Best New Products and Others Presented at NYIGF Baby & Child Division

Five companies were presented with Baby & Child Best New Product Awards with Manny & Simon receiving the “Blogger’s Best” distinction for its collection of eco-friendly, wooden push toys in vehicle shapes. Baby & Child is one of ten divisions of the semi-annual New York International Gift Fair^® (NYIGF^®) that takes place in New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

In addition to the “Blogger’s Best” distinction, the awards included four other categories: toy, décor, gear and apparel. A panel of editors from trade media, kid-centric blogs and websites, including The Giggle Guide’s Leesa Valentino, selected the winners, which exemplified innovation, design and style.

“Baby & Child is a juried division, so the product caliber is already quite high,” said Randi Mohr, Baby & Child Sales Manager. “These products were applauded for their superlative design characteristics, quality and overall aesthetic appeal.”

Baby & Child featured 150 companies offering sophisticated and purpose-driven products for children 0-10 years. In addition to the Baby & Child Best New Product Awards winners and finalists, these exhibitors caught our eye:

Bravo Beetling for Unique Wall Decor

What’s a Beetling? It’s an individually casted and painted three-dimensional wall-mounted work of art that can be used in a child’s bedroom or playroom. Beetlings are made of the company’s signature designer-blended foam: a non-toxic and child-safe material that is lightweight, durable, and PVC and HCFC-free.

For little girls that love being a princess, there’s a faux diamond-encrusted Princess Crown hanging on the wall. Jewels, including faux pink diamonds, rubies, and sapphires sparkle and shine. For a dinosaur-themed room, order the Dinosaur 3-D wall art that includes a large, friendly Brachiosaurus and a fin-covered Stegosaurus.

Customers shopping for younger tots may favor the classic six-piece Mother Goose “Hey Diddle Diddle” set that includes poem decals, decorative stars and musical notes. The Butterflies design offers a creative solution to decorating, as girls from toddlers to teens love these hand-painted, winged wonders available in a wide range of colors to accent any room’s décor.

Beetling designs are simple to install with only a few screws — no professional help required. Each piece includes easy step-by-step instructions and all necessary hardware. Shoppers will be delighted to know that Beetlings are also easy to take down as they’re meant to be used over and over again.

Design a display in your store at: www.beetling.com

Singin’ in the Rain

Adieu to struggling to hang onto an umbrella while pushing a stroller. My Blue Bumbershoot™ is the first hands-free umbrella that clamps right onto any type of stroller and leaves the chauffeur protected from the elements. This innovative product is the perfect answer to how to push a child’s stroller in the rain without sacrificing coiffeur, clothes or comfort. The umbrella is durable, lightweight and a breeze to use with flexible fiberglass ribs and a transparent canopy.

Thanks to the four buttonholes in the stem, chauffeurs of any height can adjust the canopy to suit their preference. Thea transparent umbrella provides a clear field of the traffic ahead. Rain, rain gone away? Simply turn the clamp upside down and store the umbrella for the next time it’s needed. This snazzy invention is a boon to anyone behind the stroller and can also be used with a walker or wheelchair.

Attaching My Blue Bumbershoot is such a cinch, no tools are needed. City parents use their stroller like their suburban counterparts use cars. Show customers how to stay dry while ferrying a tot to school, library or a friend’s house and stand back for a great reception for a long-overdue idea.

So your customers can sing in the rain, visit www.mybluebumbershoot.com

Winsome Wooly Critters with Wow!

News flash for babies (and those who shop for them)! Get the word out that customers will light up with smiles for a truly unusual stuffed toy that includes a wool animal, sea creature or lovable monster from Woolbuddy. Hustle those shoppers out to buy unique characters brought to life through the artistry of needle felting, a form of hand sculpting with wool. Woolbuddy’ characters are so well designed, they are featured at arts and crafts museums and prized by adults who dote on style and composition.

Every critter is one-of-a-kind so the creature your customers select won’t turn up in the crib or stroller of the tot next door. The four-inch long sheep has round eyes and charming clumps of wool on his back, a perfect partner for the yellow felt duck with the big, red beak or the fantastic frog whose eyes peer at the world from atop his head while his hands clasp his round tummy. Offer customers plenty of choices, including lovable monsters, animals from zoo or farm, sea creatures, reptiles and itty bitty critters.

Smart merchants will also stock Woolbuddy felting kits for DIY shoppers. Each kit comes with everything needed –– very clear picture instructions, two felting needles and a bag of felting wool for crafty hands. The kits are available in three different skill levels. Make your own owl, penguin, sheep, panda, rabbit, pig, frog and alligator.

Jackie Huang, a 3D story artist and art teacher who couldn’t find sufficiently unique toys for his newborn daughter, founded Woolbuddy. Faster than you can say hobby-turns-into-business, Jackie started the company, enabling customers to enjoy his designs, each with a distinct personality, look, and feel.

Whip up the world about Woolbuddy at: www.woolbuddy.com

Organic Cotton Duds: On Trend and Captivating

Little ones are grown organically so shouldn’t their wearing apparel be too? Welcome to Finn + Emma, a company that sustains an elegant balance between style and sustainability with kids’ clothing that’s whimsical and sophisticated.

Rave-worthy raiment in organic cotton comes in fresh prints, modern colors, and heirloom quality construction. Serve up an enchanting long-sleeved, yarn-dyed striped bodysuit for a mini-mite made with contrast binding and all-natural wood snaps. Little ladies who lounge can wrap up in a gown with the Finn + Emma signature flower print designed with sight gathers at the shoulder, contrast binding, and a small side bow to tie it together. The same print appears on one side of a blanket made of snuggle-worthy cotton interlock –– the other side reverses to solid purple.

Shoppers with boys on their minds will find the side placket bodysuit just the ticket with a bold orange scooter on the front, set off against stripes. This suit snaps up the side for easy access to belly kisses. Pull-on organic cotton interlock footed pants, with a snappy scooter print, complete with an organic wool scooter appliqué on the bottom of one tootsie, allow little guys to scoot off in a flash.

When it’s time to hit the sack, check out Finn + Emma’s Nap Sac, which snaps open at the bottom for easy diaper changes. Made of cuddly-soft certified organic cotton interlock inside and poplin outside, the Nap Sac is lightly padded with cotton batting.

More on natural apparel and bedding for organically-grown little ones at: www.finnandemma.com

The winter 2012 NYIGF will take place Saturday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. For information and registration, visit www.nyigf.com