Whatsa Wagamama?
My mother-in-law spared no opportunity to laud the wondrous and all mighty playpen.
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Jubi: Holy Sheet
Try walking into your local big box store and asking for some solid colored crib sheets. The sales clerk will look at you like you just asked her for some nice razor blades wrapped in barbed wire for your baby to play with.
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The argyle for babies just keeps coming our way in new and fun ways. Like this sunny yellow romper from CMP fave label, Rock On, Little Girls
Needless to say I find it wee bit annoying when kids boutiques have all the rock-themed tees categorized under "boys."
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Hooked On My Baby Not Having Tantrums At Dinner Time
My niece has been telling her parents what she wants using sign language since she was about seven months old.
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The Much Overlooked Turnip Gets Its Literary Due At Last
The Gigantic Turnip, the classic Russian folktale retold by Alexsei Tolstoy with Niamn Sharkey's amazing illustrations, had me at its cover.
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Baby Slings With a Backstory
I'm all for babywearing, and not just because it keeps my baby secure and happy. Frankly, I'm more selfish than that, and slinging my baby frees up my hands so that I can do other things.
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Déglingos: French for Toss the Teddy Bear
I often find myself gravitating towards European stuffed animals. There's something quirky and wonderful about a lot of them them, relative to our own tried and true teddies.
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Cozy Cuts, Now Coming To a Bathtub Near You
One of the happy places for NYC moms is the chain of Cozy's Cuts for Kids, the kind of salon that feels more Peewee's Playhouse than barber shop.
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Happy Birthday, You Little Rat
We're big fans of Chinese zodiac-themed items for unique baby gifts. Although let's face it, this lunar year being the year of the rat doesn't inherently provide as many cute options as say, the year of the monkey.
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Shady Deal
Who Stole The Cheese Factor From the Cookie Jar?
If you've got kids, you've got cookies. Unless you're one of those moms. Oh man, you're not one of those moms, right? Phew.
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All It Takes is One Warm Snap to Send Us All Sandal Shopping
I'm willing to dive into my sandal stash the second the mercury creeps above 50. But since this is my son's first Spring as a walker, I've got no such stash for him to speak of.
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Boys Need Cool Cards Too
You'd think that with all the girlie cards and personalized notes out there that boys would just let their sisters write all their thank-yous for them.
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Childrens Art Meets Night Light
I'm the first to espouse the powers of the night light in helping make bedtime (and those nighttime wakings) easier.
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Clean Up The House, Win 900 Bucks. Sounds Good to Us.
My place is admittedly a mess these days - toys everywhere, clothes hanging from doorknobs, feral animals roaming the halls. So I am probably not the odds-on favorite to win the new Now You See It, Now You Don't storage solution contest
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Cover Me In Luxury
Maybe it's two years of looking at baby blankets in prints with names like "lime disco dot" but some days I'd kill to track down one simple, tasteful classic baby blanket.
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The Tote With the Most
We love when artists continue to outdo themselves, giving us more amazing items to covet and share with you. Take JOY by artist Mel Lim.
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Origami Mommy
I'm all for broadening my daughter's exposure to new cultures (Dora not included), and the art of Origami seemed to be a good way to merge craft time with cultural studies. Unfortunately I was doing all the folding, and the animals ended up looking like she was.
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Pimp My Bugaboo
Living in NYC there's no better stroller for tackling cobblestones, bumping down subway steps and generally looking swanky. It gets way more use than our car, natch - but that also means it is, um...what's that word? Oh yeah. Filthy.
One of These Things Is Not Like the Other
I love books for my kids that are interactive. And I don't mean press a button to activate some evil voice chip which shouts commands like FIND THE LETTER T!
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Dressed to the Nines With Nary a Dorky Bow Tie to Be Found
When it comes to clothing my favorite little punk, 99% of the time the clothing is just not fun or comfortable, and most of the options are as dorky as they are itchy. However, I have recently found one more addition to the 1% club.
You Ask, We Answer: The CMP FAQ
First, we just wanted to thank so many of you for helping us out by answering our Federated Media survey last month. But even more, we wanted to thank you for all the amazing words of support (seriously! We cried!)... ... [More]
Having Conquered the Clavicle, Blend Creations Takes on The Earlobe
I've always believed that a great pair of earrings can make even the most scattered woman look put together, and the new line at Blend Creations fits the bill.
