Meet Stephanie - Daisy Baby's New Assistant Manager!

 We are so pleased to have Stephanie as a part of the Daisy Baby Family.  It's hard to miss her in the store, not only because she stands a statuesque six feet tall, but she is always fabulously dressed in the latest fashions. If you ask her where she got it, don't be surprised when she tells you "TJ Maxx." She'll be an aunt for the first time this February - her sister is expecting a baby girl! She's right in this baby world along with  many of our clients, helping her sister pick out strollers and bedding and all the new baby gear!

 Her sweet personality and fun, bohemian sense of style are fast becoming an integral part of Daisy Baby. Check out the first display crib set designed by Stephanie, on the Summer Breeze crib by Legacy Classic Kids!

Selecting the Proper Rug for Your Space

Choosing the proper sized rug for your nursery, your living room, or any room in your home is essential to filling the space properly and making the rug look the best it can in your home! Here are a few ways to make sure your rug will work for you.

In your bedroom or nursery, begin with a large rug under two legs of the bed but allow wood floor to show all around the bed. Rug should be approximately 24 inches wider and longer than the bed.

In your living room, try one of the following:

* A room-sized rug where the furniture floats center. We recommend a rug that is 10’ x 13’ or larger. Leave 12” to 18” of exposed floor to create a border around the rug - equal on all four sides if possible.

* A rug tucked under the front legs of the sofa with the back legs on or off depending on personal 

preference. We recommend a rug that is 8’ x 10’ or larger. The rule of thumb is to leave 18” to 24” between the wall and rug, creating a border of exposed floor that frames the arrangement - equal on all four sides if possible.

* A rug placed in front of the sofa. We recommend a rug that is 3’ x 5’ to 6’ x 9’, or approximately the length of the sofa. Leaving a sliver of exposed floor between the rug and sofa will accent the furniture. When the rug is under a coffee table, make sure it is large enough to accommodate all four legs.

In your dining room, try this: a room-sized rug where there is enough room for all chair legs to stay on the rug when comfortably pulled away from the table. We recommend a rug that is 8’ x 10’or larger.

Information sourced from Surya, one of our fantastic rug vendors! To view original article, please click here.

Bunk Beds - A Classic Space Saver!

What child doesn't want a bunk bed growing up? And what parent doesn't want to save some space in the small homes we have in the DC area? In a meeting of interests, both those can be found in the bunk bed... but which kind? What size? Or do you prefer a loft, with a desk beneath? Daisy Baby works with several companies that carry bunk beds. Let's check out a few of our options...

Legacy Classic Kids carries the widest variety, from a full over full bunk to a loft frame to a mid-loft with storage beneath, you can find whatever you're looking for from this company. Prices range from about $1125 to $2000.

From top right (all Legacy Classic Kids): full over full, full over twin with storage, twin loft with storage, midloft with storage beneath

If you prefer a different style, Newport Cottages carries some very fun traditional and transitional bunks - twin over full, twin over twin, and even their Cape Cod style with bows on the footboards! You can expect prices to range from $2795 to $2995, so make sure to use your Daisy Baby coupon or watch for sales from this great US Made, solid hardwood company!

From top right: Newport Cottages Cape Cod twin bunk with bows, Newport Cottages Ricki bunk twin over full, Stanley Young America Isabella Bunk twin over full, Stanley Young America MyHaven bunk twin over twin.

Similar in style to Newport Cottages, Stanley Young America carries bunk beds in a variety of transitional styles, in twin over twin, twin over full, and full over full. Their color selection is also fantastic, and they range in price from about $1399 to about $1900.

Maybe you're looking for something really different... check out the Porthole bunk bed from Art for Kids!

Porthole - it's gorgeous, right? And much more modern and sleek than you'd expect from Art for Kids - but I definitely don't see a problem with that!

Maxi Cosi Mico AP Car Seat

Maxi Cosi's Mico car seat has been redesigned - check out the new Mico AP!

Why yes, it does come in hot pink!

The Mico AP features Air Protect® Advanced Side Impact Technology for a safer ride. The patented Air Protect cushion system protects around your baby’s head, where it’s needed most. The comfortable premium fabrics and padded 5-point harness covers keep baby secure and cozy during the ride, and the included Cozi Dozi™ head insert is true to its name and perfect for the extra support needed by infants.  Each Mico AP also comes complete with a multi-position sun canopy with a flip out visor to help protect baby’s sensitive eyes from bright lights.

The Mico AP infant car seat is the lightest infant car seat* in its class. Transferring from the stay-in-car base to a Maxi-Cosi or Quinny stroller is a breeze, making the Mico AP infant seat a great solution for parents looking for a complete travel system they can use from birth.

• Lightest premium infant car seat available*
• For children rear-facing from 5-22 pounds and up to 29” in height
• NEW Superior Side Impact Performance with Air Protect® technology
• NEW Premium fabrics and padding for a comfy ride
• Includes Cozi Dozi™ infant support for smaller babies
• Integrated canopy, always on hand and easy to store
• NEW Flip-out visor on canopy for extra protection when needed
• 5-point harness with up-front harness adjustment
• NEW convenient stay-in-car adjustable base with release mechanism on seat for easier installation and removal
• Adapters to use Mico as travel system included with compatible Maxi-Cosi and Quinny strollers
• Adapters for many other premium strollers available from the stroller manufacturer
• Available accessories (sold separately):
• Foot Muff to keep baby warm
• WeatherShield
• Breathable Bug Net
• Additional stay-in-car bases
*When compared to similarly priced infant car seats as of May 2013. 

