Little Fiori

I just discovered Little Fiori last week, and they make the most adorable baby shoes I've ever seen. They seem to be only for girls, which is a shame for those of us who only have boys! But with shoes this cute, I'm almost ready to try for a girl just so I can buy them! They are all hand painted, and there are lots of different types, such as ballet flats, mary janes and sneakers. My top picks are the Hibiscus Mary Janes, Pink Polka Dot Butterfly, and the Flower Sparkle Maddy, but really each pair is quite remarkable. If you have a girl, I really suggest you browse the store.

Review: Phonics 4 Babies

We received a preview of a new DVD called "Phonics 4 Babies." To be released on September 25, "Phonics 4 Babies" introduces 300 key words and phrases that form the basis of your child's speech. This program was designed with the help of prominent clinicians at UCLA, speech pathologists, and child educators. It was specifically designed to engage babies and toddlers in early speech skills.

The DVD features several puppet "Tummy Tots." We received one of plush 8 legged creatures these with our preview copy. In the DVD, Giggles is a Tummy Tot toddler, who is just beginning to speak. On the arm of Mallory Lewis, Giggles learns how to say "please," and "thank you," and learns the sounds of each letter of the alphabet.

The DVD emphasizes different sounds and identifying various objects. A common element is Mallory Lewis asking the audience to pick out an object from a group of three. For example, a picture of a rabbit, sandbox, and a coat is displayed. She asks the audience to find each one in turn. Each scene often involves a quick song, sung by Ms Lewis.

We had Anderson watch the DVD with us last night. He wasn't too interested at first, but after a while he finally settled down to watch with us. Still, most of the time his attention was kept elsewhere. He had no where near the slack-jawed attention he might give to Blues Clues, for example. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not.

There's no way I can tell right now if this DVD delivers what it promises. But it does seem to be headed in the right direction. If you're going to have your child watch DVDs, be sure to watch with them, and help reinforce the lessons that are taught. That way, your child will get much more out of it than by simply watching it alone.

Of course, parent watchability is a key factor if you plan on doing that. Laura found that the DVD got on her nerves very quickly. I didn't think it was as bad as her, but there are definitely some annoying things about the DVD. However, its really not as bad as some of the toddler-oriented stuff out there (Wiggles, I'm looking at you!). And Phonics 4 Babies does promise to be a little more educational than your average TV program.

Ku Ku Bird Security Blankie from Kushies

If you're looking for a lovely for your baby, the Ku Ku Bird Security Blankie from Kushies is really cute and pretty unique as lovies go. There's a cute bird coming out of one end with a long neck and wings. It's colorful, soft, and perfect for a baby.

Wipes Case

Possibly the ugliest thing in my nursery is the wipes case. It's yellow and plastic and doesn't really match anything else in there. Now, I realize that a wipes case might be silly to some, but if you really want everything in your nursery to look nice, you may want to consider this beautiful Wipes Case at Confetti Kidz. It's available in four different colors, but if you want it to match exactly to your room, you can also have one custom made too. Diapering is dirty business, but at least with this case you can have something pretty to look at besides your baby's bottom.

Sunshine Kids Wheely Mates Tunnel Gym

Here's a cool and unusual play gym for your newborn to play with. The Sunshine Kids Wheely Mates Tunnel Gym, has a tunnel that can completely wrap around your prone baby to provide lots of visual stimulation. A mesh window on one side can provide hours of peek-a-boo enjoyment. The gym itself has several detachable parts, enabling it to be configured in six different ways. So when your baby gets tired of one thing, you can change it up!

Playspot by Skip Hop

I'm not sure how I missed this, but Skip Hop has a new product out. The Playspot is a foam tile surface for your nursery or playroom. But unlike others that are on the market, this one isn't made up of obnoxiously bright colors that make the room look like a circus (not that I'm bashing it, we have them in our house too!). The design is also really neat with a mix of circles, squares, and jacks. It is okay for children of all ages, is easy to put together, and is pretty big too (72" x 54"). And it's available in three different color combinations: blue/gold, pink/brown, and brights.

