Having a new baby is exciting and fun and...crazy expensive. We've all been there, it can be hard figuring out whether you splurge on the crib, or get a cheaper crib and spend more on all those cute clothes and room decor accessories and…
It's hard to feel like King of the Road when really, you're King of Don't Go Beyond the End of the Driveway! With three kids and one long paved driveway, I've been there! So, whether you live on a house on a high-traffic street, or you j…
Two of my kids have now outgrown some of my own favorite childhood board games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders -- classic versions only, please. (And yes, I admit I do like Candy Land. Don't ask why.) My kids are now into the kind…
I've definitely been looking for cool playroom ideas lately for my own son. Because between the art supplies in the kitchen, the Play-Doh in the dining room, and the pretend workbench and kitchen in the basement, my preschooler is quickl…
The very first thing my son does when we sit down to eat at a restaurant (well, after ordering both ice water and milk) is ask for my iPhone. I'll admit that I’m often tempted to hand it over because it’s such an easy way to keep him ent…
When that baby of yours hits the 5 or 6 month mark, so many things begin to change. Suddenly your baby is way too big for hanging out in the swing, but too little to sit and play in the pack n play, and this is where the exersaucer can s…
I keep being told that donuts are the new macarons , which used to be the new cupcakes , so I shouldn't be surprised that I'm seeing them everywhere. And my kids are clamoring for them. They are emblazoned on stationery, tote bags, t-shi…
I f you could do a post on cool favor ideas, that'd be great! My daughter's third birthday is coming up this fall, and I like to get children's party favors for 3 year olds that won't be thrown away when the guests get home! -CMP reader …
I have long loved finding unique, eco-friendly, and easy-to-assemble cardboard furniture and toys for kids . But while most of the cardboard items I've found to date are unfinished, I'm so intrigued by a new company on Kickstarter that m…
Even before she had made her first trip out of the country, my daughter loved the subscription her aunt bought her to Little Passports when she was in grade school. Each month, she'd receive a packet of information and little trinkets ab…
Starting today, it won't be safe to turn on the television without knowing Shark Week has come ashore, with an entire week of programming on the Discovery Channel dedicated to those creatures of the sea. And while we're happy to keep the…
I've been fighting boredom this summer with a bunch of magic markers and one really huge (like, seriously huge) and cleverly illustrated coloring poster for kids from a new company called Pirasta. And the beauty of these posters is that …
It may take special talent and years of study to compose music for a symphony, but we've discovered a fun shortcut with Think Fun's new Compose Yourself , a creative, musical card game which lets kids 6 and up -- and even adult neophytes…
Before you pack up the kids and head to the beach ( yay summer! ), take my advice and do a quick inventory of last year's beach toys. Between missing shovels, broken pails, and maybe some toys that are no longer in the best shape, it may…
We talk a lot about toys that inspire creativity and imagination , and the thing is, in a kid's world, pretty much everything is a source of creativity and imagination. (See also: Pillow forts, scarves that become hula skirts, and monste…
It's not often I discover a new Etsy shop and automatically think okay, every single thing in there is adorable. But that's the case with Babee and Me , which I can forgive for being based in Byron Bay, Australia, considering what beauti…
Wow, is our email box and social media feed getting packed with parents stressing out about what to do with kids during downtime this summer. Seeing as how we can't let kids play in the park by themselves without 8 "concerned" neighbors …
When I first saw a picture of The Swurfer in my local toy store's summer catalog, I thought that it looked like a nice wide swing for those of us who can't quite, ahem, cram ourselves into our kids' smaller swings. And while it can defin…
Just when I think it's time to put the baby blocks away, my kids will surprise me by building some huge creative structure on the living room floor, enhanced by LEGO men and dollhouse furniture. Still, I can tell the basic square blocks …
If your kids like building blocks as much as mine, you'll want to check out Paper Punk's new Urban Fold paper blocks which allow kids 6 and up to build a sprawling metropolis without the bulk and weight of traditional blocks. This is suc…
This past week I was fortunate to attend the New York Baby Show as a guest of New York Family Magazine . In the past, we've found some of our favorite new baby gear there ( Ubbi Diaper Pails !), and there is a lot. I'm talking both produ…
With three vehicle-loving children, there was a time when I feared my living room would be overrun with sections of train tracks and makeshift "roads" built out of blocks. I wish I had known about InRoad Toys; clever play tape road rolls…
We fell so in love with Candylab Toys and their gorgeous, modern-looking wood cars when we saw them over the holidays last year, they easily made 2014 Best Toys, Dolls, and Games list . Now our engines are all revved up again to see that…
My kids have a penchant for falling in love with tiny things. I can't blame them; I'm the very same way. The smaller and cuter a toy happens to be, the more we all adore it. So how could we resist the heart-meltingly adorable creations o…