Celebrity Baby Blog Reviews

Bholu: Giving new meaning to giving back

Australian designer Jodie Fried had been living in India for several years on a costume design scholarship when a major earthquake flattened the country's desert region of Gujarat in 2001, killing tens of thousands. Moved by the plight of a people she'd fallen in love with, Jodie soon found herself sifting through the rubble on an aid mission in an impoverished area near the border with Pakistan, where she was charged with the task of rebuilding and decorating the huts which had been destroyed by the quake. Somewhere in the midst of all that destruction, Bholu was born. Says Jodie,   

I experienced amazing hospitality by these incredibly rural and poor traditional people. I became particularly close with the women, whose beautiful traditional embroidery is only really used for their own clothing.

They are amazing women, they have bangles up to their armpits and do their embroidery with a child strapped to their back in low light. Their skill and art amazed me, and I thought immediately: I have to do something with this.

Do something, she did. Bholu produces high-end cushions and throws for adults, but where we think Jodie's company truly shines is with her Bubalah children's range. You don't even have to take my word for it:  Bholu's stuffed toys, swaddling blankets and kids bedsheet/pillow sets are also loved by celebrity moms like Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts and Toni Colette. What's not to love? The designs are both inspired and inspiring, making Bholu a purchase you can feel good about for years and years to come. 

Click continue reading for the entire Bholu review.

Serena & Lily's Gently Used Program

Do you have a new baby coming or need to update your baby's room?  Serena & Lily has partnered with Baby Buggy, a New York City non-profit founded by Jessica Seinfeld, to outfit the thousands of cribs they donate every year to infants in need.

Through the Gently Loved program, you can donate your gently-used crib bumper to Baby Buggy, and receive a "thank you" gift certificate of $100 from Serena & Lily, good toward any purchase on their website. (Note: minimum purchase of $250 required.)

Email sales@serenaandlily.com for details.

Healthy Child Healthy World - What Every Parent Should Know

With a new baby or toddler in the family, most parents "babyproof" the home, putting locks on the cabinets and bumpers on the tables. But what about the dangers we can't see—the environmental toxins that can affect our children’s health, growth and development? To help guard against these dangers, there's Healthy Child Healthy World.

On April 26th in Los Angeles, Healthy Child Healthy World (formerly CHEC) will celebrate the launch of Healthy Child Healthy World, the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to protecting children’s environmental health.  VIP guests will join Laura Dern, Amy Brennemann, HCHW’s Executive Director, Christopher Gavigan, renowned pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp and other celeb parents and walk through a real-life HealtheHouse, check out the latest and greatest in "green lifestyle" products and home design, and learn about the easy steps everyone can take to make their homes safer for their families.

To celebrate Mother’s Day, Coach has created an ultra-stylish baby bag and during April and May, a portion of the proceeds from online sales will be donated to Healthy Child Healthy World. The Coach Scribble Health Child Baby Bag is a generously sized diaper bag with tons of pockets (two inside zip pockets, front and back zipper pockets, two side open pockets, a cellphone pocket), zip-top closure,  ring/keyfob, diaper changing pad, and can be carried using the 22" handles or the 60" adjustable detachable strap. The print is Coach's signature scribble fabric, with suede and leather trim. It retails for $348. Visit Coach.com to find a Coach store near you.

Founded by Jim and Nancy Chuda in 1992 after their daughter Colette died from a rare form of non-hereditary brain cancer that has been linked to pesticides, Healthy Child has since become a resource for millions of parents and caregivers worldwide. Business partners include Whole Foods, Seventh Generation, Coach and IKEA, and more; celebrity supporters include Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Laura Dern, Amy Brennemann and Meryl Streep, among others.

Visit HealthyChild.org for more info.

Free Baby Dust: Get some good luck for free

One of the cutest sites I’ve come across is freebabydust.com. This totally free service sends you baby dust in the mail with a little sympathetic note. You can sprinkle the baby dust all around you and hope for the best.  Send it to yourself or to a friend.

Such a great and sweet idea! Get it at freebabydust.com.

Moncalin: Unique and cuddly animals and blankets

For those who prefer a stuffed animal that is neither a licensed character nor found in every mass retailer in town, Moncalin presents an adorable option.  French for "my cuddle," Moncalin's plush pigs, cats, blankets and star shaped blankees are super soft and cuddly, handsewn, and made without beads or plastic parts.  Details are embroidered so they are safe for infants.  Plus they're machine washable.

Their two collections each include stuffed cats and pigs, double-sided blankets and blankees.  The Classic Collection combines butter yellow, candy pink, or pistachio with contrasting striped features.  The Chocolate Collection combines chocolate brown, pink, blue or pistachio with contrasting details, and are accented with a heart.  Everything is meticulously designed with children in mind.  The fabrics are extremely soft and cuddly that you can't help but rub it on your face. The blankees are star-shaped so babies have many different edges to chew on or play with.  Similarly, the blankets are knotted on the corners so children can play with and grab them.

Celeb fans of Moncalin plush animals and blankets include Gwyneth Paltrow who wrote, "Oh my goodness, we are absolutely knocked out," Christian and Sibi Bale whose daughter was photographed in Us Weekly with their candy pink and melon blanket, Brooke Shields who wrote, "What a treat!" and Carnie Wilson who said, "Wow, I've never seen such an adorable pig!"  Dustin Hoffman requested a custom bee plush animal for his upcoming film, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.  Click here for photos of celebs posing with their favorite Moncalin plush.

