My Baby’s Keeper

Best in adorable organic baby bodysuits that also function as baby’s toy, teether and pacifier keeper!

The My Baby’s Keeper bodysuits are 100% organic cotton patented baby apparel (NO. US D737,024) available in three-, six-, nine- and 12-month sizing. The most unique thing about My Baby’s Keeper? Baby stuff can be securely attached to the clothes! That’s right – each bodysuit has an attachable BPA-free ring to keep belongings safe and clean.

In the summer of 2013, sisters Tracey and Jaclyn started their children’s company, Happy Baby, LLC, to develop this bodysuit line that is cute, fashionable and most importantly, practical. As Moms themselves, they were repeatedly bending, picking up and washing off their children’s belongings that accidentally fall on the floor or are intentionally thrown down there by their babies. My Baby’s Keeper lets parents and caregivers attach toys, pacifiers and teethers directly to baby’s clothing, enabling baby to play with their belongings without parents worrying about sanitizing them when they have fallen to the ground.

Additionally, My Baby’s Keeper may help babies develop hand-eye coordination and learn to grasp objects – when they see those attached things and attempt to reach for them over and over again. All of this learning can help babies to play.

Both fashionable and functional, babies can wear My Baby’s Keeper bodysuits even when baby’s belongings are not attached, since the feature is simply part of the design.

Northeast Home to My Baby’s Keeper

The northeast United States has been Tracey and Jaclyn’s home their entire lives and now is the home of their new business. Jaclyn’s son Nathaniel is the original tester of My Baby’s Keeper bodysuits, while she brought their vision to life with her creative sewing and design skills. Tracey is the mother of three children and is the innovator of My Baby’s Keeper. Together, they are designing clothing that provides both stimulation for baby and peace of mind for parents.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

Li’l Trunks

Pack your bags! We’re going to our happy place.

Each season, Li’l Trunks offers a wardrobe of bright, bold options. The juicy colors and joyful patterns are designed to transport you to your happy place. You may remember it -you lived there when you were young.

“All it takes is the sound of your child’s laughter, and you’re tumbling through time and space. I love that feeling. It’s like an instant holiday,” says Sush Utpala, founder of this Indian-inspired baby and children’s clothing line that features vibrant floral prints with exotic flowers such as lotus, hibiscus and dahlias on rompers, empire-waisted knit dresses and more.

Sush says Li’l Trunks is an expression of her own happy place. “It’s inhabited by the sights and sounds of India, where I grew up,” she says. “These bits of home now mix and mingle with my adventures since then, living and traveling around the world. Together they swoosh around like a kaleidoscope, creating exciting patterns, delightful combinations and endless smiles. Then they find their home in the collection.”

Created as a way for Sush to express her two worlds -her love for learning about new places and cultures and her experiences as a new mom- the simple silhouettes and contemporary prints help make Li’l Trunks both timeless and current, east and west.

I’d also add luscious and beautiful!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

Bits of News

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kidpikbasics.com

kidpik, the custom head-to-toe fashion box, designed, styled and delivered exclusively for girls 4-14, recently introduced the kidpik basics collection in super-soft materials and yummy colors. Parents can now stock up on all the essentials that a girl needs in multiples at www.kidpikbasics.com. “Basics are an essential part of a girl’s wardrobe,” Ezra Dabah, kidpik founder and CEO says. “We are thrilled to offer a great selection of basics to complement the kidpik fashion collection.”

MAM Celebrates in 2016

MAM, a manufacturer of award-winning, innovative and unique baby products including pacifiers and baby bottles, is celebrating its 40-year anniversary this year with all MAM parents, thanking them for helping to make MAM the trusted and admired brand it is today. From its beginnings in 1976 as a small company in Vienna, Austria, MAM has grown into a leading global brand in five continents with more than 50 million products sold annually in 60 countries. “We understand and love babies,” says Jennifer Mitchell, CEO, MAM North America. “For the past 40 years our top priority has been the development of products for the well-being, safety and health of babies that make life easier for parents and allow them to focus on the joy of family. We are proud of our heritage and will remain committed to developing products that unify design, technological innovation and medical know-how.

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LÍLLÉbaby® Re-launches COMPLETE Organic Collection

The luxurious, lightweight 100% cotton COMPLETE Organic Collection is available in three new modern, must-have shades – Sea Glass, Blushing Pink and Powder Blue – as well as returning favorites Blue Moonlight and, for a limited time only, the classic Green Meadows. The Collection is now available for purchase at lillebaby.com and independent boutiques.

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Rocyalox Hair Accessories

Charmin K Edwards has created Rocyalox, the first healthy hair accessory for curly hair. Just wrap and twist the cute hair band around hair and you’re stylin’. “Self-esteem starts early,” Charmin says. “When all girls, no matter their ethnicity, are able to find and purchase the same hair accessory, it’s a great thing!”

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

Infantium Victoria

European baby & children’s fashion label inspired by fairy tales and Victorian elegance.

