Holy Holiday Shopping List!

The last few weeks have found me wracking my brain as to what to get Pooka for Christmas. She will be 20 months on Christmas day and seems pretty bored with the variety of toys currently residing in her toy basket. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate her toy cache, although let's be honest...she is just as likely to go gaga over the wrapping paper and boxes as she is with the toys!

To streamline the process this year, and to be a good partner parent, I put together a spreadsheet of Pooka's Christmas list and sent it to my husband complete with links to the items and prices. This will likely create a conversation between my husband and I that will go something like this...

Him: "Is she really going to use this?"
Me: "Of course, she's going to love it."
Him: "I don't really think she needs this."
Me: "Well you're not the one home with her all day trying to keep her entertained."
Him: "Is there a cheaper version?"

Anyways, you get the idea. So without further ado, here is the list of items I hope to stash under the tree for Pooka this year:

1) Kitchen Set: I have my eye on two different kitchen sets for Pooka for Christmas. I have to warn you that they are rated for ages 3 and up so it's up to you to decide if it is appropriate for your child. Pooka has used them at other houses and absolutely loves them so I'm pretty confident she can handle having her own kitchen. My first favorite is the WH Swiss - Educo French Kitchen available at Oompa, which comes complete with pots and pans and some food for the bargain price of $99.00. I am also a big fan of the Gourmet Chef Kitchen available at Giggle, although its a bit pricier at $138.00 and you have to add cookware and food. I like this one because it is very compact and stylish!

2) Scooter: Again, most scooters are rated for children ages 3 and up, but there are a few for the younger set too. Last spring we went to a two year old's birthday party and not only was she an expert scooter rider, she was doing tricks on her scooter too! So that's my inspiration behind getting Pooka a scooter at this tender age. I should also clarify that she took her first steps at 10 months and is a pretty good mover, so if your wee one didn't walk until later they may not be ready for a scooter for a while. The two I have my eye on are the Razor Jr. Folding Kiddie Kick available for $40.00 at Giggle, and the Radio Flyer My First Scooter available tons of places like Toys R' Us and Target for $39.99. The Radio Flyer scooter is rated from age 2. And don't forget to grab a helmet while you're at it! I like the Adjustable Hula Helmet from Nutcase or the Giro Me2 Infant Bike Helmet!

3) The Rody Horse: Made in Italy by Gymnic, this inflatable horse is about a cute as it gets. Your wee one can climb aboard and bounce to their heart's content. And as they get older they can even bounce around with it (like those hopping balls we had as kids), rather than just do stationary bouncing. I love the design so much that I won't mind leaving it out in our space constrained apartment, rather than hiding it away when company comes. The good news is the Rody horse is latex and phalate free! And did I mention the Rody comes in about a dozen different color combos? I found the best selection of Rody horses at Red Wagon Toy Co, were they retail for $41.95.

4) Janod Alphabet Puzzle: Referred to as the "Take a Letter" puzzle on Land of Nod, I'm a huge fan of this alphabet puzzle by French toy-maker Janod. Pooka is really starting to get the hang of puzzles, and I love that we can practice our ABC's with it, even if she can't seem to get all the pieces on the board yet. Again, this toy is rated for ages 3 and up, but you must realize by now that we like to live on the dangerous side! The puzzle retails for $34.00.

5) Leap Frog Chat and Count Cell Phone: If your child is anything like Pooka then they are obsessed with cell phones. Up until now I have refrained from purchasing her a faux phone, as she seems to do just as well picking up a wood block, holding it to her ear, and jabbering away. But this phone from Leap Frog has me rethinking my strategy. Part of their popular Scout line for toddlers, this phone has a fun combination of songs and counting games. We've recently noticed that Pooka has been repeating the numbers 1-10 so this phone seems like a fun way to reinforce her learning. Priced at $14.99 it's a great stocking stuffer or gift for toddler friends!

