JOHNNY WALKER
Help Junior take a step in the right direction with Bobux. Made from super-soft eco-leather, these tootsie toppers do more than just up the cuteness quotient, they entertain and engage little ones with a fun design (facing in their direction), allow feet to function and grow without restrictions and actually stay on. Check out their next-stage i-Walk Junior and i-Walk lines for support—and style—in the next phases of development.
($26.50 for Bobux Original, www.bobuxusa.com)
SHOW OF HANDS
Those little things that you do for yourself during your pregnancy can make the difference between tolerating the itchy belly, swollen ankles, sciatica and sleepless nights and being tormented by them. Translation: Manis and pedis are a must—as long as you’re using nontoxic nail polish. The sensational shades (12 fun colors) from Polished Mama are DBP- (a chemical known to cause birth defects) and odor-free. Bonus: They’ve also got an all-natural coconut and lemongrass-scented nail polish remover made with a blend of soybean and corn oils and aloe vera for extra nail and cuticle TLC.
($6.99 for Polished Mama Nail Polish and $5.99 for Polished Mama Moisturizing Remover, www.polishedmama.com)
Hands—and feet—free Click here to win a bottle of Polished Mama Nail Polish
BOOTY CALL
Looking for a classic new-baby gift with a high “awww” factor? These hand-knit booties in soft yellow baby cashmerino yarn are high quality enough to make a good impression, affordable enough to make your mainstay welcome present and sweet enough to make new parents do the wide-eyed, open-mouthed inhalation of breath that comes with getting just the right little something.
($18, Baby Cashmerino Hand Knitted Socks, www.wellasbaby.com)
A SENSE OF BELONGING
With summer around the corner, it’s time to be label-conscious. Whether it’s for camp, the beach club or a playdate, a bounty of gear is required during these dog days—and it can get expensive! Help Junior hang onto his personal items (and you to your hard-earned cash) with the waterproof, dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and UV-resistant personalized labels from Stuck on You. Their Endless Summer line brings a touch of old-school cool to an otherwise sticky situation.
($23.95, Endless Summer Labels, www.stuckonyou.biz)
ANIMAL HOUSE
Got kids home for spring break? (Read: Kids are climbing the walls and you’re considering pouring yourself a glass of wine.) Pop in a copy of Open Season, the animated action-adventure about a domesticated grizzly bear (and no, we’re not talking about your husband) whose world goes topsy-turvy when he meets a fast-talking mule deer. Hijinks ensue when the odd couple leaves the cushy life for the great outdoors. The rated-PG flick (it’s a tad bit slick and not for the toddler set) is the perfect rainy-day sanity saver.
($13.49, www.amazon.com)
SNUG LIFE
These hand-sewn baby blankets foster all the quality and coziness of an heirloom. Mémère Blankets are a tradition started by its founder’s great-grandmother, who made cuddly cover-ups for her 150 great-grandchildren. Today, Sue, her great-granddaughter, has taken the familial craft online with the hopes of giving this generation and generations to come years of warmth and security at an affordable price.
($22.95, Baby Blanket, www.memereblankets.com)
WE CAN BE HEROES
Looking for good role models for your little ones (ages 4 to 8)? Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy are here to save the day—or night, as it usually is—with their eponymous book. With a tale designed to teach kids how to work together, use their imaginations and have fun, this empowering and entertaining tome makes for smarter bedtime reading that your kids will love—and that won’t bug the you-know-what out of you.
($11.55, www.amazon.com)
Get buggy with it Click here to win a copy of Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy
