Babies Gotta Have It

Teeny teeny tiny clothes.  Onesies.  Baby hats.  Eeny weeny shoesies.  My baby girl is turning three in a month.  I miss the baby clothes.

Secondhand clothes are a godsend.  We are still living on them.  But every now and then, especially when you’re expecting a baby, it’s just fun to pick out some beautiful cuddly little piece yourself.  And if it’s 103 degrees outside, and you’re seven and a half months pregnant, why not shop online?

My Baby Clothes Boutique is a really fun online destination to browse for unique baby clothes and designer baby gifts.  These clothes range from hip and trendy to classic and timeless with lots of options to fit every budget.  I just spent some time looking around, remembering that warm fuzzy feeling of shopping for teeny tiny duds, and here are a few of my favorite finds.

At $14.92 there’s nothing stopping you from snagging this adorable swimsuit for your baby boy.  It’s only mid-July.  We got a whole lot of beach weather left.  And My Baby Clothes Boutique has got baby swimwear.

Today’s smocking for girls is totally modern and totally adorable when it’s done on this hand-smocked romper and matching hat.  Ah yes…baby hats.  Hello cuteness.

My Baby Clothes Boutique also has a really nice selection of organic clothes and gifts for baby!  I love this Organic Cotton Bodysuit with a little tiny sweet skirt for only $25.

And for those of us whose babies have grown a bit bigger, My Baby Clothes Boutique offers clothes and Halloween costumes for toddlers and preschoolers too, as well as a nice selection of tutus and pettiskirts for babies and toddlers.  They sent us a pair of these Flower Power jeans for the Little Bean and they are a-dor-a-ble.  Sweet with a soft waistband in contrasting fabric.  Cute detail from head to toe.  Love them and can’t wait for back-to-preschool just so she can wear them!

So turn on the a/c and go shopping for your baby.  And thanks to the kind folks at My Baby Clothes Boutique, one Babies Gotta Have It reader will start off their summer shopping spree with a $25 gift certificate!  Want to enter the giveaway?  Read on!

To Enter the My Baby Clothes Boutique Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Head over to My Baby Clothes Boutique.  Come back and leave a comment on this site sharing what you’d spend your $25 gift certificate on.   Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of nine entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste): Win a $25 Gift Certificate to My Baby Clothes Boutique @BabiesGottaHavT http://snurl.com/zcl0q
• “Like” My Baby Clothes Boutique on Facebook - Click HERE
• Subscribe to the My Baby Clothes Boutique Newsletter - just enter your email at the top of the page HERE.
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)  And as a very special bonus, if you blog this giveaway, and add a link to My Baby Clothes Boutique on your blog, My Baby Clothes Boutique will send you a $10 gift certificate!
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Wednesday July 14th and ends on Tuesday August 3rd at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: I was given a pair of jeans for review and My Baby Clothes Boutique is providing the gift certificate for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

UPDATE!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 53″.  Congratulations TARA!  And thanks to everyone who blogged this giveaway and linked to My Baby Clothes Boutique.  I will be going through the comments, finding you all, and contacting you regarding your gift certificate.

The Bean loves to put on a tutu and dance. Frequently she insists upon Christmas Music which is a little weird in late March but who am I to argue. The tutus and accessories at Posh Little Tutus are springy, girly and cotton candy sweet. Posh Little Tutus range in size from infants to size 12, come in all the jelly bean colors of the rainbow, and are made in chiffon and traditional premium tulle. Each tutu comes with lots of coordinating accessories (including fairy wings!) so whether you’re looking for that perfect outfit for a princess party, a costume for a first ballet recital, a magical present, an enchanting flowergirl dress, or a special portrait outfit, you’ll have your little peony dressed from head to toe.

In the video above, my Little Bean is sporting the Little Miss Daisy Sweet Baby Tutu (pictured in the infant size below) and matching hairclip.  This is the poofiest fullest tutu skirt Posh Little Tutus offers and I gotta say, it’s adorable.  And to this tomboy, there’s nothing cuter than a tutu over pants.

