The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: Breast-Feeding Essentials

You’ll Love It Because: High-quality information and products are what The Care Connection is known for—the experienced staff will help you choose the supplies and equipment you need, and they’ll keep following up to make sure your breast-feeding experience is a smooth one.

Check This Out: Everything you could want to help you breastfeed is on this site (think: nursing pillows, bras, swimsuits, covers and more), but don’t miss the Medela pumps and accessories—top-of-the-line products that are safe and comfortable for moms and babies. Rent or purchase a range of pumps, from those for occasional use to hospital-grade ones, to suit your situation.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: Classes galore. If you’re in the Western New York area, you can take one of the classes from The Care Connection, which features Infant & Child CPR, Return to Work/Pump for Success, Language and Learning Together, Childbirth Education, Infant Massage and more.z

Contact: www.careconnectiononline.com, 877.639.0300

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: Bedding For Boys

You’ll Love It Because: Little girls used to have all the luck when it came to bedding—pinks and frills and lace, oh my!—but after one grandma discovered the dearth in quality options for boys, she launched Just Boys Bedding. Now the little rascals can have style and durability surrounding them as they sleep.

Check This Out: The tween bedding. Guys limboing between boyhood and teendom can be tough to buy for, and figuring out what kind of bedroom theme will suit your not-so-little-but-still-kind-of-little boy is a challenge. Thankfully, Just Boys Bedding has amassed a nice collection of bedding that will suit, the 10-, 11- or 12-year-old you’ve got running around. It’s worth looking at this section if you have younger boys, too, as you may be able to snag something that will take his bedding from elementary to middle school with ease.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: It’s all pretty cool, but some of the standouts are the bolder prints, like the Soccer Boys Quilt and Pillow Sham Set (the vibrant green is fun and inspires us to want to go out and run a couple of laps) and the Pirate Treasure Quilt Set (ahoy, matey!).

Contact: www.justboysbedding.com, 407.687.8802

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: baby gear with a personal stamp

You’ll Love It Because: Two grandmas who wanted only the best for their pride-and-joy grandkids weren’t finding what they were looking for—so they started an online boutique that would carry just the kind of products they wanted: unique, durable and personalized.

A Gift Worth Giving: A car seat cover. When it comes to car seats, safety is the No. 1 priority, but once you’ve got that down, why not add a little pizzazz to a kiddo’s main mode of transportation? Parents-to-be will go ga-ga for a design that brightens the backseat.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: The wide selection of fabulous shopping cart covers. Mommy will love knowing that Baby is protected from germs when he or she is sitting pretty in one of these luxurious and comfortable covers. Fashion-meets-function bonus: The chic designs do double duty as highchair covers too.

Contact: www.namelynewborns.com, 800.709.0045

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: maternity bodysuits

You’ll Love It Because: No woman wants to expose her pregnant belly and lower back because her shirt keeps creeping up. Maternity fashions have changed with the times, and if she needs something to go with those low-rise jeans and designer track pants that won’t show off more than she intended, a Bashful Bump bodysuit has her covered.

A Gift Worth Giving: The camisole bodysuit. Versatile enough to wear on its own or under all kinds of tops and dresses, this one-piece wardrobe must will keep her comfy and modestly chic.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: The three-quarter sleeve bodysuit is a great option for colder months and works nicely for layering without the creepage that comes from undershirts. It also looks great alone—just throw on a statement necklace and you’re ready to rock.

Contact: www.bashfulbump.com, 650.270.8525

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: everything you need for nine months and beyond

You’ll Love It Because: Two moms who’ve thrived in the realm of natural parenting started meeting more moms and realized that not everyone has the birthing and breastfeeding experience they want. To help support and empower women in this area, they created Well Born Baby, which offers doula services, childbirth and parenting education, lactation consulting, and an online store with essential pregnancy products.

A Gift Worth Giving: The Belly Bandit, available in Original, Couture (pictured) and Bamboo. Postpartum women swear by this abdominal compression binder, a handy tool in the fight to get one’s pre-baby body back. Among its magical powers, it helps reduce uncomfortable uterine swelling, aids in decreasing bloating caused by water retention, and gives additional support for tired legs and backs.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: Ritzy Nurser. This eco-friendly nursing cover doubles as a fashion-forward cape with its feminine shape, decorative buckle and silky bamboo lining. A rigid neckline lets mom maintain eye contact with baby, while the antibacterial and UV-protective bamboo material is ideal for burping on the go.

Contact: www.wellbornbaby.com, 610.551.9398

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: pregnancy and postpartum must-haves

You’ll Love It Because: Everything Birth is run by a mom who’s been there. She’s delivered three children at home but also spent plenty of time in a hospital (one of her children was born with a rare liver disease), so she understands the place of both natural childbirth and medicine in our lives, and above all, advocates for birth choices. With the Everything Birth website, she brings together all the products that support a healthy pregnancy, birth experience and postpartum recovery, plus items for baby.

A Gift Worth Giving: Cloth diapers. With a ton of great brands—like bumGenius, FuzziBunz, Thirsties and Happy Heinys—there’s sure to be a good fit for the moms who want to diaper the less costly way (to the environment and their wallets). If you’re stuck on which option’s best, call Everything Birth and they’ll talk you through it.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: The Birth Kits. With over 150 options, custom made by Everything Birth or assembled by participating midwives around the country, the home birth kits are just the coolest. Complete with everything moms-to-be need to deliver at home, including Welcome Birth Certificate, newborn hat, gauze, umbilical clamp and more, these key kits are a meaningful and supportive (not to mention useful) gift to give a gal pal whose planning for a home birth.