6) Nuts and Bolts by Plan Toys: We love Plan Toys for their quality, non-toxic wooden products and their green manufacturing policies. The Nuts and Bolts toy is a great choice for developing fine motor skills, plus I am hoping it will keep Pooka occupied at the dinner table and out in public when she's feeling a little feisty. Available at Oompa, and retailing for $17.99 this is also a great stocking stuffer or gift for your wee one's bestie!

So I hope this list gives you a few ideas for your dear one this holiday season. To some of you this may seem like a short list, but once you add in the gifts from the fam it should be a reasonable amount for any toddler. Besides, they can only play with so many things at once! And one other little helpful hint: many of these products can also be found on Amazon (often for less money), and if you have an Amazon Prime account you can get free 2-day shipping!

Some bunny loves you: Pooka's 1st Easter Basket

Wow, this really is a year of firsts, and sadly Easter will be the last of our "first" holidays. So I'm aiming to make this a good one! I've come across lots of darling little baskets and stuffers and thought I should share some of them with you. Last week, our friends at Parentville sent out an email highlighting some of the Easter items I had recommended on their site. Parentville is a member driven site where parents can make requests or give recommendations to other parents about products, classes, services, and more. We use it all the time, and Life With Pooka has a whole second life there with a ton more recommendations. Check the blue box on the lower right hand side of this site to to read my latest recs at Parentville.

First off, the baskets. Pottery Barn Kids has some great wicker baskets in white or chestnut with personalized liners. These baskets will last for years to come and you'll never confuse who's basket is who's. They also have stuffed Puffy Easter Baskets in bunny or chick. They're just like their soft Halloween baskets and can also be personalized. You can also grab some basket stuffers while your at PBKids. I'm a fan of the Nursery Critter Stacker, particularly the jumbo stacker that's over a foot tall. It features a plush hippo, bunny, and frog. Another great option is the Klean Kanteen Water Bottle that has awesome designs and you can have it personalized. And if your little one isn't ready for a water bottle yet you can pick up a sippy cup adapter from Klean Kanteen.

I also found some cute fabric baskets on Etsy. I like the fabric Easter Buckets from Henry and Zoe. Have a look at the My Little Teatime Bucket if you like a traditional pattern. While you're there you can pick up an Artist's Tote Set for your children. Twenty Little Toes has some great fabric baskets that you can use all year round in the nursery after Easter is done. Check out the Blue Cupcake Basket. Rellaroo has similar fabric baskets, like their Sock Monkey Basket. But I think Lunatic Design's features my favorite with their charming Bunny Fabric Baskets.

How about a stuffed bunny for your basket? One of my favorites is the Bunglie Bunny from Jelly Cat. How can you deny those dusty pink ears? If you're looking for an organic stuffed bunny try the soft white bunny from Foundlings. Mi Yim also has great organic stuffed bunnies: the Victoria Plush Bunny, Baby Victoria Plush Bunny with cute white pinafore, or Baby Victoria Knit Bunny. Or skip the whole bunny theme and go with chicks like Mi Yim's Plush Chicken Rattles or Jingle Chicken with Finger Puppets exclusively at Giggle. If your little one is too tiny for a stuffed bunny than try a bunny dou dou like Under the Nile's organic Bunny Blanket Friend (try Giggle for a striped version and don't forget a teething carrot for your little bunny!). Pooka has been sleeping with hers since she was born. Kathe Kruse also has a cute dou dou called the Mimi Activity Towel with whimsical pink flower print.

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary for Easter, perhaps you would be interested in the eco-friendly Wonderworld Hopping Bunny Walker made of sustainable rubber wood and featuring non-toxic water-based paints (see my full review at Parentville). We ordered ours through Diapers.com and had it overnight. Pooka loves pushing it all over the place while giggling her head off!

Finally, if you are looking for a real keepsake for your wee one or a favorite mom-to-be then try Tiffany's ceramic Bunny Bank. Or really splurge and go for the silver Bunny Bank! These are gifts that will last a lifetime and be passed down to future generations. Hope this list of ideas is helpful as you put together your basket for your bunny love. For more Easter gift ideas and reviews check my recommendations at Parentville.

