droolicious : stuffed animals

Animal in a Wool Suit

AmandaHill — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:00:00 GMT

My favorite thing about this Animal in a Pink Wool Suit is that it is so tiny. At only 2.75 inches tall, it would be perfect to carry around in a tiny hand. My daughter loves small stuffed animals. They fit in her tiny purses and coat pockets.

Click on over to Fernanimal's etsy shop.

Five Finds for On-The-Go With Your Little Monkey

JeanneSager — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:30:00 GMT

The comparison between kids and monkeys is an obvious one. Both wiggle out of any situation. Both love to climb. And both are just too darn cute. With roadtripping on my mind of late, and starting to top the minds of parents planning vacations everywhere, I've put together a list of my favorites for on-the-go with your little monkey!

Before you can get this show on the road, you have to have everything ship shape and bristol fashion. Or car shape and booster fashion as the case may be. The olli from clek has earned its place as parents' favorite booster seat because it's easy on us all! With a strap that makes it easy for them to carry (especially if you're taking a trip by plane or train), a easy click system into the LATCH on your standard automobile and a design that's easy on their hind end and legs on long car trips, the olli has alley-ooped into our hearts. Throw on a Paul Frank cover (which can be removed for washing!), and I'll be a monkey's uncle if this isn't the best booster seat I've found yet. Get one from CSN Baby for $99.99 with free shipping with little Julius monkeys printed all over or get the Standard Julius (just one big monkey face) for the same price (including free shipping) from Strollers.com.

If your kids are crazy about the little rubbery decals for their Crocs, Martin the Monkey from PakNak is waiting to clamber up onto their bag. For dressing up their bags when they're on the go, PakNak's decals sport a Velcro backing so they can be changed in and out while the "loop" side of the Velcro stays attached to their bags. We're bananas for Martin, but he's got other pals out there too. Get them from PakNak for $3.99, and take advantage of the promotion going for Babble readers - enter PAK20 at checkout to get 20 percent off your order.

And what's a bag decal without a bag to put it on? They weren't monkeying around when they made this one. The Four Peas Blue Monkey Duffel bag does succeeds where many bags for kids fail by offering plenty of space for all their stuff. Whether this is an "overnight at grandma and grandpa's" bag for hauling all their valuable stuffed animals or the suitcase for all their staples for summer trips, the sturdy nylon and denier bag (PVC-free), can handle everything they want to stock inside. Bonus points for the adjustable strap to make this one last out of toddlerhood and on toward teen. Get it from PolkaDot Patch Boutique for $46.

Before you offer up a primate education, I know monkeys and chimpanzees are not the same thing. Monkeys have tails, chimps don't, and so forth. But most folks who are fans of one are fans of the other, and every kid could use a friend in the backseat on a long trip (especially one who doesn't scream "I'm not touching you" with its finger hovering a quarter of an inch from his forearm). Why this admittedly non-monkey buddy? His plush outside is made from 100 percent soybean fibers, his insides from 100 percent Kapok. Part of Aurora's eco-friendly "Aurora Naturally" line, he's super soft and naturally resists bacteria (because we all know how clean kids keep their toys.) Get him from Amazon for $29.99 and qualify for free shipping.

Truly a two-for-one deal, Steven Joseph's toiletry bags are so soft and cuddly kids can fill them with their toothbrush and other must-haves or they can use them as a pillow on the ride to granny's house. Steven Joseph doesn't monkey around when cooking up goodies for kids - the bags are all machine-washable. Get the monkey toiletry bag for $18.95 from Chocolate Cake Club (add $10 if you'd like to get it personalized).

And check out these on-the-go goodies:

Roadtripping With LEGO

Gwyneth Reads Eric Carle!

Raccoon and Baby Made Old School

SunnyChanel — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know that wool felt in one of the oldest fabrics known to man? Yeah, me neither. Man had been making felt for about 8,000 years. And something utilized for 8,000 years has gotta be good. And did you know ....

“According to legend, Noah made his ark all cozy and comfortable by covering the rough wooden floors with wool. The animals walked on the loose wool day and night and at the end of forty days it had turned into a matted fabric: wool felt! “

And who was on good old Noah’s art? No doubt a set of raccoons. In tribute this Raccoon and Baby set is made of this historic material (but don’t worry, this particular felt isn’t that old). The baby raccoon can detach by way of a piece of sturdy red ribbon. You can pick up this set here for $55.

Earth Day Giveaway: Win a Xeko Pals 'Hairy' Lemur Doll (ends 4/22)

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Considering its Earth-friendly angle -- think Pokémon with a green-centric purpose -- we're thrilled to be working with trading-card game Xeko on an Earth Day giveaway, the prize for which is this adorable "Hairy" Xeko Pals doll.

A hairy-eared dwarf lemur from Madagascar, Hairy is life-sized (around the size of a softball, to be exact) and made from a soy-based fabric and filled with soy stuffing. Like its fellow Xeko Pals, Hairy also comes with a mission code, which gives you unlimited play of the "Hairy the Nibbler" game at xeko.com.

To enter, simply email your name, address and daytime phone number to babblecontest@gmail.com. One lucky winner will be selected at random from the pool of entries on Earth Day, which is next Wed., April 22.

Even if you don't score a free Hairy of your own, you can still save with this exclusive coupon code for Babble readers: Enter "gogreen" at the Xeko Store to save 15% off your entire order between now and Oct. 31, 2009. (The code can be used more than once, so keep it handy.)

Check out our past coverage of Xeko to help you get in the mood for Earth Day '09 -- and good luck!

Winkolina Joins the Uglydoll Crew

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Meet Winkolina, the seemingly plain-Jane new Uglydoll whose humble exterior conceals an adventurous spirit just waiting to come out when she joins your family.

Though she's only available for preorder at the moment, Winkolina has a lot to offer when she arrives on your doorstep. Or, as the Uglydoll site describes it: "Winkolina thinks you have nothing but action and adventure locked away, way deep down! Is she right? Are you ready to show the world what you've really got going on in there? Winkolina has 6 cookies, an apple, and 11 tacos in there. What about you?"

Reserve yours now: $20 from Uglydoll.

Bunny It Up: Little Bunnies 3-pack

AmandaHill — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The adorable little bunnies seen above are all available in the Little Bunnies 3-pack from FAO Schwarz. They are soft and fuzzy, just arriving for spring.

The set includes all three of the Bunnies, and is available at FAO Schwarz.

Build a Green Bear at Eco-babies.net

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:30:00 GMT

I'm as much a sucker as the next parent for Build-a-Bear Workshop's heart-tugging assembly line, but if you're looking for green alternatives to the bear-building concept, these teddies from Eco-babies.net are a great starting point. Prices start at $26.99 -- order a pre-made bear made from organic and recycled fabrics (including the stuffing), or special-order your own bear made from a beloved baby blanket, outgrown clothes, or any other fabric that's near and dear to you.

Star Baby: Charlie & Brooke's Sheen's New Twins Buckle Up

SunnyChanel — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:30:00 GMT

This week actor Charlie Sheen and wife Brooke welcomed their new twins boys Max and Bob. Waiting to be enjoyed, played with and buckled up in the playroom are two adorable and educational BuckleyCats by BuckleyBoo toys.

These clever and cute plush dolls were “created by renowned child psychologist Dr. Jane Ross as a multi-stage learning toy that promotes valuable skills such as problem-solving, small motor, and visual scanning, all of which are crucial aspects of early childhood development. In addition, multiple stage learning instills the valuable sense of accomplishment that is central to the development of self esteem.”

Sounds pretty darn good to me! The dolls are priced from 19.99 to 29.99 and you can pick them up here. And because you are a lucky Babble reader, you can get 20% off here. Just enter the coupon code BBL20 when you order here.

Who else has a BuckleyBoo doll, well Kelly Rutherford (with Hermes holding one), Marissa Jaret Winokur and Zev, Tim Allen, Evan Handler (Sex and the City/ Californication), Angela Kinsey (The Office), Chyler Leigh (Grey's Anatomy), Ali Landry (Eve), Joely Fisher (Til Death), Scott Baio (Confessions of a Teen Idol), Julie Bowen (Boston Legal), Matt Borlenghi (Days of Our Lives), Shar Jackson, Brian Posehn (The Sarah Silverman Program), Busy Philipps (He’s Just Not that Into You, ER, Dawson's Creek), Neal McDonough(Desperate Housewives), Chris Noth (Law & Order, Sex and the City), Hamish Linklater (The New Adventures of Old Christine) among oodles of others...

Top photo from The Hollywood Grind

Kimochis: Cute and Expressive

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:34:00 GMT

Emotions can be difficult to express when you’re an adult, so imagine how daunting the task is when you’re a child still trying to figure out the difference between sad and mad. Calliope has some super kawaii sets of Kimochis, Japanese dolls designed to help children articulate feelings. Each doll ($25) comes with a storybook three smaller critters that depict different emotions, which kids slip into the larger kimochi’s pouch as they experience them. You can also get sets of six, more complex emotions ($6), including jealous, loved, grateful, scared, shy and a draw your own. If little ones don’t feel like sharing, kimochis can act just like regular ol’ stuffed animals too.

This Easter Bunny Needs Some Color

Lisa Estall — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:42:00 GMT

Decorate one side of this bunny with a message or any drawing you want!

Sold at Etsy, Milo the Color-in Easter Bunny comes with three fabric markers.

Just personalize it and let the ink dry for 5 days. The fabric is pre-washed and no ironing is needed.

It’s $21 and I think a great idea as an Easter gift!

Check it out a this Etsy shop.

Toy Recall Alert:Old Navy Stuffed Animal

AmandaHill — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:30:00 GMT

About two weeks ago the stuffed animals seen above were recalled by Old Navy. They were sold in stores and online from July 2008-Feburary 2009 for between $6-$10. The button eyes are easily detaching and posing choking hazards for young children. Nearly 35,000 of them were sold in the US and 5,000 in Canada. Click behind the fold to find out what you need to do if you own one of these animals, as well as recalled styles and numbers.

You can return the animal to your local Old Navy for a FULL refund. All customers that return the stuffed animal by July 1, 2009 will receive a $5 off coupon from Old Navy. If you purchased the toy online, you can call Old Navy for information about your return toll free at 1(866) 580-9930.

Recalled Styles & Product Numbers:

Type of Stuffed Toy	Style Number
Brown Plaid Creature (Stubby Stuberson)	612756
Pink Striped Dove	600571
Grey Dog	600572
Hot Pink Creature (Lucy Toothy)	612800
White Dog (Dr. Poopsie)	612738
Brown Penguin	612672
Light Pink Rabbit	612671
Brown Reindeer	612728
Dark Pink Rabbit (Honey O Bunny)	612806

Etsy Alert: Adopt a Siamese Twin Bear

SunnyChanel — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:14:00 GMT

Two heads are better than one. That old adage applies to many scenarios, and in this case it proves itself true in the form of a Siamese twin teddy bear.

Etsy seller Kailyn The Night Owl created this Siamese twin teddy bear stuffed toy by hand by altering and reassembling beanie type plush. This bear stands eight inches tall and with the extra head, there’s just more to love.

If you’d like to give one of these 2-headed cuties a good home, you can pick one up here for $16.

Etsy Alert: Give a Hoot

SunnyChanel — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:50:00 GMT

When looking for a present, give a hoot! Well, actually give something that hoots, like this handmade Mira Large Night Owl. Etsy maker Rabbits Moon from Brooklyn, New York, created this brightly colored bird out of a variety of vintage and new cotton fabrics. Mira measures about 14” by 9” and can be used a child’s toy, as nursery decoration, or hey, even on your couch. She is baby and kid safe. You can pick up one of these hand crafted owls from Rabbits Moon here for $46.50.

Circo Plush Horse

AmandaHill — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The plush Circo Horse from Target is a cuddly stuffed animal in a laying down position. It's easy for toddlers to climb on and sit. Huggable and cuddly, the horse is 8" high and 28" long. It would make a fabulous addition to any stuffed animal collection.

Click over to Target to check out the Circo Plush Horse.

The Star Unicorn – Cute or Creepy?

SunnyChanel — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Is this Star Unicorn plush doll adorable or horrendous? Personally, I just can’t decide, but sadly I can't look away. One part of me says, “man, that has multiple aspects of ugly ” but the other side of me says “awww, it’s soooo cuuuuuute.” Kind of like a pug dog, a newborn baby, or Mickey Rooney, you just can’t decide if it’s cute or creepy.

The Star Unicorn by BeePOSH takes your standard everyday unicorn and then plasters it with hearts, flowers, sunbursts and rainbows. Yeah, that’s a whole lot of cutesy going on.

What do you think? Cute or creepy? If you're thinking cute, you can get one here from FAO Schwarz for $45.

Send Your Eco Scout Out With the Right Gear

Heather Kuldell — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:23:00 GMT

Going green is more than buying reusable materials or the latest eco-chic water bottle. The Idbids Scout Eco-Friendly Set ($39.99) comes with a little knowledge. Scout, a stuffed white cloud, comes with an organic cinch-top back pack and a story book that includes 10 steps kids can take to help protect the environment. They may be baby steps to a more environmentally friendly life, but you gotta start somewhere.

Manuella, A Funky Fella

Cathy Hale — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Manuella the Blue Monkey may be your toddler's new best friend. He's a friendly little guy and loves to give hugs. In fact, his hands are stitched together so he can ride along with ease. He's 14" long and made from ribbed cotton acrylan filling. On sale at Ga-Ga Boutique for $36.

