Parent-friendly Products

Denise Richards loves the Ba


Actress and author Denise Richards signs on to endorse The Original Baby.

Denise Richards may be a popular actress and author, but first, she’s a mother of three. And she discovered the Ba –made by The Original Baby– about a year ago, when she adopted baby Eloise.

I couldn’t help but be drawn to the design. It was this color-popping, cool and easy-to-grip addition to Eloise’s standard bottle that made it fun for her, and easy for me because she is in control -as a baby.

Denise and Eloise appear with the Ba in a recent video and pictures shot by renowned photographer Yu Tsai for The Original Baby. “Working with Yu Tsai was a very real experience. He captured us -Eloise and me and the way we interact, our relationship,” Denise says. “It was an experience with my baby, and it was captured, beautifully.”

Compatible with most baby bottle brands, the Ba’s design encourages the simple steps of grasping and feeding as early as three months old. It is also designed affordably, retailing at just $14.99.

Founded in 2011, Portland, OR-based The Original Baby makes the Ba, which was initially invented by rock-n-roll dad Travis Hendricks, who wanted something to help his daughter better hold her own bottle. Travis sought the help of three other dads –a designer, a lawyer and a single father- in producing The Original Ba, recipient of multiple awards including the 2012 RedDot Design Award -one of the world’s largest and most distinguished design competitions- as well as the Bronze IDEA 2012 Award.

Committed to designing unique, functional products, this innovative company is now working to improve other important baby accessories including utensils, pacifiers, bottles and others.

These self-proclaimed dad-preneurs are creating products to make life a little easier, and a lot more fun, for both parent and child.

Thanks Lisa Orman, for introducing me to The Original Baby!

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

iMommy Fun


This new app is a fun game for kids.

After months of research, Kathy Shimmield created iMommy with her own kids’ imaginative play in mind. The iMommy app lets kids pretend to be parents.  This game is ideal for kids ages two thru 10, and is suitable for any age.

iTunes TOP 100 in Family Category. Players get to choose from four different ethnicities and interact with baby by changing their hair, eye or outfit color. The toy is also a tool, teaching kids how to take care of their baby. They learn what makes baby happy and what upsets the baby. They have to feed, play, bathe and even change baby’s diaper!

Young children who love to care for their dolls and stuffed animals will enjoy having their own virtual baby to take care of through the iMommy app. Dragging and dropping items is a way to interact with the baby in the various playrooms or bathtub and when the baby is tired, children can take their baby to the bedroom where the crib is located and tap the icon to rock it to sleep. Another nice feature of an automated message that will appear after a certain length of time suggesting a break from game play.

-Parents.com

Kathy has a hot new game app out there now – Wolfie. Check it out.

Another Rachel Florio PR client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Help We’ve Got Kids


Parents in Canada have a little helper, and it’s online!

Tracie Wagman and Deb Beatty are two moms who enjoy finding fun activities for their two children so much, that they decided to bring their fun factor to market and share it with other families.

Eighteen-year-old Help We’ve Got Kids first started as a print directory for parents and caregivers, listing products and services for kids and families in the Greater Toronto area. When the company expanded to HelpWeveGotKids.com, it became a “Bible” of sorts, with lists and articles, contests and blogs about activities and services for kids, parents and families all over Canada, including  Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo, with more cities to follow. “We know that the internet and mobile browsing are hugely convenient for parents (and moms),” they say.

Our website also offers thousands of dollars in local coupons, a listing of local family friendly events and tips from local experts.

Tracie and Deb say they enjoy hearing from parents and caregivers, often incorporating their suggestions into both the print and online version of Help We’ve Got Kids. I particularly like the company’s name –it’s already fun!

Organized Mom Awards Supporter. Help We’ve Got Kids is also a proud partner of the Organized Mom Awards – where moms can enter to win $1,000 by sharing three tips that help her to be an organized mom. Have you entered? Enter here. You’ve got until August 19!

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Perry Mackin Lady Chic


Frumpy family is definitely out, as these chic diaper bags declare.

