Stroller Couture

We have to admit that being a parent now is super-cool. Aside from the joy of just being a parent, there is so much out there that caters to kids and parents in a more sophisticated and dignified way. From room design to family vacations to nursing covers, options abound to express your style - and your child's - with nary a puppy dog, cartoon character or flower in sight.

Add stroller covers to that growing list of products. In our last post, we noted that a pediatric dermatologist advised that the best way to protect baby from the sun was to keep her out of it altogether. Bellah May LLC, out of Orange County, California, has a line of reversible sunshades for the stroller that will expose nothing but style. Okay, there is a dog or two in the mix, but they're featured in the modern (or totally retro) way that today's fashionable parents are accustomed to sporting.

We like that the shades are reversible. Junior can check out his ABC's on the inside while the world sees a gingham check outside. But what we really love is that the sunshade comes in its own also-reversible bag, which then hangs off the stroller to hold all that "stuff" that you'll inevitably have with you. The website has a cute and quick tour on how the sunshade and bag work. (Don't worry, it's very simple, but the owners must know that tired parents can be notoriously slow.)

Bellah May also says that proceeds from sales will go to a child-focused charity, meaning you can feel good about helping someone else's child while protecting your own from the sun.


Sunshade in Paige pattern
www.bellahmay.com
$80

Beach Bag Couture

Over at Luxist, we just learned that Hermes has come out with a beach bag to beat all beach bags. Constructed of cotton voile and coming in 4 different colors, you can jauntily sport this on your next beach vacation for $850.


available in cream, orange, turquoise and black
www.hermes.com

Diapers Deluxe

Diaper bags have come a long way from the days of pink bunnies and blue teddy bears. Check out these options, all lovely enough to have you strutting through airports with flair. You'll be using these long after baby is out of pullups.

Coach Optic Signature Baby Bag

Comes in pink, blue, black and tan. It has an infinite number of pockets (which we find frustrating but you might love) and the changing pad that makes this a diaper bag versus a regular tote.
www.coach.com
$398

Burberry Close Decorative Shackle Buckle

For Burberry-loving moms, a signature diaper bag; in pvc with nylon lining; includes changing pad.
www.burberry.com
$495

Eva Rocker Diaper Bag by Debbie Rott

Leather bag that comes in an array of colors and celebrity styling: black, tan, red, purple, navy, denim, brown and gold. 6 inside pockets and waterproof changing pad.
www.blissliving.com
normally $310, on sale right now for $295

Audrey Bag by Mia Bossi

This bag performs covert diaper duty, which we love: it has a washable changing pad, a removable insert, and detachable straps for snapping onto strollers. We love the computer insert option to tote the laptop, although for a $1300 bag we think it should come gratis (it's an additional $54.50). Supple Italian leather with snake skin trim; also comes in glow and orchid.
www.miabossi.com
$1308

Fleurville Diaper Bag

Leather bag shown in Chocolate Luxe; also comes in black, pink and aqua marine. Comes with see-through wipe case, removable insulated bottle holder, and washable changing cloth.
www.fleurville.com
on sale for $197.95

Stork Sak

A great option for dads but cool for moms who want a hip unisex look; in black or espresso tough cowhide leather. Includes leather trim changing mat; a great laptop bag when diaper duty is over.
www.tuttibella.com
$200

Staying Liquid

It's your last day of vacation. You're somewhere warm and lovely on a beach of warm white/pink/black sand. Or perhaps there's an infinity pool, so named, you think, because you could stay in it until the end of time.

Your flight doesn't leave until mid-afternoon or evening and you've finagled a late checkout, or perhaps there's a suite you can take advantage of for those odd hours between 11 AM checkout and actual departure. Either way, you've worked it so there's enough time to enjoy one last frolic in the water, all the while pretending that you don't have to leave your paradise.

Except...

what to do with those soaking wet bathing suits?

Hmmmm...you could stuff them in the plastic laundry bag the hotel usually provides in the closet, but how common. It would be so much nicer to have your own smart-looking wet bag.

Well now you can. Appropriately named "Wet Bag," the name may not be chic but the style is. Originally designed to hold diaper paraphernalia, these bags come in 3 sizes ranging from small more personal sizes to large hold-the-family-swimwear size. The outside is thick sturdy cotton padded with a polylaminate material, while the inside is, of course, waterproof. There are nine prints to choose from that are appropriate for adults as well as children, and best of all, these bags are completely washable and reusable.

And if you're bathing au naturel, you can always use your Wet Bag for the body washes, colognes and hair products that you can't bring on board anymore.

www.minimebabygear.com
$11.95-$17.95

Busy Bodies

Kudos to last Sunday's New York Times Travel Section, which hipped us to the website Madallie.com, a children's travel store.

While you can't really reinvent the wheel when it comes to keeping kids occupied on the road, the fun products at Madallie are unique in style. They've got stuffed animals that are so plush and comfy that we're thinking of buying one for ourselves, and their magnetic games - slides and ladders and checkers are a few - put old games in fun new packaging.

Our real faves, though, aren't the games and finger puppets that are in abundance. Instead, we like the pseudo-grownup stuff, like the colorful luggage tags and passport holders. The travel journals also look really cool: they're great for helping kids keep track of what they've seen, done and God forbid, learned on their trips to Peru and Vietnam. There's even some funky stationery for camp or trips, a great tool to introduce kids to the dying art of writing letters instead of emails. (What? You mean people used to write on paper and mail it?)

Now when we prepare for our next trip we can make one online stop for all that "keep busy" stuff. Because isn't there enough stuff to do before traveling already?

Baby's Got Back

Backpack, that is.

Maybe you've given your tot his own Louis Vuitton luggage set. Or you've gone the other route and prefer to let your 5-year old drag a Jansen sportsac through the airport.

If you're like us, however, you fall somewhere in the middle. Louis Vuitton, God help us, not yet. But the ubiquitous monotone backpack? Too anonymous and boring. God forbid Junior puts it down at the airport, you'll never find it again.

Enter Little Packrats. This company, created by mother-of-twin-boys Cathy Berse-Hurley, makes backpacks that are creative enough to catch a child's fancy without being too whimsical. They're small enough for a toddler to carry while still being "cool" enough for the teen set. While these bags are not big or sturdy enough to use as checked luggage, they're great for carrying games and other "keep busy" items on board. (Which should reduce the burden on your shoulders by half, no?)

Made of durable vinyl, these will appeal to those who eschew leather. But even fans of animal hide will appreciate the quality of these bags, and with most of them at $40 a pop, you can equip your kid with a full menagerie for school and travel.