If you’re looking for the perfect springtime tutu, ride on a zephyr to Posh Little Tutus and enjoy browsing. And thanks to Kelly the gal behind Posh Little Tutus, just in time for Spring one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win your choice of either the pink crochet hat pictured above (which fits up to size 12 months), the infant headband pictured below, or the daisy hair clip the Bean is flouncing about in the video (which fits up to age 6).  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Posh Little Tutus Hair Accessories Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Browse the beautiful selection of items from Posh Little Tutus, come back and leave a comment on this post sharing one other item that caught your eye.  Also, let us know if you’d choose the crochet baby hat, the headband or the girls hair clip if you won. That’s it!  Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway  just cut and paste): Win an adorable Springtime Hair Accessory from Posh Little Tutus @BabiesGottaHavT. http://tinyurl.com/ybjj6vg
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Monday March 29th and ends on Monday April 12th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday April 13th,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Posh Little Tutus provided me with the tutu and hair clip seen in the video and the hair accessory for the giveaway winners.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 20″  Congratulations Emily!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

I love Robeez. I have from the beginning. Since this post is just for fun, I’d like to share a video from the past: almost two years ago here’s what the Little Bean and I first had to say about Robeez.

I’ve always been a fan of Robeez’s Soft Soles collection, and their Mini Shoez line is just as delicious.  Mini Shoez look like “real” shoes in an very sweet way and are designed for babies ages 3 to 18 months (sizes US 2 - 5).  All Mini Shoez feature soft premium leathers; flexible, cushioned insoles; easy-to put-on design; and non-slip, water-resistant soles. If your baby is crawling, cruising, or just beginning to walk, Robeez Mini Shoez are a great choice for you.  And I cannot over-emphasize how important that ease-of-putting-on factor is in a baby shoe.  It is an exquisite kind of torture to try to shove a precious chubby little infant foot into a shoe that just doesn’t want to budge.  The makers of the Mini Shoez know this, thank goodness.

And did I mention that Robeez has a new Eco Collection made from green products such as organic cotton, recycled rubber, recycled leather (I didn’t even know recycled leather existed!), and water-soluble inks? Yahoo!  Robeez of all kinds make wonderful and unique baby gifts. I should know.  I got two pairs.

So here’s the real just for fun part.  Cuz the folks at Robeez are so darned cool, they sent me a drool-worthy pair of their Flower H&L Boots from the Mini Shoez for girls collection in a size 3 (6 - 9 months) pictured above…and I’m giving them away to you.  There is nothing cuter than little boots on babies.  Nothing.  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Robees Mini Shoez Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Watch my video above.  Then, I wanna know whose sweet feet will be wearing these shoes. Your baby’s? A friend’s? A grandchild’s? A niece, godchild, or maybe you’d even  donate them to a clothing drive. Leave a comment on this post telling me who you’d give these shoes to if you won.  Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of eight entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway  just cut and paste): @BabiesGottaHavT hearts Robeez. Enter to win a pair of Robeez Mini Shoez for girls. http://tinyurl.com/yesshlx
• Follow Robeez on Twitter. Just click here.
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Tuesday March 2nd and ends on Tuesday March 16th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Wednesday March 17th,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Robeez provided me with this pair of shoes at no cost for me to give away.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update! We have a winner!  Random.org say “Result: 15″.  Congratulations Jennifer!  Thanks to all who entered!

If you are a new or expecting parent, odds are that you’re doing some reading about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. My understanding has always been that SIDS is a bit mysterious. Doctors can recommend steps to sharply decrease the incidence of SIDS, but can’t really explain what causes it.  The good news is that the wicked smart docs at Children’s Hospital Boston have just published new research linking SIDS to low serotonin production in the brainstem. The great news is that this finding may lead to a concrete test to identify babies at high risk for SIDS, bringing us another step closer to eradicating this devastating syndrome.