My Boon Obsession!

Last week I spoke at the Big City Moms Expectant Moms Dinner on the best items for your baby registry. You can see the five products I recommended last night in this previous post. While at the dinner I had the opportunity to speak some great folks from Boon Inc. and share with them how much I loved their products. Then I realized I should probably share with you, my devoted fan base, the many Boon products we love and why we love them. I should specify that I have never received any free products from Boon, so my love is totally unadulterated.

Ok, where to start? I realized as the Boon folks presented their products that I actually owned the majority of them. I guess I'll start with my first crush item, the Benders Adaptable Utensils. We had a few different spoons when Pooka started eating solids, but found these to be the best. The spoon isn't too big for her mouth, and it's just the right depth to get her a good mouthful without a ton of food squishing back out. As your baby grows they will be able to feed themselves with these utensils because they are the perfect size, and the heads can be bent to help your uncoordinated wee one get the head of the fork or spoon into their mouth (Pooka is working on that). Since we are on the topic of feeding, we are also completely enamored with the Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon. If I had a nickel for every mom who said, "I wish they had that when my kids were young" Pooka's preschool tuition would be covered. The spoon has a reservoir that holds up to 3 oz. of baby food that you can squeeze directly into the spoon. We use it in the car and out and about. Need something to serve your food in? We have the Saucer Stay-Put Divided Plate. We are using it now for finger foods, but will use it for all types of food when Pooka gets more coordinated with her spoon. Wee ones have a difficult time picking the plate up thanks to the rubber ring along the bottom. It should keep the UFO's to a minimum. And don't forget about snacks. We love the Snack Ball because unlike a snack trap, Pooka can only get into this one when I open it for her. It's round shape makes it easy to toss in your bag and find it again, and doubles as a fun ball for Pooka to roll around and play with when we are out and about. Finally, dry your Boon products on the high style design of the Grass Countertop Drying Rack. It's so cute we leave it on our counter all the time (and to be honest there is always something drying on it), and sometimes you can even spy some grownup items drying on the grass.

Boon's products also populate the bath. They are most famous for their first product, the Frog Pod and its newer sister the Bug Pod. They are one of the few products we don't have (we have gorgeous new carrara marble tiles in the bath and I couldn't bare to hang anything on them!) but hear nothing but great reviews. We do, however, have Bob the Odd Duck and the Splat Floating Ring Toss. We love Bob because he doesn't have any holes to fill up with water and leak out later after bath time is over (Pooka loves to bring her bath toys into the living area). She is also infatuated with the rings from the Splat and carries them all over the apartment, and because all Boon products are BPA, phalate, and PVC free I have no problem letting her chew on them to her heart's content.

So needless to say we own quite a few Boon products already, but there are still some on the list we would love to have. I'm dying for a Stash Multi-Room Organizer to keep bottles, snack balls, etc in so they don't clutter up the kitchen counter. Your child will clearly have the coolest sippy in play group with the intriguing design of the Fluid Toddler Cup. And eventually we'll have to invest in the Potty Bench!

Whichever Boon products you choose they will likely became as indispensable as they have for us! And did I mention that 10% of all profits are donated to children's charities like Helping Orphans Worldwide and the Child Crisis Center!

Pooka's Christmas List # 6: bObbles Elephant Tumbling Animal

Last week Pooka and I had the good fortune of attending Unplugged on a Rug's Great Green Playdate at Kidville. We had an amazing time and fell in love with the bObles that were scattered about the room. Natalie Cronin of Unplugged (and also our Wee Wiggle Giggle instructor at Kidville) showed us how beneficial they can be even for baby's who aren't crawling yet. Using the Crocodile bOble she showed us how Pooka can strengthen her core and work on stability by sitting at an angle, or laying on a downward slope on her belly. But our favorite bOble by far is the Elephant Tumbling Animal. Shaped like a half circle your little one can climb up its trunk and sit atop, or flip it over and use it like a rocking horse or chair. I love that bObles promote imaginative play and can grow with your child. When they are older they can stand on the elephant to practice their balance. I get tired of buying so many toys that are outgrown in 5 months! Order yours from Oompa Toys, or you can find them at Mini Jake in Brooklyn or in Manhattan at Babesta or the MoMA Design Store (that's right folks, a toy that's considered high design!)

