Center Stage

I've seen so many beds (both adult and children) set apart by focal point canopies here lately.  The right blend of textiles will visually draw the eye up, making the space appear taller.  Acoustically, fabric on the walls (even certain window treatments) it will help buffer the tiny, gleeful voices coming from a child's play place during the day.   This would even make a neat reading nook in a bedroom corner.  If you try to incorporate this look at home, consider hiring a handyman for a careful, secure installation.  I would also suggest having them pinned back with a fun drapery tie back during sleep hours.   It's not a good idea to try this over a crib, unless the fabrics are very far out of reach from baby!

A traditional approach, with a touch of whimsy!  Thank you Elle Decor.

The four-poster bed provided an existing foundation for panels.

Don't forget your playroom!  What a great way to ignite your child's imagination.

Is your child truly safe in his carseat?

We all want the very best for our kids, but with the plethora of products on the market for children & babies, it can be overwhelming to narrow down the market.  At Shower Me with Love, we work hard to hand-select only the best in children's products.  Consumer Reports is a reputable source for parents to turn for decision-making.  However, when it comes to transportation, we turn to the most reliable and accurate!  The International Institute of Highway Safety...and indisputable source for keeping your precious cargo safe & secure.

In a vehicle crash, the actual child booster seat will not protect your child quite as much as the seat belt's positioning.  IIHS rated, tested, and criticized many of our nation's leading booster seat products.  They neatly placed 21 models in the top best bets category, 7 in mid-range, and only 8 as not recommended this year. 

Our products that made the 'BEST' cut are the Clek Oobr, Recaro PRObooster, Recaro PROsport, Recaro Vivo, Recaro Young Sport, & Graco Turbo Booster Crawford.

Who didn't make the cut?  Eddie Baur Deluxe, Eddie Baur Deluxe 3-in-1, Evenflow Express, Evenflow Sightseer, Evenflow Generations 65, Safety 1st All-in-One, Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite, & Harmony Baby Armor.

Recaro is famous for producing the racecar seats for NASCAR, aircraft, marine, mass transit, heavy truck, stadium, commercial seating...and oh yes...our carseats!  They are our best recommendation.  Recaro has combined their seating and safety expertise and miniaturized it for your child.

"HEAD: The pronounced head wings protect your child from the likelihood of serious head injuries caused by the side-to-side crash forces common during side impact collisions. 

FACE: Intruding objects, such as the door of a vehicle can cause harm to your child’s soft facial tissue. Pronounced head wings provide a barrier between your child and intruding objects.

NECK: The proprietary head restraint and ergonomic shell limit lateral movement of your child’s neck during a side impact collision, reducing the risk of neck and spinal cord injuries."

"If the booster isn't doing a good job — if the lap belt is up on your son or daughter's tummy or if the shoulder belt is falling off your child's shoulder — then find a replacement booster seat as soon as practical, but you'll probably want to keep using the old one until then," McCartt says.

Read the IIHS full article here.  Food for thought!

Why didn't we think of this?

While designing nurseries & kids' room at SMWL, I inadvertently see a lot of FABUOUS baby products come through our doors. Whether it be prototypes from small businesses for us to consider or our best sellers, I'd love to share some of my favorite picks with you.

I'm sure some of you are oozing with creativity and need some encouragement. Let me tell you. LOCAL. SELLS. Each time I assist a customer in gift-buying, I try to mention which products are made here in North Carolina. Moms support other moms! If you are trying to make your own prototype come to fruition and be successful, consider these companies' marketing strategies.

#1 is the Padalily! You all know how those little infant carriers can be deceivingly heavy...these Padalilies will SAVE your arm from torment. And the truly are as soft & plush as they look, especially with the microfiber dot fabrics in the center. They velcro on and are reversible. The only carrier they might be a little small on are Orbits, but most others are a 'go'. Best of all? They are made in the tiny town of Waxhaw, NC

The 2nd is Bella Tunno.  I haven't met the owner yet, but some of her employees have been in before and are wonderful.  We love that she is a Charlotte local!  They're famous for their fabric binkers, colorful bibs, diaper bags, disposable bibs, & play smocks.  Her newest product is the 'Little Linkers', which keeps a sippy cup or snack trap attached to your stroller.  Here are a few of my favorites!

