Key ring compass
We are holidaying in the Dolomites at the moment and today was cloudy and rainy so we decided to tour the Wein Strasse just south of Bolzano. We actually spent the day hopping from one wine producer to the next and ended up with a trunk full of wine. This was definitely not the most child friendly day we could come up with, so we promised our children a little gift from the lovely village toy shop. It’s small and cute and full of German toys we don’t easily get in Milan. The only problem is that these toys have to travel back with us at some point (the wine goes back with my husband) so we kept redirecting our son to smaller items.
The key ring compass from Haba made us all happy! It belongs to the Terra Kids line of adventure toys.
Now my son is proudly parading his new acquisition and asking loads of questions on cardinal points, magnetism and the north pole. Now, if Haba had provided a little booklet with all the answers it would have been just perfect!
(Available from Amazon, UK and US.)
-Michela
Curls
I come from a family with a long line of straight dark hair as does my husband, so we were all more than a bit surprised when my eldest daughter turned out to have a head covered in blond ringlets. She must be some kind of Darwinian throwback. It looks very cute BUT it is such a pain to look after. Every morning she wakes up with a head full of dreadlocks and it is a battle to sit her down to comb her hair. She reminds me of Shock Haired Peter! Her solution to the problem is very simple: she wants to shave it all off and be done with it.
I can see her point but being a little bit vain on her behalf, I would love to find a way to tame her hair before having to resort to such drastic measures. Does anyone have any ideas of what I can do with her mop? Please do let me know! I have tried sprays, lotions and potions but nothing works!
- Emilie
Olive Loves Alfie
Although it’s a bit off the beaten path, it’s worth a trip to London’s Stoke Newington neighborhood if, for nothing else, a visit to the lovely children’s boutique Olive Loves Alfie.
This small but charming shop is chock full of children’s toys, clothes and accessories. Not your normal mass-market toys, but the sort of things that will inspire you to spruce up your children’s toy basket or run home and redecorate the nursery. It’s the perfect place to find a unique birthday gift, a piece of art to cover a bare wall, or even vintage chairs, globes and toys for your home.
You’ll find Djeco toys, Katvig clothes, Rice accessories, and the list goes on. And there’s something about the way it’s all displayed that makes you really notice the attention to detail and the heartfelt selection. A really lovely neighborhood shop that makes you wish you lived in the neighborhood…
-Courtney
The unspeakable. A trip to New Jersey.
I kid. I am after all a New Yorker and it’s in my DNA to pick on New Jersey. Truth be told however, I find myself going there quite often with my kids on day trips. One of my very favorite go-to spots is the Liberty Science Center, which (dare I say) blows all of the kid’s museums in NYC out of the water. There are tons of things to do there and there is a separate contained Toddler play area with animal displays and all sorts of things to touch and climb on. One of our personal favorite exhibits is “My Hudson Home” which has giant tanks filled with fish and turtles and a water table with sand to scoop. It appeals to all ages beyond the toddler years and there is something for everyone to enjoy. The place is absolutely immaculate to boot and they have an incredible cafeteria with organic and healthy food for adults and children. Go early or late afternoon to avoid the school crowds and I guarantee a good time for all. Please note: bring blindfold for when you leave if you want to avoid the gift shop.
-Dina
The Yellow Balloon
This picture book by Charlotte Dematons is perfect. Perfect because it will ensure hours and hours of entertainment for the entire family, and perfect for Babyccino readers in all countries worldwide because there is no language problem: this book is wordless! (I recently sent it to our friends in Brussels who speak three languages. No problem whatsoever!)
The present and the past, the real and the imaginative; everything is mixed up in the wonderful drawings in this book. It provides endless opportunities for make-up stories… Find the blue car, the yellow balloon, the prisoner and the fakir on the magic carpet. The more you look , the more you see!
Charlotte Dematons was born in France but studied and lives in the Netherlands. The Yellow Balloon is available from our bookshops (UK or US).
xxx Esther
Warning: totally addictive
The art department at work is pregnant. When I say that, I’m talking about the deputy art director Renae, who is pregnant, and the art director, whose wife is pregnant. We all sit next to each other so there’s been lots of baby talk recently. One topic that got us distracted for, well, far too long was names. Renae knows that she’s having a boy whereas Chris and his wife have decided not to find out until the birth. Chris likes traditional names whereas Renae favours slightly more quirky choices. And so we put them all to the test on this completely addictive computer graph program set up by the NSW Government. Basically you type in the name you’re thinking about and you can see whether it’s gaining popularity or on the way out. Truly, once you start you won’t be able to stop.
-Natalie
101 Things To Do Before You Diet
I’m not fat, but if I’m honest, I should loose between 4 and 5 kilos (that’s 10 pounds for you, imperial friends). Unfortunately I’m also not very good at dieting, and that’s for two reasons.
The first one is that I love to eat, and that does not go hand in hand with slimming down. The second one is that I know that what really works in the long run is a change in habits and lifestyle, so I tell myself that dieting will not solve my problems.
