Celebrity Baby Blog Reviews

Organic Baby Bunch: The best flowers you’ll ever receive

Picture this: you’ve just had a baby. A delivery of beautiful flowers arrives at your door. Nice, right? Sure. But then you have to find a vase, put water in it, trim the ends of the flowers, find somewhere to display them where the cat won’t knock them over… you see where I’m going.

Now imagine a similar scenario. Only what arrives at your door isn’t your typical flower arrangement. At first glance it is, but when you look closer you see that some of the flowers in the Organic Baby Bunch are actually made of unbleached, organic cotton. And, once you’ve spent enough time ogling the pretty bouquet, you can unwrap the cotton flowers to find all kinds of useful baby clothes. Which flower delivery would you pick? The Organic Baby Bunch, of course!

New Jammies: A fruity and fun bedtime treat

It's not easy making healthy fare seem fun to a kid addicted to chicken nuggets and mac 'n cheese. But it helps to make the carrots and peas of this world a little less scary! New Jammies is a line of adorable PJs with fun prints of all your child's not-so-favorite fruits and veggies. Founded by mom Nicole Weinberger, the company hopes to get children excited about eating better and makes its PJs ($27 - $35) for kids all the way from 0-3 months up to 6-years-old. 

"We may call our children 'picky eaters,' when in fact we have been depriving their diets of all the wonderful flavors and pleasures of natural fruits and vegetables ... You only have one chance to give your child a healthy start and a healthy planet, so let's start today -- together!! Eat right, sleep tight!" writes Weinberger on her site. The PJs are made of organic cotton and each set comes with a little book called Counting My Fruits and Veggies about "silly oranges that smile and giggle" and "yellow bananas that love to wobble." Just reassure your little one that no members of the produce family are hiding under the bed.

To shop, click here.

Simon Says: Where cool rules

You know that game your children play? The one where one child commands everyone else to copy a series of actions? Well, if they were playing it with you right now it would probably start something like this: Simon says… please start shopping for me at Simon Says! And then it would continue like this: Simon says… while you’re shopping, please make sure you get all the coolest clothing brands and, hey, maybe some cool accessories and toys, too. And normally, you’d be rather annoyed to hear your children speaking to you like this. But when they’re right and shopping online at Simon Says turns out to be as much fun for you as it is for them… well, you’ll probably forgive them.

Simon Says, a Toronto-based retail store, has launched a new website selling beautiful clothing, shoes, accessories, and toys for children ranging from newborns up to 10-years-old. They recently sent me a selection of their oh-so-fabulous merchandise and my kids have been hitting the town in it -- like little celebrity babies in their own right -- ever since.

Jazzy Toes: Totally adorable footwear

Baby foot fetish alert! If you find yourself helpless when confronted with cute products for itty bitty baby feet, go throw your wallet in the freezer to cool off right now. Otherwise read on.

Check out these socks that look like shoes by Jazzy Toes. I've seen this concept done in socks and booties for girls before but haven't seen as many cute styles for little boys. Jazzy Toes are particularly well executed.  I'm loving the variety pack of all six styles ($27). It's like a whole little instant foot wardrobe. So when my son is wearing his eco-friendly tees, I have some Birken-socks for him, and when he is kitted out in fancy pants, I've got some stretchy knit wingtips. And when he is just lounging around, kickin' it with his peeps - we have the soft cotton loafer look to complete his ensemble. Sneakers, deck shoes, and cowboy boots round out the collection.

Jazzy Toes makes a girly variety pack as well, so don't get your knee-high's in a twist if you only have daughters to dress. Sold in irresistible sets of six, these super baby socks get two big toes up from my mini product tester.

Get yours at the Jazzy Toes site.

Tea Collection: New styles for summer in-store now

With an emphasis on comfort and fun, Tea Collection recently unveiled its new line for summer 2008 and there's a little something for everyone.  Bright, bold colors and prints are as hot as ever and the Daily Tea Blossom Tank Dress -- in 'chili pepper' no less -- ($23; available in 3-6 months to 5 years; shown at left) is proof.  This adorable cotton frock is perfect for casual summer outings and, for a sundress, offers surprisingly good coverage in front and in back.  The kimono styling is totally in keeping with the Daily Tea philosophy of drawing inspiration from all the "little citizens of the world," and the dress combines a bold, large screened floral print with a smaller, more subdued floral print on the rib contrast trim and straps.  It's a great length, hitting right at the knee, and can be worn either alone or with Tea's matching bloomer shorts ($15, available in 3-6 months to 18-24 months). 

