blogs for parents

Jack N’ Jill Natural Toothpaste


021314_JacknJill_ToothPasteNatural, safe-to-swallow toothpaste for babies, toddlers & children.

Every year, February is proclaimed National Children’s Dental Health Month by the American Dental Association (ADA) to raise awareness about the importance of oral health, especially for the kiddies.

Jack N’ Jill is a company that’s been in the kids oral hygiene business since 1949. First made in Australia, this family business makes natural toothpaste for kids with organic flavors and calendula, a plant extract with powerful anti-inflammatory properties good for young teeth and gums. Jack N’ Jill is now available in the USA and the UK.

021314_JacknJill_ToothBrushAs parents, it’s easy to get frustrated by the lack of natural choices for kids’ first toothpaste as well as tooth brushes and accessories. The Jack N’ Jill family uses its experience in  pharmacy to formulate good-tasting toothpaste that’s the safest for children, especially because they have a tendency to swallow it, rather than spit it out!

021314_JacknJill_RinseCupJack N’ Jill Natural Toothpaste is made with certified organic natural flavors and certified organic/biodynamic calendula officinalis extract, to soothe gums. Other goodness includes:

  • Suitable from 6 months
  • Rich in Xylitol
  • Fluoride Free, Sugar Free, Color Free, SLS Free
  • No Preservatives
  • Safety Seal, Easy Open Flip Top Cap
  • BPA Free
  • Minimal Recyclable Packaging
  • Made in Australia

In addition, the company has designed and manufactured kids toothbrushes and rinse cups –even finger brushes- that biodegradable, recyclable and cute, too. Available online and at Amazon.com.

At Jack N’ Jill we believe that businesses have an obligation to the environment, that’s why we have formulated an all natural, hypoallergenic toothpaste with organic ingredients, and designed our packaging to be minimal, recyclable and BPA Free.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

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Totally New Rock The Locks


A fresh, fun and fabulous range of organic hair care products specially designed by moms for kids.

Made in the USA. Here’s a great find just in time for Valentine’s Day: Rock The Locks hair care products for kids is the brainchild of moms and friends Joie McKim and Lori Derr, who want safe, natural products for their kids. Only problem is, they’re either hard to find or outrageously priced out for most working moms. But no more. Rock The Locks is all-spray, organic, natural hair care for kids, in fruity scents and packaged in colorful containers that make hairdos fun again!

021214_RockTheLocks_01

No Aerosol Here. All Rock The Locks products use a patent-pending spray technology that’s safe and ozone-friendly and brand new. The quick, one-hand application technique is fun and easy, too.

Why it ROCKS …

        • Organic and natural
        • No harmful chemicals or harsh ingredients
        • No dyes, arsenic or aerosol

Lori combined her 27-year experience in the hair industry with Joie’s eight-year experience in the retail industry to create Rock the Locks. The Pennsylvania-based team worked with a local company to develop the product line, including kid-approved fragrances, pediatrician-approved ingredients and the new patent spray technology. Parents love the easy application and the safe, natural, organic ingredients -and kids of all ages love the fun smells and colors.

Wholesale Now. “The mom-invented Rock The Locks hair care line is so new you won’t have seen it at any trade shows,”  Martha Wright, executive director of sales and marketing tells me. Salons, retailers and distributors can email sales@RockTheLocks.com directly for a wholesale price list. Visit this Rock The Locks web page for current availability in-store.

Love Letter from Good For Your Girls


So nice! Especially for Valentine’s Day!

Dear Children’s Retail Today,

I have to tell you the amazing thing that happened writing this e-mail.

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. Call me a big mush (because I am) but I think we should celebrate it once a month. Life gets so crazy that we sometimes forget it’s the little things that matter.

Because Friday is Valentine’s Day, I wanted to send you an e-mail to let you know just how much I appreciate that you have helped me spread the word about Good For You Girls in the past. What happened left me humble and so appreciative. You see, I don’t have a fancy PR firm or a Social Media specialist. It’s just me compiling my lists of contacts and let’s just say it has been a while since I updated it. So Friday I set out to go through every single e-mail. Your words of encouragement and appreciation for my little company blew me away.

