Topic

wooden toys

Baby's first squid

KidsCool Mom Team

Baby's first squid

Hard as I try, my kids are not the most adventurous eaters on the planet. But when it comes to teething, my daughter will put almost anything in her mouth. Funny how that works. So I am totally cracking up at the squid teething toy made …

It's hip to be rectangular

KidsChristina Refford

It's hip to be rectangular

With all the building toys in my three-kid household, I find it amusing that their new favorite is a box of same-sized, non-painted, rectangular pieces of wood from CitiBlocs . You can almost hear all the other blocks protesting, "But I'…

Jungle love

KidsCool Mom Team

Jungle love

If your kids are like my kids, then it doesn't matter what the toys were intended for, they all still end up in their mouths. Hence my appreciation for the new sets of pretending and teething toys from Little Alouette . Hand carved from …

Cool Mom Picks loves Psychobaby!

KidsCool Mom Team

Cool Mom Picks loves Psychobaby!

If we just so happened to win the lottery, one of the first places we'd hit on a spending spree would probably be Psychobaby , a Chicago-based boutique that sports some of the hippest clothes, shoes, and gifts for the alternative set. We…

Teethe for peace

Cool Mom Team

Teethe for peace

I'm always on the lookout for unique eco-friendly baby gifts that don't break the budget, in addition to my regular arsenal of organic onesies and blankets. I know, boring. So when I saw the truly original heirloom baby teethers from Roc…

Rock(ing) Lobster

KidsChristina Refford

Rock(ing) Lobster

There are few things that scream New England more than the ubiquitous lobster, but since I'm afraid a lobster may actually scream, I have never brought one home to cook for dinner. If you're like me, go a different route and bring home t…

It's a pull toy! It's a bookmobile!

KidsChristina Refford

It's a pull toy! It's a bookmobile!

When my son was younger, he'd shuffle around the house balancing a stack of his favorite books in his overloaded arms. I was thrilled to have raised a mini bibliophile, but after seeing countless board books tumbling onto his little toes…

Acorn Toy Shop: First Brooklyn, now the world

KidsCool Mom Team

Acorn Toy Shop: First Brooklyn, now the world

Well it's about time my favorite local Brooklyn toy store, Acorn toys , went digital. Not that I was complaining before, mind you, but now everyone I know can check out the gorgeous selection of handmade toys and other special gifts for …

These are a few of my favorite things (in wood)

KidsMir

These are a few of my favorite things (in wood)

This little wooden giraffe toy set spotted at the adorable shop My Sweet Muffin is a perfect marriage of toddler toys. First, you have the giraffe on wheels, which is adorable. Next, you have a set of domino-shaped pieces suitable for st…

A paint-your-own kit with an adorable twist

DIYCool Mom Team

A paint-your-own kit with an adorable twist

With two craft-loving girls, I have enough kids' art supplies in my home to start a small store. That said, I have never seen anything like the adorable set of paint-your-own nesting dolls from Kookle and know my kids would go ga-ga over…

Children's blocks for all

KidsCool Mom Team

Children's blocks for all

I notice when I hit the mass kids' toy stores that the blocks are always in the boys section. It's bizarre to me because both my daughters love blocks like a frat boy loves Spring Break. And I can assure you they'd go flat out bonkers fo…

Mr Rogers Neighborhood blocks

KidsCool Mom Team

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood

It sort of pains me that my kids will probably not grow up to the zipping of the sweater and the tossing of the shoes that made Mr. Rogers so endearing. But thanks to reruns, CD compilations, and toys, like these awesome wooden blocks fr…

Flying the friendly presidential skies

KidsCool Mom Team

Flying the friendly presidential skies

Okay, we'll stop soon with all the Obama keepsakes. But we'd be remiss if we didn't share with you this very cool President Obama Air Force One wooden toy plane that we just discovered at Wooden Toddler Toys. It's US-made, of course, fro…

Now you're cooking, kiddo

KidsMir

Now you're cooking, kiddo

It doesn't seem fair that kids can now have a nicer pretend kitchen than my real one. Then again, mine does run on more than just imagination. Our friends at Natural Pod has just debuted two heirloom quality wooden play kitchens that the…

Happy Fourth of July cool moms!

KidsChristina Refford

Happy Fourth of July cool moms!

Whether you stay up late enough for fireworks this year or you're lying in bed in the dark, fingers crossed that the loud noise does not wake the baby (PLEASE GOD DO NOT WAKE THE BABY), all of us at Cool Mom Picks wish you a Happy Fourth…

Easter eggs, hold the sugar high

Cool Mom Team

Easter eggs, hold the sugar high

Nothing like a holiday to make me feel like the harried mom buying last-minute decorations that probably aren't even worth saving for next year. That's just bad for my wallet and bad for the earth. So this Easter, I'm ahead of the game, …

Pigs on Wheeeeeeeeels

KidsCool Mom Team

Pigs on Wheeeeeeeeels

Sure, siblings are going to have their own likes and dislikes, but overall, picking toys with a wide appeal that would have lasted through all three of my kids would have been one brilliant move. So learn from my mistake, mamas, and snag…

You won't mind bringing these ants into your house

KidsBetsy

You won't mind bringing these ants into your house

Wooden blocks are a staple in any kid's toy chest, but wait until they get a look at the New Antics Ant Blocks from Uncle Goose. No matter which way your kids stack or place these wooden cubes they'll create an endless combination of ant…

Poof, you're a leaf!

KidsCool Mom Team

Poof, you're a leaf!

Regardless of temperature, I never believe it's actually fall until the calendar reads October. Which...hello, October! Now that I've spotted this Autumn Oak Leaf Wand from one of our favorite Etsy artists, I realize I'm definitely in th…

Paper dolls meet building blocks

KidsBarbara

Paper dolls meet building blocks

My go-to standard baby shower gift was, for a long time, either a baby bathtub, or infant footie sleepers. Useful, and admittedly a little uninspired. These days, I want to give something unusual, beautiful and creative: both moms and ba…