The Next Kid Thing

Having spent the past few weeks at the grandparents’ house near the beach, we’re in full-on summer mode here.  With this crazy heatwave we’ve been having, we’ve been so fortunate to be able to spend so much time at the pool and out on the beach.  In addition to all of our summertime essentials, I have to say, we go through quite a few towels, too—not only for beachtime, but for bathtime too.

Several weeks ago, manufacturer of fine children’s products, Zoocchini sent us a product sample of Marvin the Monkey, one of the fun designs in their hooded towel collection.  At 20″ x 50″, the Marvin the Monkey hooded towel is generous in size, making him big enough for younger school-aged kids, yet cozy enough for babies.  The towel is soft and playful, and features cute details like an embroidered face, ears, and tail.  I love that this towel is suitable for bathtime and also great to take along to the pool.  These hooded towels are fun, practical and cushy-cool.

There’s a variety of cute animals and original characters to choose from in the Zoocchini hooded towel collection, but Marvin the Monkey is definitely a favorite!  The towels are in the $30 price range, and it looks like Fanny, Clawd and Ollie are on sale for just $20!

Zoocchini has offered NKT readers an exclusive discount 20% off of their products.  Just use the code  ZOOC20 at checkout.

Giveaway

Zoocchini was kind enough to also offer any one of their hooded towels as a giveaway!  To enter, tell me which towel you’d like for your kid(s) and why.

For extra entries:

Subscribe to Zoocchini’s newsletter (get +5 extra entries)

Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to @jenrab

Fan NKT and comment on the post associated with this giveaway

Please comment below for all entries.

This giveaway will end on July 16th.  All winners are picked via random.org and will be notified via email and the NKT Facebook Fan Page.  Only entries with a valid email will qualify.

A sample was provided to facilitate this review, but opinions herein are my own.

At the Big City Mom’s Biggest Baby Shower, I saw so many awesome gift ideas.  I’m in baby shower planning mode since I’ll be an auntie very soon.  And since I haven’t posted about baby gift ideas in awhile, I thought I’d mention the Organic New Baby gift box from American Terry Co. that I spotted a few weeks ago.

Soft to the touch, this organic gift set includes a baby hooded towel, a multi-use baby cloth that can be used for burping, travel, etc., a wash cloth and a pair of bath booties.  Unlike other gift sets, this one was so soft and fluffy and completely gift-worthy.

Everyone always says that you can’t ever have enough bath towels and blankets for the baby, and , when they’re this soft and cozy for baby, I totally agree.  We received a billion towels and blankets as gifts and I cherish and still use every single one!

But without a doubt, by default, this super soft  set by American Terry would always find its way to the top of the pile.

The set, which can be monogrammed for an additional charge, can be found online and retails for $56.

Jenny McCarthy is no stranger to vocalizing important topics, specifically ones that pertain to parenting. In line with her (and many parents’) belief to build and maintain a better environment for children, McCarthy will be launching a line of affordable, non-toxic infant & juvenile products. After reading on Twtitter that McCarthy was spotted at this week’s ABC Kids Expo in Vegas, it makes so much more sense. McCarthy, who has partnered with PEM, officially unveiled the line, Too Good, at the expo.

McCarthy’s line of kiddie products will include bedding, bath textiles, room decor, newborn gift sets, cleaning products, gluten-free food and beverages, and other categories.

A recent article in Brandweek best described McCarthy’s efforts as a mom:

Jenny became an advocate for a holistic approach to child development after her son Evan was diagnosed with autism in 2005. She has been vocal about such causes as staggering immunizations, adhering to a gluten-free diet and eliminating chemicals in everyday products, such as lead paint in toys or BPA plastic in baby bottles.

McCarthy’s Too Good line is set for launch at mid-tier retailers next spring or summer.

I know many moms have read Jenny’s best selling books on motherhood, so I’m anxious to see these products for myself! I applaud Jenny for using her celebrity status as a platform to create a less toxic environment for all of our kids—and for making it affordable. Be on the look out for Too Good by Jenny.

Get ready girls, Toy company, Spin Master, has introduced Liv, a new line of dolls.  The stylish teenage gal pals, Daniela, Sophie, Katie and Alexis, are unique and relatable, and are geared to girls in the 6-10 age range.  In addition to their cool outfits, each Liv doll has a special access code to an online world, which will give girls a different dimension to interact with their dolls to collect fashions in their virtual closet, view webisodes, games and more.

