The History of Daisy Baby

We've been very busy lately! So why not a bit of history to kick off the month of June? Here's a great interview with Dana, the mind behind the duck, for your information and entertainment! Without further ado, everything you ever wanted to know about the history of Daisy Baby.

Why has Dana been busy? This is Ford, her third little wonder.

Who started Daisy Baby and Kids?
Daisy Baby and Kids is truly the brainchild of Andrea Paro. One day when she was pregnant with her daughter Tallulah, she said she envisioned a yellow duck on top of a white box with a ribbon, and from that vision Daisy Baby was born. The simplicity with a little pop of sweetness is where we were and where we are. 

When did it start?
It started during that boom of the baby industry which I think really began when Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple was born in 2004. It was the first time we saw publicity shots of a baby's room being featured as much as someone's home, and it was the first time we saw a modern nursery like that. That's when you saw the design of nursery pushing the boundaries beyond a Winnie the Pooh theme. 

What were your first lines back then?
One of the first lines we saw was Serena and Lily back when it was really just Serena and Lily. And that's when we started 10 years ago, making the nursery put the mark of you on it, starting to make sure it reflected you and your home and the celebration of your child. Also at the very cusp of this business was Bugaboo. When they entered this marketplace, strollers didn't look like they do today. We take it for granted now that they have these beautiful strollers that are just lovely and functional and have a bassinet that looks like a pram and the design and innovation in this industry is just beautiful. Every time I see a man hunched over an umbrella stroller and pushing it up the hill it looks like it's more trouble to have it than it would be without it! The way strollers have changed is phenomenal.

Bugaboo Donkey

What do you think is special about Daisy Baby?
It's about the babies, and everyone loves the babies really, but we're also all about mom. What about mom? How is she doing? How is she feeling? How is she handling this time in her life? We kiss the babies and talk about sleep and breastfeeding and all of that. We follow that journey with the mom, from the first time she comes in the store and doesn't really know what she's wanting and we talk about it, research it, figure out her style and what she's after. We go through that process with her, ordering and it coming in and getting it installed and all of that, it's so special and neat.

What's a really special experience that comes from being part of Daisy Baby?
We had a baby come in the other day, about 9 years old. It just blows me away. Seeing that baby whose nursery we designed, and having that connection with the store and these parents still. The real babies, the Daisy Babies. All these little babies, I've watched these moms from being pregnant and through the birth and I love hearing the birth stories. I love listening about their water breaking to the moment they crowned all the way up until they come in here and bring the babies and I can say, "Sit down, have a seat and nurse here and chat with us." When the little ones come back and I watch them grow and maybe they think my name is Daisy instead of Dana, I'm the lady with the candy jar. I'm not a millionaire yet but my millions are counted in the babies I get to see grow up and all of the joy I get from having this little boutique in Bethesda. 

What's changed about the boutique world in the past 10 years since you started?
When I found out about the boutique movement I was just leaving Los Angeles and it was really col to know abuot these small businesses who were finding interesting lines, not everything being so cookie cutter. I'm really proud to be a part of this movement. Ten years later though, I feel like there's barely any boutiques left at all. Everything is all internet and big box stores. I think about this side of Bethesda and I think in another 10 years there will be no boutiques left, just restaurants and chains.

What is the most important part of having a storefront? Why not an internet retailer?
When I think about my store, I'm proud of every single piece in here. It's like curating a museum, when you walk in, what do you smell? What do you see? What do your eyes light on? It takes focus and creativity and a certain gift and I love the fact that I can give that out and I appreciate that. I feel like it's important in the world - it's a unique piece of why a boutique is important and I'm glad I exist in that realm. I love when people come in here and they can touch and feel the things they see online. You can read fifty reviews but Dana is a review and I have used all of this and all my moms come and tell me how it is and this is what I live and breathe and sleep, this is what I DO.

What's unique about the baby industry?
Every day women come into our store and I love it, they're just shocked at how much has changed since they had a baby - 25 years ago, 10 years ago, 6 months ago. "This didn't exist when I had my baby!" That is one of the neat parts about this industry, those changes. When I think about Chewbeads, a woman invented a necklace babies can pull on and chew on. It's not trying to get kids to pull on your necklace, but babies will be pulling and chewing on our  necklaces or hair so why not give them something safe to do that with? 

Chewbeads

A friend of mine, Riche Holmes, started a business here in Bethesda - Bambini Wear. Now she's working with Martha Stewart and it's this whole big thing. Moms inventing things, products that people live in. People designing products that weren't there before, modern cribs and carriers that are ergonomically correct and better for bonding and baby and mom. And at the end of the day it's about making everything cute and fun and just reflecting your personality. 

Bambini Wear

One last quick question - how many Daisy babies' lives have you been a part of?
This computer program has only been with us since 2009, so it's missing some of the early years. But I've got almost 6000 clients that have come through this door since then. I've recorded 3000 orders. I don't know how many little babies that is, but for a little store like this, it's great seeing all those children come through here and grow up and it's just wonderful.

Just a pic of why Christina's been busy - I moved to Hawaii!

Planning a Nursery - The Daisy Baby Experience

Planning a nursery can be extremely overwhelming! What do you need? What is safe? How long does it take to get what you want? And in the smaller homes in the DC area... where will everything fit!? There are some great articles out there on planning a nursery (this one from Pottery Barn comes to mind) but they tend to be about basic considerations of safety and logical placement. Which is really useful, of course! But it doesn't tell you what you'll really need for your situation, and when you'll need to get it. Daisy Baby and Kids wants to make planning your nursery easy and fun for you - we're here to help! So, read on for a basic Daisy Baby Timeline... what to do, and when!