The Daily Tea Check Cargo Shorts ($17.50, available in 3-6 months to 5 years) are bound to make a statement at the playground.  The red and black check print is bold, the length is perfect, and the fully-encased elastic waist means that every square inch of these shorts -- made of super soft 100% cotton -- is 100% comfortable.  It pairs perfectly with this Daily Tea Octopus Tee ($19.50, available in 3-6 months to 5 years; shown at right).  Available in the color 'milk' it features a super cool, gigantic octopus in shades of gray and red, with gray ringer tee accents.  If octopi aren't your thing, try one of the other graphic tees featuring sea creatures, like the koi fish and the crab.  Buying one for baby?  Besides being incredibly soft against delicate skin, the tees are super easy to get on and off courtesy of three snaps at the collar.

To view the entire line or purchase any of the items featured here, visit TeaCollection.com. 

BabyStyle: Break the mold, not the bank

So you probably knew that BabyStyle was the place to go if you were looking for a hot new diaper bag or a cutting-edge stroller, and you probably knew that it was a great place to find designer duds for both mom and baby.  But did you know that BabyStyle, itself, is responsible for some of the most adorably hip clothes on their site?  The Los Angeles-based  boutique is proud to count many of our favorite celebrity moms as loyal fans, including Halle Berry, Mariska Hargitay, Brooke Burke and Christina Aguilera.  Having sampled their new summer 2008 line, we've become big fans of the brand, ourselves.  The clothes are edgy and fun, well-made and durable -- all at a price you can afford.

Baby Sparewear: Saving you, and celebrity moms too

It happens to the best babies. The public blowout, the sudden spit up, the mashed potato mess. And though you try and prepare yourself for the inevitable, it's easy to get caught out without a change of clothes. Even veteran diaper bag packers such as myself have been known to dress their poor soiled babies in little more than a paper napkin and rush home for a change. For shame!  The problem I had in the past was not having a designated disaster preparedness kit like the one that Baby Sparewear so excellently puts together. Sure I have been known to toss an extra tee in the bag, but then my husband uses it and I forget to check when I head out on the next trip.  We all know this story has a baby wearing a paper napkin at the end, right? And do you like how I blamed my husband?

CBB's Top Registry Picks: Reva's 'must-have' baby items!

Looking for some advice on some great baby-buys?  Check out our new series -- CBB Registry -- where our staff fills you in on their 'must-have' baby products.  Fashion, babywearing, strollers, bottles...we cover it all!

Today we're featuring one of our reviewers, Reva, and her baby essentials.

Click below for Reva's registry!

Moboleez Breastfeeding Hats: The Most Clever Cover-Up Ever!

I thought I had seen it all when it came to nursing cover ups. Basically I thought there were only three varieties: the apron, the blanket/shawl and the poncho. But I was wrong! Because a very, very clever mom has come up with a whole new way to cover up when nursing your baby in public. You might even say that she came up with it right off the top of her head ... the MoBoleez ($29.99) is brilliant!

All kidding aside, when I saw this product I had to crack a great big grin. I never would have thought of using a wide brimmed hat to cover my breast while nursing but it makes perfect sense. And it works just perfectly!

Click 'continue reading' for the entire MoBoleez review.

Pondür: No need to ponder organic baby apparel

Pondür makes exceptional apparel for babies out of the finest 100% organic cotton and I can feel the difference. They also use low impact dyes and water-based inks. And, the designs they churn out with those inks and dyes are absolutely adorable. Take for instance the quotes you can choose from for each onesie or lap tee, "My footprints may be small but my dreams are big," "My possibilities are endless," "Take care of me…take care of the world" and "Who am I not to be?". What baby or toddler do you know who wouldn't look even cuter with one of these on?

Lap tees and onesies are both $23 and come in assorted colors to choose from. Pondür doesn't use tags in their products to help keep little necks from getting scratchy and they use all recycled materials for their packaging and hang tags. I love a brand that keeps you looking and feeling good! Shop at pondur.com.

Mountain Aven Baby: Making babies hip, one appliqué at a time

OK, I admit it.  I'm obsessed with Etsy. Like, not mildly obsessed ... Like, laying-in-bed-at-night-wondering-what-new-and-insanely -cute-stuff-will-be-waiting-for-me-to-view-over-my-morning-coffee, obsessed. I have to say that among my all-time Etsy favorites thus far is Mountain Aven Baby. Designer Blair Stone's style must mesh perfectly with mine, because I find just about every single item for sale in her Etsy shop adorable and perfect for our two little boys.  We recently sampled a few of her appliquéd tees and -- suffice it to say -- Mountain Aven Baby didn't disappoint.