Infantium Victoria, founded 2013 by Julia Gaydina and Dinie van den Heuvel, is a high-end organic, vegan and ethically-sourced kids’ brand based in Germany. This fashion for kids offers chic dramatic styles in three initial collections: By the Sea, URGothic and Dark Romantic. New for Fall 2016: Flowers in Concrete.

“Infantium Victoria is a new dimension in fashion for kids,” Julia says. “We are not at all afraid not to fit in, in fact this what we actively aspire to.”

Julia and Dinie are influenced by romantic themes and nostalgia, and their brand offers what they call “a true alternative to mainstream fast-fashion.” At Infantium Victoria, they care deeply for the current and future well-being of our children, which is why they use only organic materials and source, produce and distribute sustainably.

Julia and Dinie both have a long history in fashion and share a passion for it. “Baby couture is real!” Dinie says. “We have proven it and we are determined to further explore the limits of contemporary kids fashion.”

Sustainable Production

All patterns for Infantium Victoria clothes are handmade by atelier D’andt in Lier, Belgium. Based on the patterns and samples, the company’s production partners in North Rhine-Westphalian, Germany, and India create the final fashion. Julia and Dinie select their partners based on their track record of sustainable utilization of resources, sound waste management, ethical working conditions and an independent monitoring of these key indicators.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

Little B’s Clothing

From the iconic world of Barbara Gerwit comes a fabulous resortwear line for girls.

Launching this month – Little B’s Clothing is ideal for little girls ranging in age from two to 14, and every one of these little ladies will be able to rock the colorful prints her Mom has been sporting for decades. Leggings, tops and dresses are retailing for $33 to $48.

Early Start to Iconic Resortwear Brand

At 12 years of age, Barbara Gerwit starts a fashion career after her Mom gives her a sewing machine for her birthday. From that moment on, she decides to dedicate her life to the world of fashion, and becomes one of America’s foremost clothing designers.

Easy, Breezy American Dream

After meeting her husband and fashion salesperson Ken in 1976, the two decide to invest their last $500 on their American Dream of manufacturing their own clothing line at affordable prices. The gamble pays off and now, Barbara Gerwit is one of America’s top brands in the resort industry.

Gorgeous, Colorful Prints

Barbara’s designs for women feature hand blocked, hand beaded embroidered tunics and tops, casual printed knit dresses and tops that are worn from casual daytime shopping to balmy tropical night events in fine resort hotels, restaurants and cruise ships around the world. Her light and airy fabric designs are made from brightly colored cotton lawn, cotton Swiss voile and laundered linen, constructed for easy care and wash-ability.

Now, Little B’s continues the tradition of relaxing, having fun and enjoying life in comfortable, affordable, breezy resortwear by Barbara Gerwit.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

INIMINI

Newly launched, LA-based, unisex baby brand is fresh, fun and mindful.

INIMINI is a new brand of baby essentials conceived by founder and fellow parent Christina Okubo as a simple solution to buying contemporary baby clothes that allow for versatility and embrace children for who they are – regardless of their gender.

INIMINI (pronounced ‘eenie meenie’) is swathed in sophisticated color palettes and simple silhouettes, thoughtfully designed for babies’ and toddlers’ comfort, offering maximum product life, ease of wear and use.

“INIMINI is a commitment to provide children a chance to be children, unrestrained by stereotypes and filters that we often find ourselves subjected to,” Christina says. “Why not provide children, an opportunity to be celebrated for who they are and not what they are?”

The clothes are made from imported super soft 100% cotton, small batch dyed, pre-washed, pre-shrunk, finished in the USA. View the entire line of one-pieces, tops, pants and accessories here.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

The Beaufort Bonnet Company

Announcing the arrival of a highly-anticipated bundle of joy – TBBC’s permanent showroom at AmericasMart Atlanta

The Tale of the Beaufort Bonnet

Once upon a time… many years ago in the graceful Low Country of Beaufort, South Carolina, a simple yet elegant baby bonnet pattern is carefully cut from plain brown paper… Fast forward to 2012. After receiving a baby bonnet cut from the same pattern for her daughter, Markey Hutchinson seeks out the origin of the beautiful gift that garners countless compliments. The bonnet-maker eventually sells the generations-old heirloom pattern to Markey, who takes that single hallmark piece and grows it to the first-ever lifestyle brand for babies born with refined taste.

Now available exclusively in more than 300 upscale boutiques in the United States, around the globe and online at TheBeaufortBonnetCompany.com, TBBC’s collection entails the most darling clothing and accessories you ever did see!

New Showroom Opens July 12

The Beaufort Bonnet Company (TBBC) is putting down roots at its home-away-from-home in a sanctuary of sweetness to showcase its luxurious clothing and accessories lines for little ladies and gents. Opening July 12 with a splash of pink and a few well-placed bows, the showroom, designed by owner Markey Hutchinson with assistance from Lexington-based Hannah Maple Studio, will serve as the gracious glimpse into the grandeur of The Beaufort Bonnet Company – on the eve of the company’s fourth birthday. Buyers visiting the showroom will be able to view and order current ready-to-ship styles and future seasonal collections while immersing themselves in charming visual merchandising displays and the precious photography TBBC is known for.