Keeping a company afloat can be tough, the hours are long, and many times you feel like you’re absolutely insane for trying. But your kind words made me feel so loved I can’t even begin to tell you. So what started out as a love letter to you actually felt like I was receiving an enormous, and much needed hug.
So thank you from the bottom of my heart! Good For You Girls has been my passion for the last five years and it’s folks like you that have helped bring awareness to our mission to keep girls away from chemicals and give moms a company they can trust.

Help me spread the love and feel free to share the following promotion with your followers if you can.

Thank you again for all the love letters.
Best!
Kim

Kim Grustas, Good For You Girls Natural Skincare

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BambiniWare


121713_BambiniWare_01Mompreneur brings new line of innovative gear for mommies + babies to star-studded pre-Golden Globes event.

Launched in October 2013 by Washington, D.C.-based attorney-turned-entrepreneur Riche Holmes Grant, BambiniWare™ is a new line of smart, stylish baby products designed to make life with baby easier and even a little more glamorous in the process.

BambiniWare is heading to Hollywood January 10-11, 2014 to exhibit at LA’s exclusive, invitation-only Boom Boom Room Pre Golden Globes gifting suite, which showcases the latest in baby and kids’ gear for celebrity moms and dads.

I am thrilled to showcase our new gear on such a grand stage. I created BambiniWare to provide functional and fashionable solutions to the everyday dilemmas that I faced as a new mom and I’m excited to share our products with celebrity mommies and babies who confront the same challenges.”

-Riche Holmes Grant

121713_BambiniWare_03The Boom Boom Room, considered “Hollywood’s Biggest Night for Famous Tots,” is the first and only all-baby and kids gifting suite during Hollywood’s awards season. Celebrity nursery designer and fashion television personality Jayneoni Moore reached out to Riche shortly after launching BambiniWare to attend this special event.

121713_BambiniWare_02Mommy Designed. Made in the USA. Designer bibs, burp cloths and unique baby gifts feature vibrant, bold colors and modern prints to soft palettes and timeless classics. Sold online and sold exclusively at Daisy Baby in Bethesda, MD, BambiniWare is mommy-designed and tested, features materials that are safe and friendly to babies and is manufactured in the United States.

“For a long time after the birth of my daughter, I felt like I was stuck in a fashion rut because I paid so much attention to her needs that I neglected my own,” Riche says. “The products in BambiniWare’s inaugural Burpa™ line reflect my effort to help other moms tackle the various spills and thrills that babies bring with tools that make sense and look great. Featuring modern prints to timeless classics, we’ve got something to fit every mommy’s style from Hollywood to Hometown, USA.”

  • 121713_BambiniWare_logoChildren’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!

KidSwitch Light Switch Extender


111313_KidSwitch_LogoGreg O’Sullivan is president of Just Kids Inc., makers of the KidSwitch Light Switch Extender, a nifty gadget that helps toddlers reach up and turn the lights on or off.

Greg and his wife Wendy started manufacturing and selling what they call a “helping hand tool” 18 years ago as a side business … which has grown into a full-time, family-owned, North Carolina-based small company selling more than 400,000 switches and counting.

KidSwitch attaches easily to a light switch and extends down vertically 12 inches to a toddler’s reach, which gives a child independence and parents a chance to teach their young children a necessary task. It can also instill the concept of “green living” very early on, encouraging kids to save energy.

111313_KidSwitch_productBut I’m getting ahead of myself here – the biggest advantage of KidSwitch is the safe solution it provides to help young children reach up and operate room lights on their own, so parents can rest easy.

Helping Children Reach for the Moon! Winner of Creative Child Magazine’s Seal of Excellence in 2010, KidSwitch is also honored with the Buzzillions Reviewer’s Choice™ Award for the nation’s best child safety product. “It is amazing to see how far our product has come,” Greg says. “I created KidSwitch after my own daughter fell off a makeshift ‘ladder’ that she had built out of toys in an attempt to reach her light switch. Years later, it is so rewarding to read the many positive reviews from parents who share their own stories about how KidSwitch is helping make their and their children’s lives a little easier.”

Wendy explains that the company name represents members of the family:

J stands for daughter Jordan
U stands for “Us” (we are all in this business together)
S stands for younger daughter Samantha
T stands for Taylor, the O’Sullivan’s inspiration

Just Kids it is – very nice!

Little Passports


111213_LittlePassports_packageRaising global citizens right in their own backyards.

