I happened to find myself “window shopping” in a super pricey, albeit totally chic, brick and mortar baby store the other day.  I discovered two things (although the first I already knew, but reminders are ALWAYS useful):  (1) you generally get so much MORE bang for the buck when you shop online, and (2) there are some uber cool play baby photo albums (a.k.a. developmental photo toys) on the market.

Wondering why you’d ever give your baby a chewable photo album toy?  Well, for development purposes for starters.  Baby friendly photo albums or toys help baby develop familiarity with the displayed faces.  Baby and Mom (Dad, Grandma or the sitter) will find endless joy in playing “who’s that?” or peek-a-boo–and of course, in watching baby give ”kisses” to her favorite photos.  Photo albums or toys also encourage baby talk and giggles.  Colors, designs, and textures also captivate baby’s interest.

baby-Wise.com has a fabulous selection of baby photo albums, toys and cubes.   

Like this one, the Hello Baby Photo Cube by Sassy ($11.49), which introduces baby to fun noises when photos are pressed.  

And this one, the Whoozit Photo Album by Manhattan Toy ($15.95), which holds 5 4×6 images and has special flaps for peek-a-boo fun.

Need to calm a fussy baby ASAP?  Here’s what you need: a baby-friendly necklace.  A necklace is the ultimate master of distraction and provider of baby comfort, offering endless hours of quiet play and visual and tactile stimulation. 

Nursing and teething necklaces are the latest in Mommy essentials.  The concept of baby-attention grabbing necklaces is far from new, but today’s designs are totally cool–and even baby-safe.  Whether you need keep your squirmy little one focused during nursing sessions or keep her occupied during quiet times (e.g., church), a necklace is the perfect solution.  Think of a necklace as a gift for two–although remember these necklaces really are intended for adults, but designed to withstand kid play.  Also, if you’re looking for a baby shower gift, think of a necklace as the ultra-cool gift.

While you can certainly find nursing or teething necklaces for mom in retail stores, nothing quite compares to the online selection.  Not sure where to start your shopping? Here are a few online picks:

1.  Smart Mom sells “pretty and practical” Teething Bling.  These necklaces are phthalate-free, non-toxic, food-safe and even dishwasher-safe!  According to Smart Mom’s website, Teething Bling is popular with celebrity parents.

2.  Mommy Necklaces.  Offering affordable, attractive tear-drop styled necklaces for mom. 

3.  Mt. Diaper Store.  Check out the line of natural, beautiful amber teething necklaces.  Classically European.   

4.  Etsy.  Check out Etsy, the online shop for all things homemade.  You’re sure to find some beautiful necklace designs.

Do you use a teething or nursing necklace with your baby? If so, give us the scoop.  Has it been a sanity saver?

Christmas Eve is upon us.  If your day entails last-minute Christmas shopping, e-cards (or e-certificates) make perfect gifts.  E-cards get high marks for convenience, too–instead of dealing with traffic today, sit back and relax in front of your computer, and discover the easy way to check off those final names on your gift giving list.

It wasn’t until sometime after my second child was born that it dawned on me that children love textures, especially rubbing their fingers against soft, silky, or smooth fabrics.  Initially, I thought my kids’ interest in playing with certain fabrics was unique.  But, then I discovered plush toys with attached mini blankets and products similar to “Taggies,” Cuddle Cover Blankets, and HubbaCub Security Blankets on the market.  These products are specifically designed to offer infant and toddler tactile comfort–think cozy and chic security blankets!

Security blankets make great gifts for young children.  Perfect for the baby-to-be, infant, or toddler.  Besides providing companionship and calming fussy children, security blanket products are typically designed to retain “mom’s scent”–giving children added comfort when mom is away.

When I stumble across my kids’ security blankets, I have such beautiful memories of them snuggling with their blankets.  Security blankets are the ultimate keepsakes–the rare treasures that I plan to hold onto forever–at least until my children have children of their own.

Does your child have a security blanket?  If so, do you think it has positively impacted your child’s development?

Today while stuck in traffic, I noticed that the vehicle in front of me had a license plate that read “Elf” followed by a number.  I couldn’t help but chuckle.  Could this have been one of Santa’s elves, perhaps running errands on Santa’s behalf? 

I’ve been feeling a little Elf-ish lately, particularly as I put the finishing touches on my gift giving.  I’ve done so much wrapping lately that I just dread the idea of wrapping any more gifts.  At this point, should I have forgotten anyone on my list, e-gift cards are the only gifts I’m willing to give (and, it’s not too late to give them)!  Thankfully, though, my kids are old enough now to help out with gift wrapping–and boy, do they ever to want to help out!  Little fingers are great for holding pre-cut pieces of tape.  They also are great for holding ribbon before the final tie!  When they help me out, I really feel like we’re our own team of elves. Obviously, if I were to wrap gifts alone, I’d be much more efficient, but there’s no substitute for that elf-ish laughter and silliness.

Not all parents enjoy having their little ones around when they wrap gifts.  Do you mind wrapping presents with your little ones?