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The Kids Shoe Adoration Continues
Let's continue what is fast becoming Kids Shoes Month at CMP. We have been bowled over by the number of far too cute footwear options for people far too little to appreciate such deliciousness.
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Little Fingers For Big Change
Fable and Lore's beautiful, substantial, fair-trade finger puppets found at My Princess Closet are made from extra fabric scraps so no two dragons, wizards or knights are alike.
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Hail Mary, Full of Jam
Why not celebrate Jesus and the Mother of all Mothers today with this Fred and Friends Holy Toast Bread Stamper.
Future Foodies, Your Wardrobe is Ready
We have been blessed with a picky little eater in the family who won't indulge in standard American kids fare like hot dogs and chicken nuggets. If we only knew then what we knew now, we'd have decked her out in the Foodie onesie from Fig Leaf Baby.
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Mama Needs a Snack
After spending much of each day feeding this hungry new baby of mine, sometimes I forget to feed myself. Yes, I know new mamas need to take care of themselves too, but there aren't many three-course meals to be prepared one-handed.
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Not Your Average Nursery Decor
My six-year-old and I are at odds when it comes to decorating her room. She wants to paint it bubblegum pink, while I'm fearful of being reminded of Pepto (shudder).
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Flipping for the Flip
We lost $10,000. Or to put it another way, that $10,000 should have been ours - if only the moment of spectacular toddler hilarity captured on videotape had actually been captured on videotape
They claim to be a "new concept in kid's entertainment," but in saying as much, I think Sock it To Me
How do you get a skirt-obsessed preschooler who hates tights out the door without a battle in the morning? All hail adorable knee socks, like these cuties picked by my daughter herself from Tote and Tee.
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Preemies Need Cool Wardrobe Love Too
Lately we've gotten a few requests for cool preemie-wear. Considering the number of twins and multiples out there, we're not surprised at all.
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Cupcake Baking as Competitive Sport
As my daughter prepares for preschool in the fall, am just now learning that baked sale goods are not taken lightly there.
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The toothbrush holder is only one small germy step above laying your toothbrush on the bathroom sink. But since trashing ours and swapping out for a The Sweat-Free, Hands-Free Baby Wrap
Being able to use both hands while still holding my infant securely? That's pure genius no matter how much granola people think you eat.
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Stroller Cup Holders - They Aren't Just For Strollers. Or Cups.
The joke in the automotive industry is that women will buy cars simply on the cupholders. (What can we say, cupholders are awesome.) But funny enough, when it comes to our strollers - no cupholders! Ack! The horror!
Adoption Dolls: Take One Home. No Red Tape.
At Toy Fair last month, I was taken with the series of Jambo Kids adoption dolls. Founded by a mom/pop team who wanted to create something their adopted Chinese daughter could relate to,
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At Toy Fair last month, I spent wayyyyy too much time with the very enthusiastic music maker John Hayden of C-Section Unmentionables Worth a Mention
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that trying out lingerie for CMP would entail me wiggling into a pair of post-cesarean underwear.
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A Mei Tai to Dai For
As an experienced baby-wearer, I have gone through a number of carriers trying to find one that is "just right."
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Reading For All
Nairobi's Knapsack features a nice little selection of stuff for kids with an multicultural bent. There's a sweet array of toys and dolls beyond what you'll find in the local Tarzhay, although what really anchors the shop is the virtual bookshelf.
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Endorsed by Little Rabbit Foo Foo
Not every kid needs a fancy Easter outfit. In fact, those scary pint-size bow ties and the dresses with frills upon frills upon crinolines might just make too much of a statement for some little bunnies.
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Green: It Isn't Just for the Irish
With various reports re-emphasizing BPA leaching from plastic bottles, we're consistently tracking down safe alternatives that are still practical. Because let me be honest, there's no way I'm handing my toddler a glass bottle.
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G is for Green with a Giggle
If there's a bandwagon to jump on when it comes to kid's gear and clothing, going green is definitely the one to pick. Particularly if you've got any photographic evidence of yourself in the 80s. Heck, I owe the ozone just on hairspray usage alone.
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Green Cleaning Products of Epic Proportion
To be perfectly honest, it's not just cleaning that I avoid - I haven't changed over to environmentally friendly cleaning products just yet. Although I have started to notice that all those chemicals may be giving me more of a headache than the actual cleaning.
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You Can Be My Cowboy
When you speak, fair Cool Mom Picks readers, we listen. And so when you write to us and ask us ever so politely for more boy gear, we can't help but oblige.
