Just when I was ready to declare 2014 The Year of the Hedgehog at the ABC Kids product expo, I was slapped in the face by another silicone feeding product. So, for nursery decor, foxes on on their way out and prickly pokey hedgehogs are coming in strong, but everything else will be made of rubbery-textured stuff.
Year of the Hedgehog #YOTH
I want to make this a thing so you should tweet and instagram at us with the #YOTH and #rookiemoms hashtags whenever you see a hedgehog where none existed before.
Tree by Kerri Lee makes this really cute wooden artwork including clocks, milestone blocks, light switch covers, funky night lights, keepsakes up the wazoo, and lots more. All original artwork made in the USA, and she was  a pleasure to meet. Check out her other stuff.
We are Skip*Hop fangirls, and this year they made us wish we had a reason to buy a new backpack, lunchbox and water bottle with all the cute. For better or worse, my monkey backpack is still going strong and I’m sticking with it!
Mary Meyer has a new line of natural baby toys that equates to hedgehog + natural materials + tags and loops = perfect baby toy. I took a photo at the new product showcase and can’t locate the new version online yet, but this one (above) comes pretty darn close. She also has a Happy Hugs Hedgehog clip-on toy that can attach easily to your baby gym.
To find even more hedgehog-styled baby products, see what amazon is offering. You’ll be stunned!
Super clever new products for parents
I was overwhelmed by the innovative ideas for solving the same old parenting challenges. Here are a few of my favorites:
If I had a newborn in a multi-story house, I would immediately buy the Baby Rescue Rapid Evacuation device. It is an evacuation thingie-doo that allows parents to safely enclose a baby or toddler and lower them to the ground in case of a fire. It was developed by a father of 4 who was also a firefighter and paramedic. Now that I see it retails for about $120, I would definitely ask my mom to immediately buy it. Also available in PetRescue flavor.
Cybex has the multi-colored pram and Cloud Q infant seat the first infant car seat to fully recline. Visit Regallager.com to find out where to buy. Watch me (above on the video) try to make it look easy on my fourth or fifth try of doing it. I’m smooth like that.
Cossettie caught my attention with their really small and compact shopping cart cover made out of ripstop nylon. Like most other cart covers, it doubles as a restaurant highchair cover. The DIY shopping cart cover that I made was bulky as heck. This one packs up tiny to fit in my pocket. Dang.
LatchPal by Happy Fig, is a mom-invented suspender clip that can help you latch up your shirt to make nursing easier, especially in those first few weeks when you really need 3 hands. See the video? So simple. Since I spent about 2.67 years of my life with a pacifier clipped to the inside of my shirt, I’m pretty sure I could handle this product.
MilkSense. OMG. Measures milk output, comes with hook-on baby scale, app and software. I freaking love this thing. Was it invented with me in mind? Learn all about it on milksense.com.
In my next installment, you can see me wearing an otteroo and playing with all that silicone!
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