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CLOTH MINDED
Teach your kids about good manners and saving the environment all in one fell wipe, courtesy of Fabkins. These absolutely adorable cloth napkins, available in designs ranging from the girly Prima Ballerina to the playful Beach Bound to the super-cool Extreme Sports, are a must-have part of any breakfast on the go, waste-free lunch, dinner in the dining room, picnic at the park and even goody bag when given as a party favor, plus they give Generation Next the chance to be green on a day-to-day basis. See, it is easy.
($22.95 for a set of five, www.fabkins.com)
WELL-SEASONED
This fabulous 40-week frock from maternity wear tastemaker Olian keeps your look cool in the summer and hot in the winter. Dressed up with a pair of heels or down with sandals and wearable from the first to the fourth trimester, this head-turning dress in a stunning royal purple (though they call it Persian Blue) gives as much bang for your buck as it does bang for your bump.
($96, Olian Lycra Kimono Dress, www.belliesandblossoms.com)
THE BUTTS HAVE IT
If there were any one item that summed up the sugar and spice of our daughters, it would be the RuffleButt Diaper Cover. Paired with a peasant top, donned underneath a summer dress or worn on its own, this 100 percent cotton knit bloomer, available in many delicious colors, takes the cake for cute and reminds us to thank heaven for little girls.
($17, www.rufflebutts.com)
SERVICE WITH A SMILE
Make mealtime about more than just scarfing down the mac-and-cheese with these inspiring, earth-friendly plates from Smiling Planet. These well-designed dishes serve up a message of happiness, hope, peace and love with enough whimsy to capture the imagination of even the smallest diner. Plus, they’re free of BPA, phthalates, lead and toxic ink, as well as very affordable, making them an eco-smart way to introduce your kids to the green life. Be sure to check out their matching place mats, posters and other eco-chic essentials, too.
($12.99, www.smilingplanet.net)
PROTECT AND SERVE
Banana chunks, mushed-up muffin bits, yogurt splatters and seemingly endless laundry got you down? Save your baby’s clothes—and your sanity—with DaBib. This waterproof wonder-bib is easily wipable, sports a patented Scrunch Neck that minimizes food and drink leakage (and stains and having to change your kid one, two, three, four times a day), and a reversible crumb catcher (no, that’s not what the floor is for). Available in DaHugs and DaGiggles styles and a variety of appealing patterns and colors, these nontoxic and lead-free mealtime companions will keep your kids covered from infancy through to the toddler years thanks to their extra-large hourglass shape. Phew!
($12.99, www.dabib.com)
ART STARS
Announcing your go-to gift for family members: note cards made from your kids’ artwork. This customizable line from RUVAcards does double duty by delivering big on the requisite “aww” factor of any child-created keepsake and giving your loved ones something they can actually use. Just e-mail a scan of your budding Picasso’s masterpiece to orders@ruvacards.com and you’ve got a meaningful gift sent straight from the heart. Write on!
($31, www.ruvacards.com)
WEAR ME OUT
Tote Baby about in this chic Mei Tai from Baby Hawk. These comfortable carriers, modeled after the traditional Chinese version, can hold your wee one on your front, back or even hip thanks to a special design that distributes weight evenly. Simple to strap on and available in a variety of pretty patterns, this new-baby essential is durable and reliable, allowing mother and child to step out in style without sacrificing safety.
($80, www.simplyslings.com)
AWESOME BLOSSOM
Send a message that your friends and family will dig, literally. The cards and stationery from Botanical Paperworks are plantable—yes, plantable!—and produce blooms of wildflowers. It’s the gift that keeps on giving and is guaranteed to make an impression without too much of a carbon footprint.
(Prices vary, www.botanicalpaperworks.com)
EXTREME ROOM MAKEOVER
Okay, so maybe extreme is too strong of a word. How about affordable? Yes, that works. And so do easy and cool. These unique drawer knobs are an (here we go) affordable, easy and cool way to make over your little one’s room. Whether he’s going from nursery to big-kid space or it’s just time for a change, these pleasing pulls, featuring hand-painted giraffes, princess crowns, lions, leopard print and more, punch up Junior’s dresser, taking it from old and boring to knockout with the simple turn of the screw.
($60 for a set of eight or $8 per knob, www.allabouttots.com)
KNEED BE
Paging Janet Jackson: Our littles are biting your style circa 1991—and it is just about the cutest thing we’ve ever seen. Spare your newly mobile baby from the redness, cuts and carpet burn with these no-slip knee pads from Snazzy Baby. Adjustable, machine washable and durable, they’ll protect your mini-movers without hindering their ability to engage with their environment. Kneeto!
($19.99, Crawling Knee Pads, www.mamasandmunchkins.com)
MAT LOOK
Have baby, will travel—if you have this versatile padded mat in your trunk. Perfect for everything from tummy time to Mommy and Me classes to an impromptu afternoon at the beach, this on-the-go essential is easy to clean, made in the USA and comes in 16 stylized patterns, including cherries, transit and owls. A great gift for your friends—and yourself—it’s a much-needed accessory (yes, shoes are out, mats are in) for your life in the ’hood—motherhood, that is.
($52, Play Travel Mat by Cricket & Monkey, www.starlooksboutique.com)
