The ’70s Are Back with Nestlé Toll House’s Disco Morsels

by Erica LoopFebruary 23, 2021

Grab a pair of bell bottoms, pull out the polyester and go back to the ’70s for a disco-themed sweet treat! Nestlé Toll House’s Disco morsels will bring the bling to your next baking experience.

Like teeny tiny disco balls, the morsels sparkle and shine. Don’t worry about dusting your home with glitter just to bake a batch of disco-themed cookies. These chips are made with the same sparkly stuff your kiddo crafts with––just edible.

photo: Walmart

According to the packaging, this Nestlé Toll House product contains semi-sweet morsels and edible glitter morsels. The morsels are made with 100 percent real chocolate.

The glittery goodies are the perfect addition to everything from your freshly baked chocolate chip cookies to an ooey, gooey ice cream sundae. With a chip this special, your kiddo might just want to get creative in the kitchen. Think disco glitter pancakes, s’mores, brownies, or chocolaty sparkle trail mix. Snag a bag of Nestlé Toll House Disco morsels online at Walmart.com for $2.48.

If you’re still looking to up your baking game, the Disco morsels aren’t your only option. Nestlé Toll House Unicorn Pink and Blue Swirled Vanilla Morsels, Espresso Baking Morsels or Funfetti Morsels. Then again, you could just toss all the chips into one bowl of your fam’s fave cookie dough recipe and whip up a mix-and-match batch of colorful chocolate-filled goodness.

—Erica Loop

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This New Cubcoats Sports Collection Is a 2-In-1 Home Run!

by Erica LoopFebruary 18, 2021

Your little slugger can gear up and support their fave baseball team with the Cubcoats Sports Collection! These cute creations combine the comfy kids’ MLB sportswear with a new furry friend.

The two-in-one Cubcoats Sports Collection features fully functional hoodies, hidden inside team mascot toys. This means your baseball fanatic kiddo can support their fave team in a bear-y special way. Simply unzip the bear to reveal a team-branded hoodie. When your child is done wearing their team top, follow Cubcoats’ directions and roll the hoodie back into a bear.

Cuboats hoodies are officially licensed baseball apparel, with a line-up that includes your kiddo’s favorite major league team. Each plush toy/hoodie is made from soft-touch fleece and non-allergenic materials.

The hoodies are fully lined with a 60/40 cotton-polyester blend. Don’t worry if your child drips ketchup from their baseball park hot dog onto the hoodie or accidentally drops their bear on the way to a big game. These two-in-one bear/hoodie products are completely machine washable.

These zip-up hoodies retail for between $50 and $55, and are available in sizes 2T through kids 9-10, depending on the team. Some styles are sized up to 5-6 or 6-7. Visit the Cubcoats website for size availability and to order one for your youngest baseball fan.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of Cubcoats

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One Cool Thing: A Baby Carrier That Checks All the Boxes

by Jen WatroJanuary 24, 2021

Selecting a baby carrier can be a daunting task for any new parent, especially once the realization sets in that there are several types to consider (hello structured carriers, wraps & ring slings, to name a few)! Layer in personal preferences like weight, fabric, eco-consciousness and style and you could be down a shopping rabbit hole for hours.

One carrier that checks our boxes? The Ergobaby Aerloom carrier. It marries function & form with the added benefit of being eco-friendly and stylish. It also happens to be one of the lightest structured carriers on the market, weighing in at 1.45 lbs and is made from FormaKnit™ fabric in a seamless knit design inspired by the activewear industry (AKA breathable).

Not only is the fabric durable & breathable, (which will be key for wearing baby during the hottest days of summer) but 87% of the knit of each carrier is made from recycled polyester yarn and reuses 26 post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. So it’s safe to say the carriers are quite eco-friendly! Bake in the fact that they’re also shipped in recyclable, direct shipper packaging and no additional box or packaging and it’s enough to make your green heart sing.

The carrier also features a zippered pocket to keep essentials as secure as the little one you’ll be carrying. It currently comes in 5 color combinations with each collection produced in small, limited batches: light grey/grey/orange, sky blue/blue, multi-color/black, burgundy/dark teal/black and charcoal/black with most colors never to be produced again after they sell out.

The Ergobaby Aerloom retails for $219 and you can check out the collection and current color selection at Ergobaby.

––Jen Watro

All photos: Courtesy of Ergobaby

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Hello Bello Launches Training Pants in Fun Big Kid Patterns

by Jennifer SwartvagherOctober 26, 2020

Hello Bello is all about growing with your family. The brand recently released a line of kids’ specific products because they know kids are not babies. Now they are happy to announce the launch of their new training pants line.

Potty training will be more pleasant with Hello Bello’s cottony-soft stretchiness paired with cute “big kid” designs and premium leg cuffs to prevent leakage both day and night.

These training pants give your little one more control with their easy on and off fit that is designed to look and feel more like underwear including elastic that doesn’t leak or sag. These reimagined potty trainers feature premium leak guards for active kiddos and stress-free up and down use with disposal tape for quick cleanup.

