When looking for a gift for baby, it’s a good idea to have a variety of things for them to play with. I know I got caught up in buying a lot of interactive and educational toys for my son when he was very young.They provided the mental stimulation I was looking for and they were fun as well. It’s also good to have something’s that offers physical activity and that’s why Baby Einstein Animal Exploration Tunnel is tops on my list as a great gift to give for Christmas. (Or any time for that matter)

This is a lovely and safe way for little ones to explore their world.  A crawling baby will hear the sound of softly crunching leaves as she ventures through this soft sided tunnel and she’ll come across a variety of her favorite items like a chirping red bird, animal photo cards even a water filled apple tether. Because this tunnel consists of sheer paneled mesh windows, your baby will feel secure in the fact that she can see you and hear you. 

Young children of all developmental stages will benefit from this terrific toy and I bet this would be a wonderful gift for a child with special needs, too.

If you’re shopping for a newborn, Baby Einstein offers a similar product for those that are not yet mobile. (Baby Einstein Activity Gym Seek And Discover)  

Though the Mozart effect study is under fire…does early exposure to classical music REALLY help baby brain development? I’m not sure but, listening to classical music from an early age certainly gets them used to it…maybe they will prefer it to whatever outlandish music is popular when they are teens some day.

So, why not add a Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube to your holiday gift list? It’s one musical toy that won’t drive you nuts listening to it over and over and over.

I always recommend limiting electronic toys, but a few are fine if they are interactive, which this one is. Watch your child add or subtract instruments with the touch of a button including harp, flute, piano French horn and violin) and they can compose up to eight different songs to dance along to….OK- maybe compose is too strong a word…but you know how babies love buttons.

This would also be an inspiring gift to wrap up and place in your local charity’s giving tree for needy children at Christmastime. Or recommend it to that grandparent, uncle or friend who just has to buy something noisy for your child.

The sturdy design means it won’t end up in the trash pile anytime soon either.

With fall arriving in just a few short weeks, I thought I would share with you some of the top Halloween costumes for kids. (From Pricegrabber, of course.)

Baby Nemo Clown Fish: How cute is this? It’s perfect for a chilly October night, as it acts like a bunting and fastens snugly in the back to keep your baby cozy and warm.

Peter Pan: I like costumes that are different and original and let’s face it, kids won’t let you pick out their costumes forever! (For babies’ eighteen to twenty four months)

We like Pirates in my house, and this is about as classic as you can get.  What’s great about this costume is that it really is gender neutral.

Baby Ice Cream Cone: So yummy you’ll want to take a lick. They’ll probably get extra treats for wearing this winner. (Back closure makes diaper changing a snap.)

Princess White Velvet Native American Princess: Pre-teen girls will appreciate this costume, especially if they are into the American Girl dolls or books.

Cherokee Warrior: This impressive costume will complement Princess White Velvet beautifully. (That is, if your daughter will let her brother trick or treat with her!)

Ben Franklin Historical Halloween: For the intellectual child that wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a pirate costume.  This unique costume could win your kid a prize!

Chewbacca: Star Wars is still popular after all these years and again, it’s gender friendly.

Cowgirl: For the tomboy (girl), there’s nothing like the wild, Wild West!

Finally, a Princess:  Every little girl who dreams of being one. (I might be one myself this year!)

As I was cleaning out my freezer the other day, I had to literally pry an ice cube tray off of one of the frozen “whatever they are called” (coils maybe?) This tray was filled with some sort of lumpy solid orange cubes that resembled squash. I know that sounds awful as my kid has not been a baby for quite some time now but the important thing is that I found them, remember?

There has to be a better way to store whatever fresh foods I plan on freezing for later use (As occasionally I do) I thought, so I searched for a better alternative than my old method.

Kid Co makes these fantastic Food Storage Trays, and you’ll find so many uses for them you’ll start collecting them.  What I love about them is they come with a pop-on lid to keep foods safe from freezer burn, and a writing surface so you can easily identify what you put in them. Naturally they are BPA/PHTHALATE Free Plastic so they are safe to freeze and reheat in. If you have a garden, this is a great time to start maybe cooking down some of those veggies you’ve labored over all summer and pop-them in the freezer.

These little cubes can be used later for soups or stews as well as homemade baby food.  I know someone who freezes pumpkin cubes and gives them to her dog every day to help prevent  “scooting” (I am not a vet, so consult your veterinarian before trying this at home.)

Pick up a Kid Co Baby Steps Electric Food Mill for quick and easy preparation.

   When my son was born I thought I was prepared.  I devoured every book I could about childcare, developed a child-rearing plan that I felt would help me bond with my beautiful baby, and on his first day home from the hospital I promptly cut his finger with the baby nail clippers.

The reason I performed this mani-pedi was partly to practice my parenting skills (Oops!) and the other reason was I did not particularly care for the ugly cotton mitts the hospital thrust on his tiny fingers. (Which I promptly put back on those fingers so his father would not see what I accidentally did.)

Well he survived that, luckily. In fact he didn’t even cry (but I did, hormones you know.) These cute little mitts I saw reminded me of that story and I started thinking that if these were available in hospitals, that whole scene never would have happened.

iPlay Green Sprouts Organic Cotton Mitts are a safe way to keep your newborn from scratching themselves.  They slip easily over an infant’s hand and stay put with gentle elasticized tops.  Made from Organic Cotton, they are hypoallergenic and chemical free.  This is important since babies tend to wave their arms around for some reason (hailing a cab or something!) and you don’t want anything near their face that could be harmful to them. I love the bright color, too!

For less than three dollars, you can protect you baby’s delicate skin and leave the manicures to the experts.  (If you are still feeling brave after reading this, I suggest The First Year American Red Cross Sure Grip Nail Clippers.)

