CoolBabyGear

Okay, THIS is different. The Zoo Care Monkey from Koko Company ($50.40) is totally hand made out of soft wool from New Zealand and boiled felt. It’s a vibrant blue, green and orange design, with all sorts of crazy tree limbs to grab on to. Anyone can build a bear. This is a one-of-a-kind handmade original. You do the math…

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Let’s face it: Hungry Hungry Hippos was a pretty lame game, in retrospect. Kel Gar changes the game (and brings it into the tub) with the Tubbly Bubbly Hippo. ($9.99) It’s an easy-mount soft hippo head that prevents contact with sharp, scalding faucets in the tub. Even better, it’s also a bubble dispenser! They’ll have a lot more fun in the tub with this beast! Much more than you did with that stupid board game…

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Well, this beats the garbage bag of crap you have hanging on your door, doesn’t it? The Soft Cloth ABC Book & Door Hanger (call for prices) leaves them hanging…with educational fun. 26 pockets hold plush animal characters of that letter, all of whom also appear in the accompanying book. They learn letters, words, spatial concepts and motor skills, and have a blast in the process. What’s your trash bag teaching you, hot shot?

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So, what’s your table teaching you, hot shot? Not as much as the Alphabet Soup Table and Chairs Set from Levels of Discovery ($299.95) is teaching your kids, guaranteed. The table top is the board for The Alphabet Trail Game! Roll the dice and set out around the table, learning as they go. It’s hours of educational fun, and the set matches with the Alphabet Soup Nursery Bedding from Cocalo, so you won’t screw up their décor. Win/win!

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Yeah, you definitely never had a book like this. The Discovery Ladybug Children’s Book is a fully interactive stuffed animal learning book. Flip the wings of the ladybug to learn what the life of a ladybug is like. It’s a great way to teach language development, motor skills, colors, shapes and textures. And unlike your GI*Joe coloring books, this doesn’t suck!

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Said it before, say it again, natural is best. The BPA-Free Pacifier for Day and Night Use from BornFree ($7.99 for a two-pack) is as natural and innovative as it gets. 100% BPA-Free orthodontic silicone is totally clean, and the design is brilliantly simple. It’s got a flexible handle that holds its shape without hampering sleep, and a collapsible teat that encourages natural growth of teeth and gums. It’s the best! Naturally.

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Forget about that other Potato toy. (Mr….something or other?) The Hot Potato Tater Toss Game ($9.99) has him cooked! Wind up this crazy spud and toss him around while he ticks. Last one to hold him when the ticking stops wins. First one to drop him looses. Hours of fun for ages 3 and up. Hot potato incoming!

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Sick and tired of stepping on that toy shark fin every time you get in the tub? You need Tubby from Skip Hop. ($20) It’s the ultimate bath toy bin! It’s made of neoprene, for soft stretchy toughness, with a mesh front so their toys will dry out nicely with no mildew. Stay-put mounting plate and four suction cups keep it on the wall. And did we mention no more agonizing stepping on toys for you?

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Well, whatdyaknow: another winning mobile from Modern Mobiles! The Prize Hen Mobile ($25.50) brings the farm into your child’s room, without any dust or dung. Die-cut plastic hen plops out multi-color eggs, for hours of rustic enchantment. It’s a down-home good time for your little farmer.

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These are definitely NOT those department store pillows you grew up with. The dwellstudio Animal Cushion Set ($105) turns sleepy time into play time. The set features an elephant, giraffe and pig pillow, all squishy soft and a perfect match with the dwell crib bedding sets. Your little ones will love having their new pals to fall asleep with. And hey, after wearing themselves out playing with their pillows, they’ll crash quickly and soundly.

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