Make Your Next Baby Shower Gift Babylicious!

I'm really happy to report that the chic yet whimsical crib bedding from Babylicious is now available at CSN Baby! Their designs involve a lot of crisp polka dots and stripes and great colors. Add to these admirable features the fact that their bedding won't break the bank, and you'll understand why I love Babylicious so much.

But it's summer, and that means' baby showers! And while I love buying shower gifts (I do, really, and wrapping them to coordinate with the gift...) I don't love how expensive all the gift giving can get, which tends to take some of the fun out of it.

So when I noticed that Babylicious also makes adorable and affordable baby gift sets I was definitely excited. You can choose from three sizes: small, medium, and large. The small set includes a basic bib, sit and spit cloth, baby slippers and receiving blanket. The medium set comes with a hooded towel, bath mitt, baby slippers and basic bib. And the large set includes a sleep sack, basic bib, sit and spit cloth and baby slippers.

I am in love with the Happy Collection (Happy Baby Small Gift Set shown). The colors are bright and cheery, plus it's a great choice for a boy, girl, or surprise delivery so all your bases are covered.

I also love the Luxe Snow Collection. Muted, graphic circles embroidered on a white background make this a fail-safe choice for modern babies and their stylish parents. The slightly higher price tag comes with a more upscale look.

The sets coordinate with Babylicious' bedding but are just as cute on their own. They even come beautifully packaged in a party-ready box. A small gift set is under $30 (under $50 for the slightly pricier Luxe Collection)! Add a couple of your favorite picture books, tie a pretty ribbon around the whole thing, and you've got yourself a thoughtful, useful, beautiful baby shower gift!

Take a look at all of Babylicious' products at CSN Baby!

Why Put Baby to Sleep on Coconuts and Lambswool?

Last week I got a chance to see Natural Mat's organic crib mattresses up close. I haven't had a chance to do that since I blogged about Naturpedic's organic mattresses a few months ago. Once again I was impressed by how soft and springy organic mattresses can be and once again I was reminded of how important they can be to the health of your baby.

It's so easy to get caught up in picking out a cute crib that some parents may realize too late that they didn't budget for a nice crib mattress. But the mattress should be something you think about and research at least as much as you do cribs, whether you choose to go organic or not.

I got a chance to see all three of Natural Mat's organic crib mattresses, but I'm going to tell you about the Coco Mat since it's the least expensive (although it still comes out to over $300).

Natural Mat's Coco Mat begins with coir (the outside of a coconut!), which provides a breathable but firm base for the mattress. It's really springy! It's also anti allergenic. The coir is harvested from the only organic coir plantation in the world, so you know this company doesn't just want to look organic on paper so to speak. They take living organic seriously.

The coir is sandwiched by 2 layers of lambswool, which is naturally flame retardent so it doesn't have to be doused in chemicals that might harm your baby while he or she sleeps. The wool has been treated with lemon, eucalyptus and lavender to make it non-allergenic, too. Sounds like a little spa for your baby, right? The wool also naturally provides insulation during the cold winter months and ventilation during the warm summer months just as it would for, well, a little lamb.

A 100% unbleached cotton herringbone cover tops off the coir and lambswool. This cover can be unzipped and machine washed at 140ºF to kill bacteria and dust mites. You should also purchase the Flannelette Organic Crib Mattress Protector Pad, which is made of soft organic flannelette material and--and this is important!--is waterproof.

But (as LeVar Burton would say) don't take my word for it. Read what Liz has to say about her Natural Mat crib mattress at one of my favorite mom blogs, CoolMomPicks.com.

The more I learn about organic mattresses the more I think they're a good investment if you can afford one. At the very least, make sure you do some research before you buy. Find out more about all types of crib mattresses at CSN Baby.

Meet the Mutsy 4Rider

Since I got to take a gander (get it? Mother Goose... gander ...)at the Mutsy 4Rider yesterday, I wanted to tell you all about it.

The 4Rider comes in two styles: regular or light. This refers to the wheels. Everything else about the stroller remains the same. The 4Rider Light has lightweight, foam-filled wheels. The 4Rider Single Spoke Stroller(shown) has air-filled, single-spoke wheels, which make it about 4 pounds heavier but give it a very unique look, which I personally love.

Like the Slider, the 4Rider has a very airy, sleek design. I could keep talking about how good looking this stroller is, but I want to tell you about some of its amazing features as well.

For starters, it folds so easily. I've seen a lot of stroller demonstrations and this one really impressed me. In two simple moves the stroller was folded up on the ground with no loud cracking noises that would make me think I'd broken the thing. And it can be folded with the bassinet or seat in it!