The CJ Foundation for SIDS has given millions of dollars to support SIDS research and provide public education and awareness about SIDS risk reduction.  As the largest non-governmental funder of programs meeting the needs of the SIDS community, they participated in funding the research cited above. And I am so excited to share with you the CJ Foundation’s new initiative: Sleep in Safety, Grow in Style. According to the SSGS site,

“The CJ Foundation’s Sleep in Safety, Grow in Style campaign
aims to
educate consumers and
raise public awareness about
what constitutes a safe sleep environment for infants.
We will help parents and caregivers learn how to create nurseries with style
and safe sleeping environments for babies that can cost less, be beautiful and
comforting, grow with your child, and most importantly
significantly reduce the risk of SIDS and
other sleep related infant deaths.”

Let’s decorate our babies’ nurseries with an eye toward style and sleep safety! SSGS offers a webpage with Design Safety Tips as well as Sleep Safety Tips. Let me share their list of Sleep Safety Guidelines with you here (check out the site for more detail about each guideline:

• Always lay your baby to sleep face up
• Remove all loose bedding, bumpers, stuffed animals, and pillows from the crib
• Don’t let your baby get too hot
• Control room temperature where baby is sleeping
• Consider using a fan to increase circulation in baby’s room
• Lay your baby to sleep in an approved crib, on a firm-fitting mattress
• Don’t share sleep surfaces
• Don’t smoke while pregnant and never smoke near your infant
• Create a healthy lifestyle for you and your baby
• If possible, breastfeed your baby
• Offer your baby a pacifier at all sleep times
• Put your baby on his or her tummy to play when your baby is awake and supervised
• Share these tips with everyone who cares for your baby

One of my favorite baby and toddler products companies, aden + anais, has partnered with SSGS to promote safe sleep. The CJ Foundation recommends the use of wearable blankets and sleepsacks in place of blankets to keep infants warm while sleeping. Each aden + anais cozy sleeping bag is made of 100% breathable muslin cotton, which allows baby’s body temperature to adjust naturally, reducing the risk of overheating. This time of the year I feel like I am always cold. And I have really turned to sleepsacks and wearable blankets to keep my Little Bean warm and snuggy in the winter months without overheating her to a dangerous degree.  aden + anais sleeping bags are the perfect solution, and the muslin they are made of just gets softer and softer with each wash. I have absolutely observed this with the washcloths I bought on babysteals.com! So what’s the deal with muslin?  This ancient fabric, traditional for swaddling, has an open, loose weave that is breathable and allows air to circulate around your baby.

And their mod, stylish patterns are to die for. No need to sacrifice appearance when you add these wearable blankets to your nursery. They are adorable.  And I’m delighted announce that the great people behind aden + anais are giving one Babies Gotta Have It a sleeping bag of your choice! Want to enter? Read on!

To Enter the aden + anais Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Browse aden + anais’ selection of stylish cozy sleeping bags.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying which pattern you would chose if you won. Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of nine entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway  just cut and paste): Win a cozy sleepsack and learn about the CJ Foundation’s SIDS education & awareness efforts @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/ydly8tw
• Become a Fan of aden + anais on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Become a Fan of the CJ Foundation for SIDS on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  and Canadian addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Friday February 5th and ends on Monday February 22nd at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday February 23rd,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: aden + anais offered the cozy sleeping bag to the winner of this giveaway at their expense.  Additionally, they gave me a cozy sleeping bag as well for my time and effort in writing the post.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 70″  Congratulations Kara!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!  Come back soon!

My baby girl loves her hair. She has, however,  had only two hair cuts in her entire life. We took her to the fancy schmancy overpriced NYC hair cutting place for kids, Cozy’s…where your kid can sit in a cool car and watch videos and have a bevy of really friendly stylists blowing bubbles and singing songs. The amazingly skilled stylist cut her hair quickly, efficiently and beautifully. And the Little Bean howled and cried the entire time. So now when I say “Bean, do you want to get a haircut?,” she smiles sweetly and says “No thank you.” Even when I add the most tempting of all incentives…”we’ll get a cupcake afterward,” she still replies in a maddeningly polite voice “No thank you, Mama.”

Now, many of you are no doubt thinking to yourselves, “She’s two for Pete’s sake. Get our your craft scissors and snip a bit.”  Well, I tried that once…when the Bean was fourteen months old.  This is what happened.