Hello Bello’s new training pants are made of chlorine-free fluff pulp from sustainably managed forests, a unique high-performance Spherical Super Absorbent Polymer, polypropylene/ polyethylene/ polyester nonwoven fibers, plant-derived PLA nonwoven fiber, spandex strands and an elastomeric film. Made without lotion, latex, artificial fragrance, phthalates, chlorine processing, TBT, DBT and MBT.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Hello Bello

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These Kids Coats are Made Out of…Coffee Grounds?

by Erin LemSeptember 9, 2020

How do you like your coffee? Black, with milk and sugar or…spun into the fabric of your kids’ new coat? If you prefer your coffee in a cup, hear us out. Reima, the kids activewear company out of Finland, is set to debut their newest innovation in kidswear: Coffee Bean Shimmer Fabric, available in a kids two-in-one down jacket and a one-piece newborn snowsuit. Released on September 29, which also happens to be National Coffee Day, these innovative outwear pieces will make you fall in love with coffee all over again.

These coats are seriously made out of coffee? What does the coffee do?
For the coffee-obsessed, you may be disappointed that the coats don’t actually smell like coffee. But, Reima’s smart textile engineers designed the fabric so that the particles of carbonized coffee grounds are spun into the polyester on a very microscopic level. According to the Reima team, they’re “very, very small.”

Even at a microscopic level, coffee lovers and non coffee aficionados will have to agree that the caffeinated design is innovative. Reima tells us that when tiny particles of ground coffee are carbonized at high temperature, the carbon forms honeycomb structures. By adding those particles into their 100% polyester material, Reima’s textile engineers are able to increase the fabric’s heat retention capability, which will help your kiddos stay warm. They go on to tell us that beyond storing heat, this process decreases the build-up of static electricity in the fabric, which prevents the formation of odors.

Besides the coffee grounds, what’s special about these new pieces?
Just like Reima’s other designs, this kids jacket and newborn snowsuit are well made and durable. For families with multiple children who play hard, you can expect these two new outerwear pieces to hold up across multiple seasons and siblings. They won’t show wear or tear on the first tumble or rainy day.

The Coffee Bean Shimmer fabric is made with a waterproof, breathable PU lamination, which means that you can wear it from the warmer, early days of fall through the coldest winter months. Both styles are insulated with responsible down standard certified down and features, and for those looking for specifics, the fill power of the insulation is 550.

We love that the kids two-in-one down jacket can be worn as a jacket or a vest. The newborn one-piece honeycomb snowsuit also is multi-functional: wear it as a snowsuit with legs or convert it to a sleeping bag simply by closing the zip in the leg inseams from both directions. Either way you wear it, baby and the older kids, will stay dry and warm.

The two-in-one down jacket will be available in 6 colors from 4T-14Y and retails for $139.95. Choose from the slimmer “Heiberg” or the “Beringer” straight cut. The one-piece newborn coat will be available in three colors from 0-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-9 months and retails for $139.95. Starting September 29, 2020 buy online at us.reima.com or at amazon.com.

—Erin Lem

all photos courtesy of Reima

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Bunz Kidz Recalls Pajama Sets Due to Burn Risk

by Karly WoodMay 20, 2020

Stargate Apparel has issued a recall on Bunz Kidz-branded sleepwear sets, specifically sold in a robe, top and pants combination. The notice was issued by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission on May 20, 2020 for failing to meet the federal flammability standard for children’s sleepwear, in which burn issues can be a risk if sleepwear is not either snug-fitting or flame resistant.

The recalled sets include a 100 percent microfleece robe and matching white pants with a pink star print and a 100 percent polyester pink top with “Dream in Glitter” printed in gold. The sets were sold in sizes two through 12 and “Bunz Kids” is printed on a blue sewn-in label.

The affected style numbers can be found on the blue label and include L23846, L43846 or L73846. Consumers can also check another sewn-in label to reference the GPU numbers which include 2017-246, 2017-446 or GPU 2017-746.

The recalled PJ sets were sold at Boscovs, Century 21, JC Penney, Macy’s, Marshalls and TJ Maxx, other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and Walmart.com from August 2017 through December 2019 for between $24 and $48.

If you think you own one of the recalled products, immediately remove from within your children’s reach and contact Stargate Apparel for a full refund. Consumers can call toll-free at 866-351-0193 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at recall@stargateap.com with “Product Recall” as the email subject or online at www.stargateapparel.com and click the Contact link on the upper right hand corner of the homepage for more information.

––Karly Wood

Photo: Courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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Billabong Just Dropped a Must-Have Dr. Seuss Collab

by Karly WoodApril 22, 2020

Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and in honor of the momentous occasion, Billabong has just released a brand new collection! The Billabong x Dr. Seuss Earth Day 2020 Collection celebrates the great outdoors and inspires environmental activism, all through the artwork of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Dr. Seuss.

The first mini-collection comes in kids and adult sizes and is inspired by the Lorax and a “I speak for the trees, I speak for the seas” theme. It includes hoodies, t-shirts, long sleeve tees, and pants all made from from organic cotton.

Also within the line are boardshorts that are made from recycled polyester and accessories like the organic cotton snapback hat and pool slides with vegan leather sole composites.