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Don't Sit Over the Apple Tree With Anyone Else But Me
In our house it's called "the thingie with the round bead-y thingies on it." But now I've finally learned the proper term - Bead Maze! Who knew?
... [More]Free Kids Music. As in Gratis. Complimentary. On the House.
Kiddie Records Weekly has digitized one great dime-store 1940s-1960s children's 78 album each and every week since 2005.
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Bring it On, IRS
Even with my own invented envelope system, I still find myself swimming in a sea of receipts and records when it comes time to file my tax return. So when I heard the organizational gurus from Buttoned Up had put together a tax filing system, I had to take a look.
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Crib Bedding For Those Not Getting a Big Refund Next Month
Delaying Mommyhood But Not Mommy Friends
Sometimes moms of (ahem) advanced maternal age just need some kindred spirits to hang out with. You know, so we can reminisce about our assymetrical prom hairdos and our crushes on Scott Baio while the rugrats run circles around our arthritic ankles.
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Alphabet Circus
I've always thought that the best ABC posters for kids aren't the ones that simply familiarize them with the letters, but inspire imagination around the images themselves
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The Jacket Worthy of the Easter Dress
I always torn about spending the cash on a fancy Easter dress for my daughter which I then hope that we can use again in July as a birthday dress.
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Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad (Bad, Bad) Baby Names. And We Don't Mean "Krystynne."
There's a little book of Bad Baby Names out there that would be a great addition to any baby shower gift. In amongst the snapshots of cute kids you'll find the most outrageous names found in actual census data.
Dads Need Hot Accessory Love Too
A lot of so-called daddy diaper bags are nothing more than lined messenger bags with cammo on the outside. Oh, the cammo - that ubiquitous indicator of paternal appropriateness.
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Toy Stables For Kids Who Aren't Horsing Around (Heh)
If there's no carpentry expert in your family, you can give your horse-crazy kid his own handcrafted stable from parent-run Streamside Farm.
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There's a Reason This Baby Organizer is Called Essential
Chalk Talk
Eco Friendly Dolls That don't Look Like Eco Friendly Dolls (If You Know What We Mean)
When it came to finding that perfect baby doll for my daughter, I quickly realized that most of the traditional ones are mass-produced in China. While I'm not averse to Chinese-made toys as a rule, my standards have definitely gone up since the recalls.
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Idle Hands
My three-year-old must always be doing something with her hands. - coloring, painting, or her current favorite, going through my entire jewelry box. Twice on a good day.
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A High Chair That Grows With Your Kid: Magic? No, Mutsy.
I've definitely had several registry regrets. Take the high chair for example - that ugly, cumbersome, "good for only 2 years maybe" high chair. Not one of my finer decisions.
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If the Easter Bunny Used Labels
As the mom of two little ones these days, I'm probably not going to go overboard with the Easter baskets. But the fantastic Easter tags from Tattered Tags, a paper shop owned by designer Brooke Campbell, almost make me want to go big.
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I Am Woman, See Me Wear Metallics
I've never been one to thrust all my eggs into one basket, so why would I toss all my baby's belongings into one diaper bag? Truth be told, I've got one for almost every mood and outfit.
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We can't look anywhere without stumbling into something argyle for kids this Spring. Take these hot argyle shirts from new mom-pop run label, Easter Baskets That the Tooth Fairy Approves of Too
Not every mom is a fan of doling out the high fructose corn syrup or imitation chocolate treats on Easter.
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The Perfect Shoes for Laps Around the Coffee Table
My little 10 month-old track star can do about a 6 minute mile on hands and knees, if only she's got the right traction. So who am I to hold her back?
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A Pirate's Life for Me
While my husband is definitely on the conservative side, I tend to push the envelope when it comes to what our kids wear.
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The Chaiken Diaper Bag: What Recession?
Apparently not all moms are created equal, because some will be strutting around this Spring toting their leaky bottles and dirty diapers in swanky Chaiken diaper bags.
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Matryoshka Dolls: Hard to Spell, Easy To Love
As a wee lass, I was obsessed with a matryoshka doll my parents had brought me back from Eastern Europe.
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Surf's Up
So it might be a little premature to be thinking about warm sand and wave jumping when we're still focused on cold dirt and mud puddle jumping. But when I saw this surfer tee from Fierce Hugs...
