Bobka Baby is a mother-daughter team of handknitters of children’s clothing. I really like their Pullover and Hat set, available in the colors shown. Made in the basket-weave style from 100% acrylic yarn, both the hat and the pullover are machine-wash and dry. They come in sizes from ages 6 months to four years, for prices from $65 to $75 for the hat and pullover set, at BobkaBaby.com.

These handmade Organic Cotton Soft Sole Shoes are so bright and colorful they really grab your attention. Each shoe is made from organic cotton yarn, and buttons from coconut. These shoes feature a soft, double sole for infants and crawlers. They are available in sizes from Newborn to 6-9 months, for $26 per pair, at GiannaByJerilyn.com. Use the code UPSCALEBABYSHIP at checkout to receive free shipping.

The Mr Happy Skull Teether is adorable and spooky and just in time for Halloween.  It has just the right curves and points for a teething baby (like mine) and is festive to boot. Only $13 from seller EcoAyris.

Second up are the Fleece Fingerless Gloves for kids; they’re adorned with  vampires (though there are skulls and monsters available too) and great for keeping hands warm on nippy Halloween night. They’re $14.95 from seller BoysenberryLane and I’d have trouble resisting wearing them all fall.

Next up, for the youngest in the household, the set of Two Blue Regent Skull Burp Cloths for $10 really caught my eye. The pattern is intricate and attractive but oh-so-spooky as well. They are useful as burp cloths or change pads; the decision is yours. Matching bibs and blankets are sold as well by MyWoobyandMe.

Cute as can be and a great gift idea for your favorite infant trick-or-treater (who isn’t quite ready for candy), the Bony Baby Hat is a Halloween hat you’ll love. The creator made it with the comfort of babies foremost in her mind. For $28, this hat can adorn your baby’s head and get oohs and aahs from all passersby.

Last of all, guaranteed to get second and third glances, the Skeleton Bones dress PVC is for mom. A cute, sexy, innovative design that begs to be worn year after year, you’ll be the talk of the town most certainly for $220 by seller melissae.

This Monogrammed Bib & Burpie Set by One Little Birdie features one of my favorite color combinations: chocolate brown and pink. Specializing in personalized baby gifts, One Little Birdie was started by a stay-at-home mom of two, who hand-sews and personalizes each gift. Reasonably priced at $15, this set would be the perfect gift for a new parent or even a great holiday gift for a new little one’s first holiday season. You can purchase the set at OneLittleBirdie.com.

Noodles Kids is a line of babies’ and childrens’ accessories that are hand made in Peru, from 100% Peruvian cotton and accented with felt, appliques and embroideries. Their hats have some unique features, including paw shaped ear muffs attached to hats, warm scarves that button, and daisy shaped ear muffs. After designer Adrienne Myles visit to Peru, she was touched by the desperate need of Peruvian children for food, shelter, and money, and saw children selling items on the street at 2 a.m. This inspired the Noodles Kids line, which is currently showcased on NoodlesKids.com, where retail and sales rep info is also available.

[This is another in a series of posts by Susan Maphis covering the impact of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade and sign up for her CPSIA Alerts Mailing List ]

Caroline Riepler of Little Journeys Baby World has been producing a variety of hand-made items such as blankets, burping cloths and baby bonnets since 2001. Her website already displays the statement: “Compliant with CPSIA HR.4040. Little Journeys Baby World has been and always will be free of lead. Certification of Compliance available upon request.”

Although Riepler can afford to do XRF testing on her products now, she is uncertain of the future. “If they want us to do third-party testing in August, that will probably close down my door,” she says.

Riepler has contacted third-party testing companies in her home state of Colorado. A lab in Boulder told her it would charge $50 per component to test for lead and $450 per component to test for phthalates. Her quilts currently retail for $220, she said, and have a wholesale price of about $110.

“Can you imagine? That would put me out of business because I can’t afford the testing,” Riepler says. “I wish they would rewrite the law so that the supplies you get have been tested already, so that when we put it together, it does not have to be tested again.”

The mother of a 5 year-old, Riepler says that the last thing she wants to see is children harmed by too much lead or phthalates in a toy or blanket. However, she feels that the law punishes small businesses like hers that produce one-of-a-kind items made of high-quality, safe materials. “I think they were doing a good thing, but they didn’t know the effects of everything down the road,” Riepler says.

Riepler has written suggestions to the CPSC on how to make the law more business-friendly for small companies like hers. She has also contacted local representatives. You can view Riepler’s products, such as the Western Boo Bunnies pictured above (designed to hold ice cubes to place against a child’s boo-boo) at LittleJourneysBabyWorld.com. Many of her items are currently on sale at 50% off regular prices.

[ For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade]

Something you don’t see very much anymore is a nice, handknitted poncho. I have fond memories of wearing a pink, crocheted poncho as a little girl, given to me by an aunt. That’s why this Handknit Nordic Design Red Poncho by Our Green House caught my eye. Handknitted in Bulgaria, the poncho has pockets and a hood - not only attractive, but functional. This is an item your little girl will want to save and pass on to her own daughter. You can purchase this handknit poncho for $39.99 at OurGreenHouse.com. A matching red handknit Nordic pant is also available for $38.