Sports Stroller by Phil and Ted

Recently I was in the market for a jogging stroller, so I tried out a cheap one. I hated it. Joggling strollers are hard to get used to because in order to turn you must lift it up off its front wheel. This is easier to do than with regular strollers, but Andy hated it. I just kept wishing the front wheel would turn. In order to find that feature, you must spend a large sum of money. However, if you think you'll use such a stroller, we recommend Phil and Ted's Sports Stroller. They have a bunch of great features that really impress us. First off, if you think you may have another child, they have a doubles kit so you can convert your stroller into a double and go back to a single as needed. Without this kit, there's still a drop down bassinet for your newborn so you can start using it immediately after your doctor gives you the okay to exercise. There's also an adjustable handle, adjustable restraints on both seats, two pockets, a window in the canopy, a cell phone pouch, locking straps to hold the stroller closed, and more. But what we like is that the front wheel can be swivel or fixed, so you have the choice. If you are walking through the woods on a curvy path, you can set the front wheel to swivel so you don't need to lift the front wheel. Put it to fixed when you are jogging on a bike path. I'm not sure if I'll be buying a jogging stroller, but if I do, this will definitely be the one!

Carrier Cover by Brooks Pond

With cooler weather coming for much of the country, it might be time to think about products like this Carrier Cover. The carrier cover will keep your baby warm and cozy in a variety of popular infant carriers including the Baby Bjorn. Its made out of heavyweight fleece, and has an integrated collar and hood. For the parents there are pockets to keep your hands warm and an interior zip pouch for your wallet and keys. And the whole thing is adjustable to keep pace with your growing baby. We didn't have to use our Baby Bjorn in the winter, as Andy had grown out of it by then. However, I always worried about keeping him warm enough in the carrier, and a cover like this would've been perfect!

Time's Up/Time Out

I think this is such a great idea for a toddler. The Time's Up/Time Out Bear has a standard timer on its belly, so your little one can see it unwind and help understand time management. Just turn the timer and tell your child that it's time to go to bed when it stops (or whatever you need timed). Another suggested use is for time outs. We haven't gotten to that point yet, but I can certainly see how it'd be a good idea for that too. And the bear is quite cute too!

via Hope's Bag

Threadless Sale

We are big Threadless fans in this household as I'm sure all our readers have realized. They are having their $10 sale again, and this includes the kid's tees. Onesies are $15 (and I can't remember if that's their normal price or not), but if you want to stock up on tees for the entire family, now is a great time to do it. There are also new designs out too, but everything is going fast.

Jill Maternity Tank Top

Do you want to make it clear to the world that you are pregnant? The Jill Tank is perfect for you then! It is a simple white tank top with a large picture of a baby girl right on the belly. I would have loved this tank when I was at the in-between stage where people did a double take when looking at me wondering if I was pregnant or just gained some weight. If you are having a boy, there's also the Jack Tank. Not sure what you're having? There's a Special Delivery Tank and a Cruiser Tank for you.

Shampoo Rinse Cup

At bath time, we often run into trouble when we're rinsing Andy's hair. We use a regular plastic cup to scoop up some water, and we pour it over his head while trying our best to keep it out of his eyes. Sometimes that doesn't work so well, and even though we're using "tear free" shampoo, there are still tears! The Shampoo Rinse Cup from One Step Ahead might be a good solution to this common problem. It has a soft rubber panel which you can place against your child's forehead. Then when you poor the water, it should all head in the right direction. Of course, it also just might help if your child would look up for you when you rinse. But this gadget seems useful, and might be a good addition to your bathtub!

Learning Tees

Learning Tees are organic tops that have a letter and a picture that corresponds to that letter. For instance, the letter D says "d is for dog" on the tee with a picture of a dog. It's a great way to help your child learn the alphabet! Each tee also comes with a fact tag that you can use to look up more information on the subject on their website as well as download a picture of it to color in. Some of my favorites from this bunch are b is for bubbles, p is for pumpkin, and m is for martian, but all are beautiful and would be great for your child. Each is also available in sizes 3 months to 6T.