 Remember that most pregnancies last about 41 weeks... but anything after 37 weeks is considered within the realm of normal and full-term. So you probably want your nursery ready by 36-37 weeks, just in case. That's how this guide is set - so your nursery is ready at 35 weeks. If you're running late, no worries! Just come on in and we'll see what we can work out for you!

The shop - friendly and bright! Come visit!

Week 21 - Set up an appointment to look at furniture. Bring the measurements of your room, color swatches of anything already in it, and ideas! **Note: this is a good time to decide on and register for your childbirth class as well. Sometimes they fill up fast, and classes like Bradley can take 12 weeks to complete! Also, this is a good time to find a doula - she can help you through the following weeks! (Birth Options Alliance is a really good tool here!)

Newport Cottages cribs are made in the US - if it's not modern, give it some time to be built!

Week 23 - Finalize the furniture order. If you want something custom, or something from a company that hand-makes their furniture, it will take 8-10 weeks. Start looking at bedding! (Of course, you can start this earlier, but this is a good point - you'll know what style you're leaning toward by the furniture you've chosen.) **Note: This is a good time to make sure your room is set up safely, and to paint it in your chosen color!

Bright modern bedding - pick your colors and patterns, we'll make sure it's just what you want!

Week 25 - Finalize your bedding order - again, custom orders can take up to 8-10 weeks.**Note: if you haven't already, make sure you have sorted out your childcare for postpartum, and definitely make sure you've found your pediatrician!

Week 27 - Set up your registry. Most baby showers are between 30-35 weeks, so this is a good time to have that set! We'll help you decide what you need for your situation, so come on in and let's talk about it. We can make recommendations and help you sort through all the baby items to decide which really are "must haves"! Remember that we can put some of your furniture or bedding on the registry, even if it's a custom order. **Note: check out infant and child CPR and First Aid classes - this is a good time to learn those skills!

Want an awesome stroller? Put it on your registry!

Week 35 - relax! Receive all your fantastic baby items, and bask in them... you'll be using them soon! **Note: You may want to cook and freeze meals for after delivery at this point, or look into something like Momme Meals. This is also a good time to look into a postpartum doula, make sure you know a good IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Counselor), or check out The Breastfeeding Center!

After the baby is born - come on in if you need anything or have any questions. We'll be happy to help you sort out how to use your sling, your stroller, your belly bandit. Be sure to bring your little bundle because we love babies. That's in italics because we really, really do. So show off that cute button nose! Hang out in our comfy chair, nurse the babe, let us know how it's going - and just how much you love your nursery!

Even the Baby K'Tan has a learning curve - if you're struggling, we'll help!

Changes in Store!

Yes, that was a terrible pun. I don't really mean we have big changes coming for Daisy Baby... I mean we've already made big changes - in the store! Have you been in the shop lately? If not, it's time to come see what we've been up to! Don't worry - all your favorite parts of Daisy Baby are still here... just in slightly different places. We hope you enjoy the new look, and the added space for more fun things!

Our new setup - and a few new items!

There is so much more space!

Bright and beautiful...

New Fabrics for Custom Bedding

We recently talked about new furniture coming this year, but probably the thing Daisy Baby is best known for is custom bedding. We love to make sure you have exactly what you want for your nursery, and one of the easiest ways to do that is to make it just for you! If you've been in the shop, you've seen our hundreds, even thousands of fabric options... but did you know we're constantly updating them? All our bedding companies change their offerings from time to time, to keep up with what's new and fresh. In that light, we wanted to show you some of the new fabrics that we've seen this year! Just check out the pictures below... and enjoy!

A bumper and a sheet, perhaps?

Orange and Teal Blue - gorgeous!

Birds from the above

Brilliant orange ikat

A new take on lavender - check the navy and teal blue!

Neutrals with texture - gorgeous.

Transportation? Check. Chevrons? Check. Cool? Check.

Do you like any of these combinations? Let us know!

New Things for Modern Baby Lines

The world of design is constantly changing - one line is redesigned, another is replaced. Things are constantly getting better and better, more and more innovative! What does that mean for you?

If you love the old design, you're in luck! You can now buy whatever we have in stock at a discount.

If you love the new design, you're in luck! That's what they're now making.

So, really, no matter what, it's a lucky break for you when our companies change things up a bit! Let's take a quick look at what changes we're seeing so far for 2013.

Oeuf has discontinued their Sparrow and Classic dressers - they're being replaced with the Merlin. (We happen to have a gray Sparrow on the floor right now... anyone looking to complete their set?) They've also replaced their Robin line with the new, updated Rhea line - which is looking pretty spectacular.

Oeuf Sparrow Dresser

Oeuf Merlin Dresser

Spot on Square has redesigned their Eicho collection, and we currently have an Eicho crib in the shop (the Eicho is already affordable - you can pick this up for a song now. Anyone love modern?)

Spot on Square Eicho crib

Don't forget we also have a Spot on Square Roh bookshelf!

We have sad news, as well. Muu, a great company who created quality US made products, has suspended their operations. Their supplier could no longer manufacture their products, and they were unable to find anyone new. This does, of course, still mean good deals for you. If you love Muu, it's time to act fast - we currently have 3 Ray cribs in honey and walnut, and a Ray dresser!

Muu Ray Crib in walnut

Muu Ray Dresser

If any of this appeals to you, it's time to start 2013 off with a bang! Come on in and talk to the ladies at Daisy Baby, and let's get you a beautiful new nursery set up!

Daisy Baby Holiday Calendar

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.