We have a little musical piano for the boys to bang away on in the playroom. Now and then, they stop and have a go at it. Listening to my 16-month-old “sing” along with his banging is quite amusing. I grabbed our little steel piano at a second hand store for a couple dollars, but if you really want something with wow factor, there’s the Schoenhut My First Piano in red. Attractive and made with keys that are connected to little hammers and steel music rods for “chime-like notes”, it’s a sophisticated choice for $54.99 at www.oompa.com.

With Valentine’s Day on its way, I thought I’d point out the Valentine’s Baby Beanie. It’s a sweet crocheted pink hat with bear ears. There’s even a heart embellishment. I think dressing a baby 0-6, 6-12, or 12-18 months old in this would make Valentine’s a cheery day for anyone who sees her. It’s $18 from Etsy seller Monarchdancer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Instead of using the same old plastic tubs and totes for storage, why not consider a sweet felt house to put your child’s things in? 12” x 8” and great for all the little cars, dollies, pretend food, and other things that get underfoot, the hand made Houses are on sale for $52.99 (down from $69.99.) The great thing about these is that they’re even machine washable, which is always a good thing when children are involved. I love the little decorative felt flowers and climbing ivy adorning the houses. I think I’d keep all those books that gather next to rocking chairs and beds in our house in these lovely little storage houses from www.littletreehouse.ca.

The Prance Tie Dress has an aqua horse appliqué and trim to set off the bright red of the frock. There are even coordinating pants to go with it available on www.littletreehouse.ca, so you can put a long sleeve shirt underneath the dress for use all year round. It only comes in sizes 1 Year and 2T (dresses, especially with ties, do tend to be long-lasting though as both dresses and tops) but it’s on sale for $21.99 ($8 savings), with the bloomers on for the same price. If you’ve got a little boy or twins, there‘s a jumper in the same pattern; they’d make quite a pair of outfits.

Rich hues on babies can be so delightful. That’s why I was drawn to the Organic Kimono Body Long Sleeve in Mushroom. The 100% Cotton one piece top is naturally dyed in a deep color and is $22 at www.sckoon.com. You can get a matching hat to go with it and a whole line of other apparel, like one piece sleep sacs, in the same shade. If brown’s not your bag, don’t worry—there are tons of other colors to pick from.

www.Sckoon.com always has baby clothes I adore. I drool over their organic onesies and their cute matching pants. Today, I came across the $19 Organic Cotton Baby Wa Kabuki Cap in Green Tea and was quite enamored. 100% cotton and couldn’t be cuter, I’d put it on baby with the matching tee (as shown) or a plain white tee and jeans. In sizes 0-6 months and 6-12 months, it’ll keep baby’s head warm through the first year.

www.innocentearth.ca is a one-stop shop for mamas; not only are there lots of children’s outfits, but there are maternity clothes as well. My littlest boy looks adorable in long-sleeved tees and jeans; the Imps & Elfs jeans are adorable. However, they are $92. The clothes are made with organic cotton and come with a promise that they’ve been produced in 100% child labour free circumstances. They have an adjustable waistband, which is always handy (I buy them long, cuff them, and adjust the waist so that they have longevity.) However, they’re only available in 3 years and 4 years sizes, which seems rather limited given the price.

I found Discovery Totes on Etsy seller HELICOPTERstudios shop and am quite intrigued by them. I love that they fold up into a tote and unfold into a dream world. It’s a wonderful travel toy that your child can carry a few little people and houses in and unfold to play with anywhere. I especially like A Day for a Hike. Because it’s made of wool felt, it is eco friendly and it won’t overwhelm your child with lights and sounds. It’s paired with the imagination only, no batteries. $60 and a real delight.

My littlest boy loves wooden wire and bead toys. Among his collection is the Sesame Street Elmo & Friends Wood Busy Beads. It was actually a gift his brother was given when he was a baby but he never really took to those sorts of toys. Luckily, our 14-month-old is a wire and bead maze aficionado and seems to enjoy them very much. Since it’s not a toy out this year, you can find it by keeping your eye on amazon for a good price or kijiji for a good deal. I would hazard a guess that it could be found at a second hand store near you as well.