Monster Proof Pajamas: PJ's sure to scare the monsters away

Monsters under the bed, in the closet or, in my daughter's case, in the light fixture ... these are normal childhood fears that cause lots of sleepless nights for both parent and child. An easy way to calm your child's fears is by introducing them to Zam, Zimbo, Zeek, Zelly and Zack, the five members of the monster family who make up The Sleeping Zzzzz©.

Created by Kathy Carabasi, Monster Proof® pajamas and The Sleeping Zzzzz© children's book help ease children's fears of monsters. The book tells the story of the five members of the Sleeping Zzzzz family, each with their unique personality that represents one of the five senses. Each member of the Sleeping Zzzzz family can use their special monster proof power to see, lick, hug, listen for and sniff out monsters.

Click continue reading below for the entire Monster Proof Pajamas review.

Rock & Rattle: For the littlest rockstar in your life

By CBB Guest Reviewer: Louise B.

There are several reasons why I love the internet; I can connect with friends around the globe, find out information in an instant or simply discover new things. MySpace has been a great source for me to discover new music and stay connected with bands that don’t get a lot of mainstream coverage.

I recently had a song stuck in my head for a life changing event in my life; I ran my very first half marathon. That night, I searched for the band The Saint Alvia Cartel so I could add the song, Don’t Wanna Wait Forever, to my profile and add them to my "friends." Normally, I don’t get bands sending me messages but this time I did. Greg Taylor, one of the singers and guitar player/producer noticed I have two boys and invited me to check out his clothing line for children. And this is where I discovered Rock & Rattle, a very hip, not too harsh, rock and roll clothing line for babies and toddlers.

Click continue reading for the entire Rock & Rattle review.

Tiny Revolutionary "Bris" Tees: Getting snipped should count for something

One of the things that Jewish mommies have to look forward to when they have sons, is a Bris. What is a Bris you ask? It's a party for the baby and family, held on the eighth day of life, and it is also when the ritual of circumcision is performed. Usually by a trained professional called a Mohel, who may or may not also be an MD. Our Mohel is a MD -- he's also known for attending to both Jewish and non-Jewish celeb babies but I don't think he's giving me that scoop!

Even for the initiated it can feel very strange to plan a party that includes both a medical procedure and deli platters. I think the closest thing I have heard of in our modern culture involves grown women and botox (and perhaps less pastrami). But I digress ... Understandably, planning your son's Bris can be a little traumatic, for all of you. You're a new mom, he's a new human. Your husband may decide he is experiencing primal memories of his own Bris and develop a case of melodramatic PTSD. It's a good time for a little glass of wine (take it easy if you are breastfeeding please!) and a full dose of a sense of humor.

Enter adorable tees from Tiny Revolutionary. Consider it baby's first memento tee for his earliest performance as a rock star. Printed on the worlds softest burnout tees (like your favorite vintage tee), they simply say "I Survived the Bris!" ($22). If you have such a joyous and nerve-wrenching event to attend in the near future, this is a gift that is sure to be extremely well received by all. I'm just waiting for the parent size version because really, people, I'm already thinking that I have nothing to wear to this party!  Tiny Revolutionary also makes a cute, humorous "My Mommy's Milk is Kosher" tee ($22). The gals at the JCC are gonna kvell.

Exclusively for Celebrity Baby Blog Readers: Enter coupon code "MAZEL" to save 15% on your order.

Ciaran's Note: I realize many parents have strong feelings about whether or not to circumcise. I respect the choices of others to refrain, and respectfully request no comments about our family's traditions and decisions here. But feel free to comment on the tees!

Mommy's Little Monkey: Breastfeeder in training!

One of the most disappointing moments of my life was in the hospital after giving birth to my daughter when I realized that, despite telling the nurses several thousand times that my daughter was a breastfed baby, they gave her a bottle in the nursery during the few hours that we were forced to be separated. I wish that I had found this set from Mommy's Little Monkey, which not only acts like a note to the nurses, but is also super clever and cute.

The 100% cotton onesie reads: 

To My Wonderful Nurse,
I'm learning how to breastfeed. Please no bottles or pacifiers while I'm in your care. Mommy is waiting for my return to feed me.
(heart),
Baby. 

Such a simple concept yet so brilliant! The matching beanie reads Breastfeeder in Training. I love it and have already recommended it to several pregnant friends.

I also love recommending Mommy's Little Monkey in general because they are self-described enthused advocates of breastfeeding which I always like to support! Also from the company are nursing curtains (cover ups) in the original and simple and sweet designs. And, they also have a complete line of onesies and other "threads" available for your little monkey.