Clothes Tree

I am great at throwing my clothes all over my bedroom, so of course I do the same to all of Andy's clothes. I may decide that something is still clean, or I just don't finish putting his clothes away after cleaning them. So I think this Clothes Tree would work great in his nursery. It's almost four feet tall, has an easy assembly, and comes in three colors. And it's so much more interesting than your standard clothes tree with it's branches and buds coming off of them. It's a great way to not feel guilty about leaving clothes about!

Hangin with my Gnomies

Here's a cool little onesie from The Retro Baby: Hangin' with my Gnomies. The onesie is made from 100% cotton, lap shoulders for easy dressing, and snaps at the bottom. The design features 2 gnomes (of the garden variety), with the phrase "Hangin' with my Gnomies" underneath. That's just undeniably whimsical and silly, and is sure to get lots of attention when you're about town with your little one. It's available in sizes from newborn up to 18 months.

via Rare Bird Finds

Creanimaux Farm from Djeco

For some reason, I'm all about farms right now. I'm not even sure if I've ever been to one, so I don't know why I want to push them on Andy. Maybe so he learns his animals? No matter the reason, the Creanimaux Farm from Djeco is adorable! It's made up of 29 individual blocks that can by used to make a dog, bunny, horse, pig, cow, and chicken. And they can be mixed up to make unique creatures too! The pieces are chunky enough for a toddler, full of color, and 100% wood.

New Glug Baby Clothing at Black Wagon

There have been some great new clothing items by Glug Baby out at Black Wagon that we are so excited about. Our favorite has got to be the Leaf Dress (which we wish was in adult sizes as well!), but there's also the Fall Long Sleeve Tee, the Corduroy Skirt that are super cool too.

Review: Slick Sugar

Here at Super Cool Baby headquarters, we received a size 2 Rock Star Dog t-shirt from Slick Sugar. Laura wrote about Slick Sugar late last month. They specialize in clothing for newborns to 6T.

Continue reading: "Review: Slick Sugar"

Baby Garden in a Bag

Do you want to celebrate a friend's birth in a unique way? Consider the It's a Boy! and It's a Girl! Gardens-in-a-Bag at Wishing Fish. They are easy to grow, so there's not a lot of hard work for the new mom and dad, and they get pretty flowers in their house. Or if you have a ton of money, you could send them out as announcements to everyone you know. But at $8 each, that could get expensive!

BabblePedia

If you've had kids, you'll know that some of the best parenting advice comes from other parents (as long as it isn't unsolicited of course!). At BabblePedia they have advice on topics from Breastfeeding to Vaccines, and its all from other parents like you. In the spirit of Wikipedia anybody can change and contribute to the BabblePedia, so each article should only get better (or at least point out both sides of every controversy). Most articles have a short little blurb, followed by a series of expert opinions (usually taken from articles posted on other parenting websites), followed by the opinions and experiences of other parents. This is a great way of seeing a wide variety of literature on a given topic, which can be very helpful. So, the next time you're looking for some parenting advice, be sure to check out the BabblePedia!

Piggy Hat

Fall will be here before we know it, and I want to be more prepared than I was last year. One thing I'm thinking about is hats. Andy's head is huge and he needs new ones. I think the Piggy Hat would be absolutely adorable on him. It's hand knit and fits ages 1-4. They may hate us when we pull out the pictures of ourbabies in this hat when they're teenagers, but until then I think any baby would look precious in it!

Birthday Hats

I had never heard of a birthday hat for a baby before, but it's such a cute idea (if your baby will allow it!). At Dimples and Dandelions, there's the Blue Pom Pom 1st Birthday Hat for a boy, and for a girl there's many more such as the Luxe Lavender Chenille Birthday Hat and the Chenille Girl Birthday Hat. If you want to commemorate your baby's birthday, this is a super cute way to do so!