Perry Mackin has come to the rescue of every mom who needs to refresh her fashion image. The company designs diaper bags in a high-quality, water-resistant fabric –worthy of the runway, really. They’re beautiful, versatile and so packed with helpful stuff, anybody would be happy to dress them up … or down.

Perry Mackin was born to allow you to be a busy and committed mother without losing your sense of style or fashion.

Two moms decide to combine practicality and affordability with the specific needs of a diaper bag -baby gadgets, toys and essentials can be stored conveniently in the many inside pockets- and they came up with a bag that’s not only versatile, but it lets mom focus on all the excitement of motherhood in style.

Lady chic!

  • Another Rachel Florio PR client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Golly Gee-pers Game Teaches Manners


Award-winning games teach children table manners in a fun, delicious way.

A while back, Staci Ericson discovered –through an honest parent and good friend- that her daughter’s table manners left a little to be desired. “I went home and quickly drew some silly sketches with captions and corresponding thumbs-up or thumbs-down illustrations, put them inside zip lock sandwich bags,” she says.

We’ve got kids’ manners in a bag.

Since then, Staci has taken her card game idea  to market. Golly Gee-pers mealtime games encourage good table manners, incorporating honest feedback and accountability. Staci and her team research, develop and test fun ways to teach manners to children, with the help of local pediatric groups. “I was able to survey parents, grandparents and caregivers and later put the game through a series of focus groups,” she says. “My goal was not to simply get the game on the market but to provide a useful tool that would address table manners in the moment they occur.”

Honored as Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Socially Responsible Products for 2011 and one of Dr. Toy’s 100 Best New Products for Children 2011, Golly Gee-pers Table Manners Cards not only teach kids proper etiquette, the entire process really enhances the mealtime experience –for everyone. Here’s a video:

New Products in 2012. Staci plans to introduce a few more products under the Golly Gee-pers brand sometime this year. Don’t Pick Your Nose and Other Jazzy Manners Songs helps parents teach their kids social skills in addition to introducing them to light jazz music. Toddlers at the Table is a flap book designed specifically for new diners. We’re looking forward to these releases.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today! Thank you Rachel Florio PR for introducing me to Golly Gee-pers!

A Little Bit of Italy for Your Nursery


Italy’s fastest growing nursery brand, with its wide variety of babycare products, is now available in the United States.

Well-known distributor Kastel International has been named U.S. distributor for Parma, Italy-based Mebby/Medel Group, a company with a longstanding reputation as a trusted medical device manufacturer, spanning over 40 years. Their innovative Mebby babycare products are known to be safe and respectful to the environment, catering to the needs of today’s parents –and include products for breast and bottle feeding, teething and bath time.

Kastel is launching Mebby in the U.S. with two products. Mebby Jelly Baby, a memory foam changing mat, is the first-ever changing mat made from soft memory foam and ergonomically shaped to fit baby.  The PVC-free changing mat is 100% waterproof, anti-bacterial, Latex-Free and hypoallergenic. The mat grips to a changing table or dresser without having to attach it, stays at room temperature for warm comfort for baby and can be easily wiped clean.  Jelly Baby can be used on its own or with its separately available terry backed machine washable liners.

The Mebby Bath Toy Store, a cleverly designed bath toy storage solution to help keep baby’s bath toys tidy and clean. Compact and attractive, its two-piece system for drying bath toys uses nested buckets in gentle pastel colors. The inner bucket has drain-holes in the bottom, and the outer bucket catches the water running through.  A wide opening at the top keeps air circulating through, avoiding the breeding of nasty mold.

Jelly Baby and Bath Toy Store are both ingenious products -not to mention affordable and stylish- that moms will love for everyday use. We are thrilled to add Mebby to the growing Kastel portfolio of distinctive juvenile goods brands.

–Stellario D’Urso, president, Kastel International

Founded in 1996 by Stellario, the Kastel team of seasoned marketing industry veterans uses their global experience to launch domestic and European-based brands. The company’s portfolio also includes Netherlands-based Mutsy, makers of strollers, Spain-based Babyhome, an award-winning collection of baby gear, Jahgoo, a collection of baby/toddler bathroom essentials such as potties and step stools and BabyZoo, fun and smart designed sleep aids for young children.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today! Thank you, Hilary Abbott, for introducing  me to Mebby!

