Teethers from Finn & Emma
My latest baby shower gift idea is these wooden rattles from Finn & Emma. Made from untreated indian hardwood, the scooter and flower are completely non-toxic and are filled with green moong beans.
These retail for $19 each.
shopping guide: gifts I buy modern recent purchases toys
by Esther
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I Buy Modern: My Recent Purchases- Holiday 2012 Edition
Wondering what gifts my boys are getting this holiday season? Here are a few of the awesome gifts I picked up for them. Believe me when I tell you that shopping for them is an extreme exercise in self-restraint.
1- I personally have never known of or met a bigger Lego fan than my oldest. The bricks are just a staple in his day-to-day life and our home has just about been overrun by Legos. Since we have more than enough bricks in the house to get him through the rest of his childhood and that of his own future children, he’s getting this Lego Boombox
2- If you follow me on Instagram, you’re probably familiar with my little one’s sense of fashion. In case his red and gray goggles aren’t cutting it anymore, we’re getting him this Bosch Toy Tool Set just for the new yellow goggles and the book Goggles
3- My kids will be enjoying a little handmade goodness this year thanks to one of my favorite etsy shops, Sleepy King. We’ll be adding Herman the Giant Plush Owl to our home, but there are a variety of adorable creatures ready for you to love in the shop.
4- I got these Uncle Goose President Blocks
Some affiliate links included
Update: The reviews on the Boombox (1) were not promising and indeed, as soon as we opened it, the top of the CD player would not close again. Hope I can return this as I purchased it months ago– the negatives of shopping ahead of time 
Now I need to find an actual good CD player/alarm clock, that will work on his nightstand. Suggestions?
Kiwi Crates for Perfect Last Minute Holiday Gifts
There are some people on your holiday shopping list (perhaps your own kids!) that you KNOW just don’t need or want any more STUFF that would just clutter their space or cramp their style. What do you do for those clever folks? I like to gift them some sort of experience. For kids, arts & crafts sets are fun and colorful experiences to share as gifts, and Kiwi Crates are stylish and reasonably priced craft gift boxes.
Their three holiday crates are wonderful gifts for just $19.95 (+ shipping) and are perfect for kids from ages 3 to 7. Hmm, that would be MY kids…
Crafty Christmas includes materials and instructions to create a gingerbread house scene and three ornaments.
With Gifts Made By Me, have children create cards and mini journals to share the gift of giving.
And for those who celebrate Hanukkah, Handmade Hanukkah will be an exciting and welcome addition to their holiday. Kids can create their own menorah and dreidel and have fun with spin art! Order this one now because Hanukkah starts Saturday night!
You can make the holiday crates the first month of a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription to Kiwi Crates and then they will ship for free.
Right now until December 10th, Kiwi Crate is offering $5 off their 3, 6, and 12 month subscriptions. Subscriptions are extra fun gifts because they keep on giving all through the year.
Some affiliate links included
Happy Holiday Giveaway 2012 with fawn & forest: Superhero Dress Up Set by Little Hero
This giveaway is ridiculously appropriate for this week and it was completely unintentional. My little one’s 4th birthday is coming up next weekend and our theme this year is superheroes!
As part of our Happy Holiday Giveaway series with fawn & forest, we’re offering a chance to win a cape, cuff and mask set by Little Hero. My birthday boy would LOVE this prize as he is constantly creating different superhero identities for himself. There’s one, Red Burnt, who wears red goggles and a plastic ax in the back of his shirt. He’s a racer whose archenemy is named Stunt Man. I’d love to see what kind of story he’d create for one of these Little Hero get ups.
The retail price of this incredible gift package is $67 but the play value is priceless.
This sweepstakes is open to US residents over the age of 18. It starts right now and ends November 30th, 2012 at 12:01 am EST. There are several ways to enter via Rafflecopter below.
Thanks to fawn & forest for sponsoring the Happy Holiday Giveaway 2012. You can find many more gift ideas in their Holidays 2012 Magazine.
Tegu Summer Building Contest: The New Explorer and Endeavor Sets
We’ve talked about Tegu plenty of times, but since it’s my job to keep you up to date on the latest and greatest, today we’re talking about the launch of Tegu’s newest Explorer and Endeavor sets!
To celebrate the launch of these new sets, Tegu sent out some samples of the 40 piece Explorer Sets and 22 piece Endeavor Sets and challenged us to a Summer Building Contest. The winner will be selected at random and will receive a $300+ Tegu bundle to be used as a giveaway prize for their readers (which of course I hope will be you all!).
The Endeavor sets include some longer pieces than were part of the original Tegu sets and the Explorer set also has some of the new angled pieces. Both sets are available in all of Tegu’s color combinations. I was thrilled to get my hands on an Explorer Set and I had fun playing around with the new pieces with all of my boys– husband included! We had a lot of fun seeing how the creative possibilities differ from those of an original set (which we’ve had for a while now). During our first go, my husband and I morphed an airplane design into this cute little tugboat.
Finally, we put together this awesome doggie that took great advantage of the new extra long pieces and the angled blocks as well!
