apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

At the last ICFF, a company called Duc Duc had GREAT blankets.

Check also the Terence Conran shop.

I also generally like the baby stuff via Red Envelope.

What to get the baby that has everything, including your name?

How about a donation to a charity that assists less fortunate children, in the name of the child?

Already, the world is a better place for her being in it!

Or a savings bond.

Denyse Schmidt makes some really beautiful quilts, including baby quilts. She has a range of lines at difference prices (although none are exactly cheap). Click on my name for her website, which lists stores that sell her quilts (this is a link to the baby quilts on her site www.dsquilts.com/sh_baby.html).

Why not go old-school with a sterling silver gift? Something that will last beyond the goo-goo-ga-ga stage for the kid? "Your uncle Cyrano gave you this when you were born..."

This silver plated piggy bank could be very funky in a modern setting.

A silver cup says, "You're special, kid!" if your budget extends that far.

I went to the Gump's web site because it seemed like a reasonable place to find silver baby gifts. I'm sure other people would have more "modern design" suggestions.

I was going to suggest bedding from Dwell Baby, but now that I saw Flannery's suggestion, I second it. Great idea.

try www.modernkid.com - a canadian store

or try moma stores, or a lifetime membership to a science museum or some other place.

or, if you have the time, make something. a little quilt wouldn't take tooo long. pick up denyse schmidt's book on quilts, her instructions are very thorough and great for beginners.

What about the gift of a professional photographer to take the baby's (or family's) portrait? Not the cheesy Sear's kind, but something more candid. Then have it framed for them to hang on a wall in a large-format, modern, sleek frame with wide white matting. I'm sure NYC is full of amazing photographic talent.

Here's an example at my friend's blog of some candid children's photos...she's in SF, but this will give you an idea of what I mean.
http://www.iamcaffeine.blogspot.com/

p.s. She JUST started this blog, so it's in its infancy.

Yeah, a bond or charity is a nice idea, but there is so much amazing baby stuff out there, that I can't go without a little shout out to my fav's:
http://www.modernseed.com
http://www.sparkability.net
http://www.babygeared.com
http://www.modernchild.net
http://www.kidonyc.com
http://www.mimmobaby.com
http://www.psychobabyonline.com
http://www.modernmini.com

Also check out all the great baby blogs who are constantly on the lookout for new and interesting baby products. www.daddytypes.com and www.babychic101.com are the 2 that come to mind. Good luck!

Try also DWRjax, the DWR kid offshoot.
And DesignPublic.com has a baby section.

My friend who is a librarian has just started company with another librarian called Belles Lettres. They assist in creating private libraries or organizing the one you have.

One of the things they've done in the past help new parents create libraries for their kids. Basically, you tell them how much you want to spend, and the interests or background of the parents and they'll create a library of children's books tailored for the unborn child.

Hope this doesn't sound like too much of an ad, but you asked!

Her name is Rebecca and the email is b.lettres@gmail.com

I don't know if the other posters have kids, but I do and I have a love of modern design, because of this, I think I am a good person to give you advice about this. I second Giggle (there is also a store on LExington at 74th) and Modernseed.com, I purchased many things from them. Design Public has nice things for babies as do the various museum stores, especially the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper Hewitt. ABC Carpet and Home has a fabulous selection of wonderful, unique children's gifts, both beautiful and useful (and clothes too). I also love to buy other parents gifts from Barney's, they have unique clothes, toys and gifts. Additionally, one gift that might wow them would be the Jonathan Adler Giraffe Lamp, http://www.jonathanadler.com/shop/product.php?productid=16768&cat=250&page=1
As for Conran's I have to say, pre-parenthood, it seemed like a great resourse, but after children I must admit, their selection is pretty boring and not very useful. Cheers!

I started giving out Trumpette's Pixies http://www.trumpette.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=99 and Johnny's http://www.trumpette.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=98 when my friends started having babies. Rosie's are sweet too. They're cleverly cute and functional -- they look like real shoes on tiny feet but they're really socks. Seems to make more sense that putting baby feet in constricting shoes. Should last about a year from birth until the baby outgrows them and starts walking. Happy gifting.