So given I was late for the summer swimsuit-trial I thought that reading this book by Mimi Spencer could prepare me well for a slimmer fall. She is a fashion editor with self declared flaws in the tummy area. Mimi has come up with a thoroughly entertaining and illuminating list of 101 things that will help you free your thinner self. She covers topics in every possible field, from eating to fashion, from fitness to cooking. A lot of them are common sense, many others I had read in magazines here and there but it’s truly something to have them all in a book. I honestly could write maybe 101 posts on them, but here are a few of my favourites, that I will embrace in the hope of shedding those pounds. (more…)
Making crowns
I spotted some plastic jewels in our local art store the other day and thought they would be perfect to decorate crowns…
So, with some tag board, crayons, spare wrapping paper and the jewels, we got busy making our most regal head wear.
It isn’t the most innovative art project we’ve ever done, but I love how easy it was to do (even my 2-year-old decorated his own), and how little it required. Not to mention how much fun we’ve had wearing our crowns around.
-Courtney
P.S. Instead of jewels you can use tissue paper, craft paper, stickers, stamps, or even just felt pens. You can’t go wrong!
Paris Plage
It is that time of year again here in Paris: the right bank of the Seine has been taken over by lounge chairs, palm trees, sun and sand.
If you happen to be in Paris for the month of August (most Parisians have left for the country and the city is spookily quiet) Paris Plage is the place to be. It has something for everyone: bars, a swimming pool and a great play area.
If you go in the mornings the “beach” is relatively quiet, even on the weekends, and it is a perfect place for kids to get rid of some excess energy. This year the place to be for kids is the area around the pont de Sully at the eastern edge of the beach.
The other area of Paris Plage around the basin de la Villette is great too, there is even a sailboat you can rent! I loved the idea of sailing around a canal in the middle of Paris, but so apparently do a lot of people so it is completely overbooked. If you have kids from 6 years upwards, there are some fantastic little pedalos that they can peddle around in, in a supervised area of the canal.
All of this has been sponsored by the Mairie of Paris so almost all the attractions are free!
- Emilie
Sack n Seat travel high chair
I’ve just returned from a vacation in Paris, and realized how much stuff you need when you have a baby! With my older daughter already 4 years old, I’d forgotten about all the gear one needs for a little one when traveling. And in France, there are two baby essentials that are often lacking in public places: a changing table and highchairs. The changing table you can get away with, making do with a park bench or even changing a diaper discreetly in the stroller. But what to do without a high chair? I tried the first few days feeding my 8-month-old in her stroller, which was a disaster– she had orange puree all over herself and all over the stroller. Ick. Then I remembered seeing the Sack N Seat in a shop and ran out to get one! (I got mine at Monoprix in Paris.) The Sack n Seat is a great portable high chair option– it fits over almost any chair, straps your baby in securely, and then folds up teeny tiny to stash away. That way, baby C was happy as could be to “finger paint” with her lunch all over the cafe table, and not on her stroller! (If you look on the Sack n Seat website, they have a whole list of where to buy the product in countries all over.)
xx Rebecca
Plum jam
We’re currently vacationing in France, and we’re all in the relaxed mode. The kids love running around the house here (it’s an old little farm dating from 1781), swimming in the pool and playing in the little play-house their grandfather made for them.
Yesterday we went to the local pottery center where I bought some lovely pots, and afterwards I spent my day picking plums and blackberries and making jams. Life is good when it’s simple like this!
The plum jam turned out quite well, and I thought I’d give you the recipe. It’s very easy and the lemon gives it a nice and tangy accent.
Here’s how to do it: (more…)
Djeco Stamps
I swear my daughter might turn out to become a post master, she likes stamping so much! She has spent many a happy rainy afternoon sitting around the kitchen table, stamping her little heart out.
I couldn’t resist getting her a Djeco Super Hero stamp set. They are such great designs and after an extensive stamping session she gets to colour the characters in, so I am talking hours of fun.
By the way, I have never been let down by any of the Djeco toys, the designs are so clever and the toys really stimulate creativity….
The stamps are available on Amazon France.
- Emilie
Dummies
It’s a hot topic amongst parents: Do you give your baby a dummy? And if so, when do you take it away? When do you allow your kids to have a dummy — always, or just when they’re sleeping? Sure, a baby needs help soothing themselves to sleep, but should a 4-year-old still use a dummy?
My experience with dummies has always been positive. Both my boys used them, but only strictly for sleeping. And it was pretty easy to take them away (a ‘dummy fairy’ came). Now the baby is also using dummies, and they really work wonders at soothing her to sleep.
Studies have shown that dummies help reduce the risk of cot death by 90%. Apparently sucking on a dummy also releases positive endorphins which are beneficial to babies. Also, dummies are apparently better for the teeth than sucking a thumb. So then why are dummies so frowned upon? Why are moms embarrassed to ‘admit’ that their child uses them?
-Courtney
p.s. I love this idea — When kids in Stockholm have decided they’re too big for dummies, they take them to Skansen (pictured) and leave them there. Wouldn’t that be a fun way for your child to graduate from dummies?