Exclusively for CBB Reviews readers: FREE SHIPPING for purchases over $60 through March 15, 2008! Discount will be taken after checkout. Check out the full selection at www.mommyslittlemonkey.com.

Appaman: New spring line includes track suits

We have been huge fans of Appaman clothing in our house for a long time now. When the line first came out we didn't even have a kid yet but we purchased Appaman onesies for our godson and friend's kids. By the time our daughter Catie was born, the line had expanded to include a girl's line which we quickly fell in love with.

Made famous when Maddox Jolie-Pitt sported their Bulldog Tee, Appaman has long been a favorite of celebrity parents including David & Victoria Beckham, Kate Hudson, Mariska Hargitay, David Arquette & Courteney Cox-Arquette, Chris Martin & Gwyneth Paltrow, Ed Burns & Christy Turlington Burns, Michelle Williams, Patrick Dempsey, Sheryl Crow and Liv Tyler. The line, which began with onesies, has expanded over time into a full collection and celebrity babies are often seen sporting pieces of the line.

This spring the line has expanded even further to include the sporty track suit. Available in four colors, including citrus orange, sage, royal blue and mulberry, these awesome sets pay homage to the final days of The Sopranos. The new collection has a strong focus on vibrant colors and themes that reflect designer Harald Husum's inspirations from a recent racing school to his love for Coney Island and American popular culture. Favorites include the Coney Island Halter Top Dress and the signature polos.

As someone whose child wears this clothing regularly, I can attest to the quality. Despite multiple (and I mean that literally) washings, this clothing has stood the test of time (and toddlerhood). My daughter has actually worn some of the shirts and dresses for over a year now and they still hold up like new.

Exclusively for CBB Reviews Readers:  Enter code CELEBRITY on last page of checkout to receive 15% off your first order with www.smallconcept.com! To purchase, check out www.smallconcept.com or find a retailer near you.

Tea Collection's Organic Layette: Dress baby in ultimate luxury

Tea Collection counts some of Hollywood's most stylish celebrity babies among its clientele, including the ultimate toddler fashionista, herself -- Suri Cruise. The 22-month-old daughter of actors Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise was spotted in Tea during her whirlwind tour of Europe last summer, and she's hardly alone:  Heaven Rain Charvet, 13-months, twins Darby and Sullivan Dempsey, 12 1/2-months, and Rowan Henchy, 4 1/2 are all devotees of Tea and Daily Tea, a sister label. 

Tea Collection's layette has always been crisp, classy and kept with the company's global mindset. But they topped even themselves in February when they introduced their new line of organic cotton layette pieces. First-time celebrity-moms-to-be like Jessica Alba and Nicole Kidman, take note: The ultimate in new baby luxury awaits you!

Click 'continue reading' for the complete review of Tea Collection's Organic Layette.

 

Benk Baby Hats - They actually stay on and are incredibly beautiful

I searched everywhere for a hat that didn't have silly ears on the top and would stay on my daughter's head. Somewhere on the Internet I came across the small dutch label Benk. I love unique finds and I love how tasteful Benk's beautifully, handknitted baby hats, mittens and baby clothes are. Each hat is made from pure delicate 100% merino wool. The merino garments are light weight, breath well and are non-irritant to the skin.

After seeing some images on the site, I immediately contacted Angelique the owner and asked her what colors her hats came in. She explained to me she could do almost any color. I had her send me pictures of two different pinks and a chocolate brown. She was responsive and easy to work with. When I got my hat, I couldn't believe how beautiful and well made it was. I would recommend the FAE or the KEET hat for babies 0 - 6 months. It won't slip off and it's easy to get on fussy babies. There are many other styles to choose from for older babies and toddlers.

To order your Benk hat, contact Angelique here. Benk is offering FREE shipping for all customers.

For more of Doryn's tips and reviews, please go to www.dorynsdish.com

Haute Boyz: Cool tees for haute boys

You know how tough the life of a preschooler can be - chillin' with all the other under fives, getting worked up over the the sandbox politics and long commute home from playdates.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any tougher, your mom runs out of fishie crackers. Which is precisely why, when it's time to unwind, this comfy thermal "Chocolate Milk on the Rocks" tee from Haute Boyz is guaranteed to restore everyone to good spirits and save the world from another meltdown moment.

