With all the little lovie blankets out there I love seeing something that stands out and grabs my attention - and hopefully the attention of my little one. Petite Meiette’s Mini Miette did just that! It is the sweetest of little bunny lovies with its playful, brightly colored bunny head complete with floppy ears. And this little bunny has a just-as-colorful attached fleece blanket. Consider it the sweet-yet-stylish self-soother!

The softness of the Mini Miette should make it a great companion to comfort your baby at naptime and playtime. Petite Miette’s Mini Miettes use organic cotton fleece and are stuffed with organic cotton batting. The eyes and nose are embroidered on securely so you needn’t worry when the Mini Miette becomes your child’s favorite chew toy! The Mini Miette bunnies come in three color combinations: citrus patchwork (sky, raspberry, and citron); berry patchwork (blueberry, kiwi, and clementine); and natural.

You can purchase a Mini Miette for your Mini Me for $24 from PetiteMiette.com. - Emily H.

Our family absolutely loves wooden blocks. Whether building skyscrapers or knocking down skyscrapers, everyone in our family, from one-something to thirty-something, enjoys playing with our wooden block set. Of course that set is a cheap, off-the-shelf bucket of blocks that most likely isn’t as CPSIA friendly - and definitely isn’t as nostalgic and fun - as the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood Wooden Block Set from Holgate Toys.

I grew up with Mr. Rogers and his fantastical neighborhood, so when I saw this block set I knew it was definitely a future Christmas gift idea for my kids. The set features beloved characters and places from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood including Henrietta Pussycat, King Friday XIII and Lady Elaine Fairchilde’s Museum-Go-Round. The set is made in the USA and includes 26 smooth, 100% kiln-dried, hardwood blocks finished with non-toxic paints.

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood Wooden Block Set even comes with a lifetime guarantee not to warp or splinter and exceeds American CPSIA safety guidelines for painted wooden toys. You can purchase the set - and relive some of your childhood - for $38 from Amazon.com. - Emily H.

We know how much babies love to grab and chew toys. Why not make soft toys that are easy for them to grab? I discovered a tutorial for how to make soft cloth blocks, and then another one where someone went a step further to add ribbon to the blocks to add a whole new level of fun to the toy.

If you want to add ribbon, determine how big you want the loops, then cut the ribbon into strips of that length. Then I would sew the ribbon onto the fabric squares before you sew the squares together. Then when you sew the squares together, you will sew over the ribbon a second time, making sure it is securely fastened. If you want to add buttons as well, be sure that they are larger than 1.25" in diameter, if not larger, so that your child will not risk choking on if they come off. (A 1.25" tube is used by the CPSC as an indicator of whether a product's small part presents a choking hazard to children under 3.) I would sew these on to the fabric squares before they are sewn together as well. You can use a strong thread, such as upholstery thread to make sure they are sewn on securely and won't come off easily.

You can even use different textures of fabric for each of the different sides to help stimulate your child's sensory growth. Try a soft Minky on one side. Or maybe a felt or fleece on another. Then maybe a tweed or a corduroy for a slightly rougher texture. Look through your scraps of fabric to see what you have available, or try a second hand store to find different textures on different types of clothing you can cut up. - Trisha

Some days, no matter how many toys you've got around the house, the kid needs something new to play with. For this, I suggest this super simple crafted toy: the recycling bin maraca. Somewhere in that bin you have just what you need... Is it a quart milk jug, or an Odwalla juice bottle, or conditioner bottle? Doesn't matter. Basically, a smallish, thin walled, plastic container with a secure lid. I used a tiny jug that I bought molasses in, which was nice because it has a kid-sized handle.

Clean and dry this container well. Drop about 10 unpopped popcorn kernels, or dry black or pinto beans, or some very small pebbles in there. Then find some nontoxic glue and dab a tiny bit on the threads of the lid. Screw the lid on tightly, and give the glue ten minutes to set up.

Voila! Shake it as a demo for your child, and then let them try it out. If you child is used to rattles, the learning process will be rapid.

As a side note: If your kid likes to bang things, the glue bond might eventually break. In this case, you would be best with a dab of flexible silicone caulk if you have it. Regardless, check periodically to ensure that the lid is really well screwed on - a loose lid could become a choking hazard. - Leigh G.

I love it when I stumble upon an online treasure chest of handcrafted toys like the ones from Quiet Hours Toys. Mom-owned Quiet Hours features an ever changing collection of handmade products from around the world, including a wonderful selection of toys. The company works with small businesses, fair trade cooperatives and independent artists and crafters to bring you custom, limited-edition pieces “that will delight the little people in your life.” My favorite for baby? The Grabbing Gnome Teether.

I’m not a big gnome fan, especially the garden variety, but when I saw these I couldn’t resist! Their rosy little cheeks and sweet smiles had me at first glance and the bright colors sealed the deal. These cheerful “grabbing” gnomes are made of soft cotton velour and feature a smooth beech wood teething ring. How can you resist the Grabbing Gnome Teether? It has cuteness oozing out of every cotton velour stitch!

Made in Germany, the Grabbing Gnome Teether is truly unique…and unique makes for the best kind of baby shower gift! You can purchase the Grabbing Gnome Teether in red or blue for $19 from Quiet Hours Toys. - Emily H.