Kids love pushing little toy cars around the room. A great place to push all your little vehicles is the Driving Around Town Play Mat from Rocket Bug Toys (My Lullabug – $29).
Moms know what kids like, and this mom entrepreneur thoroughly kid-tested the play mat, taking special care to create an attractive, functional, fun, and safe toy for your little ones.
An alternative to bulky and often expensive rugs, this inexpensive mat folds easily.  It is thin and compact for storage. Fold the mat as many times as you like …

Craftsbury Kids is the place to look for unique, handmade toys, clothing, art and decor, and gifts for babies and children.
So it is no surprise we’ve featured some of their selections in our Guide to the Hottest Holiday Toys for 2008.
This gorgeous Caterpillar Pull Toy ($34.00) is handmade of hardwoods in the USA. Stack, pull, and watch the wheels spin–and you’ll still enjoy him as he rests on your shelf.
I think this adorable Plush Matryoshka Doll ($10), made in England, would make a sweet friend for a little one or …

I do a lot of my shopping at the BabyCenter store because they have an amazing selection of inexpensive basics and designer goods, too, at great prices.
You can Shop U.S. & European Made Toys, find organic baby clothing, cloth diapers & natural toys at the BabyCenter Earth-Friendly Boutique, and get a wide selection of BPA-Free baby bottles and sippy cups.
And right now they have Adorable Halloween Costumes for infant through preschooler 30-50% off.
Plus, when I’m not sure what to buy, I check out BabyCenter’s Buying Guides for advice for what …

Mimi the Sardine makes gorgeous children’s products manufactured in the USA from exuberantly playful eco-coated, soil and water resistant, cotton fabrics from Sweden. The cotton fabric is coated with acrylic, not PVC.
I checked out Mimi the Sardine’s adorable Lunch Bug, a sweet little lunch bag with a carry handle.
We like the idea of these eco-chic bags that are so much more attractive than brown paper bags, keep food fresher, and don’t contribute to landfill.
The bags are well-made and adorable.  Kids will love the brightly colored fabrics and whimsical patterns.  Because …

When you are out for a stroll in the crisp autumn air, Secure2Me Clip On Blankets will stay attached and keep baby comfy and warm.
When I had my first baby, I always had a problem keeping the blanket attached to the stroller or her sling.  With Secure2Me, I won’t have that issue with our second baby.
The clips are easy to use and perfectly solve the blanket-slippage. Necessity is the mother of invention, which explains why so many great new baby products are developed mom entrepreneurs, like Amy Long of Secure2Me, …

Crib Rock Couture is a celebrity favorite parent favorite. You’ve seen Kingston, Maddox, and many other hip babies sporting their Concert Series tees for tots.
Now, Crib Rock Couture is launching their Metal Mania sustainable nursery decor. Like the Concert Series t-shirts, this wall art blends youthful themes with a hip aesthetic.
We have the Monkey Drummer Steel Wall Hook, a fun rock and roll addition to any jungle-themed kids room.
For their baby girl, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren picked out the Flying Heart Wall Hook, sweet enough for a newborn …

We’re all a part of this great big planet called earth. And bioME 5 encourages us to share the world’s wonders with its newest residents.
Each of the designs features a letter from the alphabet, a vibrant monochromatic portrait of an alliterative animal, and the name of the animal printed from a wearer’s-eye angle. The animal motif inspires interest in the natural world, while the upside down and backwards lettering encourages word recognition and eventually reading.
And bioME 5 follows through with its environmentally-friendly philosophy. Each garment is made …

A reader e-mailed us because she had concerns about the Melissa & Doug Victorian Dollhouse ($150, unfurnished) she had purchased for her daughter. After checking out the research we e-mailed her, she felt comfortable keeping this child-safe dollhouse.
Melissa & Doug manufactures in China and many parents are understandably concerned about the lead paint recalls. We have faith in Melissa & Doug’s safety procedures and testing and Melissa & Doug has not had a single recall for lead paint or hazardous materials. We know of several retailers that perform …

We check out a lot of excellent toy stores, but few that have as many unique and hard to find choices as Down to Earth Toys.
Down to Earth Toys has a great selection of Toys Made in the USA including this gorgeous free-standing dragon puzzle made by the Amish ($12.95, on sale for $9.95).
I adore children’s toys that are not only clever and heirloom quality, but also look lovely on display. Place this puzzle on a shelf in the nursery and then take it down later to …