I didn't have to go far to discover Haute Boyz. The adorable line was started by a neighbor of mine and over the last couple of years I have watched it grow and have collected as many of the adorable tees as I could get my hands on. They have just the right amount of attitude while still being cute. From the "Chicks Dig Me" digger tee to the surfer inspired "Chairman of the Board" and the "If I'm quiet you better find me" tees, every single design is a winner. I'm so thrilled that the company now sells their tees online, so I can share them with you all! Haute Boyz sells tees to fit infants on up to size six.

Exclusively for Celebrity Baby Blog Readers: get free shipping when you enter the coupon code HAUTE2.

LittleMissMatched: Inspire their sense of (individual) style

Your child has their entire life to conform, so while they're shamelessly unaware of societal norms why not inspire them to be different? Yes, I'm serious. I used to LOVE wearing miss-matched socks as a kid, so when I stumbled across the brand LittleMissMatched I felt a familiar tug at my heart strings, as their entire line is comprised of miss-matched socks.

LittleMissMatched offers socks for toddlers/babies, young girls, young boys , men and women, as well as bedding, accessories, books and toys! I love the wacky and crazy prints on some of the socks and I admire the creativity it takes to put out such an innovative product. All the socks ($8) come 3 to a pack, ensuring you're always the odd one out and in the LittleMissMatched scheme of things, that's not a bad thing. The colors are often coordinated to be similar to each other, but the designs really liven things up. The cutest product, in my opinion are the tights ($18).

The best part of the entire line is they match (and yet don't really match at all) everything you could possibly put with them. Let go of your anal-matchy-matchy tendencies for a day and let loose, I promise you'll feel better and your kids will LOVE it! We also have it on good authority that Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Violet Affleck and Mariska Hargitay are all fans of the line. Get miss-matched at littlemissmatched.com

Abe jones: For your growing individual

I recently came across abe jones, a great line of clothes. As the tag line on the website says, it is style “for your growing individual.” These clothes for boys or girls are individual, unique and gorgeous. They are also beautifully made. I love the boys’ yellow cowboy shirt and the pants are cool enough for any mini-hipster.

The girls clothes are so adorable, that they really do make me wish I had a girl, luckily I have a niece. I love the pleat tank dress  and the infant tank dress. They are beautiful and I’d probably wear them myself. They are girly in a way that even I, who am not usually very girl, can really appreciate. They're simple, stylish and absolutely gorgeous. And the colors are lovely. The T-shirts are really cool too. We have the “Hot Rod” (shown at left) for Grae and Finn is very jealous. I love the gray color and, of course, we all love the image. These are great for both boys and girls and come in sizes from 3 months to 6T. Very soft and comfy as well as super cool.

There are also some lovely ribbon tees for girls that are adorable- a small appliqué of fabric in the front and a ribbon that ties in the back. Finally the lounge sets are perfect for a lazy, wind down outfit. No reason why your baby can’t be stylish while lounging about, too. Grae loves his bedtime lounge set for wiggling around on the floor. Since it’s a nice stretchy cotton top and bottom, it works really well now that he has decided to skip crawling and at 6 months is working really hard at walking. These come in sizes for  6 –24 months.  He’s not really into lounging, he's too busy trying to be his 2 year old brother, but it works for him anyway.

The abe jones Spring/Summer 08 line is coming soon and I’m sure will be just as wonderful. It will be available for purchase online in March. Several items from the Fall/Winter collection on the abe jones  site are currently on sale. Please visit abejones.com for more information, as well as to find retailers that offer these beautiful clothes.  I have to say that these clothes are even better in person than in the pictures and they are beautiful in the pictures.

Especially for CBB readers: go to abejones.com to use coupon code celeb15 for 15% off of all purchases through February 11, 2008.

Born to Love Clothing: Totally loveable beanies

If we are accidental collectors of anything in this house, it is hats. I'm not even entirely sure how it all started; I suspect it begins with my husband and his stockpiling of 1970s-era NHL toques (don't ask). Our 3 1/2-year-old was overly-picky with hats as a baby -- needing the fit and feel to be 'just so' in order to survive the short walk from the house to the car -- and we spent a small fortune trying to appease him. Our 1-year-old is reaping the benefits of his older brother's fickle nature now, for sure. Suffice it to say there is no shortage of hats to choose from!

When we were asked to review a new line of knit beanies from Born to Love Clothing, we figured why not? What's a few more hats on the pile? I'm so glad we did. Because there's no way these hats stay in the pile for long. 

