On Trend 2013: Emerald Green

Pantone recently named the new color of the year for 2013, and it comes as no surprise to us that it's Emerald Green! Last year's tangerine is still going strong, but it's time to add in some splashes of something new.

Emerald is a pretty strong color in the world of baby, so you're probably not rushing out to buy an emerald green crib (let's not be hasty)... but there are certainly ways to incorporate this new trending color into the nursery and your everyday baby world.

The color may be strong for a baby, but it's pretty fantastic for a mommy - try something small with just an accessory on mom!

Try on a Chewbeads Jane necklace in Emerald Green!

Or maybe you're really ready to go all the way? Try out Dwell's bedding - and pump up the room with a strong color on the walls!

How about Dwell's bedding in owls?

Ok, not quite there yet? Maybe you're just not an emerald green kind of person, or maybe you feel it's a bit much for a nursery? How about just a little... less?

Not quite ready to jump into emerald? How about Oilo's crib bedding in modern berries - spring green!

Ok, you're ready, you've got your cash in hand, but what's with all the baby stuff? You want something for YOU!

What list is complete without a splurge for mom? Louis Vuitton Alma bag in green is the perfect accessory for 2013!

If you're looking to spruce up your nursery, child's bedroom, baby's wardrobe, or even your own room with the new color of the year, come chat with us! We'd love to see you, and talking color puts roses in our cheeks. Maybe over a cup of tea (green, of course!)

A Month of Gifts!!

‘Tis the season of GIFTS… okay, so it’s the holiday season, and it’s mostly about spending time with family, etc. But really, aren’t gifts fun? So, what's our gift to you? We’re going to help you out with that gift-giving frenzy… from now until Christmas, we will have a Gift of the Day each day we’re open. What does that mean? It means that we’ll post a gift on Facebook – and you’ll get 10% off that item in store all day if you come in and pick one up! The gifts will be posted at 10:00am each day, so enjoy!

This is only valid in store, and does not stack with any other discounts.

Personalized Gifts - Boogie Baby

Boogie Baby blankets are the softest, most customizable blankets we've ever felt. They're a unique gift for a newborn or an older child - and they quickly become every child's favorite lovey! In every size, with every possible color combination, and even the child's name, Boogie Baby blankets are sure to be a hit!

Personalized Gifts - Hot Mama

Hot Mama Designs makes some of the most beautiful hand-stamped jewelery we've ever seen! If you're looking for a simple personalized gift for the mom who has everything, consider a Hot Mama necklace, or a key chain, or any of their beautiful items. You can pick the chain style, the disk size, gold or silver, have letters or names, birth dates on the back, birth stones with the disks... many different ways to personalize! If you're interested, come on in to Daisy Baby and we can help you build the perfect item for you!

Personalized Gifts - Yea or YAY?

What's the best gift for the baby who has everything? Something personalized, of course! He may have all the onesies in the world, but does he have one with his monogram? He may have ten lovies, but does he have one embroidered with his name? How many bibs does he have with his name in the colors of his father's alma mater? What about a completely personalized blanket?

Blanket from Boogie Baby - completely personalizable!

What's the best gift for the mama who has everything? Again... something personalized! Does she have a tissue box with her monogram? What about a hand-stamped necklace with her children's names and birthstones?

"Layers of Love" necklace from Hot Mama designs

So many things Daisy Baby carries can be personalized - from Wiggle & Scoot's easy-change crib sheets to a crib bumper to a lovely soft Little Giraffe blanket. So next time you're at a loss for a gift... think personalized! (Please note that the last day to order personalized gifts for Hannukah is November 3rd, and the last day to order personalized gifts for Christmas is November 15th.)

MacBeth's Personalized Waste Basket -  bring some hot color to your nursery!

Are You Ready for Orange?

If you’ve stepped outside lately, you’ve noticed the leaves falling, the brisk air, the children laughing and playing in their jackets. With fall come many changes – and of course one of those is color. The trees change, our clothes change, everything comes into the fall colors… and at Daisy Baby one of our favorite colors year round is orange, so you can bet we love fall!

Orange is such an unexpected pop of brightness in a nursery – perfect for those with a modern touch, or those who prefer a gender neutral nursery! And orange isn’t just in nursery… but don’t take my word for it. A picture’s worth a thousand words, and it’s time for several thousand.

Don't carry a boring black bag - check the Mia Bossi Reese diaper bag in Tangerine!

Great Gifts, Batman! A Maamam towel and Laavo washcloth in orange - and two of the lovely new Chewbeads necklaces in creamsicle!

Newport Cottages Ricki bunks in orange juice (with Dwell transportation bedding - super combo!)

Lilicouture travel wipe container in Summer Breeze (note that these now have the pop-up on them - fantastic!)

Monte's Grano glider in orange

The Rug Market's Shaggy Raggy Round rug in tangerine - what a pop of color for a room!