Contact: www.everythingbirth.com, 800.370.1683

20% off with code GROOVEMAMA20

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: herbal care products for pregnancy and baby care

You’ll Love It Because: Pregnancy and birth may be beautiful things, but they’re not always the most comfortable. Enter Earth Mama Angel Baby, a company known for its vegan, organic products that keep both moms and babies soothed. Sore nipples, queasiness, episiotomy pain? Anything that’s ailing her can be made better by their healing balms, sprays, teas and more.

A Gift Worth Giving: The A Little Something for Mama-to-Be box comes wrapped with a bow and is way more than just pretty packaging (although that’s great, too!). The products include Happy Feet, an herbal foot soak for swollen tootsies; Natural Stretch Oil, a lightly scented oil that prevents stretch marks; and Mint Herbal Lip Balm for a silky-smooth kisser.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: Happy Mama Body Wash is organic bliss in a bottle, Earth Mama Body Butter silkens stretching skin, and Organic Morning Wellness Tea takes away that there’s-a-gymnastics-routine-going-on-in-my-belly feeling. You can’t go wrong with anything you get her here—and when mama’s happy, everyone’s happy!

Contact: www.earthmamaangelbaby.com, 503.607.0607

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: diaper cakes

You’ll Love It Because: Each cake is handmade upon order and can be customized any way you’d like it. Only quality brand-name “ingredients”—like Pampers, Gerber, Carter’s and Johnson & Johnson—are used, all of which serve a decorative and useful purpose.

A Gift Worth Giving: The 4-Tier Tushie Cake is the Cadillac of diaper cakes with all the bells and whistles you could want, including 110 to 115 diapers, a hooded towel, three onesies, a plush toy, baby bath products and much more. It’s almost too cute to take apart, but once she does, she’ll thank you all over again for the totally useful gift.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: The Bliss Baby Bouquet. Everything will come up smelling like roses if you gift this 20-piece baby layette of three onesies, three caps, three pairs of mittens, three pairs of socks, three washcloths and three burp cloths all wrapped in a flannel-soft receiving blanket and a hooded towel. Now that’s flower power.

Contact: www.blisscakesboutique.com, 301.442.7870

15% off with code TFG15

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: personalized gifts and custom embroidery

You’ll Love It Because: As someone who’s always searching for a great gift, the mother-of-two owner of My Embroidered Gifts passes on her fabulous finds to you, adding personalization to the presents so you can gift something that won’t soon be forgotten.

A Gift Worth Giving: Happy Blankies personalized baby blanket. The ear-to-ear grin of the animals on these blankets will mirror the grin any recipient will get upon seeing them. Get it in a dog, pig, frog or bear variety, all made with plush minky fabric and silky charmeuse satin. Add an embroidered name at no additional cost. Something else to smile about: With each blanket sold, a blanket is given to a child in need.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: The Mommy Measure. This pregnancy growth chart and journal is unlike any other, allowing expectant mommies to mark how far along they are on the measuring tape with a heart, then write down their thoughts around that time for a fun record of pregnancy milestones.

Contact: www.myembroideredgifts.com, 800.990.1658

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: diaper bags, baby gifts and baby apparel

You’ll Love It Because: Good gifting can be a tough talent to come by, but Elisewear makes it easy, offering a fresh, fun store filled with precious presents. The selection is especially good for baby gift baskets, baby layettes and gift sets, posh diaper bags, and cute burp cloth sets.

A Gift Worth Giving: Storsak Tania Diaper Bag. With a space age sensibility aesthetics-wise and a practicality grounded in the here and now, this diaper bag is one she definitely won’t mind toting as she shuttles to and fro. The roomy, lightweight best-seller features a waterproof finish, four outer pockets, built-in stroller straps, a padded changing mat, a thermo-insulated bottle holder and multiple inner pockets, giving her the space for everything she needs to traverse town—if not other galaxies—in style.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: Breckins Camel Leather Diaper Bag. Becoming a mom may change your life, but it doesn’t mean becoming a different person—she can keep that pre-baby rocker edge with this tattoo-inspired diaper bag. She’ll rock and roll with this cream-colored carryall, which comes with a changing pad, baby wipe holder and a private zippered pocket for personal belongings. Rock on.

Contact: www.elisewear.com

The Place to Scoop Up the Best In: beautifully designed, environmentally conscious products you can’t get just anywhere

You’ll Love It Because: Representing six amazing brands from around the world, Scandinavian Child brings some of the best kids’ products out there to North American parents. Their “designs without compromise” philosophy means items must meet strict criteria for style, safety, function, eco-friendliness and quality.

A Gift Worth Giving: Béaba Babycook. This countertop appliance does everything you could ask of it, steaming, blending, warming and defrosting veggies, fruits and meats to prepare fresh, healthy meals for baby. Save the condensed water that results from steaming to add essential nutrients back into baby’s foodstuffs. You’ll get an unbreakable bowl, cooking basket, spatula and recipe booklet to create gourmet cuisine for a lucky little one.

Something Else You’ll Think Is Cool: The Micralite Toro stroller. A stroller that folds easily and maneuvers precisely is something every mom could use, and this high-design one fits the bill exactly. It comes with an air pump, an all-weather hood, a foot muff, a zip-on rain cover, a flip-out sun visor and plenty of other nice-to-have features, with perhaps the best of all being a sliding seat unit that goes from full recline or upright seating.

Contact: www.scichild.com, 866.782.6222