Must-Have December 2014 Finds For Babies and Kids
Our Must Haves For December
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Sure, you're busy checking items off your holiday gift list, but we're about to add a little fun (OK and a little confusion) to your plans. The end of the year brings us a number of exciting new finds — for your little ones and you — that you'll want to get your hands on quickly. From some festive photo props to a celebrity baby blanket collaboration, here's what you need to know about for December!
Novogratz-Designed "Family" Blanket
The Novogratz — you remember them from HGTV's "9 by Design" — have teamed up with Old Navy to design a fleece blanket with one central theme — family! The limited edition "Family" blanket ($15) is guaranteed hit for the holiday season!
Chris March's Big Fun Holiday Collection
Get ready for some fun holiday-card photo ops! Chris March of Bravo fame is back with a collection of amazingly fun wigs, glasses, and accessories at Target, designed to add some spirit to your photos. Think foam candy cane glasses, crazy Santa hats, and a pair of snowman earmuffs that are guaranteed to generate a few smiles! Each piece is priced under $15, and the laughs they'll generate are priceless!
UNICEF #IMAGINE Project
This is truly the season of giving, and it's easier and more fun than ever to do so with the UNICEF #Imagine project. UNICEF is joining forces with Yoko Ono and producer and DJ David Guetta to launch the world's largest sing-along to bring awareness to UNICEF and its global mission.
The project is a multimedia happening with global stars like Katy Perry, Will.i.am, Idris Elba, Seth Green, Angelique Kidjo, Daniela Mercury, and Priyanka Chopra lending their voices to a black-and-white video recording of the legendary "Imagine." Lennon and Ono's voices can be heard in segments of old recordings. Through a free, downloadable app, individuals can record themselves singing "Imagine" next to their favorite singers, along with their thoughts on a better world for kids. The recordings can then be shared with families, friends, and UNICEF. In late December, Guetta will compile all of the celebrity and individual recordings into a track that will make its debut on Jan. 1 simultaneously in Times Square and around the world.
aden + anais (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition Organic Swaddle Three-Pack
Just when you thought that aden + anais's swaddle designs couldn't get any better, the brand introduces a new special edition three-pack that includes patterns by Rachel Zoe, Gwen Stefani, and Jessica Alba. Even better? One hundred percent of proceeds from the $55 set will be donated to The Global Fund to stop the spread of HIV from a pregnant mom to her unborn child. Win-win. — Lisa Horten
PS XO Holiday Parties in a Box
We had a lot of fun with PS XO's first round of party-in-a-box kits when Soleil Moon Frye launched the company over the Summer. Now that the holiday season is upon us, the company — which recently merged with Seedling, another favorite crafting company of ours — is back with Hanukkah ($99) and Christmas ($99) versions packed with decorations, crafts, and party gear to kick your soiree up a notch. It's not easy to find fun Hanukkah decorations, but the Hanukkah kit includes chocolate melts and molds to make menorah treats, as well as cookie cutters, candles, pom-poms, straws, and stamps for a crafty good time.
7 A.M. Enfant Easy Cover Sleeved Blanket
Toddlers will able to stay warm and toasty in their convertible car seats and strollers this Winter, thanks to 7 A.M. Enfant's Easy Cover Sleeved Blanket. It is a hands-first cover, so it doesn't interfere with the car seat's straps at all. Consider it a blanket with arms, so it won't slip off, and tots remain covered at all times.
Mighty Twenty Tooth Tracker Journal/Tooth Fairy Pillows
These globally inspired tooth fairy pillows ($35) are unlike any I've seen before. They're all made in the US and come with a corresponding Tooth Tracker journal for kids to track their dental journeys. The name Mighty Twenty comes from the fact that everyone starts out with 20 baby teeth, making the adventure of losing and growing new teeth a universal experience. — Lisa Horten
The Green Egg Baby and Toddler Gifts
This is my new go-to for long-distance kiddie gifts — it's genius! I've long been a fan of The Green Egg's beautiful hand-stitched tees and the company's fair-trade focus. Now you can create a thoughtful gift set, complete with coordinating toys and a cute carrying case, and have it wrapped with a personal message, and shipped directly to its lucky little recipient. — Lisa Horten
Maxi-Cosi Pria 85
My little guy's been cruising in comfort in his Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 since his inaugural car ride home from the hospital. My only knock against it? It's not easy to clean! This year, the company's upped the ante on its Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 ($249, originally $300) with a seat pad and harness that you can throw into the wash. Amen. — Lisa Horten
Violife Rockee Toothbrush
Well worth the (minor) upfront investment of $12 (originally $15), Violife's Rockee toothbrush is the perfect size and design for little hands. Choose from one of seven cute animal styles, and it comes with a two-year warranty, plus two replacement brush heads. Best of all, the Rockee stands upright and "rocks" — no toothbrush holder required. — Lisa Horten
Sesame Street Go
Holiday travel will go by a bit more smoothly this year, thanks to the new Sesame Street Go app (free). The app (available in both the iOS and Google Play stores) gives tots access to the latest collection of full-length Sesame Street TV episodes as well as games and music videos. Though it will cost you to access the premium content ($4 per month or $30 per year), the hours of whining it will prevent make it a worthy investment!
Hair Fairy Pillowcases
Most grandmothers can tell you that sleeping on a satin pillowcase keeps the knots away and the blowouts fresh. That's the thinking behind Hair Fairy Bedding Company's new Hair Fairy pillowcases ($32). The satin covers are designed to take the stress out of combing tots' hair in the morning, and do it in a fun way. Each case comes with an adorable Harriet fairy doll, who has learned the secret to knot-free hair, tucked into a special pocket.