 There is so much more out there - whether you want bedding in pumpkin, decor in tangerine, or you're just itching for a touch of apricot, come on in and let us know. We'll help you find the perfect shade for your fall craving!

Daisy Baby Mini Session - with Kyung from Yellowhale!

How often do you get pictures taken of your little darling? Where do you go? Do you hit up one of the common portrait studios? Do you hire a photographer to take beautiful (but expensive) pictures of your cutie? Well, whether you’re budgeting every last penny or the sky is the limit, let me give you a few reasons you should really consider attending the upcoming mini-session at Daisy Baby with the fabulous Kyung Jung of Yellowhale Photography!

1.       A mini-session is fast, scheduled, and at a studio location (or conveniently, at Daisy Baby, where you can also do some shopping!)

2.       Having a truly great photographer take pictures of your little one is something you’ll treasure for years to come – I’ve never regretted having pictures taken of my children, but I cherish those we’ve spent the time and money to hire a wonderful photographer for.

3.       Children love Kyung. After doing a mini-session with her several months ago, my son kept telling me he wanted to “go back and see that nice lady with the ‘bawoons’ again!”

4.       You’ll be able to admire your child’s beauty – clearly she takes after you, right?

5.       You get playdate cards out of the deal – how many times have you wished you’d given that mom at the park your number?

I could keep going, but you get the picture (haha, picture, get it?) Instead, just go check it out – and sign up!

Mommy Style

There is some sort of misconception going around that after you have a baby, you must throw away all your stylish clothes and buy mom-jeans. You must sacrifice everything for your child, including your looks, and if you’re not frumpy enough, you’re not doing a good enough job as a mom. I’m not entirely sure where this comes from, but enough with the guilt over looking good! Please, go into your closet right now. Try on your jeans. If the waist is high, the wash is medium, and the pockets are tiny, the overall effect being to make you look like your butt is four sizes bigger than it really is – donate them. Or cut them up. Either way. Whew! There. Don’t you feel better now? But now you have no jeans. Normally this might be a problem – but Mamas Link and Daisy Baby want you out of your mom jeans, and have teamed up to make that happen! The Girls' Night Out Fashion Bash is happening this September – come, learn how to shed the “Bethesda Mom” look, and reclaim your image!

 

 . . .

Keeping up with the latest in what to wear can be a challenge. Fashion styles come and go, and beauty trends fade in and out, but a girls night out never gets old!  
 
Join Mamas Link and Lani Inlander of Real Life Style  for a night of fun at Daisy Baby and Kids as she reveals what we should be wearing, how to pick out trends that look good on your changing body and discover this season's power shapes for the post-natal woman, new shapes for new mamas and slimming silhouettes.

No Bumpers for Baby? Bedding Alternatives

First, see what Dana has to say about bumpers. No, go ahead, I'll wait. Done now? What do you think? Bumpers just aren't for you? Then read on!

Whether you don't like the bumper look, aren't convinced that bumpers are the safest bedding for your child, or you just don't feel like taking them off to change crib sheets, we have alternatives for you! More and more companies are realizing that bumpers just aren't right for all parents, but they still want a unique look, and want to be able to bring more beautiful fabrics into their baby's room. In light of that, we at Daisy Baby have been searching the world, high and low, for the best bumper alternatives. We think we have a pretty good selection - so let us know what you think!

Annette Tatum has created the "Perfect fit" crib sheet - a sheet which has one fabric for the top, a different fabric for the sides, and yet a different fabric creating a ruffle or contrast welt! You can get the sweet look of an Annette Tatum crib set in one (or more...) sheet!

Annette Tatum's Perfect Fit in Bloom with a ruffle

Skip Hop makes the original "Complete Sheet" - a bumperless option that's been around a while and proven its worth. Again, they've used three different fabrics to create a look within one sheet.

Skip Hop's complete sheet - with elephants!

Pine Creek, a custom bedding company, has created yet another option for a bumperless crib - beautiful fabric crib rail guards. This option will keep your babe from testing out his incisors on his crib, too!

Wouldn't this crib rail guard look fabulous with a monogram?

And, just in case you're not yet overwhelmed with options - bumpers, no bumpers, fabulous sheets, rail guards, lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! Here's one more - this one can be used with or without a bumper! The Fabulous Emily from Wiggle and Scoot spent years (ok, perhaps hours) in conference with our own Dana and came up with a truly unique option - beautiful, colorful sheet toppers that are monogrammable and tie to the rails of your crib. These protect your sheets so that you don't have to take everything apart to change the sheet each time - and they're lovely, too!

Fun polka-dot sheet protector from Wiggle & Scoot

Do you have any other options you like for bumperless cribs? What about for the toddler years?