This is the one that I submitted as my building contest entry! You can see it and the other entries on Tegu’s blog. Voting in the Summer Building Contest starts right now and goes until July 3th. Voting for your favorite will also enter you to win and Explorer or Endeavor Set. If you want to vote for our doggie, leave a comment with BuyModernBaby on the contest page!
While you’re on the Tegu site, you can purchase any of their sets for 20% off with our special discount code… TEGUMODBABY. I still don’t have the Magnetic Wooden Wheels, so this would be a great time for me to get some of those as well.
Please excuse the photo quality above. I had to use my iPhone because our DSLR is in the shop after a calamity during our vacation earlier this month- eep!
Tegu provided the block sets for our participation in this contest.
Crib Sheets and Something New from Aden + Anais
I’ve been meaning to introduce you to Aden + Anais’ crib sheets for a while now, so it’s high time I let you know that everyone’s favorite muslin swaddling blanket makers are selling soft and pretty bedding for babies as well. Just because your little one has grown out of the swaddle, doesn’t mean they have to give up their cozy, comfy Aden + Anais. There are nine classic muslin sheets and four organic cotton options.
The classic sheets retails for about $30 each and the organic versions are about $40 each.
While the crib bedding is a natural addition to their line, a little more curious is Aden + Anais’ newest product, the Serenity Star. This multi-tasking gadget serves as a feeding diary, sound machine, room thermometer, nightlight and clock all in a simple design that would fit in any nursery space.
For $90, I see this being a new go-to gift for baby showers! Can’t wait to check it out in person.
Father’s Day Gift Guide for your Modern Baby’s Daddy
The best dads have never tired of playing with toys, so your modern baby’s father may like the new Asterisk by Tegu. This modern desk toy has seven magnetic sculptural pieces and a brushed steel base. Set it on his desk and the irresistible click of Tegu magnets will be sure to please him. $44
Don’t make dad carry your diaper bag. With a great diaper bag like this Rubicon Rucksack from the Scout Collection by Petunia Pickle Bottom, he’ll have no excuse not to take his precious baby out with him and give you a precious break. The Scout collection has a lot of promising new styles of diaper bags for dad coming out soon. Make sure to visit the Scout page to peruse them all. $271
Babies aren’t the only ones who can appreciate a beautiful modern modern mobile. Fill this Random Photo and Postcard Mobile from Kikkerland with photos of his family and hang it in his office. It’s a perfect Father’s Day gift and only $13.
Babies love playing with their blocks and dads will love playing with these. The Numbers LED Clock by Jonas Damon is totally cool, modern and fun to have around. $100
Your baby probably has a comfy lounger and dad might like one as well. I’m thinking this Woven Hammock with Stand from Crate & Barrel is just what my husband could use. $419 (now on sale for $329)
Finally, your kids love their play tables and dad will love his. Who wouldn’t love to splurge on this Concrete Ping Pong Table from James De Wulf? I love that it can be used outdoors if you don’t have room inside. Put this one on your “If we win the lottery” list. $7000
What is your baby’s daddy getting for father’s day this year?
Kid Made Modern at Target: The Coolest Art Supplies Ever
I’ve been excited about the Kid Made Modern collection for Target for months now. I was awaiting its debut on May 20th but yesterday Alex from Modern Kiddo posted some photos on her Instagram feed that showed the products at her local Target. Well, you can imagine what I did next! No, I picked my oldest up from school, silly! And THEN I went to Target!
If you’re looking for it at your local store, head to the stationary, art supply area– usually near party decor as well. So I’m just going to admit, I picked out a ton of stuff. I’d been waiting for this and was prepared to expand both our art supplies at home as well as our gift supply. Sets of Kid Made Modern items are just the kind of gift that I love to give.
The collection includes wonderful art supplies like the crayon gems, printed tape, double pointed crazy crayons, brush set and mini colored pencils. I now have 4 out of those 5 plus a few other items.
The art project kits are also fantastically fun. I picked up a couple of the board book kits, but also check out the flashy light kit, creature cushion kit and Charley Harper wood figures painting kit.
Today I’m heading to another Target that, according to Target’s website, has more of the collection in stock. I’m in trouble. But then again, I’d be upset if I missed out and you will be too. So go. Go now.
Etsy Find: Personalized Growth Chart
As usual, when shopping for wooden teethers, I stopped at one of my favorite etsy shops, Little Sapling Toys. I love giving their state teethers as gifts! Today I was excited to find a new product in their lineup however. If you’ve been reading along with me since the beginning, you might remember that for a while, I was slightly obsessed with growth charts. It’s no surprise that Little Sapling Toys has come up with a beautiful version of their own. The Personalized Growth Chart is a modern Maple yard stick with inlaid Walnut tick marks and your child’s name at the top.
This would make an incredible shower, baby or birthday gift that would be appreciated by both child and parents! $120
Manhattan Toy for giggle: Colorful Exclusives Make Great Baby Gifts
Check out this new collection of infant toys created especially for our affiiliate giggle by Manhattan Toy. I’ve always loved the giggle color palette and it’s now in a line of toys that includes a shape sorter, soft stacker, plush blocks, wedge mirror, musical pull toy and rattle.
They range in price from $12 to $32, so pick one, a few of your favorites, or the whole collection and you’ll never go wrong at a baby shower.
