The Snoogie Seat is a unique, handmade soft seat designed for newborns. In the shape of a monkey, it has arms with velcro that “hugs” your baby as she reclines in the seat. With an inner cushion of cotton/polyester and a fleece removable outer cover, the Snoogie Seat is made to keep your child comfy and cozy. It also has a loop on which you can hang a child’s toy. Created by Daddy’s Design, the Snoogie Seat is available in Brown Monkey or Pink Monkey, for $49.99, at Shop.DaddysDesign.com.

Our infant has reached an awkward stage where she’s too big and too mobile for the cradle, but not yet ready to sleep in her own room. After finally getting my middle daughter out of our bed, I’m hopping not to start that habit this time around. Although I’m not sure how long we will be able to contain her in it, we decided our best bet is a co-sleeper. Because of space concerns, the Mini was our best bet. We’ve been using it for about a week now, and I’m quite pleased. You can use it either as a freestanding bassinet or a co-sleeper. Getting it attached securely to the bed is a bit complicated, so I wouldn’t recommend trying to switch between the two modes on a regular basis. Overall, I would recommend this product to new parents, although I miss being able to use our movement monitor because it lacks the necessary wood bottom. You can purchase the Mini for $154 at armsreach.com.

This book caddy from Ecotots is such an inviting way to display books. Right now we have books spilling out of every possible storage space in our girls’ rooms. I love it that this is right at eye level for a little one–books are readily accessible and appealing. You can purchase one for $85 at landofnod.com. A darker wood version is also available, so you can coordinate to your decor.

Almost from the time they can walk, kids want to be independent. They’ll climb on anything if you’re not looking, to try to get something from a shelf they couldn’t possibly reach. I’ve found that if kids have their own child-size stool that’s safe for them to use, they tend to utilize it more often. This Surfin Kids Boogie Board Stool looks like the perfect size for kids to use, either as a stepstool or even as a chair. It’s made from three pieces of 100% formaldehyde-free FSC certified real wood, with an eco-friendly, non-toxic finish. Because it has a low center of gravity and wide-spread legs, it minimizes unsteadiness. The stool comes in cocoa (shown above), fire (red), and leaf (green). Measuring 13″ W x 13″ D x 13.75″ H, the stool is recommended for ages 2 and up, and available at eorganicbaby.com for $90.

 
While on a mothering forum, I clicked a link to the Spoling Change table from ikea.com and was instantly in love with it. Though I have two change tables already, and don’t need one, I want to direct others to this folding change table. It is sleek, handy, and has lots of compartments for storing baby necessities. The net underneath the table converts into a laundry bag; it just zips up. If you’re in a small space, what could be more useful than a folding change table? I can see it as a useful travel item as well. You’ll have to hit the store to get this black and white $69.99 space saver though; it’s not available online.

Browsing through the IKEA Web site makes me hugely jealous of the lucky folks who live near one of their stores. There are just so many fun and affordable items to drool over. I really like the look of this Fabler Prickar Rug. Though it retails for just $24.99, it rivals some much pricier kids’ rugs that I have seen. It measures 133cm x 133cm, and would be perfect for a bedroom, playroom, or mudroom. It is available in either pink or light blue. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a store near you, you can purchase one online at ikea.com.

Absolutely breathtaking, the Cariboo Classic Bassinet complements, rather than standing out among, your bedroom décor. With washable material and two wood finishes (teak or mahogany), it’s pretty, handy, and practical. Baby should be able to spend quite a bit of time in there, as it holds up to 22 pounds. The price of style is high, however, at $359.95 at thenaturalbabyco.com. The site suggests using it as a toy chest after baby no longer sleeps in it; not a bad idea and a good way to get bang for your buck!

Jardine has expanded its crib recall to include seven models of its wooden cribs, comprising 96,000 new recalls. The company recalled 320,000 cribs in June 2008 and an additional 56,450 cribs in January 2009. The CPSC has received over 30 incident reports of slats breaking, and some reports of children becoming stuck between the slats. Minor injuries have been reported. The latest recall involves the following models: Americana, Berkley, Capri, Hilton, Olympia, Positano, Spindle, and Windsor. To view the complete list of crib model numbers and dates included, visit JardineCribRecall.com. The company will issue each customer who owns one of the recalled cribs a voucher good for the purchase of one crib at Babies R Us and Toys R Us stores.

[This is a guest post by Khara Krawczyk. Thanks for the article, Khara.]

While trends in fashion & furniture always seem to be evolving, changing with the seasons - the organic/eco-friendly trend is one that remains relatively consistent year after year. This is probably because people are becoming increasingly aware of the poor state of our environment. Whatever the reason why, this heightened interest in the environment is most certainly a good thing.

Manufacturers are now catering to this increasingly eco-conscious market by putting out “green” products. One market where this eco-friendly trend is especially popular and profitable is baby products. Everything from baby furniture and toys to baby clothes and bedding is now made from organic and otherwise green materials and fabrics.

Here’s a little overview on what to look for in terms of organic baby gear.

Baby Furniture:

When shopping for eco-friendly baby furniture, it’s best to look for products made from organic, sustainably-harvested hardwood. Furniture made from Pine and cherry are generally a good bet. You also want to find furniture that uses non-toxic paints and stains. Many popular baby brands pride themselves on their eco-friendly manufacturing practices - brands like Stokke, Cariboo and Sorelle are all safe bets. Do a little bit of research before buying so that you know which brand names and price points to look for.