“We have been truly flattered by the continued business our amazing customers have brought us season after season and feel the time is now perfect to open a space of our own where we can treat those customers to a true Beaufort Bonnet brand experience,” Markey says. “We want to give them a grand yet warm and welcoming, elegant environment that feels more like our home than a place for business.”

Guests visiting the nearly 1,000-square-foot space located in Building 3, Floor 13, Suite E110B, will be treated to the hospitality of Summer Place Reps and TBBC in-house reps, who will manage the day-to-day business. The showroom’s doors will be wide open to welcome visitors during all Children’s World and Home & Gift Shows as well as by private appointments year round.

For showroom information and press inquiries, please contact Kim Chapman at 859-388-2091 or kim@thebeaufortbonnetcompany.com. For the most up-to-date sneak peeks inside the showroom, search #tbbcshowroom on Instagram and Facebook.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

Mango, Abuela, and Me

An endearing tale from an award-winning duo that speaks loud and clear about learning new things and the love that bonds family members.

Mia’s abuela leaves her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. The night she arrives, Mia tries to share her favorite book with Abuela before they go to sleep and discovers that she can’t read the words inside. So while they cook, Mia helps Abuela learn English and Mia learns some Spanish too, but it’s still hard for Abuela to learn the words she needs to tell Mia all her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and has the perfect idea for how to help them all communicate a little better.

Appropriate for children ages five through eight, Mango, Abuela, and Me is written by the award-winning Meg Medina, who has authored several books for young readers, including the highly acclaimed YA novel, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass and the picture book Tía Isa Wants a Car, for which she received an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. Now living in Richmond, Virginia, Meg grew up in Queens, New York.

“I turned to writing because my family wouldn’t stop talking. Ever,” Meg says. “I’m part of a very ordinary Cuban family, which is to say, a meddling clan of aunts, uncles, and grandparents who are tireless storytellers. Stories are such a powerful way to remember and make sense of what happens to you in life—and plenty had happened to them by the time they arrived in the U.S. during the early 1960s. My parents left in the middle of a revolution in their country, and they arrived the way many immigrants do: with empty pockets, no language, and in shock. But they also knew the power of stories. Families need their own tales to survive hard times, and those stories are a rope that can attach even the youngest children to their roots. Stories help you learn all the things that really matter to the people who are trying to help you grow up.”

The book is illustrated by Angela Dominguez who lives in San Francisco and teaches art at the Academy of Art University.

Pura Belpré Author & Illustrator Awards

Both Meg and Angela are honored with the 2016 Pura Belpré Author and Illustrator Honor Book Award, named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. Established in 1996, the awards are presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

The Incomparable Sally Huss

“Happy children make a better world. I write children’s books to help brighten the lives of children and add a little dollop of wisdom in the process.”

-Sally Huss

Children need core values, good habits, handy skills and a good sense of humor to keep them moving forward in a happy, healthy and productive manner. So says Sally Huss – imaginative artist, insightful writer and a friend of mine. Sally’s 80+ children’s books are stories full of fun rhymes and truly adorable illustrations that teach kids (and adults, too!) meaningful social and emotional skills. Plus, she adds to her children’s book collection all the time (sign up here for a free download).

Fab Review – “…Kids like their crazy outfits … and their clothes combinations are no nuttier than llamas who like to wear pajamas… This is another lovely book of cute rhymes and adorable fanciful drawings that delight the imagination.”

-Healthy Living

Growing up in Bakersfield, California, Sally started painting at 10 years old. She studied art Occidental College before graduating with a degree in Fine Art from USC. Along the way, Sally followed her dream of playing tennis – first as a U.S. and Wimbledon Junior Champion, then a semi-finalist in the Women’s division at Wimbledon. Now a top senior player, Sally is a member of the Kern County Sports Hall of Fame (1977) and the Occidental College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. (2015).

Fab Review- “How clever is this? Through a delightful adventure to the moon, the author explains not only how moon cheese is made, but how The Man in The Moon lights up the sky by doing his work happily, thus inspiring the visitors to do the same. We loved this book and I know we will read it often.”

– Jill McDonald

After Sally married Marv Huss -the love of her life and a top executive with Hallmark- she created several lines of greeting cards, clothing and ceramics, plus baby bibs, wallpaper for children, and more. Sally also writes and illustrates a King Features’ syndicated, inspirational panel for newspapers called Happy Musings. In the 80’s, the two developed Sally Huss Galleries across the country. “I continue to paint commission works for homes, offices and hotels and offer many of my prints on Fine Art America,” Sally says. “These include gift prints, prints for children’s rooms and large contemporary landscapes.”

Sally’s art, her children’s books and her writings always put a smile on my face …

and I bet they’ll do the same for you and your kids. You can also find all of Sally’s books on Amazon.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!