3-D Activity Book by Tiny Love

Andy liked interactive books much sooner than he liked picture books. I had a few at the time, but I wish we had owned something like the 3-D Activity Book too. This book has 5 colorful double pages with different features on each. It helps with fine motor skills, imagination, and lots more, and it can be attached to a stroller or crib or a favorite toy, so you can always have it nearby.

Chalk-a-Dots

Here's a neat idea for your nursery decoration over at Modernseed: Chalk-a-Dots. These chalk dots are 18.5-inches in diameter, and come as a set of 4 different colors. They can be moved after you put them up — they're not as permanent as painting your nursery with chalk paint. With a newborn, you could keep track of milestones on these (until you put them in your baby book of course), or you could keep track of feedings and changings. And once your child is older they can be a canvas for her imagination! If 18.5-inches is a little big for you, there are smaller ones available too. If you like these, be sure to use the coupon code FILLY10 at checkout to save 10% on your order.

Slumber Bear with Silkie

The Slumber Bear with Silkie is a great idea. It was created by a doctor, and has been used by hospitals and pediatricians for over 25 years. The bear itself is a plush, 10-inch stuffed animal. But the ingenious part of it is the sound box in the stomach. It is loaded with actual womb recordings and has a quick five minute shut off. Five minutes? you're probably asking yourself right now, but its also got a motion sensor that starts the recording all over again if it detects your baby stirring. So, no more creeping into the nursery to turn on a CD player! Finally, Mom should keep the Silkie blankie around her during the day. The blanket will pick up her scent and lend a extra comfort to your baby at night. Definitely a great gift for any new parents!

Magnet Mates by Tiny Love

Andy's now at the age that he seems to appreciate magnet toys. He has a few cars that attach by magnets, but nothing like Magnet Mates by Tiny Love. The three figures (which all come together) can be attached to each other in different ways, making them look like the best of friends. They are colorful and cute and much more fun than your normal plush toys.

New Designs at Threadless

Threadless has been coming out with a bunch of cute tees and onesies in the past weeks, and we thought it'd be a good time to tell you about them. Some of our favorite new designs include Skip Dessert, The Young Explorers Society, There's No Crying in Breakfast, Wanted, Hidden, Sea-Saw II, and Video Games Ruined My Life. All these designs are available in men's and women's sizes too!

Review: Wilbur

There's a show on Discovery Kids that's trying to teach children an important lesson: books are fun and empowering. Wilbur, a young calf, and his barnyard friends have fun and challenging adventures. When they get stuck on some particularly vexing problems, Wilbur turns to his books. After reading the first few words the books come to life, presenting your kids with an animated story. In these stories, the solution to Wilbur's problem is shown. Sometimes it takes another reading to get the whole solution nailed down, though.

Continue reading: "Review: Wilbur"

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner Controversy

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner seems to be a controversial item right now. Many companies selling clothes with this saying are being sued by Lionsgate for trademark infringement according to The Hollywood Reporter. That includes Duck Duck Goose, one of our favorite children's boutiques. If you like this design, we recommend you buy it now in case it's pulled off the shelves in the future.

Haba Trapper Bag

Sending a toddler off to preschool this fall? Check out this cool Trapper Bag from Haba. It's got a roomy pocket to fit larger items, and lots of small pockets for odds and ends. The adjustable straps let the bag grow with your child for a few years. The bag is made from washable nylon — just toss it in the washing machine.

Jiah

Jiah has some of the cutest baby clothes we've seen in a long time. Each item is handmade and the pieces are layered on each other for a bit of a 3D appearance. We love the fabric choices and details of them, such as the button eyes. Some of our favorites in this shop include Hoot Tank, How Does Your Garden Grow Dress, and the Love Birds Tee. But really each piece is amazing, we highly suggest you look around yourself!

