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!

Carry: 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.

For 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: 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 be 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.

Poop: 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.

Suck: 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 basis. 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.

I’m sure everyone knows how crazy we are about slings and carriers at Bellani. They are one of our favorite things to talk about (besides nipple, breasfeeding and another mom topic!). We have vascilated back and forth about carrying a Mei Tai for will over three years. Why, the company we really like just had to many fabrics. Can you believe it? We didn’t order a carrier because there were too many choices. I have to say, it is completely overwhelming the first time. There are well over 200 fabrics an 15 different liner choices. Who can choose. But with much perseverance at 5:00 pm tonight, Kelly and I sat down in the BabyHawk booth and placed our first order. We have 10 BabyHawk Mei Tai’s that will be arriving at Bellani in the next few weeks. Very exciting stuff! I can’t wait to have you all try them on.

Cloudb is one our favorite companies to help children sleep. We all know them by the wonderful Sleep Sheep and Twighlight Turtle. Last year they came out with the Gentle Giraffe, which works like the sleep sheep in the fact that it is a plush giraffe and make 4 sounds to sooth your child. It was so popular they came out with a Gentle Giraffe On the Go. So now you will have the choice between the Sleep Sheep on the Go and the Gentle Giraffe.

Clearly, I love car seats. I like studying them, learning more about them, and am truly concerned about the safety of my children when they are riding in a vehicle. I am not a particularly wonderful driver, and earlier in my driving days I was known to get into an accident or two. I think this is where my desire came from. As many of you know Bellani Maternity carries the Maxi Cosi Car Seat line as well as Sunshine Kids. We are proud to also welcome Chicco infant car seats to the family. Chicco makes the fabulous Key Fit 30 that holds a child up until 30 lbs in weight or 33 inches in length, Emilia isn’t even that big yet (she’s 16 months!). What else makes this seat special? There is a full-body insert for newborns 4-11 lbs, so they are truly supported from head through toe. The seat is amazing easy to install, even for someone who isn’t a Car Seat Tech! Also, the Chicco Keyfit’s energy-absorbing EPS foam liner offers additional side-impact protection. This seat will be great for big babies, and for little ones alike. Remember, your baby will be rear-facing until they are at least one, and at least 20 pounds!

Then we were off to Zo-li, this really neat company in California. These people know parents! They created an electric, operating off of two AA Batteries, nail file for babies. We all know how tedious nail-filing can be on the super soft first nails, this takes all the work out of it. There are four removable heads, with a different grit for as the nail gets thicker. There is also a case for the nail file, and a stand to set it up in the nursery. Brilliance, I say!

More to follow, keep checking us out on Twitter @BellaniShannon and @BellaniKelly and on Facebook!

Sunshine Kids, Radian Car Seats: You know we love these car seats at Bellani. As car seat techs, Kelly and I have installed every brand of car seats out there. The Radian 65, 80 and XT are by far our favorite. We learned today about SUPER LATCH. What is it you ask? Super Latch takes the latch system to a whole other level. Instead of only having one anchor, Super Latch actually has three. The weight on it was truly impressive. Most cars are rated for latch until a certain weight…ie: Toyota may only hold a child in latch until 48 lbs at which time you will have to uninstall your car seat and reinstall using the seat belt. The new SUPER LATCH in all 2010 Radian Car Seats will enable you to use latch up till 80 lbs, no matter what car you drive! We are expecting all the 2010 Radian car seats to be arriving at Bellani 10 -1 -09. There are new colors for the XT and the 80. The 65 will have the same three colors. We are accepting pre-orders for the show now. Order while we are here in Vegas (until Wednesday) and receive 5% off your car seat! Call Bellani to reserve yours!

Do you Pack Smart? You can with Innobaby products. This is a product we have looked at every year we have been at ABC yet it never caught our attention until this year. What you might recognize is the Packin’ Smart all-in-one storage solution. It lets you stack and connect up to 5 containers together. Need to take cheerios, dried fruit, juice and other items with you? No problem. You can have it all in one place. After the baby food, use it for ribbon, pom pom (yes, I said pom poms) and any other craft item. You can also use it for powdered formula and liquids. What other product can you do that with?

