Hottest Toy for Holiday Winner

The Winners of the first annual 2011 Giftee Awards have been announced! The initial nominations were narrowed down by a panelist of expert gift-giving judges (including our very own Marie Masters) and then the winners were selected by the public. The categories include “Most Wacky Gift”, “Best Gifts under $25”, and “Most Romantic Gift” among others. Voters thought outside of the Let’s-Rock-Elmo and Sing-a-ma-jigs box and selected the LEGO MBA kits 2-6 Month Subscription as the “Hottest Toy for Holiday”.

Photo: Robert Scoble

Toward the end of 40 weeks in utero, there isn’t much wiggle room for a soon-to-be-born baby. Which is why many professionals believe swaddling comforts a baby, making it feels like it’s still inside the womb. Swaddling is the primary method for helping a baby get to sleep, duplicating a cozy environment and eliminating the baby startling himself.

An infant can be swaddled from day one, or it can be introduced a few weeks in once the 23-hours-of-sleep has worn off and he’s in need of additional comforting. Babies can be swaddled indefinitely but are usually weaned from the method around four months of age. Some parents allow losing the swaddle to occur naturally, when baby outgrows the blanket (it can no longer be wrapped securely around the body) or he can break free with arms or legs. You should discontinue swaddling once your baby can roll over.

Most of the serious wrapping occurs from the stomach up—keeping the hands and arms contained. Traditional swaddling limits leg and foot movement, too. A few years ago, pediatricians began recommending the legs be free to move into a natural frog position, which will eliminate the proclivity for hip dysplasia.

The keys to a good swaddle are a slightly stretchy, breathable blanket (flannel for cooler months and muslin warmer are great options) and a tight roll. Give those wraps a firm tug every time. You should be able to insert your flattened hand between the baby and the blanket—and that’s it. More room means it’s too loose.

Photo: Michael Labowicz

When following the steps below, roll your baby (as opposed to lifting him up off the blanket) from side to side when smoothing and tucking the fabric. This will ensure a continuous firmness.

1. Place the blanket as a diamond shape and fold down the top corner about six inches. Lay the baby down with his shoulders hitting the top of the folded section. Hold baby’s arms down over stomach in a flexed position with elbows bent—or bent with hands toward mouth if he likes to suck his fingers/self-soothe.

2. Take the left point and bring it over the baby, tucking the excess under the baby’s body firmly. If there’s excess material, smooth it in a downward motion behind the baby toward his feet.

3. Take the bottom point (which will include the excess from the previous fold) and bring it up, folding it over the baby’s left shoulder—again, firmly.

4. Take the final right point and wrap it horizontally across baby’s body. Wrap it all the way around. If you have excess blanket remaining on baby’s left side, tuck it into that last fold.

The PiddlePad protects car seats and strollers from accidents. A soft, absorbent velboa fabric  is topped with a waterproof outer layer prevents leaks and contain liquids. Up to a cup of said liquid, actually. That’s heavy-duty.

The Potette travel potty is second on the essentials list. If you’re at the beach, the pool, the park, it’s wise to carry this portable, compact potty. Because sometimes the restrooms are just too far. Place a self absorbing disposable liner, prop up the legs and the On the Go Potty is ready to go. When baby is done, wrap up and throw away the liner, fold in the legs and store the potty into the carry bag.

Voila: Summer fun awaits–even within potty training confines.

Add that to the normal messy activities of a baby, and we’ve got one mess of a stroller. Oh, and then add a cat that refuses to sleep anywhere else but the stroller, and you’ve got an even worse (hairy) situation. The result? A stained, dirty mess. I ended up buying a new stroller, but one thing could have saved me that money that I just plunked down: a stroller liner.

Maclaren offers a universal, reversible liner in loads of colors and patterns. Although they’re made by Maclaren, they’ll fit almost any other umbrella stroller–and most regular strollers, too. (Bonus: Change up the look of your stroller for $25.) They’re machine washable and preserve the stroller seat, so you can avoid my mistakes. Minus the ice coffee issue. I bought a cup holder this time around.

Above: Big Kahuna bookshelf, Surfin Kids stool set, Sideboard storage unit

We like the smooth lines and modern feel that balanced with a sort of chunky, whimsical feel (translation: your kid will probably like it as much as you do.) Bonus: Ecotot is a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council and all pieces have a lifetime construction guarantee. Our faves are the sideboard storage unit and book case. How about yours? Check out the full range of Ecotots pieces for more.

The kids’ furniture company offers all sorts of products, but we particularly like the brand’s toy and book storage options. They offer a wide range of colors and themes (including lots of boy-friendly sports themes), as well as neutrals that would work in any room in the house.

The choices are sturdy and well-built–and equally imaginative and creative. The book cases that look like doll houses are just as ideal as the well-designed, smart front-book display cases. They can take the overwhelming plethora of toys and somehow turn them all into a neat, organized collection of playthings. Just for your kids to pull off the shelves all over again. But, hey, that what they’re there for, right?