What’s notable about the Liv dolls is that their style and appearance is much different and more age appropriate for the range that they’re targeting.  As an aunt who has had to shop for dolls for tween nieces and cringing at the options, I appreciate the market research that Spin Master has done.  I think the online world is also an innovative idea, giving girls even more opportunities to engage in imaginative, interactive play.  What I love most: the dolls’ believable attributes and diverse appearance gives girls a better understanding of what it’s like to be a teen.  [Boy craziness and angst aren't included ]

Livworld doesn’t officially launch until August 15, but the dolls, which retail for $20, are in stores now.

Last week, I talked a bit about the significance of organic cotton, and how the softness and natural aspects make them so great for baby and kid products. Perhaps some of my favorite baby staples that we still use on a day-to-day basis are our Bumkins organic burpcloths, bibs and washtowels. In the abundance of bibs, towels and other baby textiles that we own, the organic terry bibs and cloths, with their pastel-colored satin and cotton trim on this collection make the Bumkin products quite distinctive.

The quality of Bumkin products, in general, have always stood out to me; however, among all of our other baby textiles, the Organic Collection truly stand out because of the soft and plush feel.  I try to stay away from loud patterns, especially when the boy was an infant.  It always seemed like most bibs were mini-billboards with their cute sayings and characters, so I loved the neutral color of Bumkins bibs, particularly the chin bibs which look like a collar/halfbib.  The were small, but did the trick for mealtimes when we were dressed up or out and about.  Soft and functional, all the bibs and burpcloths are thick enough to absorb whatever comes our way. The bibs feature a velcro closure that can withstand even the strongest bib-resistant babe.

From gentle newborn spongebaths to toddler repurposing—even after digging in the dirt at the park—the washcloths continue to serve us well at bathtime and for general cleanups.  Because of their natural color and distinctive feel, it never fails, I instinctively pull the Bumkin Organics before any of our other washcloth.  The Bumkin burpcloths (which we’ve repourposed as small towels) and washcloths are definitely a mainstay in our kiddie arsenal.

In addition to various other great kiddie products, Bumkin has a penchant for gorgeous packaging, so be sure to check out their giftsets if you’re on the market for baby gifts!

Goodies
And just for Next Kid Thing readers, just enter Nextkid09 for free shipping with any $50.00 order.  The coupon expires 4/30/09 and applies to ground shipping only.

With all the news involving BPA lately, this company is one that shows the direction that the baby gear market is heading.

In light of the growth of environmental awareness and social consciousness, especially among new parents, many of us seek safer and much more sustainable products. Silikids, founded by two moms who, in a search for alternatives, decided to turn to silicone, one of the safest and most durable materials on earth, into a product line for children.
After recognizing the lack of hygienic, practical and non-toxic products Giuliana Schwab and Stacey Feeley founded Silikids. They have created a unique line of mom-inspired products, which are germ, mold and toxin-free, hypoallergenic and made entirely out of silicone.
Silicone is a non-porous material made from sand, which is unique for its hygienic, safe, durable and green benefits. Silicone is more frequently being used in children’s products, and is already commonly used for baby bottle nipples, pacifiers, teethers and baby spoons.

The Silikids collection currently includes:

·         Siliskins-silicone sleeves for 4- and 8-oz. bottles (bottles included)
·         Silibibs-soft and easy to clean bibs made entirely of silicone
·         Silipads-silicone kneepads for crawlers and toddlers

I had the chance to check out these products, and I was so impressed. The quality and durability are absolutely what I look for in the products that I normally buy.  The functionality and eco-friendliness are clear cut selling points, too.
With many families shying away from questionable plastic baby bottles, glass bottles are once again a popular alternative.
The Siliskin sleeves for glass baby bottles are a protective sheath that helps prevent the bottle from breaking. In addition to being functional, they’re fun and colorful, too!

The Silibibs are easy to clean bibs that are a great alternative to the flimsy plastic bibs out on the market. In addition to catching crumbs, many of those plastic bibs catch their fair share of germs if they’re not cleaned properly! These silicone bibs are a safe bet.