Fresco Hi-Chair

Here's another really well designed high chair. The Fresco Hi-Chair from Bloom is designed with a baby's entire babyhood in mind. First, it can swivel 360 degrees and has a pneumatically assisted height adjustment that can be set in any position. From 3 months on, you can recline the seat all the way to make a sleeping pod. From 6 months on, you can use it as an infant seat, a play chair, and for feeding. You can also remove the tray and pull your baby right up to the table. And finally, from 2 to 4 years, you can use it as a child's chair. (And by then it's probably time to start all over again!). While $400 is on the expensive side, this well made high chair will last for years, if not generations. The Fresco hi chair is available in Bermuda Blue, Rock Red, Orange Harvest, Rosey Pink, and Frost Grey.

Plane Spoon

We have certainly been known to pretend Andy's baby spoon is a plane zooming into his mouth. This tactic has worked quite well for us when he didn't want to eat, although luckily that wasn't too often. If your baby needs a little bit of coaxing, the Plane Spoon might be perfect for you! It is literally a spoon with an airplane attached. It slips off easily for cleaning too!

Child Minder System

There have been a lot of instances in the news lately about children dying in hot cars. It happens every summer, and it makes us sick. If this is a worry of yours, especially if you have someone else driving your child around, you may want to consider the Child Minder System. It is made up of a chest clip for the car seat and a key ring attachment. It notices and sets off an alarm when the driver walks more than ten feet away from the monitor. That way, it'd be hard to leave a child in a car accidently. It installs easily too. It's not compatible with a couple of car seats, so make sure to look into that on their website before buying though.

via Coolest Gadgets

Simple Silhouettes

When I was young, we had a couple of meticulously, hand traced silhouettes. Of course, as the youngest of six children, I never had one of myself — everybody was sick of them by the time it was my turn. So, I was intrigued to hear about a new business that has just started up: Simply Silhouettes. They make custom designed silhouette products, from traditional black on white, to aprons and 30x30" gallery wrapped canvases. The neatest thing is, all you need to do is send a photo of your subject, and they do all the other work for you! This would be a great gift, and it's one that is sure to last for generations.

Review: B Nature Organic Clothing

B Nature Organic is a baby clothing company that makes everything out of 100% organic cotton. They were founded because they wanted an organic alternative on the market that was both comfortable for the babies as well as stylish. They use a lot of natural colors and are also chemical free, which allows them to "be natural," hence their name! Their clothing is made with organizations that treat their workers fairly and have healthy work environments too. So you don't have to feel bad about clothing your child in their clothes!

Continue reading: "Review: B Nature Organic Clothing"

Flute by Sevi

We've said before how we like musical instruments for toddlers because it introduces the joys of music at a young age. We recently told you about a xylophone, and here's a Flute from Sevi too. While it's called a flute, it's actually a recorder. It's made of wood and hand painted. It's perfect for the budding musician in your life!

Computer Code in Crashed - Chenille Baby Bib

Looking for the perfect gift for your brand new geeky offspring? Check out this great chenille bib: Computer Code in Crashed. The front is a computer code print on a black background, and the reverse is a plush chenille. Each order is custom sewn, so it may look a little different than the sample pictured above.

via Shiny Shiny

Peter Potty

There are probably hundreds of products designed to make potty training easier, but the Peter Potty is definitely one of the more unique products. Designed for boys, of course, the Peter Potty is a stand-up urinal for toddlers. It can be mounted on the wall, or on a stand on the floor. After your little guy is done, he can even hit the button to flush. You'll have to occasionally empty out the catch basin, and refill the flush water. If you want to get a better sense of how it works, check out this video.

via Shopping Blog

Fort Cloudy

If you and your baby like your ninjas, check out the Ninja Fetus onesie and bib over at Fort Cloudy. I also like the Elephant Onesie and the Apple Baby Onesie. If you see a design you like but not on the right size, contact the company as they are happy to do custom orders too!

Via Funky Finds

Ant Bib

I am very afraid of ants, yet I still cannot help but love the Ant Bib at Two Blue Peas. The bib is handmade so each one is unique. It ties behind the neck (which is good if your child pulls off his bib like mine!) and is coated with a clear vinyl for easy wiping. If you're buying it for someone else as a gift, consider the Life's a Picnic gift set which has the bib plus wool felt food for the child to play with!