The hats are stylish, well-made and totally fun to wear. Owner Felicia Munoz, a stay-at-home mom, writes on her website that she created Born to Love with the help of her husband after the couple were unable to find the style and quality of clothes that they wanted for their own son. I really like the knit; It's stretchy enough to stay snug on their head but it doesn't lose its shape no matter how many times the kids pull the hats on and off. It's also deceptively warm ... While it wouldn't be the hat I'd choose to send them out into the snow to play in, it's definitely fine for a normal winter's day. The beanies are eye-catching as well. The small visors -- which, because of their size, can be worn forward-facing, off to the side or even rear-facing with ease -- and heart-halo-wings emblem are sure to get your kids a second glance at the mall or playground. 

The beanie is available in nine different styles/colors and five different sizes, ranging from 6-12M to 5-7T.  Note, however, that the sizes run a bit small -- Our 4-year-old comfortably wears the 5-7T size, while our 1-year-old is wearing the 2-3T.  We sampled the custom argyle visor beanie ($22.50) and the standard waffle visor beanie in three colors: gray, black and tan ($20.50 each). Each was true to what is depicted on the Born to Love website.  If you're looking for a hat this winter with a little bit of an edge, this is the beanie for you!

Baby Gap's Spring Preview Launches

I just got word from Baby Gap that their newest line, a spring preview, is available online. They're calling it "The Fine Print" and it's chock full of polka dots, madras, stripes and even cherries. It's so cute I almost can't stand it.

My favorite toddler girl ensemble is called "Do the Polka" and it consists of an adorable, grass green with white polka-dots dress ($30) and navy blue leggings ($13) with simple sandals.

Girls aren't the only ones having all the fun this season though, my favorite toddler boy outfit is called "Madras Moment." A layered, sea-worthy outfit that features madras-print shorts ($30) paired with two layered shirts (a polo and a long-sleeve tee, both $15) and a denim jacket ($35).

Infants can get in on the action, too with adorable and trendy spring prints. Almost makes me wish it was March and not the middle of winter! Check out the entire "The Fine Print" collection from Baby Gap by clicking on these links -- Infant Girl, Toddler Girl, Infant Boy, Toddler Boy.

Happy Shopping!

Allizon.com: Simplicity for busy mothers

A great site was recently brought to my attention, Allizon.com. It has a wide selection of terrific products, many of which I have been lucky enough to sample. Allizon.com was started by a single mother with the intent to bring what mothers need to one place for one stop shopping that will make our lives easier. The product selection ranges from wonderful skincare products to MomAgendas to jewelry to Comfy Crawler pants for your baby. There’s a little bit of everything you need for yourself or for great gifts, such as the lovely gift baskets (see the Mom Spa Basket at left). The products and the selection are meant to de-stress any busy mother’s life.

The various momAgenda products are meant to organize your mommy life, and I tried two. The "Busy Mom Agenda" is a 17 month calendar with week-at-a glance scheduling for mom and up to four children that comes in lovely colors. The "Weekly Family Planner" is a planner pad with the same spaces for everyone in the family plus it has a magnet on the back so it can easily hang on the refrigerator.

The Comfy Crawler pants are also really nice. They have padding on the knee and shin area as well as the back pockets to keep baby comfy on the floor. They have an adjustable waistband and come in some really great colors. I especially like the “Johnny Blues” and “Chocolate” corduroy versions.

Other brands you will find at Allizon.com are Get Fresh, Maile , Body Magic (the Blue Chamomile cream is said to work on both puffy eyes and diaper rash and I love the Oh!Rose cream), Herbal Dream stress relieving pillows, Lejaby lingere, The Laundress and Mona Lisa Hair accessories (very pretty). I sampled several of the bath and body products and really enjoyed each one. Also on the site are areas that contain helpful hints and discussions on subjects that concern mothers and also strive to make our lives easier.

Visit allizon.com to see more.

Baby Greens organic clothing: a cute way to help your baby take care of the planet

Baby Greens onesies and tees are an adorable and responsible choice for your baby.  These cute clothes are made with organic cotton and water-based inks that use a hand-printing process, and best of all beautiful graphics. What makes Baby Greens so special, as if the eco-friendly aspects weren’t enough, is the graphics- bold, colorful designs with their inspiration taken from world cultures and nature. The four motifs, "nami" (wave), "surya" (sun), "koru" (the genesis of life) and my favorite, "kaze san" (sun and wind), are inspired by Maori, Japanese and Mehndi  designs.  As Baby Greens says, “each bold & bright design is inspired by cultural representations of nature, further connecting people with the environment.” And they do give you that feeling. Each design is filled with life and beauty.

