Coast 2 Coast Mom

The Children's PLACE Holiday Preview 2012

The Children's PLACE offered a sneak peek at their 2012 holiday baby and kids' clothes last night in NYC. Yes, that's right - HOLIDAY 2012! While we're just beginning back-to-school shopping now, it was nonetheless inspiring to see the winter trends for kids' outfits - and to see what we need to pick up to ensure that the Kiddo's sporting some style this next school year.

 

Overall, the Loft Suite at the Bryant Park Hotel was bustling and it was interesting to hear The Children's PLACE's own Michael Giannelli discuss some of the winter trends for kids with Nicole Feliciano, of MomTrends. The must-haves for the 2012 fall/winter are sparkles, monsters, and critter hats, and Michael even hinted at some things they're working on for next spring (hint: neon). The clothes I previewed will roll out beginning in September through November, with all of the new lines available by November 1st.

 

Here's a look at The Children's PLACE holiday outfits featured at the preview event:

Trump Kids - Trump Hotel Travel Program for the Junior Jet Set

Trump Hotel Collection has launched a travel program just for kids, combining luxury and family travel like never before. Trump Kids and Trump Baby Attaché adapt the impeccable service of a Trump Hotel to pamper even the youngest guests.

While attending a lunch with the Preferred Hotel Group recently, I had the opportunity to see first hand how the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York rolls out the proverbial red carpet for traveling families. If these amenities and ideas delighted me, I can only imagine the smiles from the Kiddo when walking into a room completely transformed with custom kid amenities and treats for his stay.

Of course, the Trump Kids family travel program goes way beyond a kid-sized robe and slippers. These are some of the ways every hotel in the Trump Hotel Collection can make a visiting child feel like royalty: 

•  Trump Kids coloring book upon check-in
•  Trump Kids no-tears baby bath amenities in-room
•  Cribs with plush linens, Bed rail, Rollaway bed
•  Board game, Children’s books, In-room children’s movie channel (rates apply)
•  Children’s in-room and special restaurant dining menus
•  Special kid and teen treatments, and discount pricing at the spas
•  Swim lessons (by appointment, rates apply)

But I was wowed by some of the other things they offer at some of the locations:

• Rocking chair
• Baby monitors when reserving a one-, two- or three-bedroom suite
• PlayStation and Xbox
• MP3 players with kid-friendly music
• Stroller, Pack-n-play, Diaper Genie, Humidifier
• Trump Kids Biz cards printed with each child’s name

Nice, right? But have you ever wished your hotel would pamper your family and kids even further? Here's how else Trump Kids and Trump Baby Attaché services can really make family travel easier for you:

• Pre-stocking the guest room and kitchen with necessary supplies so that your family can travel lighter. The Attaché will shop for everything from special infant formula and favorite baby foods to diapers and bath supplies ahead of your family’s arrival. (Purchases are charged at cost to the guest’s account.)
• Child-proofing guest accommodations, covering electrical outlets, moving breakable items out of reach, etc.
• Placing age-appropriate books and a CD of lullabies in Baby’s room.
• A signature Trump bib as a memento of the stay.
• Use of a shaded stroller for walks.
• Providing information on local baby-friendly sights and activities, from children’s museums to mommy-and-me classes.

Since we've been studying the Trump Hotel Collection and Preferred Family certification program these past two weeks, we have visions of a luxurious family getaway circling in our heads. (I'm picturing the hotel like the musical number in Annie where the household is focused on cleaning and preparing Daddy Warbucks' mansion for Annie's arrival . . .;-)) We'll be sure to share our Trump Kids experience if we visit anytime soon! 

There are currently eight Trump Hotels worldwide, with another set to open in Fall 2013, in Washington, D.C.’s iconic Old Post Office Building which looks GORGEOUS from the outside, so I can't wait to see photos of it one the inside. (FYI - the Waikiki location has a special New Mom Vacation offer for expecting and new moms . . . :-) )

 

5 Family Travel Accessories for Babies and Preschoolers

Yesterday I attended a fun family travel event at the posh Peninsula Hotel in New York City. The event was sponsored by Baby Cargo, Citrus Lane and The Peninsula New York and showcased a host of stylish and useful products to entertain, contain and sustain babies and kids while traveling.