Pooka's Christmas List # 4: Haba Cordoba Building Blocks

My favorite toys for Pooka are generally colorful, made of wood, and encourage creative play. Haba toys tend to do all of those things and are designed and made in Germany so you don't have to worry about the "China factor." They make several amazing baby block sets, so it's hard to chose a favorite. Better yet, buy a few sets and create a serious collection or leave a set at Grandmas house. My favorite are the Cordoba Building Blocks because they are a little bit feminine, but not enough to disqualify them from unisex status. Looking for a more boyish set? Try the Fantasy Building Blocks. Something a little girlier? Check out the Sevilla Building Blocks. All three of these sets are more than just the run of the mill wooden blocks, featuring turrets, archways, and even onion domes. Certain blocks incorporate bells, rattles, and kaleidoscopes. We also love the Eeeny, Meeny, Miny, Zoo Wooden Blocks for a different flair. This set includes cute animal blocks that turn the collection into a puzzle set as well. These building blocks are rated for one year olds and up, but with Pooka being 8 months on Christmas Day I figure she's ready for them even if they only go straight into her mouth. Is your little one not ready for blocks yet? Then don't miss the Haba clutching toys like the Klapperworm, or the Flower Fairy Stroller Toy. Check out all the great Haba toys on Oompa, my favorite site for toys!

Pooka's Chirstmas List # 3: Bla Bla Boogaloos

As an avid knitter I know that knitting stuffed animals and dolls can be a big pain in the butt, so I can appreciate when others do the work for me. Such is the case with the marvelous Boogaloo dolls by Bla Bla. Inspired by a French cartoon with blob like charaters, Boogaloos have a pear-like shape on the bottom and different crazy characters on top. It's hard to pick a favorite because there are too many cute ones, but if I had to make a list I would highlight Yoko with her pink hair and striped shirt and Johnny with his blue mohawk. Feeling nautical? Grab a Marlin Booglaoo. Love Sherlock Holmes? Then check out the Watson doll. Celebrate the advent of the snowy season with an Anouk doll. Or play cowboys and indians with Shane and Kaya dolls. They come in two sizes, the regular Boogaloos are 10" and the Minis are 6", perfect for the littlest elfs in your houses. They also do wonderful line of classic dolls that you can purchase with a permanent knit-on outfit or that you can add clothes to, and animal dolls (think extra-hip sock monkey). Like the Boogaloos, these dolls come in small (12") and large (18-22") sizes. Some of my favorites include Prudence and Wink Owl, Gigi the Giraffe, Squirrel "McNuttie" and the Billy Goat Doll.

Don't miss the other great Bla Bla items while shopping their site. Check out their rattles, finger puppets, and mobiles for which they are well known. They also do fun knit clothing, blankets and accessories. Keep your wee one warm with an animal hat and bootie set like the Monkey Hat and Booties. Whatever items you choose will give you that snuggly hand-knit feeling without having to spend hours (or days, or weeks, or months) making these items yourself!

Pooka's Christmas List # 2: Baby Xylophone

For Christmas I am very excited to get Pooka started on a musical journey. Aside from playing the clarinet in middle school (poorly I might add) I am not musically inclined and neither is my husband. I would like Pooka to have a solid basis in the world of music and have been searching for the perfect musical toys to start her off right. They will also be a nice accompaniment to the music class we plan on starting after the holidays, giving her the chance to do her first homework (and by that I mean bang and shake things at home just like she will in class). I have seen lots of xylophone's out there but most are geared for the toddler set. I imagine this is because they are usually metal and could have sharp edges. Then I found this cutie on Giggle that is all rounded and safe for babies as young as 12 months. Baby still too young for this xylophone? How about the amazing Mini Orchestra set or Mini Rainboshaker for 6 months and up. Better yet, these musical toys are phthalate-free, BPA-free, and lead-free plastic so its perfectly safe if Pooka wants to suck on them more than she wants to play them right now. All of these are currently available at Giggle, so get them now before they sell out!

