Grannimals, made by a French company, Latitude Enfant, are an updated version of the traditional sock doll which is probably why they look so charming. Each character comes in its own unique and colorful box, making it a perfect gift for baby’s shower or first birthday. This could start a trend for your gift-giving: purchase a another Grannimal from the collection for baby’s shower, then baby’s first birthday, one for Christmas, and the cuddly Duckie for Easter. Machine washable, each animal comes in its own colorful box.

Grannimals are available in sizes: Mini 4″(set of 10 $49.99), Small 8″ ($14.99), Medium 12″-16″ ($29.99), and Large 39″ ($99.99). Shop for the Grannimals at LePetitKids.com

Besides being cute, soft, and cuddly, these Stuffed Animals are made from recycled sweaters. It’s never too early to teach our children to care about the environment! Being environmentally aware should be a part of all of our lives just the same way that we learn to treat others as we would have them treat us and ours.

If you give these Recycled Sweater Stuffed Animals by Wild Things as a gift it might be fun to wrap them in recycled paper or bags made from recycled paper. Add a note that describes how these environmentally friendly designs are handmade by a New England handicapped artist collective and that each animal is unique since it’s handcrafted from recycled materials. This is a truly “unique” one-of-a-kind gift that could easily become a keepsake.

The stuffed animals measure: Elephant: 10″ L x 6″ W x 6.5″ H; lion: 7″ L x 8″ W x 6.5″ H

Although they were available for $26 at UncommonGoods, this item is no longer available.

This is a fun and easy way for your child to be involved in “reading.” The Baby Aspen “Mother Goose” 7 Piece Gift Set with Plush Nursery Rhyme Buddies and books comes with three favorite traditional nursery rhymes: Humpty Dumpty, This Little Piggy and Hey Diddle Diddle. Kids love to repeat nursery rhymes and they’re a great “learning to read” tool. Before you know it, your little one will be a part of the educational system whether they’re in a public or private school, or schooled at home.

With all the higher expectations placed on our children’s education these days, this totally fun and accessible and interactive Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme Buddies and Books by Baby Aspen will help your child get started with a positive attitude toward books and reading. Find a prominent place for “Mother Goose” and make reading a part of your night time routine.

Mother Goose measures approximately 23” h x 16” l x 10” wide, and the nursery-rhyme play buddies measure approximately 3” h x 4” l x 2” w. They are made of surface-washable, 100% polyester. This set would also make a wonderful gift, as it is beautifully presented in a large, sheer, white organza pouch with a white-satin drawstring. It costs $50 at ClassicEventGifts.com.

Kids just can’t enough of hugging (or wrestling). My kids did both. My daughter used to drag her giant stuffed bear around the house with her well within reach for a hug whenever she needed one. Her brothers used to try and wrestle her bear away any chance they got.

These Giant Bla bla Dolls are made from soft 100% cotton by Peruvian artisans. Bla bla Kids is a woman-owned company famed for their charming hand knits. You can purchase a variety of stuffed animals, including lion, cat, monkey, and dog, for $125 at t ScarletAlley.com.

At the Shop the Frontier web site, it states, “All of our profit supports business training and micro-lending programs for women and small business and, as we grow, we’ll fund local youth technology and area business start-ups.  In these ways, we serve rural women and their communities by being a catalyst for entrepreneurial success.”

Featured at Shop the Frontier, these funny and adorable Rag Doll Kittens are handmade by artist Linda Harvey at her home-based enterprise, Harvey’s Humbles,  located on the banks of the beautiful Methow River in the Washington North Cascades.

All Harvey’s Humbles critters are original designs, created not just to satisfy their designer’s sense of whimsy, but also using material and production methods defined with safety in mind. They are made from synthetic acrylic yarns and polyester fiberfill to minimize any possiblity of allergic reaction. Acrylic eyes and noses are on shanks inserted through the fabric and secured with lock washers. No glue is used.

Choose from Pale Grey, Seal-Point Siamese, Black Puss-in-Boots, or Watercolor characters. You can purchase one of these adorable cats for $15.50 at ShopTheFrontier.com.