Another favorite is the Pee Pee Tee Pee by Beba Bean.  The golf and dachshunds are our most frequent sellers.  I hope the use is obvious, but they are awfully handy when changing baby boys!

Last, but not least, is Diapees and Wipees.  This one will really make you knock yourself on the head because it looks so simple to make.  However, we can't beat these adorable fabrics!  These were made in Texas by a mommy.  She also came up with a matching blanket called the 'Cuddly Wuddlees'.

 

 

Drumroll, please...due to high demand...our soft muslin aden + anais stock has arrived!  Moms swear by these blankets and swaddlers.  They make burp cloths that turn into bibs later on...awesome!  A neat Aussie mommy named Reagan Moya-Jones invented the brand (we have her book, too).

 

 

Tell us what you think...do you have a favorite?  Have you tried any out yourself?

Let's hear it!

Infantino Baby Slings Recalled Due to Infant Deaths

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/baby-slings-pulled-market/story?id=10184555

Product Alert: Nap Nanny

The Nap Nanny is a groundbreaking product designed by a mother to improve infant sleep. Parents often turn to a wedge to elevate their baby in an effort to get them to sleep but babies often roll off the wedge.

I only wish this was available when my two youngest where infants. Caroline and Davis both had acid reflux and we tried everything to elevate them while sleeping. I felt so bad when the doctor said use the car seat. I thought there had to be another option. Well now there is!


The Nap Nanny Advantage

Increased Infant Comfort
Nap Nanny elevates baby 30 degrees, which is recommended by doctors* for babies with:
* reflux
* colic
* colds or stuffiness
* gas
* ear infections

Child Security
Innovative foam design cradles infant while safety harness holds baby securely in place.

Durable
Waterproof liner protects the foam for greater longevity.

Portable
Weighing only 3 pounds, the Nap Nanny can travel with you and stores easily.

Do More
Nap Nanny is ideal for bottle feeding twins simultaneously.

Hot Gift Alert...Pacimals!

Pacimals™ were created by Monica Williams, a doctor and a first-time mom. Baby Mackenzie loved her pacifier, but didn’t have the coordination to hold it on her own — leading to frustration, and tears. The idea of Pacimals dawned when Monica realized Mackenzie needed something larger to hold that would help her keep her pacifier in her mouth. Monica used a few of Mackenzie's toys to make the first adaptation, her homemade version of Pacimals worked like a charm, helping Mackenzie comfort herself during the day and more importantly, throughout the night.

We love Pacimals and so do our customers!

♥ unique – the patent-pending joint provides a safe and secure attachment that is tight enough for little fingers, but not too tight for Grandma’s fingers

♥ calming – Pacimals® patent-pending joint connects a medical-grade silicone pacifier to a light-weight plush toy making it easy for young infants to hold

♥ simplifies mom's life – this joint keeps everything together and easy to find, keep-up with, and clean

♥ easy to clean – snap-off the Paci™ and toss it into the dishwasher and the toy into the washing machine to keep them both clean

♥ positioning for young infants – Pacimals® was designed to help position your baby’s pacifier before she/he is old enough to control it them selves

♥ boosts motor skills – as babies learn to hold and control their Pacimal® it encourages motor skill development, often at a much younger age. The embroidered tag also add an extra stimulation for baby’s tiny fingers.