Stuck on You – Primary Sponsor of the Organized Mom Awards 2012


It all started when I innocently created some labels for my son. With word spreading rapidly through the school community, orders started coming in and Stuck on You was born.

-Carrie Felton, owner of Stuck on You

Carrie’s innocent label-creating began in Australia circa 1995, and since then, Stuck On You has grown to be the most recognized name labels company in Australia, offering products in hundreds of countries worldwide, with offices in many regions, including the USA.

Our labels are tough, they have been tested by kids all over the world. Our success has come from word of mouth. Apart from great quality, our products are great fun; they are loved by mums, dads, kids and schools alike.

Looking for labels and more? All of the products from Stuck on You are created out of necessity to make life easier for moms –and their kids. The clever design team is constantly coming up with new designs that your kids will love. And the Stuck on You product line continues to expand with drink bottles, learning books, canvases, height charts, backpacks, lunch boxes, library bags, personalized clothing and more. Carrie and her company have a passion and love for all things organized -she just loves to create time to do the fun things in life, like spending time with family and friends, cooking and entertaining. That’s why Stuck on You is the primary sponsor of the Organized Mom Awards 2012.

Stuck on You USA. Name labels, school labels and personalized gifts can all be created by you on the Stuck on You USA product previewer before you buy. Stuck on You labels are designed to stick and stay stuck.

Stuck for a gift idea? The company ships anywhere in the United States. Choose from the enormous collection of name labels, kids labels, school labels, clothing labels, iron on labels, bag tags, luggage tags, lunchboxes, drink bottles, kids clothing, stationery, wall art and more, then start personalizing with color, design, nearly anything your heart desires- to create your very own personalized Stuck On You USA product. “We love a bargain and we know our customers do too,” Carrie says. “Keep an eye out on our latest offers online for bargains, specials and brand new products.”

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

The Zen of Nested Bean’s Swaddle


This new swaddle design provides the one thing a child craves to fall asleep restfully: a mother’s touch.

After her second child was born, Manasi Gangan spent many sleepless nights trying to calm her fitful boy to sleep. Unlike her older son, nothing worked more effectively to encourage slumber than holding her new baby close throughout the night. “I discovered that a mother’s touch is an essential part of soothing new arrivals, aiding their transition from the womb into the world,” Mansai says, “so I created a swaddle of sorts that simulated my touch. Slowly my son started to drift off and stay asleep with little help from me.”

Protection of a mother’s warm embrace. Mansai’s invention has evolved into the first swaddle uniquely constructed to harnesses the proven power of a parent’s touch to soothe and comfort a child, combining it with the traditional benefits of swaddling, and providing a time-tested, truly safe and secure environment for your baby. Made from 100% cotton and containing non-toxic filling in parts, the Zen Swaddle™ system fastens with Velcro® closures and uses custom accessories to create the effect of a warm embrace: The Peaceful Touch uses gentle pressure like that of a hand resting on your baby’s chest, while The Loving Embrace surrounds your baby on either side, from torso to thigh, with the comforting, reassuring feeling of resting in your arms. Trials with babies show that using the Zen Swaddle enables them to self soothe through minor disturbances, increasing the duration of sleep.

What I learned through extensive research with medical professionals, research scientists and childcare professionals is that touch is integral to babies’ sense of wellbeing. Babies find restful sleep in the Zen Swaddle™ because it provides them with the calming benefits they receive from their parents’ touch.