Feel good about your purchase of Moncalin because they donate 10% of Internet profits to Stitches From the Heart, a non-profit organization that sends handmade clothing, blankets, and love to premature babies all across the nation. Stitches From the Heart also has a senior program that helps seniors help others by donating yarn and supplies.

Nina and Tom: Fun Family Halloween Fashion

Here at Celebrity Baby Blog we can not stop singing praises for nina and tom family fashion. This incredibly fun line of onesies, lap-ts and t-shirts for the entire family are incredibly soft and also incredibly cute. Designed and manually screen-printed by this husband and wife team, the shirts focus on concepts that are fun, educational and send a positive message.

Aside from using only the finest 100% cotton garments available, nina and tom also use organically grown cotton in many cases -- a more sustainable, responsible and eco-conscious solution. They also donate garments and a percentage of profits to many national and international charities.

Celebrity babies Moses Martin and Kingston Rossdale were gifted with nina and tom’s Onesie-A-Month Club. This sweet deal means that they’ll be getting twelve onesies by the time they turn one! The Onesie-a-Month Club is a great baby shower or birthday gift. Onesies can be sent monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly and each onesie is gift-wrapped and has free shipping. Along with the first onesie, recipients receive a certificate for membership into the club.

Moses has also received the Blobzilla and Sweet Pea onesies while sister Apple has received the City Girl lap-t (exclusively sold at the New York Tribeca store Trunkt). Kingston has received the Der Poopinator onesie as well as the black Love and Peace tee. (As an aside, my little girl gets comments on her black Love and Peace tee all the time!)

Just in time for Halloween nina and tom family fashion has come out with some great Halloween-themed shirts too. If the simple Happy Halloween shirt that says “boo” on the back isn’t scary enough, try the Sour Flower, Frankenfish or Skelator shirts instead. Shirts are under $20.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Uncommonly Cute's C is for Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in support of this important event, we are thrilled to introduce Uncommonly Cute's newest arrival... their "C is for Cure" t-shirt and onesie in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Through this nationwide effort, Allison Friedland, the company's founder (and no relation to Danielle!) is proud to give back to this worthy cause that has touched both family and friends that are dear to her.

Uncommonly Cute will donate 25% from the sale of this product to this outstanding organization to help find a cure. This is the only product available for little ones to show their support while strolling through the awareness walks... Now babies everywhere can give strength to mom, grandma, aunts, family and friends... after all "laughter is the best medicine."

Celebrity parents and Munchkin urge women "Don't Duck a Breast Exam"

As part of its Project Pink breast cancer support campaign, baby/toddler products company Munchkin created a limited edition pink bath duck to be sold online and at major retailers, with proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  The message associated with the duck is "Don't Duck a Breast Exam." 

In addition, celebrity parents and other celebrities have pitched in by decorating Project Pink ducks that will be auctioned off on Ebay. Duck designers include Reese Witherspoon (who had help from daughter Ava Phillippe), the President's mom, Barbara Bush, Cheryl Hines, Patti LaBelle, William Shatner, Martin Sheen, as well as Nancy O'Dell, and Stacy Keibler.  The auctions run October 1-31.

Visit Munchkin's website to purchase a (non-celebrity decorated) Project Pink duck for $2.99 and send a free e-card to loved ones to remind them to do a breast exam.  They also offer a page to read and share tips about being a mom with breast cancer.  You can also enter their sweepstakes to win an  all-expense paid family vacation to Los Angeles to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure® on February 25, 2007.

Munchkin is donating to the Komen Foundation 100% of net proceeds raised from the sale of the non-celeb ducks.

Pumpkin Noodle Clothing on Extreme Makeover Home Edition This Sunday

Pumpkin Noodle, a simple but sophisticated line of clothing for babies and toddlers from 0 to 4T, has donated clothing to the three youngest children (there are six in the family) for the house being done by the Extreme Makeover Home Edition team in Michigan. The episode airs this Sunday, October 1^st, on ABC (check your local listings for times).

If you are looking for a really cute gift, look no further than Pumpkin Noodle. The line focuses on sweet little sayings like Brand New for a newborn or Little Luv combined with decorative ribbon embellishments (my daughter wears the Le Bebe tank top in pink) make this line stand out from the rest.

Pumpkin Noodle also has a sweet and simple collection focused on adorable “studies” in all things baby with screen-printed phrases such as cute.ology/the study of me. They also offer hand-made frames and other decor to decorate the nursery with, washer/dryer safe cashmere-like clothing and blankets by Kashwere and ultra soft blankets and pillows by Little Giraffe. There is a lot to choose from -- I have my eye on the yoga pants which look super comfy!

Celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Gweneth Paltrow, Heidi Klum and Denise Richards have all been gifted with Pumpkin Noodle products for their kids.

All Pumpkin Noodle products arrive in a signature gift box wrapped in tissue, tulle and double-faced satin ribbon. Each order also includes a personal, hand-written note from Pumpkin Noodle owner, Tracy Rains – I love that!

To continue the gift of giving, Pumpkin Noodle would like to offer 10% off to all CBB readers at their online boutique at www.pumpkinnoodle.com through the end of October. Use coupon code EMHE.