The second mini-collection is Truffula-themed and emphasizes the importance of tree conservation. The black and white line is made up of black tees and long sleeves shirts, a short-sleeve button-up with allover print, a tote bag from organic cotton canvas, pool slides, bucket hat and recycled polyester boardshorts.

The collaboration with Dr. Seuss Enterprises is in partnership with Billabong LAB, a program that aims to support designers, photographers, artists and musicians. The collection is made with sustainable and recycled materials and currently has over 30 pieces.

Stay tuned as three more collections will begin rolling out from now through the summer. In the meantime, you can shop the entire collection at Billabong.com.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Billabong Lab

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These Scenic Sheets Turn Your Baby’s Crib into a Magical Destination

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 10, 2020

There’s nothing quite as peaceful as the sight of your baby asleep in the crib. The only thing that can make the moment even more magical is a scenic backdrop, which is exactly what you’ll get with these unique crib sheets.

Uncommon Goods is selling scenic crib sheets that are sure to inspire some imagination at bedtime. Designs include a space scene, a bird’s nest and a beach blanket. Your baby might be to little to appreciate the big picture, but the colorful designs are still stimulating and they make for an awesome background for those sleepy baby pics.

All of the sheets are made of 100 percent jersey knit polyester and are machine washable.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Uncommon Goods

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Just Opened: Sprout, the Hottest SF Kids Store Comes to the LA Area

by Shannan RoussNovember 3, 2019

San Francisco may be home to some amazing ice cream shops and plenty of cool consignment stores (for little ones, too!). But, as Bay Area moms know, it’s also home to one of the best kids boutiques: Sprout San Francisco. Now Angelenos can finally experience the store themselves, with Sprout’s Santa Monica arrival. The natural and organic boutique stocks a carefully curated selection of healthy and safe kid and baby gear, toys, clothes and more. Read on for some of the store’s top finds, including a must-have sleep sack, baby-safe silicones bottle and more.

Sprout
1015 Montana Ave.
Santa Monica
Online: sproutsanfrancisco.com

photo: Emma Feil for Sprout

Kangapouch

Courtesy of Sprout

Keep babies blanket-free during the winter with the super-snuggly Kangapouch, from $145. "The best sleep sack to make your kid cozy, like a wearable comforter, all organic of course," says Sprout founder Suzanne Price.

Robbie Adrian Organic Blankets and Loveys

Courtesy of Sprout

"My favorite gift for a special friend: a keepsake blanket that is as soft as the popular polyester ones out there but made of 100 percent organic cotton," Price tells us of Robbie Adrian's Organic Blankets and Loveys, from $28.

Grimm's 12-Piece Rainbow

Looking for a great gift? Price recommends Grimm's 12-Piece Rainbow, $115. "Perfect for kids to use a puzzle type stacking toy, separate to make a tunnel for toy cars, and just looks like a piece of art," she says. You can also find the smaller version of the rainbow, starting at $30.

Comotomo Bottles

via Comotomo

"I am not a fan of any type of plastic around babies if it can at all be avoided, but people don't usually like to travel with glass," explains Price. "I love these silicone bottles that are easy to clean and also mimic the shape of a breast," she says of Comotomo's bottles, from $12.99.

-Shannan Rouss

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This Is Why You Should Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them

by Shahrzad WarkentinJuly 24, 2019

It might sound weird to wash that pile of fresh back-to-school clothes before they have a chance to collect ketchup and grass stains, but according to experts you should always wash newly purchased clothes before you wear them the first time.

Wearing new clothes without washing them could put you at risk for developing allergic contact dermatitis, according to Dr. Susan Nedorost, a professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University and director of the dermatitis program at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. “When we see allergic contact dermatitis from clothing, it’s usually from disperse dyes,” says Dr. Nedorost explained to TIME.

photo: stevepb via Pixabay

The allergic reaction can be delayed and cause a rash that can last for weeks, says Nedorost. The disperse dyes are used in synthetic fabrics, like polyester and nylon, and are often concentrated at higher levels in the fabric prior to being washed for the first time. If you’ve ever washed your new clothes only to be dismayed by the color fading, you can understand how the process works.

Sweating, combined with the friction caused by regular bodily movement, can cause the dye that would be minimized through washing to disperse onto your skin and cause a reaction. This is often the case with workout wear according to Nodorost. “If a patient comes in and has a rash around the back of the neck and along their sides around their armpits, the first question I ask is what they wear when they work out,” she told TIME.

There isn’t enough data to determine how common this type of allergy actually is, however, there are other reasons to avoid wearing your clothes before washing them. A 2014 study conducted by Stockholm University in Sweden found that, when tested, a majority of retail clothing items off the rack contained a type of chemical compound called “quinoline” which is used in clothing dyes and is listed as a probable human carcinogen by the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ulrika Nilsson, a member of the Stockholm University group, explains that washing new clothes “reduces the content of chemicals,” especially those like quinoline that may be residual from the manufacturing process.

Ultimately, a quick wash cycle isn’t much in the grand scheme of the mountains of laundry you’ll do over your parental career, so better safe than sorry.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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