We are currently using this adorable mobile from Kushies’ Zolo line. The wild and crazy animals are cute as can be. I wasn’t sure how this would look in our daughter’s nursery (which has a rather modern pink and tan floral theme), but it works. It also fit nicely on our cradle early on. I like the simple ease of this mobile–nothing to wind, no music, no batteries to replace. The mirror on the underside is another big selling point–babies love it. The only problem I have is that the wooden wheel that attaches it to the crib came apart a bit. It is still safe and secure, but a little imperfect. You can purchase one for $59.99 at kushiesonline.com.

In my experience, potty training isn’t something you can bribe your child into. I’ve tried, of course, but even a gorgeous set of furniture for her doll house wasn’t enough to get my then almost three year old motivated. Then, out of the blue, it was done. That said, there are some ways to stack the deck in your favor, and books and DVDs are one of them. Once Upon a Potty is the series that I had for my oldest daughter, who was much less resistant. The illustrations are fun, and the video is simple and to the point. A cute stuffed doll is also now available. It won’t miraculously train the child who like my daughter, expresses a preference for diapers (I can’t tell you how many times we heard “I want to change it!”), but it certainly promotes awareness of the body and pottying. You can pick up these products at OneStepAhead.com. The book retails for $6.95; the DVD for $16.95; and the doll is $19.95.

When my oldest daughter was a toddler, we had all of the plastic Little Tikes kitchen pieces. This  Deluxe Wooden Kitchen & Laundry Center has really come a long way from those early models. It includes everything little ones need to keep house–from a stove and refrigerator to a laundry center, complete with an adorable little laundry basket. This would definitely inspire hours of dramatic play at our house. You can purchase one for $199 at LittleTikes.com.

Where the Wild Things Are is one of my three year old’s favorite books at the moment. We read it most nights at home, and I’ve seen her cuddled up with it at daycare as well. I just stumbled upon this fun set of stuffed characters from the book, and I know she would love it. Made by Crocodile Creek, it includes four 14 inch stuffed characters: Max, and three “wild things.”

I’m sure we’ll be seeing more and more mainstream marketing of these characters once the movie is released, but I much prefer these true-to-the-book pieces. The set is a bit pricey, though. Expect to pay $94.95 at glammatoys.com. The characters can also be purchased individually.

We’ve written several posts about this upscale play mat from the Kushies Zolo line. It truly is luxurious. Unfortunately, ours proved a little too attractive to older children. Everyone who came over wanted to play with it. The end result was that one of the plastic hinges on the bar that holds the legs together broke, rendering the play arch useless. We salvaged the toys from the arch, and they are still well-loved by our baby, as is the mat itself, but I’m a little disappointed that it broke so easily. While the hinged arch makes set up a breeze, for this reason, I think I’d rather have the more time consuming, but unbreakable tent-pole-style arches that most play mats use. You can purchase one of these for $119.95 at glammatoys.com. Just be careful with it!

I bought one of these fun teethers when my middle daughter was an infant, and my six month old is now enjoying it. This bright yellow ball is easy for little hands to manipulate, and when it makes it into her mouth, the little nubs soothe her gums. This, along with Sophie the Giraffe, is her favorite teething toy these days. Best of all, this one is very affordable. You can purchase one on sale for $5.25 at amazon.com.

I had some fun magnetic toys as a kid–of the draw a mustache or find your way out of a maze variety, but none of them could compare with this great Sea Life Magnetic Toy from Anatex. It looks fantastic, so I have no doubt that children will be drawn to it. Its take along design makes it perfect for keeping kids busy in the car or on the go. Two wands allow for two children to play–or for one child to cultivate his or her skills with two hands. You can purchase one of these for $59.87 at 1888toys.com.

I recently rediscovered a great Egyptian Pyramids playset that I bought at the Field Museum when my middle daughter was an infant. I had never heard of the company that made it, but I love the toy, so I thought I’d seek out more of their items. Though not readily available, these toys are truly unique. I really like this pioneer set which features a man, woman, and their covered wagon. I would have loved this as a child during the height of Little House on the Prairie. I think my daughters would like it too. You can purchase one for $24.99 at Christianbook.com. The company really stands behind their products, and will replace lost pieces free of charge.