Maxi-Cosi is a premier European brand that places the parent and baby bond above all else. Maxi Cosi provides families all over the world with top-rated car seats and strollers.  The industry consistently recognizes Maxi Cosi with awards for unique and versatile products. Whether snuggled into an infant car seat or out for a walk in a stylish and easy-to-use travel system, the
goal at Maxi-Cosi is to make all of your journeys together more enjoyable.

Fall Clothing is IN!

Don't forget to check out the new fall clothing! We are carrying up to 18 months in some styles, now, too. There are so many fun patterns and styles out now, so if you need a gift or something for your little one, stop by!

Angel Dear has Warm&Snuggly down!

Magnificent Baby's fall style is... magnificent.

Rug Market SALE!

Rug Market is having a fantastic Fall sale - 30% off children's rugs. This is a really incredible price - if you need a rug now, think you might need one, you're redecorating a child's room or decorating a nursery... take advantage of it!

Rug Market makes the Shaggy Raggy rug, in addition to many cute children's rugs!

Taste of Bethesda Mother's Lounge, October 5

We will again hold our Mother's Lounge at the Taste of Bethesda, on Saturday October 5! We'll have a place to sit, relax, chat, have a cool drink, and generally take a break from the festival. There will be a place to change your baby, a place for your pet to grab a quick drink, and feel free to sit and feed your little one! This year we'll also have some gear on display, and we'll have demonstrations of babywearing and some of our favorite strollers. Please, stop on by and say hi, and check out our gear demos!

Last year's lounge - weren't we cute?

Some friends chillin' at 2012 mother's lounge

Our awesome, comfortable setup!

Green Parenting is the Focus of JPMA Baby Safety Month 2013

It's probably time to re-introduce myself for any new readers! My name is Christina. I occasionally work in the shop, so you may see me there on weekends from time to time. I also write this blog, and do some other social media for Daisy Baby and Kids. In addition, I sometimes take write for other companies and independently. I also work as a birth and postpartum doula and childbirth educator. All of this is part-time, because I have two small children who call me Mom, and whose lives and schedules go first! In addition, the topic of Green Parenting is near and dear to my heart - my son's birth inspired me to ditch the chemicals in our household - cleaners, foods, disposable products, everything. Without further ado, here's today's topic...

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is pretty big stuff in our business. They're the folks who promote the safe use of baby products (they actually have a safety certification), they provide resources and help to educate consumers and baby stores alike about the safety standards in baby products.

This month is Baby Safety Month for JPMA, and this year they're focusing on Green Parenting with their campaign "Green is the new Pink and Blue!" In honor of this topic, I went straight to the source to gather some green parenting advice for you - green parents!

"Just know what you're exposing your children to. Knowledge is the base of green parenting." -Amber

"Knowledge is key - my take is that you need to read, research, think, and decide for yourself. Conventional knowledge and accepted social norms are not meant to encourage thinking outside the box, which is how you keep your family safe." -Lisa

"I love the smell of tea tree oil. It works with everything... cleaner, bum balm, shampoo, etc." -Lauren

"Start thinking about the kind of parent you want to be as soon as possible. Before you have kids, if you can. Do you want to go a natural route? Do you want to parent gently, parent by instinct, parent primally? What works for you? Think about it. Think about what you want your kids to learn. Do you want them to know how to take care of the planet? Then show them." -Christina

So, what do you do instead of harmful chemicals? There are many different ways to change up your routine to be more healthy! Ditch the 409. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bottle (add a few drops of essential oil for scent and extra cleaning power if you'd like - lavender, tea tree, and lemongrass work well) and use that as a general cleaner. Ditch the paper towels - use kitchen towels instead, or "unpaper" towels. Flour sack towels work particularly well for "paper towel" duties! Ditch the diapers full of chemicals - cloth is easy and cute. And my favorite? Stop using prepared foods and prepare your own - this one is time consuming, but it can make a very big difference in your health!

What are your suggestions for "going green"? What products have you switched to a non-toxic alternative?

Back to School - Big Kid Room

Did anyone else's baby start school this fall? My little one started his first year of preschool - it was terrifyingly difficult for me, and his poor little sister.... she saw him playing with a little boy and she charged them, shouting "My bruddah! Mine!" It's pretty hard watching things change, sometimes. It's also beautiful, though. That moment when you pick your baby up from school and his eyes first meet yours. That moment when you see your child is no longer a baby, but really a child. That moment when your child moves out is coming all too soon... but in the meantime, maybe he's ready for a big kid room. Sorting out the baby toys, the little board books... replacing the changing table and toddler bed with a big kid desk and bed. Daisy Baby and Kids is, as always, happy to help with that! (Just last weekend we had a mom expecting twins, whose older daughter was ready for a big kid room - what a task, and how fun!)

Of course you're wondering... what are we looking at, as far as prices and availability for a big kid room? Well, to start... many of the companies we work with for nurseries also make big kid furniture, in the same styles. You can get transitional big kid beds from Newport Cottages. You can get a sleekly modern twin from Monte (just like their chairs - this is what Dana uses for Ever!) Any of those fabrics we carry can make big kid sheets, too! So, as always, start with your style... and work from there. Don't forget to keep some of the pieces that make your child's room hers - the rugs, the art, the lamps... these things can stop the transition from being scary and make it fun. Here's an example of a big kid, Back To School room for you:

Stanley Young America-
Harbor Town Newberry Bookcase Bed: $899
Harbor Town Computer Desk: $849
Harbor Town One Drawer Nightstand: $579
Vintage Sports bedding from Whistle & Wink: (about $600 for full decorative set, depending on which pieces)
Grand total for a quick update to big kid room, all ready for school? $2933 - this set will last until college, or longer!

What would you update for your big kid room? What would you leave?