The Next Kid Thing

Some people say baby blankets are some of the most over-gifted baby presents.  But who can resist giving soft, fluffy blankets to newborns?   Babies need blankets;  and really, with all the laundry that babies create, you can never have enough high quality blankets.

Little Giraffe blankets have become some of the most photographed baby blankets.  Why, you ask?  Little Giraffe blankets seem to be staples for Brad and Angelina’s twins, and have been seen in the arms of other famous babes, including Gwen Stefani’s boys to Nicole Richie babes, to Jennifer Garner’s girls and Rebecca Gayheart’s newborn.

Photo Credit: Little Giraffe

I had the chance to see what all the fuss is all about.  And guys, I can now see why Little Giraffe blankets have become such popular loveys.  Perfect for keeping baby comfortable all year round, the blankets are thick, yet not too heavy.  They’re luxe, cozy and much softer than any baby blanket we own—and we own quite a few. The super-soft chenille blanket is generous in size and detailed with satin.  The subtle yellow Little Giraffe blanket that I reviewed epitomizes Springtime and would complement any nursery or stroller.

Little Giraffe collection is comprised of the Chenille, Luxe, Diamond Quilt, Diamond Quilt Luxe, Lollipop, Safari Zebra, Retro 60s Florette and Retro 60s Blossom.  The blankets, ranging in price, can be found online and at retailers like Nordstrom, Land of Nod and Petit Tresor.

Want to win a gorgeous yellow Chenille Blanket from Little Giraffe?

Leave me a comment on the NKT Facebook fan page for this post and tell me which blanket you would love for your baby or to give as a gift, and why.

For extra entries:

• Comment below and tell me which celebrity baby you love seeing online and in magazines.
• Share about this giveaway on Twitter and be sure to @jenrab
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• Spread the NKT  love on Facebook.  Get a friend to fan NKT and get +5 extra entries.
• Blog about this on your site
• For all extra entries, you must comment below with names or links for entries to count!

This giveaway will end 4/28.  The winner will be picked via random.org and will be notified via email, so please be sure to include a valid email address!

At the Baby Issue Event, I had the chance to take a peek at the new Stokke Xplory, and it made quite the impression.  On first impression, it was easy to maneuver and I loved the head-turning purple shade.

Since being introduced in 2003, the Stokke Xplory has been a popular fixture on NYC streets.  With their eye-catching color and unique design that elevates kids higher up from the ground, the Xplory is hard to miss.  This year, Stokke is enhancing the Xplory strollers with new fabric options, which are described to cushion the seat more to give it more of a cocoon-like feel.

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Welcome to Baby Week on NKT, everyone!  This week, I will be focusing on the latest and greatest on baby gear.  Stay tuned for my picks for the most notable baby items for modern families.

Outfitting small spaces often demands creativity while combining functionality, especially when babies are added to the mix. But just because a space is small, doesn’t mean you have to forget style.

Cribs, perhaps one of the most pertinent elements of baby’s nursery, monopolize a lot of space.  In some cases, families don’t have the space for a full-sized crib, or perhaps, have the need for a secondary crib.  Earlier this year, bloom debuted its alma crib, a compact, modern, stylish, yet functional solution for space-strived families.

The alma, which comes in a palette of vibrant colors and touts clean, straight lines, needs no assembly, as it opens and collapses with ease.  Described to be as wide as a standard dresser, the Alma is small enough (37×20x33″) to be used an an alternative for co-sleepers, bassinets, mini-cribs or even pack-and-plays.  After use, the Alma can be closed and stored to maximize space.

The alma, like other bloom products complies with all CPSIA requirements, and is a sustainable option for baby gear. According to bloom, alma is crafted from solid birch wood from certified sustainable wood forests. The wood is independently tested to be free of wood PCP and other toxic wood preservatives. The finishes and bedding textiles are lead free, phthalate free, PVC free, heavy metal free, and AZO dye free.  For me, sustainability is a huge selling point.

I love that bloom was founded by four dads who sought to bring contemporary design and intelligent innovation to a range of baby products. bloom’s simple, clean, but innovative products are head-turners and among some of my favorite high-end baby gear.

Just like many urban dwelling families, we know the lack of space predicament quite well.  It might be shocking to those who aren’t used to it, but we’ve managed to coexist in our 1br railroad apartment just fine, thanks to intuitive baby gear and furniture that gives us room to breathe.  Before we opted for our Stokke Sleepi, we were leaning towards investing in a mini-crib for our closet nursery.  We were disappointed at the lack of options for durable, safe and modern mini cribs.  Had the alma been out a few years ago, we could have totally gone this route.  I love the idea of being able to store the crib when it’s not in use, yet not having to sacrifice modern design for function and convenience.  I’ve always been a big fan of bloom products, but somewhat deterred by the price tags.  Though the alma wouldn’t have lasted for us as long since we have a taller kid, this crib is certainly a viable solution for families who crave space, portability and sleek designs.

The alma can be found at retailers such as giggle and retails for $400.  By the way, I love giggle’s Q&A feature on their site.  Great consumer interaction!

The mattress and bedding are all sold separately, and can also be found at giggle.

With our kids’ and babies’ safety in mind, Toys ‘R’ Us is re-launching its Great Trade-In Event today.  Just like the popular campaign that took place in September 2009, TRU is, once again, urging consumers to bring in old and used baby gear that may pose as safety hazards for the wee ones.

The Great Trade In Event kicks off today and lasts until Saturday, February 20.  For the fine print, the company said:

Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us stores will accept returns of any used cribs, car seats, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards, high chairs and toddler beds in exchange for a 25% savings on the purchase of any new baby item, in any of these product categories, from select manufacturers.

With several recent stroller and drop-side crib recalls that have made news in the past few weeks, it seems like it’s a good time as ever to do a trade-in.  That 25% off is certainly a great initiative to shop and to keep the kiddies safe in the process.