Being a Lactaion Counselor, this has to be my favorite product I saw today. It again is from Innobaby. It’s called Nursin Smart. The entire bottle is made of silicone. There is no plastic or glass. It is super light weight and break-proof. The bottle significantly reduces nipple confusion and provides a similar breastfeeding experience. The nipple actually moves in and out while the baby is sucking on it. It is much softer then your traditional nipple. The next item is the Spoon Feeder which is perfect for babies who refuse to take the bottle, babies for preemies and with cleft palates. I have had two lactation appointments in the last week where this would have been priceless to you. It’s like using a baby cup, but so much easier. Especially when it is 2:00 am and you haven’t slept in days.

Last product from this company, I promise. We hear a lot of customers ask us what to store their children’s food in. After making baby food their are great silicone trays to use, but how about storing freshly made food in the fridge or the strawberries you just cut up for your toddler. Innobaby has come out with Keepin Fresh. Airtight, leak proof GLASS containers. They come in Stage 1 up to 90 ml, or Stage 2 up to 110 ml. This is a great solution for storing all that wonderful food. Sorry there is no picture available, but they will be arriving at Bellani soon.

While strolling through the Modern Child section of the ABC Kids Show we ran into a new/old friend, Jessica Kim from BabbaCover. We first heard of BabbaCo when a new mom walked through Bellani doors with the cutest Infant Car Seat Cover I had ever seen. This fleece and flannel cover sat over the seat entirely. There were window flaps in the front and the back, side cargo pockets that can hold keys, wipes, pacifiers and such, and it really stayed in place! Every time this particular customer was in the store more than one customer would ask where she found it. Jessica is her friend from college, and what does any good friend do when they make baby products and their friend has a baby, but send her one. There is no doubt that it is really cute, and will draw lots of attention to your car seat, and keep germs away from your child. Is this something that we should add to the Bellani repertoire? Retail cost would be $86.00 and we would bring in this print in both Green and Pink.

Man, BumGenius/Cotton Babies is one amazing company. Started with just $100 seven years ago this brand has grown into quite the presence. The innovation hasn’t stopped this year. Cotton Babies is releasing the new Flip one-size cloth diaper system to retailers on January 1, 2010. This diapering system allows you to use any one (or two) of three possible inserts! The Flip is a one-size cover, working from 8-35 lbs that you can add a Stay-Dry insert to, this allows your baby to feel dry, while still being very absorbent, like a BumGenius 3.0. If you would prefer to keep Organic Cotton against your baby’s bottom, you could use the Flip Cover with a one-size organic insert that is made of the same 100% organic cotton that we have come to love from the BumGenius Organic All-in-One One-Size Diaper. Last, but certainly not least, the Flip will also have a One-Size Disposable Insert available, this is a dye-free, fragrance-free disposable insert that you could use while traveling, or for daycare, or if baby has a diaper rash and we need a good barrier! The Flip will retail with one of the two reusable inserts, either the Organic Cotton or the Stay Dry, $19.99 or $16.95 respectively. The disposable inserts will be $4.95 for an 18 pack. There is also an option for a Day Pack, 2 covers and 6 inserts, the total cost for the pack will be $49.95 for the Stay-Dry Liners, and $59.95 for the Organic Cotton. Bellani will begin accepting pre-orders tomorrow, September 14, 2009. Almost forgot, this will be in three colors, Zinnia, Ribbit, and Moonbeam.

Good night all or good morning,

Kelly & Shannon

After our extensive BumGenius training in the evening we’ll be posting to the blog, which will be the wee hours of Monday morning. We don’t recommend you stay up with us, you’ll need a venti latte. We know you love us, just check it out on Monday morning. It will make us feel better knowing you got some sleep!

-Shannon

As many of you know Shannon and I travel to the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas each year in the pursuit to find new and exciting products in the Baby and Juvenile Industry. What I find difficult is to find clothing that is both comfortable and business casual. Come learn more about me and my pursuit of fashion.

Marshalls Makeover with Kelly from Bellani Maternity from Audrey McClelland on Vimeo.