Let's talk about the bassinet. It has several zippered pockets around the outside, which are perfect for little essentials that you want to keep within easy reach. They just melt right into the design. Very cool. The bassinet also sits very high so that, similar to a Stokke Xplory, you can be close to your baby as you go about town. If your baby falls asleep while in the bassinet, you can remove it with the carrying strap, bring it inside, and set it down (it has feet to keep it upright) without ever disturbing your baby.

The seat fully reclines and can be moved forwards or backwards to adjust the seat depth for a customized fit. You can check on your baby thanks to the window in the generous hood. The window can be hidden with a velcroed panel. Some strollers have nixed the hood window because they felt it disrupted the design. I think Mutsy has found a great way to compromise. And really that's what Mutsy is all about: the compromise between attractive design and practical functionality.

Don't forget, from now until June 24th you will save 5% on all Mutsy strollers and high chairs. Get shopping now at CSN Baby!

Correction: Mutsy Slider Accessories

Happy Friday, everyone! I was lucky enough to see a Mutsy Slider Stroller up close and personal yesterday afternoon. It's even more attractive in person than it is in pictures. The amount of thought that went into the streamlined, functional design is really impressive.

I'm afraid I do need to make a correction from my previous post on the Mutsy Slider. I told you that the Slider accessories include an optional Baby Sitter Frame and Fun Seat. Unfortunately, that was incorrect.

Those accessories are only available for the Mutsy Urban Rider or 4Rider.

But fear not, faithful readers, I've got some good news to make up for my mistake: From now until June 24th you can save 5% on all Mutsy Strollers and High Chairs!

Micralite Special Offer While Supplies Last!

I'm going to take a break from blogging about Father's Day gifts to talk about Micralite's Fastfold Stroller. If you haven't heard of Micralite, my bet is that you will soon enough. It's is based in the UK where it enjoys much more attention than in the US. So far, anyway. My guess is that it won't be long before a lot of people are snatching up the modern-looking Fastfold, which comes in either black or red.
The Fastfold is a practical and stylish option for parents on the go. At under 15 lbs, it's a lightweight stroller that's very easy to maneuver. And yes, the handlebar height is adjustable, which I love, since I'm short!

One of the most noteworthy features of this stroller is its fast, one-handed fold (hence the name, of course). It can stand on its own when folded, so you won't have to worry about propping it up against a restaurant wall only to have it come crashing down in the middle of dinner. And if you have to traverse some cobblestones on the way to the restaurant, you're in luck! The large all terrain, rear wheels and all-around suspension make this stroller well-equipped to handle rougher roads.

You can use the Fastfold from birth by purchasing the Graco Car Seat Adaptor (it works with either the Snug Ride or Safe Sit car seats. Or you can buy the Newborn Stroller System, which includes a carrycot. The carrycot has straps so you can easily transport your sleeping baby from your home to the stroller and back again.

If you buy the Fastfold Newborn Stroller System now from CSN Baby you'll also receive a free Fastfold Stroller Travel Bag! Since this stroller is so great for traveling, the travel bag will really come in handy, especially at the airport. It's a great offer that's only going to be available while supplies last!

Diaper Dude: Another Great Gift for Dad

Still trying to find the perfect Father's Day gift for the new dad in your life? Why not give him a diaper bag he's actually want to use? More and more companies are offering diaper bags designed just for dad so there's more options for men than ever before.

One company I love is Diaper Dude--and the name really says it all. From their messenger bag design to their masculine styles this company definitely designs with dad in mind! Think camo, skulls, dragons, and even herringbone (shown). In fact, Diaper Dude is so popular, it's even been featured on "The View" and trendy magazines like Us Weekly and InStyle.

Diaper Dude's bags are packed with practical features. The back is padded for extra comfort against the body and the wide, adjustable strap has a padded panel. Clips open and closed for easy on-and-off when Dad is on the go. Three exterior zip-closed pockets are perfect for wipes, bibs, food and more while the elasticized bottle pocket is easy to reach. There's also a large inner compartment with a zip-closed pocket and a special pouch for diapers. Oh, and it comes with a changing pad, too! Satisfied, yet?

But let's not forget all of Dad's essentials, too! There's a removable, on-strap cell phone pouch and two handy clips for keys and more to make it even easier for dad's on the go to stay organized.

So this Father's Day get the dad in your like something he'll actually want to use! You can browse our wide selection of Diaper Bags for Dads at CSN Baby.