Pressed for affordable gift ideas for that little one in your life?  Here are 5 great gifts for tots: 

1.  Pony or Unicorn Stick.  Sure, playing with the broom is fun, but not nearly as much fun as the real thing.

2.  Bubbles.  What kid doesn’t love bubbles and bubble accessories, like a gigantic wand or bubble mower?

3.  Planes, trains, and automobiles!  Most little guys and gals alike love playing with pint-sized toy vehicles.  Mom and dad (and grandma, too), will appreciate the entertainment value–just pack a couple of vehicles in a diaper bag and pull out when needed to keep the little one occupied!

4.  Shape Sorters.  A classic, must-have gift.  Melissa & Doug makes terrific sorting toys.  Chicco and Sassy also make educational and fun sorters.

5.  Puppets.  Kids love puppet play, especially when they get to watch a show by Mom or Dad.  Finger puppets are a sure crowd pleaser!  

If you’re in search of safety-tested toys or simply curious whether an item you want to buy or have already purchased has been tested, check out HealthyToys.org. 

Several nonprofit environmental health groups, including Washington Toxics Coalition and the Center for Environmental Health, have come together to test toys.  The result is a searchable list of 1,200 tested toys.  You can search by toy name, brand or toy type.      

A friend asked me the other day, “so, is your preschooler into Barbie, yet?”  My gut reaction:  what on Earth do you mean by yet?  Yet assumes living in a Barbie World (thanks, Aqua) is inevitable.  First off, I don’t think the Barbie phase is inevitable.  But, back to the question.  The answer is yes.  My preschooler has just started to show interest in Barbie.

I realize the word “Barbie” alone can stir up the liveliest of debates among parents, especially moms.  Some draw the line at Barbie.  Others say, “what’s the harm?”  Still others lie somewhere in between–”maybe one or two dolls, but forget the dream house and hundreds of accessories.” 

As much as I’d like my preschooler to remain interested in her natural and simple wood Ryan’s Room dollhouse and miniature Waldorf-inspired wood people,  I can’t deny that she’s losing interest in favor of Barbie and the KidKraft line of dollhouses (which by the way, are quite dreamy) that accommodate Barbie (and like sized) dolls.  Oh, in case you’re wondering, she doesn’t watch much t.v.–and when she does, it’s commercial free.

Please help me out here.  What’s the going age for Barbie?  When does life in plastic begin?  When does it end? 

If you really want to rock that breastfeeding mom’s world this holiday, I have some great ideas for you–affordable ones, too.  These gifts are sure to make her happy.  And, what she might just love even more is the message behind the gifts:  that you support her decision to breastfeed.

Scarf.  Scarves are not only trendy this season, but they double as “emergency” cover-ups while nursing in public.  Of course, she’s also bound to appreciate a true nursing cover.

Nursing Bra.  There is nothing quite like wearing a nice bra, especially when it comes to nursing bras.

Nursing Necklace.  Nursing necklaces are designed to keep babies focused while breastfeeding.  Necklaces are soothing play toys.  They also offer babies visual and tactile stimulation.

Nursing Pillow.  Nursing pillows are multi-functional–a huge hit among breastfeeding mothers.

Nursing Stool.  Nursing stools allow mom to get comfortable while nursing–something that’s not always easy to do. 

Breastfeeding compatible carrier or sling.  If there’s one product on the market that makes breastfeeding easier, it simply has to be a nursing sling–one that allows a mom to easily, and even discreetly, nurse on the go.  The secret lies in finding a quality and comfortable sling.  Of course, a hip and trendy carrier is good, too–after all, breastfeeding shouldn’t mean foregoing style!

Every parent knows all about bad toys. I’m not talking about the kind of toy that gets recalled because it’s bad in the unhealthy or dangerous sense. I’m talking about the toy that is bad because it drives you absolutely insane. Be it the noise. Be it the appearance. Be it the fact that it drives your child insane, which then only further pushes you to (or over) the edge.

I vividly remember the first bad toy to enter my life as a parent. I still cringe when I think about it. To make matters worse, I’m the one responsible for inflicting the pain on myself. I purchased the toy. On an impulse, I bought what looked like a cute and innocent little steering wheel–kind of like those lil’ driver toys, minus the classic features like a turning key and stick shift. It looked just perfect for entertaining my baby, who was then around nine months old.

What I didn’t realize when I bought the toy was that it made more than just typical car sounds. The toy also randomly belted out–in the most annoying, high pitched voice–expressions, like let’s go driver. The slightest movement was enough to get the toy talking! I learned this when I hit a bump while driving away from the store (by the way, the toy startled me so much that I immediately hit the break, thinking, turn around, take that thing back to the store–but I didn’t).

The toy never stopped irritating me. It even seemed to irritate my baby. Visitors even thought it was annoying.

That toy now sits in the closet. Way in the back. I simply can’t get rid of it. It reminds me that there are too many wonderful toys on the market to have to suffer through bad toys. Of course, I could always donate it to charity, but how could I live knowing that I inflicted a bad toy on another family?

‘Tis the time of year when bad toys are on the brain. Or, at least will be once the kids tear off that wrapping paper.

So, what’s your bad toy story? Has a bad toy made you a more conscious toy shopper?