Here are five of my favorite family travel accessories from the event:

1. The BubbleBum inflatable booster seat is a lightweight and portable booster for kids about 4 - 11 years old. I love this because it's small and flexible enough to fit into a carry-on bag or big purse for a flight, and you easily have it ready to inflate and use within minutes waiting for a rental car or taxi. It has belt positioning clips on the sides instead of arm rests, so it's easier to fit three boosters across a row in an SUV or minivan too. LOVE this. You may be able to find it at Target, too!
   
2. Buggyguard is one of those security devices that you don't think you need until you - or someone you know - has their stroller stolen. For about $25, the Buggyguard protects your stroller from would-be thieves when you leave your stroller outside a restaurant, school, your home, coffee shop, on a playground, at the mall - anywhere! It's made by the people behind the ever-useful B-Hook.
   
3. I saw a stroller bag from BabyCargo that breathes new life into the diaper bag. Technically a stroller accessory, it has stroller hooks to attach to the back handles of the stroller, but also has shoulder straps and is flat and useful enough to wear as a messenger bag/diaper bag when not strolling. These are coming soon from BabyCargo.
   
   
4. DiaperBuds, vacuum-sealed diapers that take up less space and remain clean when tossed in a purse or bag. I'm most excited about their launch of SwimmieBuds coming this spring - the first full-size disposable swim diapers of their kind.
   
5. Hold On Handles give active toddlers and preschoolers something to hold on to when it's important for them to stay close to the stroller - in a busy airport, train station, concert, sidewalk - wherever you need to keep your kids close and you don't have a hand to reach out yourself. These cute plush handles hook onto the stroller and are kid-friendly but not babyish.
   

This was the first opportunity I've had in a LONG time to mingle with other NYC-area bloggers. It felt so nice to be nearly all caught up from my busy writing season and reconnect with bloggy buddies - and mingle with new! Vera already posted about her experience there too!

Thanks to my friends Trumpeting Media for hosting the event and inviting me to check out some of the latest family travel products!

Disney Baby Launches Cute 'n Cuddly Bodysuit

Today Disney Baby debuts its Disney Cuddly Bodysuit for infants on Amazon.com/DisneyBaby. These adorable li'l onesies are the onesies I wish existed in time for the Kiddo when he was a baby: soft 100% cotton in sophisticated Disney designs and featuring some clever favorite characters.

The Disney "Momgineers" behind the Disney Baby brand product line found that the average parent purchases 35 bodysuits in the first year alone. To help reduce that number for parents, the bodysuits have a second row of snaps to extend the wearability of the onesie as your baby grows. Disney Baby was focused on developing a bodysuit that was soft, durable and stylish - available in over 85 different designs.

I tend to like the more subtle character bodysuits myself, and really like this hidden Pooh and Piglet version. The colors are warm and modern, and would look cute with so many options of beautiful li'l cardigans, skirts or pants. They're tagless and have a lap shoulder neck opening for easy on/off changes. Here are a few of my favorites:

 

 

 

Bump Up Your Baby Decor with New Bumbo Baby Seat Covers

Starting today at Target, you can bump up your baby gear style factor with a Bumbo baby seat cover from Keen Distribution. Fashionable and functional, the Bumbo seat already provides another place to safely contain your baby while s/he learns to sit, and the new stylish Bumbo seat covers include side pockets for teethers, pacies, or whatever else you need to store for easy access. The breathable fabric is naturally machine washable.

There's four designs to choose from, so you can make yours stand out or blend in with your decor. The bumbo baby seat covers launch today at Target for about $14.99.

For a touch of even more personality to cover your Bumbo, check out the custom made Bumbo seat covers by Boutique Sweet Cheeks. They cost almost twice the price, but there's more designs to choose from.