Germaphobia: Keeping your house and hands germ free

Any which way you turn you are bound to run into something about H1N1, which may have you running scared. I know it has certainly been rattling our cage, and considering that Pooka has her third cold of the season I think it is time to redouble our germ fighting efforts. Luckily for us there are plenty of great products out there that fight germs without exposing Pooka to a slew of nasty chemicals.

The first line of defense in germ fighting is hand washing. You could purchase an antibacterial hand soap, but a regular soap can do the job just as well without using synthetic detergents or chemicals, or drying out your skin. Triclosan, the antibacterial agent found in many soaps and hand sanitizers, may contain dioxin and PCBs that I'd rather not expose Pooka to. My current favorite is California Baby's Moisturizing Handwash which uses ravensura, lemon, tea tree and coconut oil to be naturally antibacterial. It comes in a large 19 oz. bottle and will last for months. It's certainly not the cheapest out there, but it's packed with yummy smelling essential oils and like all California Baby products avoids synthetic detergents, fragrances and other baddies. Use warm water and scrub for at least 20 seconds (I like to go for 30 seconds, and sing the ABC's to be sure I scrub for long enough) to eradicate germs.

Another favorite of ours is the CleanWell family of products. CleanWell claims to kill 99.9% of germs without using Triclosan, toxic chemicals, artificial colors or parabens. At home we use both the All-Natural Antibacterial Hand Soap in zesty Spearmint Lime, and on the go we love the All-Natural Hand Sanitizer. The sanitizer comes in a large size, which we leave next to the changing table, and a travel size that we put in the diaper, stroller, and car. It smells 100 times better than Purell and doesn't contain alcohol. EO brand also makes a great hand sanitizer with organic essential oils and 62% organic alcohol. They have a variety of sanitizers in Lavender, Peppermint or Eculyptus scent, in spray, gel or wipe form, and in a variety of sizes. They even have a canister with 210 wipes that you can use to fill your spare wipes case and keep in your diaper bag.

Around the house there are tons of chemical free choices these days, but I definitely have my favorites. We adore the Dapple line of natural-based products, especially the Toy Cleaner Wipes. They smell great and are moist enough to tackle several toys with just one wipe, or you try the spray cleaner. Don't forget to bring the wipes with you to play group! They also have a great natural Dish Liquid and Dishwashing Powder that really helps get rid of milk residue and doesn't make me panic about how well I have rinse after washing because there are no nasties in the ingredients list. Dapple products are biodegradable, and free of parabens, SLES, phthalates, synthetic dyes and fragrances. You can also keep your toys germ free with Fields Organics. Their non-toxic organic cleaners were designed specifically for homes with children. Their Toy Cleaner is perfect for any surface your wee one has contact with including car seats, strollers, and countertops. Other products for the house include a great Stain Odor Remover that we use to pre-treat clothes and clean breastmilk and spit up from the couch and rugs. We also use their Laundry Detergent for all of our clothes, and they have additional products as well so be sure to browse their site. All their products use organic essential oils for their antibacterial properties and refreshing scent and a portion of the profits from Field's Organics products goes to support the Children's Health Environmental Network.

So arm yourself with these products to keep your dear ones healthy and free of nasty germs chemicals. Now I have to make the time to keep all Pooka's toys and gear squeaky clean!

