Every year it’s hard to choose which Valentines to send in to school with my son. I really like these Valentine’s Day Trading Cards by Munchkin Designs. They’re small, perfect for young kids, and come in packs of 30 for just $4.95 (a real bargain when you begin pricing packs of kids’ valentines). Better still, you can add 30 organic lollipops to your order and really make the kids in your child’s preschool or classroom happy! These unique Valentines are available at MunchkinDesigns.com.

Here’s a neat little gadget that could benefit many moms. The Text Hook is a smartphone holder designed to fit onto the handlebars of any stroller. Invented by two moms who were tired of digging through diaper bags to find their phones, the Text Hook works with iPhones and Blackberrys. It can also strap onto the handle of a grocery cart, exercise machine, or bicycle, making it easy to find your phone on the go. You can purchase this unique accessory for $25.99 at amazon.com.

My son has sensitive skin, so sweaters and sweatshirts often bother him. I think he’d be much more comfortable wearing one of these undershirts sold by Little Loungers under his clothing. Made of 100% cotton, these undershirts are soft and durable. They come in a three-pack and are currently on sale for $12.57 (regularly $17.95) at LittleLoungers.com.

I like the idea of giving a pre-teen girl the Made for Each other Pillow Set for Valentine’s Day. How cute are the peanut butter and jelly cushions? Squish them together and they’re totally made for one another. Completely eco-friendly, they’re made from eco-felt and on sale for $50. Add $16 for customizing. They’re 16” tall by 15” wide by Etsy seller diffractionfiber.

I was recently given a sample of Wysi Wipes to try, and I must say, I’m hooked! These unique wipes by Canawipe Distributors, Ltd. look like small, white tablets. However, when water hits them, they unfold into strong, durable wipes that can be used for a variety of tasks. These would be great to carry in a diaper bag or purse, and they can’t dry out (they aren’t wet until you add water to them). Their Martha Stewart Living special package contains two 100 piece bags and four 12 piece bags, and sells for $29.95 at Canawipe.com.

We live in a house full of little boy toys, especially race cars and trucks. The Classic Racing Tire Toy Chest would fit in perfectly; my boys would love it. It would fit in a race car themed room as a laundry hamper or blanket storage as well. I like that the website suggests teaching kids how much fun a “speedy clean up” can be with this toy chest. So far, I’ve found Little Tikes products to be very durable and well-made. It’s $59.99 at www.littletikes.com.

Terra Traditions creates some gorgeous, artisan-style, eco-friendly baby books. Their Baby’s Journey style is my favorite. Winner of the iParenting Media Award, this beautiful 11″ x 11″ linen book has room for 200 4″x6″ photos. There is a place to preserve every memory: the baby shower, the birth record, the family tree, and baby’s favorite toys, animals, and songs. A beautiful Angel Baby adorned with real Swarovski crystals graces the cover. The perfect record book for baby’s first three years, this makes a wonderful, thoughtful gift for a new mom. It sells for $79.95 and can be found in stores in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. To find a store near you, visit TerraTraditions.com.

I have found since having boys that they like things that hook up to other things (tow trucks, helicopters with tow cables, cranes.) I saw the Plan Toys Crane Set and thought they’d like that. There’s a little man to run the crane and several construction items, like signs and a cement mixer. It’s eco-friendly, non-toxic, and brightly colored but pricey at $69.99. Little boys can be rough with their toys, though, and I’m sure the solid wood construction would stand up to them much better than a cheaper plastic version.

Holtziger animals are new to me; I haven’t run into them before. They’re kind of cute and not outrageously priced, some at under $10 apiece. Though he’s a bit more at $19.99, I especially like the Red Dragon, made from various types of sturdy wood. However, I am also a fan of the slithering Snake for $8.49. Softened edges, non-toxic paint, and touted as high quality, it might be worth collecting whole sets of Holtziger animals from www.threesisterstoys.com.

If Mom or Dad is/was a Trekkie, they’ll appreciate these Star Trek Uniform onesies. Available in grey, indigo, gold, and red, the onesies feature snap-bottom closure for easy diaper access. They are available in sizes from 6 to 18 months for $15.99 each (sizes run small, so if you’re ordering for a baby under 6 months, they recommend ordering the 6 month size) at ThinkGeek.com. Great gift for a new Trekkie parent!

As a child growing up in the late 1970s/early 1980s, I have fond memories of spending rainy afternoons making Shrinky Dinks in the oven with my mom or babysitter. Once I colored them, these little plastic pieces would amazingly shrink up in the oven. Today’s Shrinky Dinks robots are pre-cut, making the process even easier. Colored pencils are included, and you can mix and match heads, bodies, and feet. An adult needs to put them in the oven, and when they’re finished “baking,” your child has his own mini-robots that he helped create. A ring on the top helps to attach the mini-robot to a backpack so it won’t be easily lost. Recommended for ages 5 and up (with adult supervision), Shrinky Dinks Robots sell for $4.99 for a set of 9 pieces (makes 3 robots) at ThinkGeek.com. A great rainy-day activity.

My son will turn 6 in about a month, and I think I’d like to surprise him at his birthday party by using these Colorflame Birthday Candles. Not only are the candles multi-colored, their flames are colored as well. They are non-toxic, biodegradable, and smokeless, so as not to poison the air before your child blows them out. I think he’d love them, and his friends at the party would be amazed. They’re easily worth the price of $2.99 at ThinkGeek.com.

I’m always looking for new ways to make food more exciting for my 5 year old son. These Loopa Gyroscopic Toddler Bowls just might do the trick. This weighted bowl is attached to an outer ring, which is attached to another ring, acting as a handgrip. The ring system helps to keep the bowl upright, preventing spills (another added benefit, and probably the main one for most parents of toddlers!) The benefit for my son would be possibly getting him to try something new (how much more appealing would green beans or, even, spinach seem to him in a bowl like this?) At $9.99, it’s inexpensive to try. You can purchase this innovative bowl at ThinkGeek.com, where it’s recommended for ages 6 months and up.

Very eco-friendly because the fabric is made from special dyes from Switzerland, the Barefoot jungle animals are happy and pretty and sure to make good friends. They’re even on sale for $12.99, down from $16.99. I think they would go well among any other jungle animals or jungle play sets you might have in the play room. I adore the colors and textures and I think they will engage the senses of children. From www.littletreehouse.ca.

I know that, as a child (and maybe now), I’d have enjoyed the Fairy Forest Lodge set. If you buy the lodge alone (which is the house and the stairs only), it’s on sale for $74.95. However, if you buy the entire Tree Trunk House and all the accessories, it’s $214.95. I just love all the people, their furniture, and the bridge. The River Bridge Puzzle is a nice base for the house. The fairy dolls are sweet with their wings and smiling faces. This set really is something special. From www.threesisterstoys.com.