OOOh, get the DwellBaby Animal Cushion set from DesignPublic!!

http://www.designpublic.com/shop/dwell/4805

Or the dudcduc alphabet blanket also there!

http://www.designpublic.com/shop/duc-duc/4453

I soooooooo want to design a nursery!! Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

kid-o kid-o kid-o
they have an excellent, diverse, well-edited store.

sons & daughters is also very nice (ave A)

Bishop Lennon is a Portland artist who will make custom paintings based on the baby's name. She's great about sending sketches to make sure it's exactly what you want. It makes a really nice, personal gift.

http://www.bishop-art.com/

I think the membership to a museum or gallery sounds really cool and something the child could enjoy their entire life. Don't forget about the existing child though, since you mention this is the second. It's often really hard for the older sibling to see all this attention coming in for the new baby. Something small (e.g. a book) will help make them feel they aren't being forgotten or replaced.

Try also Land of Nod, the Crate & Barrel-associated kid's line.

oh yes, and someone above mentioned sterling silver, which of course reminds me to recommend Jeanine Payer. She is a San Francisco jeweler who makes these amazing silver pieces with tiny hand engraved poems on them. You can also have her custom engrave a poem or saying of your own.

http://www.jeaninepayer.com/shop/for_baby.html

One other thought, they are not terribly modern, but Jacadi (boutiques throughout the city/world) has really attractive toys like the ubiquitous baby gym/activity mat that ordinarily comes in primary colors from big name toy companies (which most parents have for their children). http://www.jacadiusa.com/ecomapp/shop/category.do?categoryId=135They have matching crib sets, but if there parents are as into design as I think, they probably already have their nursery scheme set up; I for one would not have wanted anyone buying me sheets or bumpers or quilts because they are so personal. Also, since this is a second baby keep in mind that first babies get about 10,000 blankets (perhaps if the gender is different the story wouldn't be the same?), welcome gifts of course, but perhaps they could use something a little more interesting.

I messed up that link for Jacadi somehow:
http://www.jacadiusa.com/ecomapp/shop/category.do?categoryId=135

Duc duc's (beautiful) website is
http://www.ducducnyc.com

There was a photographer at this year's PhotoNY or AIPAD show that does AMAZING portraits of baby animals... I would build a nursery aorund on e of the shots, but could also be a great gift.

I'll didg at home tonight to see if I can find the artist/gallery info.

both of these are a block away from each other

yoyamart on hudson street for best baby/kid stuff.....from toys to clothes and furnitute

yoyamart on gansevoort st near hudsonfor novelty items.....ugly dolls.....limited edition japanese and french items, those pillows with the owls, pidgeons,wolves, etc printed on them
either one is a winner!

Although a baby would not be able to play with these right away, you could help create a future design lover by giving a set of Froebel blocks. I believe these were played with by the young Frank Lloyd Wright; their simple but architectural shapes are supposed to encourage creative play and a sense of design.

Scan Coochicoos, it's a great design blog for modern parents and it may link you over to some great resources. http://www.coochicoos.com

Also, a friend, Mirja (from Germany), owns this shop (haus kids) just north of Boston, and she has an online store. I love the German toys she carries. I attended a shower recently and gave the mother a few German baby toys and she told me afterwards that my gifts were her favorite because they were so unique. Everytime I see the baby, the rattle is in her hand. Mom says she loves it. Score!

http://www.hauskids.com

Then there's:

http://www.minijake.com (Brooklyn + online)

http://www.zidzidkids.com

http://www.modernnursery.com

http://www.modernseed.com

http://www.moderntots.com

http://www.rompbklyn.com (Brooklyn + online)

And of course, http://www.dwr.com/kids.cfm

Click on my name and email me if you need additional suggestions.

Holly

I should add that David Fussenegger blankets are LOVELY.

http://www.hauskids.com/david_fussenegger_list.html

and Haba and Käthe Kruse are superb!

http://www.hauskids.com/play.html#kathekruse

Just so you know, I'm not blindly suggesting these things, I've actually held them, purchased many, and have many friends in Germany that buy these brands constantly, so I can back them up.