Baby Greens offers a simple way to be eco-friendly and stylish at the same time. Plus with the variations created by the hand printing process, it’s like buying a little piece of art for your baby to wear. Starting our babies on the right track at an early age is our best bet for protecting our planet and our futures, not to mention theirs. And it’s always nice to have a truly appealing way to be environmentally responsible. The graphics look even better on than they do in the pictures.  Though it’s still a little big, Graedy does feel like a dashing little environmentalist in his "koru" tee (shown at left is the onesie version). He looks cool too.

Baby Greens offers onesies in sizes  3-6mos, 6-12mos, 12-18mos and lap tees in 18-24 mo.  Lap tees are on sale for 14.99 through Jan 15. They are available at www.babygreensorganics.com

Scout: the perfect clothes for your baby and for the planet

Dream, Imagine, Explore and Discover are the four motifs that comprise the tees portion of the debut "Oceania" collection from Scout. They are as beautiful in their design as in their meaning. "Dream", inspired by the Tibetan cloud motif, represents dreams and joy. "Imagine", based on the Japanese Tibetan peace crane, symbolizes imagination and the hope for peace. "Explore" and "Discover" are derived from Maori symbols. Explore is for exploration and love of nature, while discover is for new life and discovery. All are beautiful thoughts for you to give your child. The pants, with their simple functional design, and the bodysuits, with their simple embroidery and beautiful colors, have a similar earthy inspiration and are just as lovely. These clothes give your child something beautiful, positive and inspiring to wear. And it’s not just the designs that are so positive, it's what goes into them as well.

Scout is as friendly to the planet as you can get. The tees and bodysuits, both offered in long and short sleeve, are organic Pima cotton, while the pants are an organic Pima cotton French terry knit. Scout clothing is certified organic, very soft and comfortable, offers great design and doesn’t stop there. Everything is produced in Peru through sustainable cotton farming and certified Fair Trade practices with the appliqués and embroidery done by hand. These clothes are full of the very best of what you want for your child. Not only are the colors beautiful, the designs inspiring, but the clothes themselves are very functional as well. The fit is great and they are very easy to get on and off. The pants are great for squirmy babies and active toddlers.  They call it "functional fashion" and that’s exactly what it is -- cute, stylish, practical and good for the planet, as well as your child.

My son, Grae, has the "Dream" long sleeve tee and the "Earth Brown" pants and we love them. He looks adorable and they are so perfect for him. The material is soft and stretchy. The cut is super comfy as well and the wide waist band is always a nice touch for baby tummies. I love how they look and he is very happy to roll around on the floor in comfort. His brother really likes the cloud design as well. I love the colors, the embroidery and the ideas behind each design. I would love one of everything in the line. Each idea is so wonderful and they are exactly what I hope for for my children. I wish all baby clothes were this cute and functional. Oh, and good for us as well.

Scout is popular in Hollywood as well. According to their press release, these cute clothes with a good conscience are owned by many celebrity babies, such as the Coco Arquette,  Suri Cruise and Violet Affleck. Their long list of celebrities who own Scout include Heidi Klum, Angela Bassett, Marcia Cross, Tori Spelling, Brooke Shields, Kate Hudson and Angelina Jolie.  The tees and pants are available in 6 –24 months, while the bodysuits are available in 6 and 12 mo. If you wish to bring Scout home to your baby’s closet or would like to see more, please visit Scout online at scoutbaby.com.  Scout is also available online at Ju Ju Beane Boutique

Especially for CBB readers: The Ju Ju Beane Boutique is a proud retailer of Scout and is offering Celebrity Baby Blog readers a 15% discount off their orders through January 21, 2008. Please visit jujubeaneboutique.com and use coupon code CBB15 at checkout to receive this savings.

Zutano's Spring line, something to look forward to

Some of us are blanketed in snow, but it's never too soon to think of next season's attire. Unique children's clothing brand, Zutano has just announced their spring line up and there are some great pieces in the line. The pieces are truly inspired and follow the common trends,  with hints of nautical and  vacation themes.

In bright and vivid colors the pieces will make the winter doldrums fade fast. The Baby Basics line includes new prints in a family of contemporary hues including celery, warm grey, pool blue and vivid fuchsia. Along with classic themes, like building & construction, Hawaiian florals, nautical motifs and friendly snails.

In typical Zutano fashion, the Collectibles line features palettes of pale yellow, grass green, pool blue, berry-ripe fuchsia and nautical navy colors. Classic tees and crewnecks are paired with swingy, knit, garden tops, adorable miniskirts and crisp cotton peacoats to make distinctive looks.

