One of the greatest things about having a store is getting to check out all of the amazing things with which to stock the shelves. It’s so much fun to see what is out there, and then curate the perfect world for baby! Just walked the floor at NY Now (formally the Gift show) to see what’s new. It was not a big show, and the children’s section was smaller than usual, but as always there were great things to be had!

 

First of all, let me say the book companies are working overtime putting out amazing books for our kids! When you think about the books you read as a child (mine: Shel Silverstein Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Velveteen Rabbit, the Four Seasons . . .) Today, kids are learning difference, empathy, tolerance, diversity—all sorts of things. I can only imagine what amazing people they will grow up to be!

 Harper group books for kids

abcs of black history book

There’s lots of made-in-the-US brands that we really appreciate as well as some faves that are dipping past toys into things like journaling and memory keeping. We also ran into a fave out of Texas who does great teethers, toys and feeding!

 Kikkerland wooden toys

gift show toys petite collage

three hearts baby toys

We’ve long loved Maptote, and their new NYC collection is no exception. Our NYC themed goodies are some of our most popular! These will hit our shelves momentarily!

 maptote ny shirt

maptote and winter water factory baby clothes

I was recently asked by a client about Mobiles, and it made me think how much I’d always admired the colorful ones by Flensteed. Added to the must-have list!

 flendsted mobiles

Travel is always top of mind (especially after the years we have all had!), and I was loving these cotton blankets and burpy clothes for easy on-the-go with baby. The rainbows had me at hello.

 gift show travel blankets by Pink Lemonade

And for tweens, how ‘bout these adorable sidewalk chalks in pizza and macaroon! Good enough to eat!

 pizza sidewalk chalk by Twee Chalk

A quick stop for an intense game of tic tac toe with this groovy bored, I didn’t know quite where to start.

 xox share the love collection

As I used to be on the children’s board at Parsons, I needed to stop by and see what their intrepid students have divised. A chair upcycled from city street castaways along with airline refuse to make a thought provoking seat. And Organic A, a concept of farm to table plus compost table back to farm, squarely checking the circular economy box.

 parsons design chair

organic compost vehicle Parsons

I couldn’t help looking for myself (that’s the danger of the gift show). I spritzed on some moisturizing hand sanitizer by Noshinku and then checked out some goodies at Gift Republic. Who could resist An Awesome 80s Murder Mystery, or Escape the 90s?

noshinku hand sanitizer

 gift republic games 80s murder mystery

**The best part of the show? Running into Babesta’s former buyer Mariana, who has relocated across the country (we miss her!).