I promised some more amazing baby items from this smart and savvy mom, and you won’t be disappointed. Keep in mind the price point for organic cotton is high, except in this case.

Under The Nile uses only the finest Egyptian Cotton, yet their prices are competitive with what you would find in your local department store and in some cases, better.  Plus, you won’t find this brand just anywhere. I was so pleased to come across them and I know you will be too.

Organic Cotton Trouser: Incredibly soft against baby’ skin.  The vibrant color made from all natural vegetable dye adds to the incredible look of these inexpensive little pants.

Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Lap Shoulder Tee: Pair these with the softest trousers ever and you have a simple little outfit that looks great and washes well.  With a roomy shoulder opening, this no fuss top matches everything in baby’s wardrobe. Best to pick up a few.

Organic Cotton Terry Romper: Get them dressed quickly and effortlessly with this one-piece romper from Under The Nile.  Also available in blue, this outfit dries quickly (on a hot summer day!) thanks to its cool and comfy terry lining.

Organic Cotton Loungewear: How cute is this?  We were lucky they even made bathrobes when I was a kid!  This is perfect for those fall evening walks in a stroller or last minute summer dips in the pool.  They’ll be warm and cozy with the attached hood.  Perfect after-bath attire, too

This is just a sampling of some of my favorites that Under The Nile has to offer, but check out the complete collection on Pricegrabber.

One of the top names in kids clothing and accessories that “organic” people know is Under The Nile.

This company was started by a woman whose own children were allergic to many commercial dyes in traditional kids clothing.  Along with her husband, (who by the way is Egyptian, hence the name) they started making their own line of 100 pure Egyptian Cotton clothing and accessories. These are hugely popular with the Hollywood crowd and even regular people like us.

The cotton they use is grown in Egypt and is dyed only with metal-free or vegetable dyes and they operate under the Fair Trade Act to ensure everyone involved in the production of their goods is treated fairly. Unfortunately, my own child has outgrown most of their products but here is one that I think is just terrific.

The Organic Fruit Basket by Under The Nile contains a banana, watermelon, pear and grape all stuffed with and made from certified Organic Cotton. Any baby would enjoy chewing on these “fruits” and you can be sure they are safe to put in their little mouths.  What a great way to teach about healthy eating habits and even introduce new foods to them.

The sweet faces on the fruits and darling braided tote basket for carrying them around in completes this innovative and modern toy. I plan on introducing some more products from Under The Nile to you, but in the meantime consider this customer- top-rated item as one to buy for your own  “little banana.” (Also sold separately Under The Nile Organic Banana Toy)

I like to go to yard sales.  One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, right?

One thing I look for at these sales is toys.  You can often find Legos (like at my sister’s yard sale, thanks for saving them for me sis!) or favorite play figures.

Of course, you’ll want to clean these new treasures before passing them on. I used to fill the sink with some hot water and soap and let them soak for a while, Unfortunately, if your kid is with you they’ll want to get their hands on them right away.

Dapple Toy Cleaner Wipes is a friendly way to solve this little problem.  Packaged in a convenient travel pack, these all-natural wipes are perfect solution for the serious yard sale junkie. Using green technology, these wipes contain baking soda, purified water and essential oils.  The fabric is biodegradable, too.

These wipes are not anti-bacterial they just work like a good old-fashioned hand washing, which is better for a child’s immune system (let’s them build up resistance to some germs now and then) Of course, you’ll want to use these on everything your child comes in contact with from shopping carts to that “gotta have” used toy.

Winner of the iParenting award and the Yahoo Seeds For Success, this is one item you won’t want to leave home without. Look for it in the generous thirty –five-wipe canister or the handy spray.

OK- yes, you could make your own- but sometimes, well, we all need a convenient ready-made solution

  Just this month I was looking through one of my favorite magazines, while waiting in the car for my son to finish camp.  I saw a bottle cover like the one I am about to share with you and I decided to search Pricegrabber to see if I could find it.

Of course, Pricegrabber offered a product that I think has a better design and at a better price.  I recently posted about the importance of not heating or cooling plastic due to the dangers of it. (Here’s to their Health) and this applies to baby bottles, as well.

While everyone knows nursing is best for your baby, it is not for everyone.  Even if you choose to breastfeed there could come a time when you have to give your baby a bottle, and choosing the right one can be confusing.   I recommend that you use glass, as heating and cooling in it is safer than plastic, and they clean and sterilize better.

EvenFlo Classis Cozy Glass Bottle With Sleeve is a three pack of clear glass bottles with colorful silicone sleeves to wear over them. The sleeves protect the glass from shattering if your baby accidentally (or not) throws it on the floor.  What a great idea! The raised finger holds make it easy for baby to grip on to it and it’s made of BPA free material. The sleeves are 100% recyclable, and come in six fashion colors.

These are the only bottles you’ll want to use.

High chairs are a necessary thing.  They rank as one of the top ten items in baby registries.Of course, you’ll need one at home ( StokkeTripp Trapp Chair) that’s well made and will last through more than one kid.  But having one to take on the go is something we don’t always think about. Not all restaurants cater to children so finding a seat for them can be a hassle, not to mention you’ll most likely wipe it down with a pound of baby wipes before placing your baby in it.

I know you have enough stuff to haul with you when leaving the house with a baby, but I see parents with these all the time (we eat out a lot) so they must be pretty darn handy.

The Chicco Hook On Portable Chair is one I like This bright happy chair hooks directly on to the table and relies on a safe three-point harness system to secure your child. Because it is made out of nylon, it’s easy to wipe down after meals or you can throw it in the machine. (Try that with a standard high chair) and folds down for easy transport.

Keep this neat little seat in the car when dropping your child off at the sitter’s or Grandmas (same thing!) Weight limit = 37 lbs.