Selecta is a great brand, too:

http://www.hauskids.com/play.html#mudpuppy

:) Have fun! Looks like everyone got involved in this post, so I'm sure you'll find something for your friends!

Holly

My favourite toys are the following:

- the crocheted toys at Bu and the Duck in Tribeca, especially George the Giraffe (don't tell him that he is really a spotted llama)
http://www.buandtheduck.com/toys/toysCrochet.html

-Personally, I yearn for the granny square blankie (in wool) that they carry at Bu & the Duck. I am definitely getting it for #2 this fall (it will form the decorating scheme for his room).

-The chrocheted toys by Anne-Claire Petit, a Dutch designer who used to do accessories for Espirit. Her stuff is very retro chic. Here is an idea of her range: http://www.3brownbears.com/petit.html

-Our favourite toy is the wheeliemoo though. It is the BEST ride-on toy ever created! It not only looks good (great in modern interiors), but is the best ride ever (just ask my daughter). http://www.wheelybug.com/ We got ours sent from Australia, but there is a U.S. distributor now.

-Another favourite of my daughter's is Bunglie Bunny by jelly cat (you can buy them all over the place):
http://www.justjellycat.co.uk/product.asp?numPageStartPosition=1&P_ID=782&strPageHistory=&strKeywords=&strSearchCriteria=&PT_ID=108

I second Holly's suggestion about David Fussenegger blankets - I've given them to a few friends (and own two 'adult' ones of my own!) - they went over big with my 'modern' parental friends. I've also found them brand new on ebay at a really inexpensive price.

I hate to sound like I'm peddling wares for my friend but she has a wonderful website for baby products, clothes, toys, the works, at http://www.babysoyusa.com/
She also designs some of the baby clothing, tested on her own kid. And for someone who does not have a baby, I still spend hours looking at all the cool stuff. Oh, the gift wrapping is great!

The softest baby blanket I have ever come across (and have given as a present) is the fattamano cotton shearling blanket from Germany: http://www.ronrobinsoninc.com/lifesizekids/product.php?cat=5

And a truly decadent gift is this amazing puzzle, which was written up in the NYTimes this weekend:
(it's on sale, and still ridiculously expensive -- only the sort of gift an indulgent godparent type would give):

Here's the write-up:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/fashion/sundaystyles/23POSS.html/partner/rssnyt?_r=1&oref=slogin

http://www.dwr.com/search.cfm?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&Ntk=all&N=0&Ntt=puzzle&x=0&y=0

in miami, miami beach and online

http://www.geniusjones.com/

One-time-use cameras are never a bad idea, because you really can never have too many pictures of a newborn ESPECIALLY if it's NOT the first child, because subsequent children tend to get short shrift.

someone mentioned ducduc above -- gorgeous stuff! also, a swiss company, Naef, makes really fantastic wood block puzzles. they're sold at http://branchhome.com (actually, branch is great on its own, i'd suggest checking that out anyway)

a lovely friend of mine from MIT (who also introduced me to AT) just started an associates, designing fabulous and progressive children products from fun clothing to cool furniture. her stuff will be in hip stores all over the globe soon enough, so i think you might get a kick out of expriencing it first hand. ENJOY!
www.pringadi.com

i know online shop www.turtlepapers.com has some really bright and well illustrated great tees and onesies. check them out!

The ALWAYS hilarious Mayer Rus has a commentary on baby chic in the most recent House & Garden. A must read for anyone on this thread so far.

He is sooooo my role model.

Stroller blankets and hooded terry towels from dwellbaby - my fav gifts from my shower. Lots o color/pattern. I know you can get them at Giggle www.egiggle.com.

auto on Washington Street has unique baby items, including clothes, toys and things for the nursery. They are also online at:

http://thisisauto.com/

I love the Foundling toys they stock, like this bunny:

http://thisisauto.com/detail/4,3,8/

ohmiGOD that bunny is adorable.

MUJI!
http://dailyincasa.blogspot.com/2006/07/kids-day-muji.html
http://www.mujionline.co.uk

is a hand full of dirt like embryonics?

www.Kidszone1.com offers a huge range of really gorgeous, quirky, adorable and cute soft toys that come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles.

nice website