Chester Bear Visits from Sweden

SunnyChanel — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:39:00 GMT

Who doesn’t love some sweet sweet Scandanavian style? I know I do. Beyond the mass produced products courtesy of Ikea, Sweden has some other stylish exports, case in point, this adorable vinyl teddy bear, the Chester Bear, from Acne Jr., the kids line of the chic stuff maker Acne.

Each limited edition doll comes with a customizable name tag on the back of his head and a key charm. You can pick up one of these smiling, bow tied creatures here for the imported designer price of $60, yeah, sometimes style hits your pocket book…hard.

The Ugly Dolls Visit the Ice Lodge

SunnyChanel — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:52:00 GMT

Well, the weather outside is frightful, and the fire is, yes, so delightful, so let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

During this cold and frosty winter, you probably are spending more time inside than you’d like. And you’re not the only one, the Ugly Dolls have all gone hiding in their own Ice Lodge. What’s an Ice Lodge? “It’s sort of like a log cabin filled with wood cut bear statues wearing red Mountie coats and petrified pine trees.”

Yup it’s cold baby, even the pine trees are freezing. And it’s so cool that all the Ugly Doll characters have been turned to a icy white themselves. For a limited time, you can pick up these pigment free creatures like the “Target” doll above. You can get him from designer toy mecca My Plastic Heart for $20.

BuckleyBoo Clicks With Babies

Whit Honea — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:03:00 GMT

Among the many great products being featured in the Boom Boom Room were the Buckly Buddies from BuckleyBoo.

The premise is simple, babies love buckles (and toddlers do, too!) and soft, cute toys. Why not put the proverbial chocolate in the peanut butter (untainted) and let the joy commence? That's just what BuckleyBoo did- and it worked.

From their website:

BuckleyBoo is a growing collection of stuffed toys co-created by a child psychologist and grandma!

BuckleyBoos encourage cognitive development through multi-stage learning. What this means is that from the ages of 15 months to 4 years your child will embark on a developmental journey where each mastered task serves as a springboard for the next level of learning.

Toys that teach. We're good with that.

Photo

Domo Valentine's Day Plush

AmandaHill — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:30:00 GMT

The Domo plushes are so adorable. This particular plush is available for Valentine's Day, and it stands at a meager 6 inches tall. Domos are mysterious little creatures with monster-like features.

Click behind the fold to find out where you can pick this lovely up.

You can pick one up right now at Amazon.

CES 2009: Paro Theraputic Robots Help Very Sick Kids

Chris Ford — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:30:00 GMT

The therapeutic benefits of pets and animals has been documented. But most hospitals won't let animals in, especially in places like intensive care units. Paro Therapeutic Robots from Japan are now trying to bridge that gap, and give kids (as well as the elderly or anyone else who may be very ill) some comfort during tough times.

The Paro robot has five different sensors, which allows it to perceive people and respond to stimulus. They are as soft and cuddly as they seem, and recharge through the "pacifier" in their mouths (as pictured).

The Paro Therapeutic Robot will be available in the US later this year. They're being marketed to hospitals and other care facilities (not consumers) and will cost around $6,000.00. Check them out at ParoRobots.com.

Don't Let This Pigeon Drive the Bus

SunnyChanel — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:30:00 GMT

There are many things we teach our children. Look both ways before crossing the street, brush your teeth after meals and don’t let the pigeon drive the bus. Okay, maybe not all of you pass on that last bit of knowledge, but for families that are fans of Mo Williams’s Caldecott Honor Award Winning book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, you know what I’m talking about.
For those little pigeon lovers out there, this plush toy is for you. This soft chenille doll says “Let Me Drive the Bus!!” when squeezed in Mo William’s own voice. You can get your own pigeon pal here direct from the toy maker Yot Toy here for $22.

A Handcrafted Life Size Goat Stuffed Animal?

AmandaHill — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:00:00 GMT

As far as weird stuffed animals go, I was under the impression I had seen them all. However, when I saw this life size stuffed Goat, I was clearly thrown for a loop. Click behind the fold to read more about this oddity.

This goat, from Hansa, is a handcrafted replica of a real goat. It was made using a picture of a real goat. Like it or not, the goat does appear to be rather realistic. But be warned: if you are interested, the goat is only available in limited qualities. So you better hurry if and click on over to order one if it tickles your fancy.

JellyCat's Pudding the Hedgehog

AmandaHill — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Holy cuteness! JellyCat, the maker of many adorable creatures, has really outdone themselves with Pudding the Hedgehog. He is a brand new addition to the JellyCat family. His spikes are made from soft, chocolate-colored fur and his cute little body and face are made from a light tan plush. At only 6" tall, he can be a mini addition to any part of your house.You can pick him up at Lou Lou's Corner for $8.95.