Toys:

By and large it’s best to stray away from products that are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which is considered toxic. Toys made from organic and natural hardwoods, painted and stained using non-toxic paints and stains are readily available. Brands like Wonderworld are made from environmentally-friendly rubberwood and painted using non-toxic water-based paints. Stuffed animals made from organic cotton and wool is also safe. Look for stuffed animals that are colored with organic, non-toxic dyes.

Bedding:

Organic bedding for your baby is a must-have. From an organic mattress to organic sheets and blankets - rest assured, you’ll sleep easier knowing that you’re baby is sleeping in a safe environment. Some crib mattresses are greener than others. At the very least, your crib mattress should have an organic cotton mattress cover. If you are willing to spend a bit more, Natural Mat’s Coco Mat Organic Crib Mattress features a core made of coir (coconut fibers), which provides maximum support for the baby. Wrapped in anti-dust mite lamb’s wool (which is a natural ventilator and insulator) treated with lemon, eucalyptus and lavender to make it non-allergenic.

Pretty much anything and everything that you need for your baby - from diaper bags, diapers, ointments, shampoos, food, etc. - is available in an organic or green version. There are a lot of smaller, not widely distributed brands that are worth checking out. Most of these brands can be ordered online and shipped to you. Whatever you do, research, research, research before you buy. A healthy baby is a happy baby!

These portable lights by Candeloo are perfect for kids to tote around with them or just to keep in their room as a night light. The SafeCharge system used in these Tooli lights means there are no exposed electrical contacts, as the lights use rechargeable batteries. These are great when your child is in the potty training stage and learning to wake up at night to use the bathroom. The Tooli provides a safe way for him to get from his bedroom to the bathroom, so the dark isn’t as scary. They are available in a variety of bright colors kids will like. You can view and purchase these unique lights at Vessel.com, where a set of two sell for $39.

We were given one of these Cedar Adirondack Chairs for my son when he was about 10 months old and it is still his favorite place to sit, inside and out. Despite having much more comfortable chairs to lounge in, he always goes back to this one. A friend painted a green frog on the front, so it has become even more appealing for him. It is lightweight enough for him to carry from room to room on his own, and yet really sturdy too. This has a weight capacity of 70 lbs, so we have a while to go yet.

You do have to assemble this yourself, but it is well worth the difference in price. They also have a rocking chair version. This would be great to have in your backyard to help your child feel a part of the family gathering in his own big boy chair. These chairs come in a variety of colors, including pink, blue, green, yellow and red and being made of cedar they are great quality. You can find one at Overstock.com for $44.99.

If you love the look of furniture-inspired highchairs, like those by NicoleReid, but can’t stomach the nearly $1000 price tag, you might want to check out the Eddie Bauer Covington high chair available at Target. Although not quite as ornate as the high-end Nicole Reid chairs, this chair has the look of a quality piece of furniture, and will easily blend in with the rest of your dining room chairs. The chair pad is removable and machine washable, and the tray is dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up. I do find the bright white tray a bit out of place on this dark cherry chair, but if you scoot your child up to the table for meals, you can lose the tray all together.

You can purchase this upscale alternative for $129.99 at Target.com. 

My son has never responded well to time outs as a disciplinary tool. He seems to behave much better if there’s a threat of having something he loves taken away (such as a toy, watching a favorite TV show, or listening to his favorite music). My sister-in-law, however, has great success in using time outs on her 3 year old son. She tells him he must sit in a certain chair and not talk to anyone or do anything for the amount of time he’s in time out (usually 3 minutes, one for every year of age). I think I might have to tell her about this sale at ToysRUs.com on the Levels of Discovery Boys Time Out Rocker. It even comes with a timer you can set for a maximum of 15 minutes. This looks like a wonderful, attractive piece of furniture that can be useful as well. You can view it at ToysRUs.com, where it’s currently on sale for $49.99 (regularly $109.99).

I had a small moment of panic when I saw that Jardine has recalled a number of cribs, because that is the brand that we bought. Although our daughter has yet to even sleep in the crib, the thought that it could be unsafe is terrifying. Luckily, after crawling around on the floor under it, I discovered that ours, a sleigh crib, was not included in the recall. These cribs were sold at Babies R Us. You can find the entire list of product numbers and more information at jardinecribrecall.com.  Customers with recalled cribs will be given a voucher for the purchase of a new crib. Of course, if it means all the hassle we went through to get our crib, which had to be picked up out of town and couldn’t be delivered to our home, affected customers might have reason to be a little irked. This is Jardine’s second big recall in less than a year. I’m hoping our crib won’t be next!

If your children love to play fairies, this Toadstool Table and Chair Set would be a magical addition to their imaginative play. The set is made from resin, and is suitable for either indoor or outdoor use. It includes a toadstool table and four toadstool chairs. All are absolutely adorable. I think just about any small child would fall in love with it. I can imagine it inspiring all kinds of imaginative play. The only drawback is the price. It retails for $395 plus a $75 shipping surcharge. You can purchase this fanciful set at TeapotParties.com.