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Stick 'Em Up
We love when readers tip us off on their own great picks around the web. So when two readers wrote us gushing about Mayfair Lane, we most definitely had to check it out.
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Easter Shoes That Will Take You Right Through Summer
It pains me to purchase a pair of fancy Easter shoes for my daughter only to see them used once or twice.
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Custom Jewelry Without the Custom Jewelry Prices
Like the other CMP writers, I don't usually gravitate toward keepsakes. If it's engraved or personalized - and it's not a wedding invitation - it's probably not my style.
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Cool-ing Up the Nursery
We love Skip*Hop because everything this mom-run company makes is smartly designed, good-looking, and generally affordable. Well now, after conquering the world of diaper bags and feeding accessories, Skip*Hop has moved onto some pretty snazzy looking nursery decor.
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Green. Practically.
If you love the idea of being that cool mom who brings her own canvas tote to the convenience store - but know that you never in a million years will be able to cram a canvas tote in your already overstuffed diaper bag - have we got a solution for you.
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Children's Car Seats: Better Safe Than...Not Safe
Of all the things most likely to make a new parent's head spin, I submit that it's not the colicky baby or the first diaper blow-out that's the hardest. That honor belongs to the selection of a car seat.
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Wait, So Girls Like Robots Too?
It's amazing how quick some boutiques are to put the robot tees under "boyswear." Man, aren't we like 3 decades past the notion of girls only wearing pink ruffle shirts with ballerina spelled out in glitter?
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The Modern Mama's Teddy Bear Motif
While I wanted to avoid baby gift thank you notes that were too babyish, I found that scribbling heartfelt words of appreciation for the squeaky rabbit toy across notecards bearing funky geometrics, was definitely a thematic disconnect.
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Acupressure: Once Merely Effective, Now Actually Pretty
Those acupressure wrist bands are a very effective (non-edible) remedy for nausea - but let's face it, not so cute.
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Sleep Well, Baby. Very Very Verrrrry Well.
You know how when you open up the crib mattress it smells like a science lab? Well when we opened our Natural Mat crib mattress last week, my toddler said, "mommy it smells like lemons!"
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Chocolate Bunnies Without the Sugar Hangover
The No Guilt Chocolate Easter Bunny found at The Silly Wagon is made entirely of felt - always a fantastic sugar-free alternative to chocolate.
A Little Swing for Spring
You know I've got a severe case of winter-itis when I'm caressing the lightweight cotton dresses in my daughter's dresser, fantasizing about the first moment I can get her dressed in a single article of clothing and call it a day.
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See Kai Run. Maybe Strut a Little.
The new Kais are here! Yippee! Okay, so if you'd be excited too if you were in love with See Kai Run kids shoes like I am.
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Doing Good By Grandma. And Mother Earth.
We've been fans of Stubby Pencil Studio since we were turned onto the Portland company's high-quality CIY for kids. That's, um, Color It Yourself.
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Of Cupcakes, Lactose, and World Domination
Just Say No to Airplane Blankets
Thanks to living far away from friends and family, I'm always on the look out for products that make family flights easier (or at least, less painful).
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Flying the Friendly Bookshelves
It's hard not to be slightly obsessed with planes when you're married to a pilot. But I learned very quickly that not just any plane will do. come by.
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Win It!
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a $250 Room Seven shopping spree from The Silly Wagon
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Congrats to April winner Amy L
Sponsors
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Featured Partner: Wild Dill
Looking for fair, natural, and organic products for your kiddos? Then put Wild Dill at the top of your list.
Use code CMP10 FOR 10% off
For more discounts from our hand-selected partner shops, visit the brand new CMP Emporium.
Ask Cool Mom Picks
I have been searching for a photo album or scrapbook that is NOT in the classic style you see everywhere that's either pink and fluffy or traditional leather. Any ideas? -Sarah
Googling "photo albums" can definitely lead to very bad things. We always find cool stuff at Zanisa and we like the Molly West books at Chittypulga.
But lately we really dig the handmade wooden albums from Tree by Kerri Lee [pictured] with metal hinges and the funky wooden ring and strap. And the prices are terrific.
Got a gift dilemma? A shopping conundrum? Write to CMP at info@coolmompicks.com.
CMP Flickr Group
CMP reader Sarah's daughter Alli looks cozy and snug in her Baby Bisou Carrier.
Have a picture of your little one (or yourself) in a Cool Mom Picks find or prize you've won? Join our Flickr group so we can show off your good taste to the world.
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