I am still traumatized.

The Little Bean is a Leo.  According to Cindy, the super insightful astrologer that did our hair and wigs for the show I just closed, Leos are all about their hair.  The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I can’t bear to mess up her hair again.  So sometime soon, in the not so far future, along with the overdue dentist and eye doctor and veterinarian appointments, I will make an appointment to have the Bean’s hair cut.

Until then…I have to say that the Bean looks unbearably adorable in teeny tiny cute as a button clippies! As soon as her hair recovered from the above abomination, I went to my super fave website, Etsy and ordered adorable hair clips from Shining Stars Boutique.  Unlike the toddler hair clips I got from a major retail store that shall remain nameless, the underside of these clippies are fully lined so no nasty scraping from the metal clippy bottom against your baby’s sweet head.  The awesome Mamas who started Shining Stars Boutique use non-slip velcro on each of the clippes so they stay put in fine hair, seal the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying, and offer really really affordable prices.  And did I mention that the styles are a-dor-a-ble? Feminine but not cutesy. Girly but not over the top.  Ahhhh, I love Etsy.  I purchased the Sizzling Summer Fun Mini Bow collection.  The colors are bright and cheerful and go with everything.  We’ve used them so well that all but three have been snatched by elves and are missing.

So if your little angel is absolutely positively in no way shape or form going to sit through a hair cut, no matter how awesome the barber chairs are…and even if she does deign to get a haircut now and again…check out Shining Stars Boutique.  And just in time for February 14th, I am so happy to let you know that Jessica at Shining Stars has offered three adorable sets of Valentines Day (but really, you can use them all year) clippies to give away to one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader.  The winner of this giveaway will receive all three sets of clippies featured in this post: the Red Butterfly Hair Clippie, the Light Pink and Red Lollipop Mini Hair Bow Clippies, and the Valentine’s Day Shocking Pink, Red, and Light Pink Beaded Felt Hearts on a Scalloped Flower Set.  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Shining Stars Boutique Clippies Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Check out the Shining Stars Boutique Etsy Shop.  Come back and share one product you’d love to try besides the clippies featured in this post!  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Tweet this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste):  I just entered to win adorable Valentines Day Hair Clippies @BabiesGottaHavT.  Enter today! http://tinyurl.com/yekl8n7
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Tuesday January 19th and ends on Tuesday February 2nd at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Wednesday February 3rd,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Shining Stars Boutique is offering the above pictured clippies for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not given any product from them personally, nor was   I compensated in any way for writing this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update! We have a winner! Random.org says: Result: 18! Congratulations Michelle Frame! And thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Sesame Street is turning 40 this week.  And Elmo doesn’t look a day over three and a half!

I refuse to acknowledge how old that makes me.

But this is a birthday worth celebrating.  Sesame Street has been such a valued part of our lives for the past 40 years (or the 29 years of them that I have been living…ahem).  And as I return to it with my daughter, I am amazed and delighted anew by the magic of the muppets, the offbeat humor, the brilliance of the musical numbers, and the incredible amount of heart that the show continues to have.

My little Bean is pretty much obsessed with Elmo.  The theme to Elmo’s World is one of the very first songs she learned.  And hey, it’s not sooo bad watching him sing with the Goo Goo Dolls over and over again on YouTube.  That lead singer is kinda hot.  And I met Gordon a few months ago…that was pretty awesome.

The cool folks at Polliwalks Childrens Shoes recognize what an important part of our lives all the residents of Sesame Street have been over the years.  And in honor of their birthday, they’re offering one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader a pair of Sesame Street Polliwalks in either the Oscar the Grouch or Cookie Monster styles. (They also have Elmo but sadly, he’s so popular that he’s currently out of stock!)  I love Polliwalks–watch the video I made of the Bean playing in the sprinkler in her awesome Fish Lips Polliwalks water shoes this past summer.  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Polliwalks “Sesame Street” Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Swing by Zappos and check out the Polliwalks Sesame Street Shoes they have available.  Come back and leave a comment sharing which pair of  Polliwalks you’d choose if you won: Cookie Monster or Oscar the Grouch, and also one memory of “Sesame Street” from your childhood!  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of eight entries per person.