Black, white, & red all over: Developmental toys for the early days

The hospital discharges you and you head home with your beautiful new bundle of joy. They eat, sleep, poop, and spit up. You try and do the same. But isn't there more to this baby thing? What about playtime? Admittedly, in the early days your baby isn't much more than a cute little lump, but there are still ways to entertain them and help them move along the cognitive path to enlightenment (sorry, just read the new Dan Brown!). So what are babies interested in the first few months? Here's a few things Pooka seemed to enjoy.

Newborns spend a lot of time in their bassinets and cribs, so that's a good place to start. There are tons of mobiles to chose from that will keep your baby entertained, but the Wimmer Ferguson Infant Stim-Mobile by Manhattan Toy is an award winning design with simple black and white images that can later be changed for color images as baby's eyesight improves. As Pooka got older, she would lift her legs to kick the mobile and watch it spin. The mobile wasn't the only thing Pooka has in her crib. We also placed Wee Gallery Art Cards for Baby around the crib's edge. The simple black and white illustrations of animals give her something to look at when she is falling asleep or waking up. We also use them the old fashioned way an hold them up for her to gaze at. Another option that one of our mom friend uses is the Double Sided First Book from Tiny Love to wrap around her co-sleeper, and I have also seen them used in stroller bassinets. Finally, we hung the Manhattan Toy Color Burst Mirror on the side of the crib. She didn't really look at the mirror in the beginning but she did like the pattern around the edge. Now she uses the mirror for tummy time.

What about the awake time outside the crib? The item that totally blew our minds was when we showed Pooka the Begin Smart Baby Faces book. She was four weeks old and just stared at the photos, particularly the black and white ones. I had heard babies are into these books, but was unprepared for Pooka's intensity. We also have the DK Eyewitness Baby Faces book, but Pooka prefers the black and white borders in the Begin Smart book.

It will be a while before baby will be able to hold a toy, but there are a few that will interest them now when held in your hands and they will eventually grow into them. One of our favorites is a wrist rattle, which helps babies learn where their limbs are (it's really fun to watch them figure out that they have arms, then elbows, then hands and fingers). We have the black and white Infant Stimulation Panda Wrist Rattle from Genius Babies. It is darn cute and Pooka loves to stare at it when it is on her wrist. These days we attach it to the wrist of her Mi Yim Organic Plush Benjamin Frog so it rattles when she grabs it. All of the Whoozit toys from Manhattan Toy are also fabulous. We attached the Whoozit Baby Whoozit to Pooka's stroller and play gym. The black and white side is perfect for the early days, and as her eyesight improved we flipped the Whoozit to the colorful side. It was also one of the first toys she reached for. She would grab the colorful stuffed loops and triangles hanging from the bottom. They are made with different fabrics and textures and are the perfect size for petit fingers, and at 5 months old Pooka is still fascinated by her Whoozit. We also had a Whoozit Rattle (which doesn't appear to be on thier site anymore) that had the same black and white bulls-eye on one side and face on the other. Even at two weeks old Pooka would track the high contrast rattle with her eyes when we held it in front of her. Now she holds it and shakes it all on her own.

The other fantastic and interactive toy Pooka loved was her Tiny Love Gymini in Black, White and Red. It is a bit difficult to find (it's not on the Tiny Love site but can be found on Amazon) but worth the extra effort. Pooka loved to stare at the black and white arches at first, then gradually took interest in the hanging toys, especially the mirror. This gym does not have crazy lights or lots of sounds like many of the others out there. It's all about contrast, although one of the toys does play a lullaby when squeezed. To compare, we also have the Garden Floral Activity Gym from Skip Hop (replaced by Farmyard Activity Gym), and Pooka wasn't nearly as engaged with it the first few months. Don't get me wrong, it's super cute and we love it, but it didn't capture Pooka's attention the same way the Gymini did.

This is obviously just a sample of the developmental toys available for the 0-3 month set, but these are the ones that worked well for Pooka. Definitely check out the Genius Babies site for the best assortment of developmental toys out there. It may look like nothing's going on in that tiny little head, but babies absorb tons in those first few months!