Must-Have May 2015 Finds For Babies and Kids
Our Must Haves For May
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For most families, May is a very transitional time: school is ending, Summer vacations are just beginning, and the weather is finally, finally warming up. To help you prepare for the month ahead, we've gathered some of our must-have items for the whole family, from newborns to tweens. Looking for a fresh spin on the tired backpack, some UV-protected swimwear, or a geeky-cool journal to pass the time while you travel? We've got you covered.
1 Lego Architecture Flatiron
For the master builder in your family, Lego's new Flatiron Building set ($40) — part of the Lego Architecture collection — is a fun addition to your home. The 471-piece collection is six inches tall, making it a fun souvenir for NYC-lovers and those who just enjoy beautiful Lego structures. Though the set is designed for kids ages 12 and up, it isn't very complicated to build (I built it with my 9-year-old), and it uses some interesting internal tricks to mimic the building's iconic wedge shape that engineering fans will love!
— Rebecca Gruber, Moms editorial director
2 Land of Nod Little Golden Books Collaboration
Is there any series of books more iconic than Little Golden Books? With its gold spines and beautiful illustrations, the series has made its way onto nursery bookshelves for generations. But now, thanks to Land of Nod, the collection moves off the shelves and into kids' rooms. The Little Shy Kitten and Tawny Scrawny Lion appear on quilts, pillows, and sheeting, Pokey Little Puppy and Saggy Baggy Elephant join in the fun as hooded bath towels, and they all come together as banners heralding the characters' triumphant returns.
— Rebecca Gruber
3 Jessica Simpson/Baby Buggy Maternity Tee
Jessica Simpson's maternity designs for Destination Maternity are always stylish, but her latest one does more than make you look good. The Jessica Simpson/Baby Buggy Maternity Tee ($18) gives back to families in need. Five dollars from the sale of each shirt goes to Baby Buggy to provide basic necessities to families across the country.
— Rebecca Gruber
4 Mackenzie Childs Toddler’s Dinnerware Set
Toddler dining doesn't have to be filled with cartoon characters and ugly place settings. Mackenzie Childs's new Alphabet Farm Dinnerware Set ($48) is part of a new collection of wee melamine dining options that both parents and kids will enjoy seeing on the table!
— Rebecca Gruber
5 Buttermilk Babies Swaddles
There are plenty of muslin baby swaddle blankets there — thanks to Aden & Anais for paving the way — but one new brand is really catching our eye. Buttermilk Babies is a Texas-based company that forgoes traditional baby-themed prints on its cotton and bamboo rayon blankets in favor of fun and sassy motifs that include graffiti, zoonicorns, and more ($45 for two). There are plenty of gender-neutral designs — including a black, white, and gray set that has baby shower gift written all over it!
— Rebecca Gruber
6 The Geek Baby Book
This creative memory book ($15) is the perfect journal for "every geeky first" in your child's life — from her first quest and beyond up to her fifth birthday. If we're being honest, maybe it's more for the benefit of the geek in you as a parent, but that's OK; it'll rub off!
— Alessia Santoro, Moms assistant director
7 Brown Ocelot Tiny Paseo TOMS
Sure, they aren't necessarily practical, but there's something ridiculously cute about baby shoes, and these leopard-print TOMS kicks ($30, originally $40) are so adorable that you'll want your own pair. (Bonus? You can have your own pair.)
— Kate Schweitzer, Moms contributing editor
8 Angels on My Pillow Wrapaboo
Looking for a gorgeous yet still cozy backdrop for baby's first photos? Try this darling soft yet structured patented receiving blanket with angel wings ($295). It not only looks striking in pictures but can also be used for months to come as a nursing pillow or a changing pad!
— Kate Schweitzer
9 AppeTeethers LOL! Sucker
Soon, a kid sucking on a lollipop won't necessarily be a good thing, so we want to get in all that candy-colored cuteness before it's too late with this adorable whirly-pop teething ring ($10). If a sucker doesn't entice your little one, the line also includes teethers that bear striking resemblances to broccoli, chicken wings, and, yes, even bacon.
— Kate Schweitzer
10 Boma 13L Daypack
A simple yet durable backpack, the Boma 13L ($39) is great to pack up for day trips, extended travel, or even for the daily bits and bobs. It comes in a bunch of different colors, and each purchase contributes to the Kilimanjaro Kids Community in Tanzania, making this a purchase with much more purpose.
— Alessia Santoro
11 Snapper Rock UV50+ Children's Swimwear
This adorable swimwear collection for kiddos serves as more than just cute beach apparel — these suits protect against 98 percent of harmful UV rays. So slather your kids' skin with the usual creams and sprays, but worry a little less about letting them stay out "just five more minutes, please" with these bathing suits providing extra protection.
— Alessia Santoro
