makeshift office for the previous home owner, had peeling, faded floral wallpaper and carpeting that had seen better days. Forget trying to imagine how cheery it would look once he redesigned it in a celestial motif of yellows and blues; you really had to be creative to picture that new layout amidst this dated space. For parents-to-be who can’t quite figure on how a bedding/paint ensemble will appear in their little one’s new home, consider the Nursery Designer tool from Carousel Designs. This interactive site lets you choose from over 300 fabrics and customize color options in bedding and wall space before committing to a specific style. Not sure if the love birds printed bumper will mesh well with a yin yang hue? Check it out virtually and you’ll see for yourself. We love the drag-and-drop ease of making fabric selections and then seeing them come to life in a nursery setting onscreen. If you relish the details, you’ll really go for the extras, like opting for bumpers with or without trim or choosing a floor stain. Then, once you’re set on a design, you save it and hold on to for future use–a great memento for your baby book.

In a Nutshell: Envisioning a nursery design doesn’t have to be an agonizing decision. Embrace your inner interior decorator and have a ball as you consider your options for your new bundle of joy. Stay tuned for a Design Your Own Baby Bedding contest, coming soon…

Tags: Benjamin Moore paints, Carousel Designs, design your own nursery, nursery design