♥ car safety – Pacimals® are great for positioning your baby’s pacifier in a rear-facing car seat, reducing the hazard of reaching behind the driver’s seat to retrieve a dropped pacifier

♥ superb design – all of the Pacimals® characters are 9 inches long and about 35 grams in weight, anatomically sized for a newborn and light enough for them to control. The Paci is made in the USA of medical-grade silicone and the natural shape is designed to help breast-feeding babies develop the needed muscles

♥ your baby's first toy – when it’s time to wean your baby from his/her pacifier, the stuffed toy will remain as a source of comfort

♥ makes a GREAT gift – as a unique thoughtful tool for a new mommy that is super cute and beautifully packaged

New Product Alert...Wes & Willy!

With the arrival of Spring and Summer clothing, are newest line is the one that really excites us! Bringing a vintage and cool feel, while still remaining youthful - Wes & Willy t-shirts are the perfect addition to your toddler's wardrobe!

Wes and Willy has a simple philosophy.

They believe that fashionable, good looking boys clothing should be made to last for the kids that outgrow them.

Kids today are on-the-go, just like their parents. Whether it's Mom in the van to soccer practice, or Dad with the daycare carpool, our children are as busy as the rest of America. So with families in mind, they created durable classic clothing with a casual lived-in feel. Rugged enough for those keep-away games at recess, but comfortable enough for a brother to sit through his sister's dance recital. Clothing that kids will want to wear all day.

This classic lived-in feel, built into all their clothing is achieved through garment dyeing and garment washing. The process pre-shrinks each pant and shirt, while producing unique variations in texture, color and shading, adding to the character, originality, and comfort of every Wes and Willy garment.

Since 1989 Wes and Willy has stayed true to its beginnings: Bringing quality updated clothing to boys everywhere.

$19.50 (Available in 2T - 4T)

New Product Alert...Goodnight Sleeper!

We always love when we find new and innovative products. 4Moms is a company started by electrical and mechanical engineers who knew they could help mom's. They sought the advice and council of four mothers and 4Moms was born! We love all of their products...from a tub that constantly cycles in fresh water (we all know that babies love to pee in their bath!) to a stroller that folds by itself (coming late 2009). This company is fresh and new and their prices can't be beat!

Their newest product, the Sleep Trainer - is a registry must!

Goodnight Sleep Trainer
Train your 3+ month old to sleep through the night

Sleep experts have written dozens of books that detail proven methods to help your child sleep through the night, but lets face it, it’s not easy to remember the details of a book you read when it’s 4am and your baby is crying. That’s why we worked closely with a pediatrician to take these same proven methods and put them into a simple to use electronic device.

By gradually increasing the time parents let their children cry it out, the children learn to soothe themselves to sleep while still getting parental support that is key to good child development. Plus you can connect the goodnight sleep trainer to the web to track sleep patterns online and compare against statistical norms.

Runs on 3 AA batteries. In stock now!

Orbit Accessory We Just LOVE!

Orbit's Stroller Panniers

Shop with ease and style with Orbit's Stroller Panniers. Fill this convenient pair of removable storage bags with groceries, shopping bags, and essentials for a day out with your baby.

Retail Price: $120/pair

quick facts:

♥ patent-pending carry handle makes for easy one-step removal & carrying
♥ each Pannier fits a standard paper grocery bag
♥ clamps effortlessly onto sides of Stroller frame without straps or buckles
♥ can be used on Stroller with any Orbit seat docked
♥ included Rain Fly stores in pocket, and deploys for grey skies
♥ folds & collapses while attached to Orbit Stroller when not in use
♥ all fabric is certified Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, helping to ensure that it is not toxic for your family and for the environment

Orbit Stroller & Car Seat

Orbit's infant stroller system may just be the most innovative baby product to come to market in years. New families looking for the most advanced, most convenient, and most secure car seat and stroller system on the market can turn to the Orbit Infant System. The 3 piece starter kit forms a complete mobility solution for you and your baby - the Infant Car Seat easily docks into both the Stroller and Base. Better yet - with the bassinet and toddler car seat, it continues to grow with your child.

I can say a thousand great things about this system...but before I do you should watch the system in action.

Available in Black & Mocha. In stock. $899