Seedling
This is quite possibly the best children’s product (at least in the ‘creative’ gift department) that I have ever seen!
Dissatisfied with the array of uninspiring, mass produced toys on the market (which, many parents will attest, often fail to offer more than temporary interest) the very clever team at Seedling wanted to create a ‘meaningful’ and ‘inspiring’ gift which would ‘encourage simple homegrown skills that allow a child’s mind to grow and develops their creativity’.
And these kits do just that! Having bought several kits for my nieces’ birthdays and my children having each received a kit, I can testify that they offer good old-fashioned hands on experiences. Brown recycled paper bags stuffed with educational tools and real materials that teach new skills — that don’t require batteries and aren’t made of plastic. It amazes me how something so simple can in fact be so innovative. The kind of product you come across and immediately think – now why didn’t I think of that?
The array of activities available is in fact so impressive that the biggest dilemma is choosing which ‘kit’ to buy.
Penis envy?
My 20-month-old daughter and her 4-year-old brother have been taking baths together for over a year now, actually since she could sit at around 6 months. Obviously they take their baths naked but she has never payed attention to body differences.
We are now at the seaside and yesterday they were (exceptionally) both playing naked in the sand when she suddenly noticed her brother’s little penis. She started pointing at it, then looked at herself and didn’t find one. She then started crying, screaming “me, me, me” and wanted to pull it away!
Her brother was amused and ran-off with his treasured possession.
I thought it was really funny… and in any case a bit early for a proper explanation!
-Michela
Happeez clips
Every now and then a product comes along where you almost can’t fathom how on earth you ever functioned without it. Let’s face it — a home is simply not complete without a refrigerator cluttered in stuff – pics of the kids, a random to-do list, invitations, etc. The problem the modern day family has been running into for far too long is that magnets don’t stick to their cool stainless steel refrigerators!
The geniuses at Mayfair Lane have developed adorable, stylish clips, frames and notepads that stick to stainless steel, glass and metal! Yippie!!! I buy them as gifts for all of my friends who are always, like me, in shock that they have not seen anything like it before.
-Dina
Zoobug
My daughter is very much loving her new Zoobug sunglasses. It’s funny how kiddie sunglasses nowadays are so nice – I don’t remember having such cool sunglasses as a kid. (I actually don’t recall having sunglasses to start with!)
The fact is, it’s a good idea to find your kid sunglasses with good lenses, as the sun can do a lot of damage to young eyes, and so you want them as protected as possible.
Zoobug was created by Dr. Julie Diem, an ophthalmologist from London who after searching good quality sunglasses for her niece discovered that they simply didn’t exist!
Zoobug sunglasses are sweet looking, sturdy and flexible and have lenses that are UV400, filter blue light and are impact resistant, giving sensitive children’s eyes the best protection possible.
xxx Esther
Baby snacks
While checking out the baby biscuits at a health food store, I stumbled upon Baby Mum-Mum biscuits, and couldn’t resist the name! Now my almost 9-month-old is addicted– she clearly prefers these over any baby cookies I buy. I love them too– they come in individual packets, great to stash in your bag, they are slightly crunchy, and not at all messy. They are made primarily of rice, but do have small amounts of sugar and salt. (Maybe that is what makes them so yummy?) Click here for a list of US and Canadian retailers.
Another classic American fave for older babies is Cheerios. For my first daughter, I remember stuffing my suitcase full of plain Cheerios when I visited the States, as in France, only the honey nut variety are available. Apparently Cheerios are great for babies who have perfected the pincer grasp, and I’ve heard they reduce the possibility of chocking as they are circle-shaped. As I was thinking about this post, I was wondering what kinds of snacks and biscuits moms around the world feed their babies. Are there other great ideas, or even better– homemade snacks, that we should know about?
xx Rebecca
The Emperor’s New Clothes
Although they’re pricey, I just can’t help loving these beautiful Wovenplay dolls. It seems everything Wovenplay makes outdoes the next. Simply beautiful.
You can find Wovenplay and many, many other great designers at The Emperor’s New Clothes — a stunning online boutique of beautiful children’s products, some that you’ll recognize and some that are sure to be new to you. Like the collection of Susie Watson children’s pottery, the quirky but cool Coq en Pate bags and backpacks, or these colorful Nume hangers which are perfect for a child’s bedroom.
Justine, owner and former assistant to Paul Smith, drew inspiration from French and NYC flea markets in gathering her shop’s collection. The result is a wonderful selection of unique pieces, offering a bit of beauty and a bit of French flare.
Visit the shop, and enter the discount code BABY09 at check-out to receive 10% off your order.
-Courtney
Choice of buggies
At the moment I am really enjoying cutting corners, recycling and making do with what we have, embracing a simple lifestyle. However, there are a few things that are not worth skimping on and children’s security is one of them, but being security conscious does not mean breaking the bank.
I found this article in the Guardian about how to choose a buggy sensibly and they had some really good tips.
I actually wish I had read it before getting mine. I am the proud owner of three buggies, and that is exactly two buggies too many!
- Emilie