To Bumper or Not to Bumper

Lately, many parents come into the store and say some version of, “I thought bumpers were bad, or illegal. Am I not allowed to have a bumper anymore?” I’ve heard the worry in parents’ voices for quite some time. They’re worried because they’re afraid bumpers are dangerous, or because they like the idea of a bumper and they’re afraid they’ll no longer get to use them. In light of that, we’d like to ease your mind a bit! Here’s Dana’s take on the use of bumpers in cribs…

The nitty gritty: Safety has always been our number one priority. I keep a safety binder in the store with information related to sleep safety, including SIDS and bumpers. I believe it’s important for us to have a safe sleep environment for our babies. I also believe it’s important for us to educate ourselves beyond the headlines. In 2007 there was an article written about the correlation between bumpers and SIDS – and it planted a seed. The results were actually brought into question, but that has now gotten into people’s minds, and it’s gotten into the media. The risk statistics for bumpers are very low. There have probably been a total of 20 cases in the last 20 years that there may potentially have been a correlation between the bumper and the death of a baby. That being said, there’s usually another issue – something else in the crib. It’s not a child getting caught under a bumper, it’s when there’s something like a sleep positioner, a heavy blanket, adult pillows, etc. Those are the more problematic pieces that parents should be more concerned about.

Newport cottages crib with 3 piece bedding set including bumper

How we like our bumpers: We believe bumpers can and should be used safely. Bumpers should be tall, thin, non-pillow-like and tied securely to the top and the bottom. They play a role – to keep kids’ limbs from going through the slats on the crib. They also create a softer, cozier environment. They keep your tiny newborn from being placed in a sterile looking crib up against wooden slats. 

Thin bumper, with secure tie

The legal side: The Maryland legislature has put up a proposal to ban bumpers, and now they’re looking for public comments. We have provided comments, the JPMA has provided comments, and many others have weighed in on both sides of the issue. The JPMA would like for official standards to be put in place, but many officials believe that instead of giving people guidelines, it’s easier to just say they should not use bumpers at all. At this point, there are no legal issues with bumpers.

What this means for your crib: We follow the JPMA safety standards for bumpers. We recommend you do your research, decide what works for you, and we’ll work with that. I can design you a fabulous crib set with or without a bumper!

Did you or will you use bumpers in your crib? What do you think of the Maryland legislature’s proposed ban on bumpers?

Floor Model Sale!

We have a number of floor models on sale at Daisy Baby! 50% off normal retail price is a good deal… but what exactly does it mean?

Stack'o'Dressers

Most of the floor models on sale have been sitting in our warehouse. That means they’re an older model that’s been sitting in a protected environment, not being used. Maybe the drawer sliders have been updated on the newer models. Maybe the paint color is no longer available. Maybe nothing has changed in that line at all, but nobody’s needed that exact model since we ordered it… so if that model is something you want, you can get it for significantly less than if you ordered one custom built for you!

Stanley Young America Dresser from Warehouse

A few of the floor models have been used for display in Daisy Baby… you may have noticed the Bradshaw Kirchofer armoire. That means they’ve been lightly used and frequently dusted; cared for gently by our staff. These beautiful, solidly built pieces will stand up to many more years of use, even if they’re not dusted every day! 

These beachy light diaper bags are among our new goodies!

We also have much of our art on sale – again for 50% off! This summer you can take advantage of our desire to “clean house”, so to speak, and get new models in for the fall… and furnish and decorate your own house with brand new or used-only-for-display items for a fantastic price. Need a dresser? Armoire? Some art? Come on in and take a look. While you're here, check out our other new items. And remember that all of our floor models are always 15% off, even without this summer sale!

Custom Bedding

Bedding by New Arrivals

One of the things Daisy Baby does best is custom bedding! If you’ve shopped with us, you’ve seen the wall of fabrics of all colors, textures, and patterns. It’s also one of the most fun things to do when setting up your nursery – playing with all the fabrics, picking colors, touching the textures, sorting through the play of patterns. We enjoy it, too!

I’m sure all that is no surprise to you. What may be a surprise is that custom bedding can be affordable! You don’t have to spend $1,000 to get just the right pieces for your room – let us know what your budget is and what pieces you’d like, and we’ll help you work to stay within it. We have created custom three piece bedding sets for under $500!

So, what is a custom three piece bedding set? Your three main pieces in a crib bedding set include the bumper, the sheet, and the skirt or dust ruffle.  We help you ensure that these coordinate with each other, and with the room – whether you want serene, fun, or luxurious. We have many custom bedding companies who help us provide you with exactly what you’re looking for, no matter what that may be! (Of course, pink is easier to find than yellow…) In addition to those three main pieces we can also create custom blankets, pillows, teddy bears… you name it, we can probably help you design it! In addition to crib bedding, we also create custom Moses baskets, bedding for older kids and adults, and even custom gliders, rockers, and all other elements of the nursery (and much of the house!)

Whether you’re after the luxury of Bella Notte or Lulla Smith, the clean modernism of New Arrivals or Bebe Chic, or the wide variety of fabrics Pine Creek has to offer, we’ve got your bedding. And more.

Bedding by Bella Notte

Moses Basket by Lulla Smith

Bedding by Bebe Chic

Teddy bear, plaque, pillow, and bedding by Pine Creek