Even though my kid is beyond the crawling phase, I appreciate the innovation of the Silipad silicone kneepads. Bumps and bruises are part of our daily routine, but we could’ve definitely used these in the crawling days to cushion little knees from those hard surfaces.

All Silikids products are priced at less than $25.00 and are dishwasher safe, washer/dryer friendly and can be boiled for sterilization. These products which are fairly new to the market can be found at various stores and online retailers.

I have an orange pair of the Silipads and two 4 oz. sized Siliskin sleeves up for grabs.

Want to win it?

Visit the Silikids site and leave a comment with the products you’d like to try.

For additional entries: blog, tweet, stumble or share the news of the Next Kid Thing’s official launch on any social media site.   Please leave a comment for each additional entries.

*****This contest is now closed******

The children’s classic book and well loved character, Petter Rabbit now has a line of organic baby products.  The Peter Rabbit branded baby products from Econatura includes baby shampoo and wash, baby conditioner, baby body oil, baby lotion and Intense Therapy Cream for Baby. The products have been developed from plant-based formulations, are hypo-allergenic and contain natural antioxidants, making it a great option for children and even sensitive adults.  Check out the ingredients here.
The Peter Rabbit Econatura line, which was awarded 2008’s “Best Baby Line” from Natural Solutions magazine, are available exclusively at Whole Foods.

Goodies: Visit Econatura’s site to get a coupon for $2 off of Peter Rabbit organics.

In honor of opening day, check out the fun selection of MLB-themed gear Build-A-Bear has to offer.  My fave, of course, is Curly Teddy in Mets gear.*

Build-A-Bear Workshops has teamed up with MLB once again to offer a families another way to cheer for their favorite baseball teams with Build-A-Bear Workshop Day at various ballparks, in addition to new team-branded merchandise.  On Build-A-Bear Workshop Day at the Ballpark, fans will receive exclusive team-branded stuffed animals while supplies last. Each furry friend comes with a free virtual gift redeemable at buildabearville.com, the Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world.


Check your favorite team’s website for dates and details, but here are a few scheduled Build-A-Bear Workshop Game Day Giveaways:

Goodies:
Score your own Curly Teddy or get one for your little baseball fan with this $5 off coupon.  Expires April 19, 2009

(Fellow Mets fans:  the choking hazard warning to the right of Curly Teddy is referencing small pieces included with the toy–NOT the game   It’s a brand new year, a brand new ballgame…and a brand new stadium!)

Number 27 is Aimee W.! Congrats, Aimee!  It goes to show you that multiple entries multiply your chances, indeed. 

Please stay tuned for the next giveaway and news about the official launch week!

Since I’ve been busy working toward officially launching The Next Kid Thing, I thought I would let everyone know that we’ll be having a launch week! While I continue to figure out the details for launch week, which is tentatively set for April 13-17, I will be doing a lot of cross-promoting on the 2 blogs. So, please forgive me on the occasional duplicate post, but with cross-promoting comes fun goodies!

aden + anais is having a sale on their Winter Warmth and Dream blankets. I first spotted aden + anais, the makers of the gorgeously soft muslin blankets and wraps, at Buy Buy Baby. Their very cool packaging stands out, as do their beautiful blankets. You really can’t have enough soft, well-made blankets for your babe. Not to mention, how perfect are these for shower gifts! To find out more about muslin wraps and what makes aden + anais products so special, be sure to check them out here. Now, onto the sale…the prices are as follows:

Winter Warmth Swaddles on sale for $29.95 (normally $49.95)
Dream Blankets on sale for $39.95 (normally $59.95)
Visit adenandanais.com and enter promo code “wintersale” to receive the discount.

And lucky for you all, aden + anais is giving away one of their winter warmth blankets!

Want to win it?

Visit aden + anais and tell me what style you love. Click here to add your comment to my blog at Babyrific.


for additional entries:

1. Tweet about this giveaway and mention my this new site, the Next Kid Thing.  You can use the button below (2 extra entries)
2. Blog about the Next Kid Thing (2 extra entries)
3. Stumble this post
4. Sign up to receive my updates via email.

Contest ends April 13th at noon

Please add a comment for each of your entries over at Babyrific. Please note this contest is hosted at my other blog, Babyrific. Comments added here at Next Kid Thing will NOT be counted.