Archive for the ‘ABC Kids show 2009’ Category

Are Your Toofeze Bothering You?

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Teething babies love to gnaw on anything they can get their hands on – a rattle, the dog’s chew toy, that old cheerio in the sofa.  Why not give them something that will soothe their gums and acts as a keepsake?  We just got a great new item in the store, Toofeze, that does just that.

Created for babies 3 months or older, the Toofeze has an ergonomic handle perfect for small hands.  Made of stainless steel and silicone, this teething ring chills quickly in the fridge, under cold water or, when you’re on the go, in front of the air conditioning vent.  And after your little one has enjoyed it thoroughly, you can throw it in the dishwasher!  Anything to make a parent’s life easier.

The most exciting feature?  Not only can your little one soothe their gums, you can have the stainless steel section personalized by taking it to a rotary engraver or jeweler.  You can have your little one’s initials put on it or get creative and put the date when they got their first tooth.  The packaging also lets you keep track of the dates when each tooth makes its arrival.

Functional, adorable and a keepsake – quite possibly a perfect baby shower!

Last Day of the Show Wrap-Up

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Today was the last day of the ABC Kids show here in Las Vegas. Kelly and I have been here for 7 days and have accomplished many things. We have found the newest trends in baby gear and can’t wait to bring them home to everyone. Here’s a wrap-up of our final day.

cybexCarry: I posted a few days ago a posted about BabyHawk hitting the shelves of Bellani. We have also brought in a completely new line: Cybex. Cybex marries high-end European design with top quality German engineering.  It became available in the U.S. this August, the Cybex 2.GO Baby Carrier is as sleek and sexy as a European sports car.

Even more importantly, 2.GO’s ergonomic cut adapts to each individual child’s body, like it was made specifically for that child. The seat and headrest can be adjusted in a multitude of ways for baby’s optimal comfort and the shoulder straps keep the child’s weight distributed evenly over the parent’s shoulders for a comfortable fit. The carrier can be used to carry the baby facing you, facing out, on your hip and on your back. Cybex 2.GO was designed by orthopedists and midwives and can be used for children, eight pounds to forty pounds.

amberFor pain: We have had several customers turn us on to Amber Necklaces for babies. My first thought was a necklace for a baby? I see a choking hazard with red flags everywhere. As it turns out they are completely safe. I’ll explain why. Amber is not a “stone” but a natural resin. So as it warms with the body’s natural temperature, amber releases it’s natural healing oils (these oils contain succinic acid) which are easily absorbed into the skin and then into their bloodstream. Succinic acid is a natural component of plant and animal tissue, and it’s present in the human body is beneficial in many ways. The succinic acid works like Tylenol does, but naturally. Each necklace measures 13″ and each bead is knotted in between. So if the necklace was to break, only one bead would fall off. We spent some time in the booth today learning about this amazing natural product. There is so much I could have written on it…but more products to write about.

-Shannon

I know, you have all told us that we needed another shoe line. Something for the walking toddler that would protect their foot. You wanted something that was cute, stylish, excellent quality and protective. In the store, I keep reminding everyone that really, children need to be barefoot as much possible, and firm/hard soles are not a good choice for when there is a shoe on. Well, I found the answer and bought them here at the show. Bellani is now proud to carry See Kai Run shoes. These shoes are beautiful! They are handcrafted with buttery-soft leather and an amazingly flexible rubber sole. The shoes will be shipping within the next two weeks, and we will be carrying sizes 3-7 in-store. I’m really excited. I think this is the perfect shoe after a Robeez or Pediped.

In other areas of the store, look for add-ons in cloth diapers (amazing new Kissaluvs stuff coming our way), diaper bags (think BeAll and BePrepared from Ju Ju Be), bottles that are the perfect go between for breastfeeding mamas, and some really interesting compliments to our extensive feeding sections.

Any vendor who is playing Guitar Hero in their booth can’t be all that bad right? These were women after my daughter’s heart. They had glittery tattoos, Guitar Hero, microphones and very cool bags. The Ju Ju Be line is large, but we will be bringing in the awesome BePrepared bag, a bag that can be worn using the shoulder strap or as a backpack, and the BeAll, a great large size diaper bag that has a mom pocket, changing pad, light lining so you can find things, and the ability to hang this bag right on the stroller.

Bums, Breasts, Poop, Suck and Clean

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Day 3 of the ABC Kids Show. It has gotten better every day.

orange_lgBums: Exciting stuff here…gDiapers has come out with a cloth insert! We haven’t carried gDiapers in the past for a few reasons. 1. They only had disposable liners. 2. The fact that you had to flush the liner. 3. We heard a lot of feed back that they leaked once the child started crawling. Some new information: 1. There is now a cloth insert which is half microfiber/fleece and the other side is hemp/cotton. 2. The disposable inserts are biodegradable. Which means you can flush then, compost them (no poop) or throw them away if you so choose. 3. We spoke with the owner for over an hour on the diapers. Leaking can be a problem, but the solution is SO EASY!   It all comes down to how you put the diaper on, and we learned the proper technique. They are super cute, trim, and extremely breathable. They will be gracing the shelves of Bellani in the next few weeks.

Breasts: More exciting stuff….Glamourmom has announced they are debuting a Full-Breasted Nursing Tank. It will beglamourmom available in October and can accommodate up to a 48J cup! Isn’t that amazing? We have always loved Glamourmom, but it never worked for the larger breasted women (read, Kelly couldn’t wear it!).   Now it can. Not only are the cut out holes larger, they have reinforced the support by putting in bra hooks in the back. So not only do you get support from the cup, you can also adjust the back so it’s the perfect fit. We understand how important support can be.

bumbalm-newPoop: Do you cloth diaper? How many times have you heard that you can’t use any diaper ointment while cloth diapering (we have probably told you that at Bellani). Why? Using ointments containing zinc, petrolatum & fish oils will ruin the cloth diapers by preventing their absorbency. A & D ointment, although very good, is VERY bad when using cloth diapers. Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm or the new Bum Bum Balm is ok, and safe to use while cloth diapering. We have always carried Earth Mama and are excited to bring in the Dimpleskins line. It is so effective that Bummis Cloth Diapers puts it in their trial kit.
*****We are raffling off  a full size Bum Bum Balm to anyone who comments on the blog about their favorite product that we have blogged about. We will be picking the winner tomorrow.

toofSuck: To suck or not suck, that isn’t really the question because we know the answer. All babies love to suck and chew on things. Research has shown that metal is a wonderful surface for them to teeth because of it’s natural cooling effect. Introducing Toofeze (ok, we’re not that impressed with the name, but it’s a good product so we got past it). Of course it’s a non-toxic product that can be easily chilled in the freezer, bowl of ice water or the air conditioner. It’s also engraveable (I like that idea).

Clean: Who isn’t concerned with clean toys and surfaces our babies and children come into contact with on a daily dapplebasis. At Bellani we are constantly cleaning everything from mats, to toys, to counters and door knobs. We have to be careful with which type of cleaner we use because children are usually putting the things in their mouths. Over the past three years we have dabbled with a few different types. Always non-toxic, bleach and chlorine free. We get asked often what products we use and where they can purchase them. We are happy to introduce Dapple to you. Dapple is a line of natural cleaning products for house holds with children. They are safe and baby specific…ie they will get out the milk and spit-up stains! Our favorite items are the Toy Cleaner Spray & Toy Cleaner wipes. What an easy way to get the germs off, yet keep our children safe.

Tomorrow is our last day at the show. Time to wrap up, refocus and place some orders. Good stuff going on here in Vegas.  Goodnight all, catch up tomorrow.