These products can make life easier after the baby comes
Oh, Father Christmas, will you leave something special for Mama under the tree?
The explosion of baby and children's products means thousands of new items to choose from.
Some of the stuff makes grandmothers green with envy ("I wish I would have had a lightweight, foldable stroller"), and some of it makes them laugh mockingly ("You bought an electric wipe warmer?").
Whether grandmas approve or not, there's some unique stuff out there lately:
• Who knew breast feeding could be so stylish? The Hooter Hider is a "nursing cover" made with fun fabrics. ($35 at Nordstrom and at many suburban baby boutiques. See www.bebeaulait.com for locations.)
• The wise people at Chictot realize that a tiny little bib ain't gonna cut it when it comes to a spaghetti dinner or finger painting. So they created the Coverall, an adorable pullover outfit that is really just a head-to-toe bib. Designs range from pirates to flip-flops. ($32, www.chictots.com)
• Eco-moms, this is for you. St. Louis-based bumGenius makes a full line of cloth diapering products with 100 percent organic cotton or wool (for the diaper covers). Mothers say the products are easy to use, more environmentally friendly and softer than those landfill-clogging other diapers. (www.bumgenious.com)
• A sign of the times, indeed. Champaign-based company, PardonMOI, makes T-shirts that alert people to your child's specific food allergy. Ten percent of the proceeds are donated to food allergy research. ($24.95, www.pardonmoi.com)
• Lincolnshire superwoman Lorra Rudman sells some funny and feisty T-shirts on her new Web site, www.hardworkingwoman.com. Some of the most popular include "Life=my workout" and "Zen Mother." ($20-$30, www.hardworkingwoman.com)
• It looks like a stylish tote, but really it's a Korbie -- a traveling bassinet and changing table. The product was a big hit with the judges on PBS' "Everyday Edisons," and it's easy to see why. ($179.99, www.korbie.com)
Boutique openings
• Cynthia Rowley, the Barrington native turned celebrity designer, opened a second boutique in Chicago this week. The store is at 1653 N. Damen Ave. in the Bucktown neighborhood.
• Funkshion Clothing opened earlier this month at 2121 W. Division St., in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The boutique will sell everything from cocktail dresses to casual accessories, and provides its customers with a personal shopping service, complimentary drinks and live music from guest DJs.
Help your lips
• We're in lip balm season, and Blistex's newest offerings include a Lip Infusion Soothing Splash that has a stainless steel roller ball applicator. They also have new lip balms flavored like fruit smoothies. ($2.49, at most major grocery stores and pharmacies)