Kumquat: the perfect clothes to keep and to give

Kumquat makes the most adorable clothes. Not only are they cute and stylish, but they are comfy too. Offering a wide variety of styles, these exceedingly cool baby clothes for boys and girls are offered in sizes for preemie through 24 months. There is so much to choose from. The line offers several prints and stripes each season for their very cute onesies, pants, skirts, dresses, tees, kimono wrap tops, blankets and so on. There are just way too many options to mention and each one is cuter than the last. I was lucky enough to receive two of their Fall 07 boy gift sets to try out on my son, Graedy. We love them. They are soft and stretchy and the fit is perfect. Plus they are adorable. He looks so cute. We have the airplane and the polar bear. Each one came with a long sleeve lap tee and a pair of pants that can be worn together or mixed with anything else. They are a really great gift option, as are any of the other items. The gift sets come in versions for both boys and girls that are perfect for the new baby gift.

Kumquat offers so many things I love that I either need more babies of my own or many more babies to buy gifts for. The clothes for girls are so cute they make me wish I had a little girl. They are very stylish and girly in a way that even I, who is not very fond of girly- girly anything, can love. I especially love the girl’s “Heartbeat” (featured for gift sets on the catalog page) and “Black Dandelion” (photo above, left) gift sets for Spring 08. The Spring 08 line offers more great prints and stripes as well as some very cute seersucker and, of course, the gift sets. The very fashionable clothes are not just popular with me and Graedy, Kumquat appeared in an episode of Sex in the City and more recently was worn by Danielynn for her 1st Birthday party as seen on The Insider and in US magazine, as well as here on CBB. You can find Kumquat at www.jujubeaneboutique.com or visit kumquatbaby.com for more information.

Especially for CBB readers: Use code CBB to receive free domestic shipping and flat rate international shipping for the month of December at www.jujubeaneboutique.com

Sooo Soxy: Embellished Socks for the Tiny Set & Much More

Sooo Soxy - headed up by Erin Ives, specializes in handmade clothing, accessories, and of course, socks!  Erin makes adorable embellished socks and represents many items from other talented designers' lines on her site.

She sent me two pairs to check out. She currently has five lines of socks, Vintage Baby, My Pretties, Rock-a-baby, Baby Boy, and Holiday Baby.

The first pair was from the "My Pretties" line. We saw the Pretties #4 socks ($10) - (pictured to the left) which is a pair of white cotton socks with lavender beads and silver-plated dragonflies securely crocheted on the cuffs.   The socks were adorable. I actually was wondering if they were safe for my child to wear, but after seeing how securely the beads and dragonflies were attached, I was impressed. 

Erin says on her website, "As a mother with two children I understand the safety issues. I want you to know that I have yet to have any of my socks come apart. In fact, from my experience, the sock will wear out before the embellishments come off! On most of my socks, I use beads that are small enough not to pose a choking threat. On socks that have larger embellishments, I have not only sewn them in place, but have glued them down with washable glue. My socks are very sturdy and (most) are machine washable/dryable."

The second pair was from the "Rock-a-baby" line - the saucy "Lookie Ladies" socks ($12) - sweet white cotton socks with pinup girls that are sewn AND glued and black hand crocheted cuffs.. You're going to have to handwash these socks by Erin (but she indicates that on the product page and they are so cute that I don't think you'll mind).

Erin told me via email how she began her business, "Sooo Soxy! By Erin started a few years ago. I started with my socks and then built a website based upon people's requests to see more socks.  Soon, Sooo Soxy! became www.sooosoxy.com and expanded to a whole line of new items, all handmade just for children. I guess being a mom is what initially inspired me. I was always on the lookout for something unique for my own children that was classy and high quality. I know that every mom wants their child to look great!"

Sooo Soxy carries over 27 product lines by designers (a little too many to list!). Clothes for babies, toddlers, and little kids, soaps, toys, boxers for boys, hair clips, a mei tei baby carrier, diaper cakes..etc... All handmade.  How awesome is that?   

I also checked the darling Mocha Bloom Bloomers Set ($33) by Michele. It features the uber popular retro print on a chocolate brown background (which is so  hot this season) and it comes with a sweet baby blue lap short sleeve tee with a flower applique with a yellow button.  My little girl will be wearing it this summer and I loved creativeness of it! I also liked the Cowboy/cowgirl booties, by Sarah, the charming newborn hair clips by Amber, and the vintage inspired onesies and tees by Deb.

Shop Sooosoxy.com.

Her Majestee Kids: My holiday t-shirt selection for 2007

Around the holidays I always like to get a special everyday t-shirt for Catie to wear. If you remember, last year I got Nina and Tom’s Christmas Time shirt (and Danielle got their Chanukah shirt for Anya).  This year’s selection is the candy cane shirt