It is quite cold where we live, and I have been having all kinds of trouble finding a hat that is small enough for our newborn to wear.  Everything ends up falling down in her face and covering up her eyes, which does not please her (and with good reason). I was excited to discover that Janie and Jack’s layette collection includes outerwear in preemie sizes.  I particularly like this cable knit sweater beanie, with its soft blue color and classic style.  Made from a cotton angora blend, it looks like it would be as soft as can be on a little head.  Earflaps and and a chin strap create finish off this adorable look while keeping the hat securely in place.  The hat is lined with soft cotton jersey.  You can purchase one on sale for $9.99 at JanieAndJack.com.  It is available in sizes from preemie to 3-6 months.

Although I don’t have a daughter, I love this storybook rug and could easily picture it in a little girl’s room. Designed by Sherri Blum, the Once Upon a Time Storybook Rug measures 2.5 feet x 4.5 feet and is the perfect size to place on the floor in your daughter’s room. She can sit on it while you read her favorite princess and fairy stories to her. The rug is 100% hand-hooked wool, and also coordinates with other Sherri Blum custom wall art designs, to create a theme in the bedroom, nursery, or even a playroom.

I would have loved to sit on this rug and read, write, or just dream as a little girl. You can view this gorgeous rug at RosenberryRooms.com, where it’s currently on sale for $140 (with free shipping).

Here’s another one of those toys you can feel good about buying. This wooden crocodile pull toy is made from Baltic birch wood and water-based paints by a craftsman in Estonia named Heido Peterson, so it’s safe for children ages 3 and up. As your child pulls the string, the hinged crocodile makes all kinds of movements, his head, body, and tail swinging wildly in different directions.

This toy was recently featured on Cookiemag.com. and measures 4″ h x 18.5″ w x 5.5″ d and is also available in Pig, Elephant, Dinosaur, or Snake. You can purchase one for $70 at DesignWithinReach.com.

Want to give a beautiful baby gift that is both gorgeous and socially-responsible?  Check out these adorable blankets from Yellow Label Kids.  Available in either pink or sage green, these Crochet Patchwork Blankets feature hand-sewn cotton patchwork squares that are accented with crochet.

Any parent would love to receive one of these blankets as a shower or new baby gift.  Children will love them too.  When my toddler was an infant, she had a hand-knit blanket, and she loved to explore the loose stitches with her fingers.  I can tell that the crochet on these blankets would have that same sensory effect.  Best of all, each blanket is made by workers who are given a fair wage, so your purchase promotes fair trade.

You can purchase one of these blankets for $59.99 at yellowlabelkids.com.

I can’t imagine a hat much more adorable than this Fox Ears Hat by Lulu’s Woobies.  Made by hand from chunky acrylic yarn, this hat is as soft as it is cute.  The rust color is perfect for a fox, and the charcoal and natural tipped ears add to the realism.

The hat is available in sizes to fit an infant or a toddler.  You can roll the brim up for a younger child, then roll it back down as he or she grows.  I think most toddlers will find this hat as fun and attractive as moms and dads will.  It may be a good solution for the little one who doesn’t like to keep a hat on his or her head.

You can purchase one of these great accessories for a very reasonable $18 at CraftsburyKids.com.  This would also make a unique holiday gift or one for a winter baby shower.

Here is a great wooden puzzle that is both attractive and well-made.  My older daughter was a puzzle-addict from a very early age and it was difficult to find nice puzzles that weren’t based around cartoon characters.  Crafted by hand in the USA by Waldorf, this Joyful Gnomes puzzle features a fun picture of two little gnomes romping in a forest setting.  Because each puzzle is hand-made, yours will be unique, and its colors may vary slightly.  I think this only adds to its charm.  Best of all, the artisans who make these puzzles are part of a special-needs community, so your purchase supports a wonderful cause.

You can purchase one of these fun puzzles for $23.95 at BlueberryForest.com.  Many other puzzle designs are also available.  Any of them would make wonderful gifts.

These Handcrafted Treat Bags are a great alternative to the usual plastic treat bags and a lot more fun. They’re made by Hanna Andersson from felt, blanket-stitched all around, and have holiday appliques. Your child can choose a spooky spider, a witch on a broom, or a midnight owl. After all the festivities are over you can use the treat bag to store your child’s costume.

Appropriate for children one year old and up, the Treat Bag measures 12.5 inches long. Order your child’s bag now at HannaAndersson.com where they are currently on sale for $10.

The handcrafted Heirloom Baby Rattles by USA Artisans is designed by renowned Artist William W. who has been making them for more than a decade.

The wood is hollowed and very lightweight, just big enough for baby to wrap his/her little fingers around.Each rattle is made from carefully selected native and plantation grown exotic hardwoods such as bird’s eye maple, cherry, walnut, purpleheart, ebony, redheart and cocobolo. The rattle is sanded smooth by hand and finished with walnut oil and beeswax, making it very soft and smooth to the touch while enhancing the warm colors of the wood.

No stains or dyes are used in making these rattles. The all natural finish makes it completely safe and friendly for babies as well as our planet.

Each rattles measures approximately 5 inches in length and make a gentle rattling sound. It comes in a small ivory colored organza gift bag. They retail for $30.

Unfortunately, the artist is currently having problems with his hands, and therefore, this rattle has been discontinued. KangarooBoo hopes to have them back in stock again once the artist’s health improves.