Our sand a water table was a big hit when we got it, but I’m afraid it has seen better days. I’m thinking it can make it through one more summer, but I am definitely looking around for a suitable replacement. This Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Center from Step 2 is one of the nicer models that I’ve seen. I love the canopy, which allows you to put it even in a less-than-shady spot. I also like that the water and sand are kept relatively separate. Our table allows them to mix a little too easily. You can purchase this table for $79.99 at amazon.com.

Now you can bring your child’s love of books to the bath tub with this fun set of Eric Carle bath squirters. The five piece collection includes familiar favorites like the Very Hungry Caterpillar. We have a lot of Eric Carle books, games, and stuffed animals, but these are a new discovery. They look like a lot of fun; they’d even make a great pool or water table toy this summer. You can purchase the set for $9 at KidsPreferred.com.

Recently, I was directed to the site Toogaloo.com by an Upscale Baby reader, as they sell Heimess Dummy Chains. I had a look at the site and my eye landed on the Elastic Elephants toy ring. The ring is pretty, bright, and it’ll keep baby entertained on outings because it’s easy to clip to the buggy with the millions of colorful links toys most parents have around the house. Best of all, it’s 100% natural, $13.99, and there’s a matching dummy chain available (get a cute blanket with coordinating circles or elephants on it and you’ve got a great gift.)

I’m getting ready to pack away our Bumbo seat and I realized that we have never discussed this popular product on the blog. What an oversight!

This unique foam seat was just hitting massive popularity when my three year old was an infant. We have now used it with two kids and have had a fairly positive experience with it.  Both of my girls have been relatively happy in this seat, which allows them to sit up before they are ready to sit up on their own. The downsides are that it is a little difficult to clean because it is so porous, and that it gets a little scary once kids can move a little more. We have had to put it away because my daughter was on the verge of escaping from it by around 5 months. My sister had this problem much earlier with her first son, and was therefore very disappointed with the seat.

You can purchase one of these seats for $39.95 at bumboseat.com. They are  available in a variety of colors. The company has now also started marketing a number of accessories such as a tray. These are a great gift for new parents.

I really like this Organic Sleepy Time Baby Gift Box by GrowInStyle.com. While the price might be a bit much for an average baby gift, at $164, it would be perfect for a family member or best friend who just had a baby. The gift box includes an Organic Cotton Hooded Towel by Kate Quinn Organics, Organic Cotton Sleep Sack by Ceewee Baby, Organic Cotton Monster Wash Mitt by Bebop Baby Shop, Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Angel Baby Oil by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Rainbow Baby doll from Kathe Kruse, and a sleepy time book, Down in the Woods at Sleepytime by Carole Schaefer & Vanessa Cabban. All of this comes packaged in a 100% recyclable gift box, wrapped with recycled gift wrap, recycled ribbon, and a lead-free pewter charm. Just thinking about these wonderful sleep-inducing gifts makes me want to curl up and take a nap! You can view this gift box at GrowInStyle.com.

Cute-ture makes a lot of fun, high-quality infant and toddler products. This sweet little animal book is just another great example of their style. Its pages feature fabric cut-outs of different wild animal friends. The soft pages are easy to grip and make early learning fun. I love the cute gingham binding. You can purchase one of these for $26 at lalaling.com. I think it would make a wonderful gift.

Sometimes I find that wooden toys look a little dull. Though I love the idea of an eco-friendly play room, I just wonder if my boys would be interested in playing with wooden cars and blocks for very long. However, when I found the Playsam line of race cars and airplanes, I was convinced that wooden toys can be attractive. These toys are shiny and sleek and eye-catching. I adore the Playsam Jetliner in Black. Though you can’t give it to children under 3, imagine a play room filled with offerings this glossy and streamlined. It would give a modern feel to the room and entice even the adults to touch and ooh over the toys. The only downfall? The price tag is $75 CAD (about $63 USD). You certainly do pay for quality, folks. Buy this jetliner for your little pilot at inhabitshop.com.