Passionate about Parenthood. Last year, Manasi founded Nested Bean Inc. with a mission to manufacture the best, safest products that cater to babies’ needs -and provide parents with peace of mind. The Zen Swaddle is the company’s inaugural product. “I gathered a team of professionals with a wide range of experience -juvenile product design, engineering, marketing, retail and management- to join in this mission,” Mansai says. “Several ideas were created and discarded until we developed the Zen Swaddle, the one design that met all of our goals to perfection.” Designed for babies weighing seven to 14 pounds, the Zen Swaddle has undergone rigorous safety testing at CPSC-accredited labs. “The Zen Swaddle is close to my heart because I helped with product development and branding,” says children’s apparel expert Caletha Crawford, who introduced me to Nested Bean. “It will be available at some great stores, such as like Tottini in Seattle and Magic Beans in Boston, at the end of July.”

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Drool Monkey – 100% Certified Organic Cotton


You learn something new every day.

When Kam Corkin introduced me to her young company, I learned not just one, but two things. 1) what a “lovie” is and 2) how easy it is to be drawn to a product with such a cute name.

Kam is founder/CEO of Drool Monkey Organics, makers of fine-quality, eco-friendly baby products, and specializing in organic hankies and teething lovies. What’s more, the heirloom-quality lovies are made from a custom-woven wicking fabric that helps prevent drool and teething rash. Simply knot the corners to give your baby relief from those growing pains, too.

Kam designed the first Drool Monkey as a practical solution for her drooling baby. “When my first child was three months old and started putting everything in her mouth,” she tells me, “I knew I had to find a non-toxic solution that was easy to keep clean.” Her organic and sanitary products quickly became sought after by all her friends,  so she started her Monterey, CA-based business right as her second child was born. “It’s been a roller-coaster trying to launch a product during such a busy time in my life, but it’s been magical to watch my son use the product that I invented for my daughter three years ago.”

We also just had our first celebrity sightings. Selma Blair has been photographed using her Drool Monkey. Ali Landry just tweeted a photo of her son, Marcello, snuggling his Drool Monkey.

I’ll let Kam tell you what makes Drool Monkey so unique:

  • Made from custom-woven organic cotton fabric, it is amazingly luxurious and soft. The best part is that it can be washed and dried every day to keep it clean and sanitary without any piling.
  • Multi-purpose Cloth Teether, Burp Cloth, Sleep-Aid (absorbing Mom’s scent), Blankie and even a Nursing Cover or Sun Shield – all in one.
  • Teething Relief – Tie a cube of ice in the extra fabric for baby to chew on (works like a mesh feeder but doesn’t get baby wet); tie knots in the corners for baby to chew on – it even comes with two removable ribbon tethers
  • Each Drool Monkey comes packaged in an organic cotton snap front wristlet bag complete with a free gift tag.
  • A gift that Mom will find extremely useful from the newborn stage all the way into the toddler years.
  • Designed by a Mom for a Mom

My own two kids are kitty-kids … but I’m convinced even my cats would appreciate a Drool Monkey. I know I would!

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Mutsy’s Newest Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper


Big News! Check out Mutsy’s all new website!

Netherlands-based stroller company introduces its latest innovation for “baby transport.”

The lightweight and stylish EVO is a combi-buggy with an ingenious baby mobility choice. From Mutsy, recognized for its modernistic stroller designs and distinctive modular construction, EVO offers parents and caregivers outstanding ease of operation at an affordable price.

First a maker of traditional style prams, Mutsy moved into aesthetically beautiful and technologically advanced stroller designs featuring a distinctive modular system, from birth to early childhood products that include strollers, high chairs, booster seats, a baby rocker, baby essentials and accessories.

Mutsy’s signature style shines in the compact and simply designed EVO. The very versatile stroller seat can face front or back, and is easily reclined with a one hand to a full lay down flat position. A uniquely designed footrest with fabric can be attached to the front bumper bar to create a safe and completely cosseted enclosure for younger babies when the backrest is fully reclined.

Designed to be exceptionally easy to push as well as maneuver, EVO is easy to fold without the need to remove the seat, and extremely compact when closed.  Other features include a height adjustable leatherette handle, swivel/lock system on front wheels, extendable hood with mesh panel, easily accessible and very large shopping basket, a carrying handle and flip down sun shade.

Mutsy USA offices are located in Chester, NJ. View an animated piece featuring the story of EVO here http://on.fb.me/L2Ue6j.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!