• Follow Polliwalks on Twitter - just click this link!
• Follow me on Twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Tweet this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste):  @Polliwalks & @BabiesGottaHavT say Happy Birthday Sesame Street! Win a pair of Sesame Street Polliwalks today! http://tiny.cc/NITQm
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Saturday November 14th and ends on Friday November 20th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Saturday November 21st,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering! Disclosure: The Flannery Brothers sent me their CD to review and they provided a CD for the winner of the giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

UPDATE! Random.org says “Result: 10″  Congratulations Maureen!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Ok so we were handed down the most adorable baby clothes.  I expounded upon my love of hand-me-down clothes in a video back in May of 2008.  They were, and continue to be, the best.

But then your little beauty does the unthinkable.  She (or he of course) grows out of her clothes! And suddenly you have tubs of too-big clothes your wee one has yet to wear mingling with tubs of outgrown clothes, and heartbreaking as it is to say goodbye to that teeny tiny baby layette, you risk suffocating in an avalanche of rompers if you don’t pay it forward. So what are you gonna do with all those groovy duds?

Try a clothing swap! Get together with your moms group or the daycare parents or the other gals you met at pre-natal yoga.  The more the merrier.  And honestly, you’ll want women with kids of all ages so that there’s a big selection of sizes.  Spread out all those delicious outfits on sofas and chairs, and go for it.  Anything unclaimed by the time you’ve downed your iced lattes goes to goodwill.  Voila. You have closet space again.  Let me say, my friend Anna has demonstrated that this works for grown-ups too!  While you’re at it, bring all the clothes you’re done with, spread them out in the bedroom and Mama leaves with a few new pieces too!

And if you’re in the NYC area, man do I have a clothing swap for you!  Clear your day on Saturday October 3rd, pile those gently used, freshly washed baby clothes in a cloth bag, and head down to the Metropolitan Pavilion, North Pavilion (110 West 19th St.).  Clothing Swap Inc. founder Suzanne Agasi will be on hand as will McGreeny himself, Josh Dorfman host of the Sundance Channel’s “The Lazy Environmentalist.” No admission will be charged, however all swappers must register in advance and bring at least on article of children’s clothing (Newborn to age 12) to swap (click HERE to register).  There is no limit to the number of clothes or accessories attendees can cram back into their cloth bags to take home in exchange.  And all “swappers” will take home samples of GreenWorks Natural Laundry Detergent.  So that’s cool.

Green.  Free.  Fun. Clothing swaps.  Now that’s something baby’s totally gotta have.

In this vid My little bean is sporting the Polliwalks Fish Lips waterproof sandals for toddlers and kids.  Thank you Polliwalks! Like all Polliwalks, Fish Lips come with fun “footprint” treads that allow your kid to leave a unique print in the sand. Also like all Polliwalks, they are machine washable (yeah you heard me–machine washable), easy to get on and off, waterproof, and packaged in an environmentally friendly way.  What makes them unique…well check out the video and keep your eye on those fish lips!

It may be September, but where I live, it still  feels like summer.  I’m guessing there are lots of you who will  be hitting the beach and the pool and the backyard sprinkler for another month or more.  Have some fun.  Wear some Poliwalks. Bring out the animal in your kiddo!

And here’s the best part…one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win a pair of Polliwalks in the style and size of his or her choice!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Polliwalks Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Watch my video and then stop by Polliwalks and browse the adorable assortment of waterproof sandals they have to offer.  Come back and leave me a comment on this post sharing which pair of sandals, style and color, you’d choose if you won and what you like about them.  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste): @BabiesGottaHavT is giving away a pair of Polliwalks waterproof sandals for kids! Enter today! http://tinyurl.com/ox7c4o
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Tuesday  September 1st and ends on Tuesday September 15th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Wednesday September 16th,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

UPDATE: We have a winner!  Random.org says…Result: 23 Congratulations Angela H from Just An Army Wife and Just a Mommy!  Hope you love your Polliwalks!  Thanks so much to all of you who are such loyal entrants!  I love you all!