Amy Norman says she practically grew up on a 747, traveling back and forth from America to England every three years for her father’s work. So it makes a lot of sense that she would create an educational experience for kids that inspires wanderlust.

Amy is co-founder of Little Passports, a fun way for kids to learn about and enjoy other places and cultures. She and her co-founder Stella Ma dreamed up two engaging characters, Sam and Sofia, who take young aspiring travelers along on their adventures through the United States and to other countries by sharing their experiences with them.

Our products combine the surprise of postal mail with the online games kids love today.

111213_LittlePassports_SamandSophiaWith the subscription-based service, Sam and Sofia send your kids a personalized package in the mail each month that includes an adventure letter, fun souvenirs, stickers, wall-size maps and more. They even get their own passport and a boarding pass to travel the world, with a secret code to access online games and activities at Little Passports’ online Boarding Zone. Everything is designed to encourage kids to take an active interest in their world and other cultures as early as possible – ages five to 12.

111213_LittlePassports_USThis San Francisco-based company is passionate about “helping to raise a generation of citizens who are compassionate about the cultures and people around the world,” donating one percent of sales to non-profits focused on children and issues that affect them.

Amy and Stella are also committed to giving other moms and budding entrepreneurs opportunities to grow businesses with Little Passports. Check them out on the Affiliates and Become an Agent pages.

Babyhome


110613_Babyhome_02Spanish child care company wins 2013 SheKnows Parenting Award.

Based in Barcelona, Spain with offices in New Jersey, Babyhome offers a dynamic range of award-winning, high-quality, stylish, functional and affordable child care products, including highchairs, a wooden cradle collection, strollers and more.

Congratulations! This year, Babyhome’s Emotion stroller is selected as Best Everyday Stroller in the 2013 SheKnows Parenting Awards.

We are honored to be the recipient of this coveted award from one of the leading lifestyle sites for women. Our Emotion stroller being selected among the hundreds of submissions they received is an incredible achievement.  Thank you to the SheKnows editors and of course to our Babyhome fans worldwide for their votes.

-Stellario D’Urso, vice president, sales and marketing Babyhome USA

The lightweight Emotion stroller is designed with the latest trends for functionality in mind, perfect for parents looking for affordable luxury. Emotion comes complete with an adjustable seat that will hold up to 55lbs – plus a mosquito net, rain shield, footrest, waterproof canopy, large shopping basket and removable wheels (wow!) – all folding easily into a compact, practical package, too!

110613_Babyhome_SheKnowsAwardLogoBigger and Better. SheKnows is an award-winning women’s media platform and a top lifestyle site. SheKnows’ fourth annual Parenting Awards recognizes products and services for children and parents that stand out in the areas of functionality, durability, innovation, convenience, price and overall excellence. The SheKnows editorial team reviewed nearly 200 products, and the SheKnows user community cast more than 18,000 votes to help choose this year’s winners. Categories ranged from baby gear and pregnancy essentials to baby and toddler toys and tablets for kids.

The SheKnows Parenting Awards are a great resource for parents who want recommendations on products and services that are vetted by their peers, especially as the holiday season approaches. Each year, the Parenting Awards gets bigger and better. We are proud to work with so many great companies and would like to extend our congratulations to Babyhome.

-Kristin Bustamante, SheKnows editorial director

For more information about the SheKnows Parenting Awards and to view winners, finalists and the Editor’s Choice picks in each category, click on the logo above, or visit http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/awards/parenting-awards-2013.

  • Another Hilary Abbott Communications, Inc. 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!

Clever Relish


Solving life’s parenting problems with panache.

101513_CleverRelish_jillThrough partnership with the undiscovered genius of parents across America, we will deliver smart products that dress up your life while empowering the growth of strong families.

The CleverRelish™ company is the brainchild of Jill Carreiro, an engineer, salesperson, lifelong tinkerer and clever Mom of four children –which means Jill has endured nearly six straight years of diaper changes looking at that same ugly plastic baby wipes tub with every change.

Total inspiration for improvement, don’t you think?

101513_CleverRelish_WipesWrapsPatent Pending, Made in the USA. One day Jill realized, why can’t baby wipes tubs simply become part of the décor?! And with this “aha” moment, she started development on her first CleverRelish product, a simple, elegant solution to add style to your life.

101513_CleverRelish_01As the world’s first interchangeable decorative cover available, WipesWraps™ by CleverRelish™ transform unsightly baby wipe tubs into pretty room accessories, an inventive, quick-fix that stretches on to dress up any environment.

Massachusetts-based CleverRelish recently shipped 2,500 units of WipesWraps exceeding its initial goal –and for a small, privately-owned and entrepreneurial business, this is a fantastic accomplishment!

“The commitment to our mission of building this business and innovating new products is unwavering,” Jill says. “As a mother and business woman, I understand our customers, which shows in the design of our flagship product line that has people desiring the unexpected and purchasing products that have the ability to turn something boring into something fun.”

101513_CleverRelish_02Celebrity Fave. Hollywood Moms from Jennifer Garner to Kate Hudson rave about their new fave accessory, and with more than 4,000 social media followers, the company is receiving accolades from customers -and media- around the world.

Have a Clever Idea of your own? “CleverRelish prides itself on being an advocate for entrepreneurs thinking outside the box and strong women everywhere taking risks to make a difference for themselves, their families and the world around them,” Jill says. “We vow to support other small and local businesses, advocate for their success and recognize their brilliance and ingenious efforts, which provide inspiration and motivation to the growth and perseverance of CleverRelish every day.”

If you’re a clever inventor with a cool idea for kids or the home, tell Jill about it by emailing idea@cleverrelish.com.

Tortle


With more than a million babies each year being diagnosed with Flathead Syndrome in the USA alone, Tortle is an essential item that we hope will be on every expectant parent’s buy buy BABY registry list.

-Dr. Jane Scott, inventor and Mom

Almost 1 in Every 2 Babies. Since 1992, the incidence of Flathead Syndrome has increased to epidemic proportions. It can occur due to a baby’s lack of movement, or the amount of time infants spend on their back –the best position for a baby to rest.

If left untreated, Flathead Syndrome can cause long-standing physical issues for a child, and the expensive treatment can be somewhat uncomfortable.

100313_Tortle_02Almost 100% Preventable. Denver, CO-based Tortle Products makes a lightweight knit beanie that provides parents with a cost effective and simple solution to prevent Flathead Syndrome.

Developed by board certified Pediatrician and Neonatologist Dr. Jane Scott, the Tortle beanie is an FDA-cleared patented Class 1 medical device that promotes proper head and neck movement essential for appropriate development.

The stylish Tortle beanie helps prevent and treat early stages of Plagiocephaly (the flattening of the baby’s skull) and Torticollis (unbalanced neck muscles) –known as Flathead Syndrome- by gently repositioning a baby’s head, gently moving it from side to side.

100313_Tortle_01An expert specialist in this field, Dr. Scott has counseled and educated hundreds of  parents to help prevent and treat the many problems associated with Flathead Syndrome during her 30-year practice. Her mission is to prevent Flathead Syndrome all over the world.

The Tortle is now available in more than 16 buybuy BABY locations across the country.

  • Thanks Hilary Abbott Communications, for introducing me! 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!

Introducing ABCmouse.com Online Learning Program


100213_abcmouse_05ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy is an online educational program focused on making learning fun for children ages two to six, establishing a foundation for lifelong learning.

With a full online preschool, pre-k and kindergarten curriculum, ABCmouse.com offers quality content to engage children with stimulating games, puzzles, songs, paint-by-numbers and more.

We named our site ABCmouse.com because here, children can learn important educational basics (often referred to as ‘the ABC’s’) through the use of a computer mouse. At ABCmouse.com, the computer mouse comes to life as ABC Mouse, who serves as our site ambassador and guide to early learners everywhere.

100213_abcmouse_03Drawing from curriculum carefully designed in collaboration with nationally recognized childhood education experts, ABCmouse.com’s highly imaginative programs engage children at every learning level to make learning seem like a fun game.

A few ABCmouse.com features:

  • More than 3,000 learning activities in reading, math, beginning science, social studies, art, and music
  • A Step-by-Step Learning Path that guides your child through the curriculum at his or her own pace
  • A powerful Lesson Builder tool that allows you to create your own lessons for your child

100213_abcmouse_01Subscription-based ABCmouse.com has no advertising, pop-up ads or links to other sites. Children can learn and explore on their own or with their parents in a safe and secure online educational environment.

In addition to supplementing and supporting a child’s traditional schooling, ABCmouse.com also offers a special curriculum for home schoolers.