Wanna know what I wore for the first day of high school?  A purple plaid shirt with puffy sleeves, purple corduroys, and my gold “W” necklace.  Back to school time is a memorable time.

My baby girl just turned two.  And I’m already deep in the preschool application process.  Yup.  No Joke.  For the Fall.  Of 2010. School is coming.  For the wee ones and the big ones.  Next year will be our first ever “back to school” season.  I’m not sure what you call “back to school” time when you’re not coming back but going for the very very first time, but we’ll be in it.  And here are the three must haves that my little Bean will not face the day after Labor Day without.

New Shoes.  The Bean will definitely be sporting a new pair of kickers on her first day of preschool. If your wee one is off to preschool or day care this year consider shoes by Stride Rite or New Balance.

Stride Rite is well known for their incredible quality, durability and style, but they recently came out with amazing new shoes for early walkers based on cutting edge research into babies little feet!  Based on their studies, they created “Sensory Response Technology,” designed to optimize the biomechanics of the foot and encourage development of a healthy and natural gait.  Their SRT shoes come with a moisture-wicking lining, multi-directional flexibility, an amazing fit check system (just remove the lining and hold your wee one’s foot up to it–special marks will tell you if it’s time for new shoes), and rounded edges to prevent falls.  The most amazing feature, to me, are the “sensory pods” in the bottoms of the shoes that allow your baby to really feel the ground.  Also reducing falls.  I don’t know about you, but if her shoes can keep my baby from falling down at daycare, I’m all for it.

And if you’re just  looking for some super cute sneaks for fall, consider the new line of New Balance sneakers coming out in October…featuring the Peanuts!  In general, I’m not a fan of slapping cartoon characters on shoes.  But there’s something about the Peanuts characters that’s different to me.  They are classics, and the scenes depicted on these sneaks take me right back to 1980–in a good way.  I’m totally loving the shoes featuring Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. But you can also get this classic running shoe with scenes from Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving or Christmas.  The shoes come sized for infants, preschool and grade school kids, are constructed with premium materials for comfort and breathability, and feature EVA cushioning in the midsole and heel and a solid rubber outsole for excellent support and durability.

A Lunchbox. OK I had a Charlie’s Angels lunchbox in 1977.  I have no idea where it is. I miss it.  To quote John Mayer (for the second time I believe…what’s up with that?) “whatever happened to my lunchbox?” I have, in general, been so emotional about the idea of my wee little baby (ok I know she’s two) eating lunch at preschool that I have weeded out all the schools that require 3 year olds to eat lunch. Snack she can handle. But lunch…without me?!?  Well, the Citizenpip Soup to Nuts Reuasable Lunch Kit has come close to making me change my mind. I kinda shudder to think abut all the baggies that I threw away(in addition to two, count ‘em, two, retainers)  in the 18 years my mom packed me pb & j, chips, a piece of fruit, and cookies. This super cool lunch kit is better for the environment and quite frankly, awesome.  It comes with: 1 insulated lunch bag with nametag and carabiner that easily attaches to a backpack, 1 stainless steel water bottle, 1 stainless steel insulated food jar, 4 BPA-free airtight food containers, 1 stainless steel fork and spoon set, and 5 100% cotton napkins. Thank you so much Citizenpip for sending one for us to try out and put away for next year.  We got the “Tasty” style and it is adorable.  Looking for a wee kit for your wee tot? All the components are available a la carte as well.  (And just a heads up…be sure to check back in September for a Citizenpip Giveaway!)

Ok, I guess she can have lunch school after all…

A Camera. Because the back to school photo is a definite must have. And if I were a better blogger, I’d have some old grainy photo of me and my brother to post here.  But I don’t.  Want to take that first day of school pic in style? Check out the new smart cameras by Samsung! These seriously tricked out cameras were designed for today’s seriously digital world. The DualView TL225 and TL220 both feature dual LCD screens with one on the front so you can see yourself in that awesome facebook pic you’re trying to take in front of your new minivan.  Also, and get this, these cameras feature a child mode which, when enabled, plays a little clown movie on that front LCD to get your wee one’s attention and up the odds of him actually smiling for the camera.  And want to get that photo to Grandma in a heartbeat?  The Samsung CL65 features Wifi and Bluetooth so you can upload the pics directly–no computer necessary.  Smile! This camera will be available in September…just in time for school.

It’s my baby girl’s second birthday.

And to celebrate, we are going to shower you and that sweet baby you’re dreaming about, loving from afar, or holding in your arms right now!  You’ve seen the videos. You’ve drooled over the products.  Today is the day to enter!  I’m so glad you’re here.

Talk about the best of both worlds…a baby shower with hundreds of dollars worth of wonderful products, but no silly games. I do wish I had some cake though…

I just want to say a big thank you again to all of the wonderful companies that have contributed items to the first ever Babies Gotta Have It Online Baby Shower Giveaway.

Here again, is everything that the winner of this unbelievable giveaway will receive:

Babies Gotta Bathe

• The Eco Store’s Aromatherapy Baby Moisturizer and Baby Shampoo (see my 7/6/09 post)
  
• Miessence Baby Cream Wash from Ely Organics (see my 2/9/09 post)
  
• The Entire Line of Baby Care Products from Earth Baby Organics (see my 7/6/09 post)
  
• No Slip Charlie Fingerless Baby Bathing Gloves (see my 6/10/08 post)
  
• Natural Laundry Detergent and Stain Remover from Clorox Green Works (see my 7/6/09 post)

Babies Gotta Eat

• The Portable Cutlery Set from No Plastic (see my post from 5/12/09)
  
• Minky Bib and Utensil Set from Happy Babee and Beeyond (see my post from 10/14/08)
  
• Bibs N Burps Set from Wow Baby (see  my post from 6/18/09)
  
• Baby Dipper Bowl and Spoon Set from Baby Dipper (see my post from 11/17/08 )

Beyond Your Birthday Suit

• Infant and Toddler Clothes by Hanes
• A Bamboo Onesie from Bamboo Couture (see my post from 4/18/09)
  
• A Baby Blanket of your choice from Lilitah (see my post from 7/9/09)
  
• The Handkerchief Bonnet, The Baby’s First Haircut Bag, Embroidered Burp Cloths and The Tooth Fairy Pillow from Little Journeys Baby World
• A Bamboo Fitted Crib Sheet and Bamboo Baby Washcloths from Bamboobino

Shift Into Gear

• The No Throw Baby Bottle Tether
• About Childbirth, About Breastfeeding, and About Newborn Care, the 3 DVD Set, from Laugh and Learn (see my post from 1/22/09)
  
• The Comfort Select Performance Dual Auto-Cycling Breast Pump from Evenflo (see my post from 4/28/09)
  
• The Complete Air Convertible Car Seat by Safety 1st

Playing  With My Baby

• Lubies Plush Toys
• Fruit Stained Natural Wooden Stacker by Ticki Tacki Toys (see my post from 4/18/09)
  
• That Baby CD and DVD by OyBaby (see my post from 6/30/08)

To Enter the

Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: First, watch all of the videos featuring the products included in the giveaway.  When you’re done, return to this post and leave a comment telling me 1. Who is this baby that you want to shower with beautiful things and why & 2. Which product you are the most excited about winning and why. This is a huge prize package, so entries that don’t provide complete answers to parts 1 and 2 will be discounted.  And it’s absolutely wonderful to want to win this for your very own baby!  One who is here or one who is on the way! Tell me a little bit about you and your babe!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste): @BabiesGottaHavT is hosting an Online Baby Shower! Enter to win today! http://tinyurl.com/mfdmwl
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Sunday August 9th and ends on Sunday August 30th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Monday August 31st,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my baby called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my baby, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Update! We have a winner! Random.org selected number 249! Congratulations Danielle Donohue! Hope you and your baby love being showered! Thank you so much to everyone who entered!