Book and Toy Exchange

Save time, money and reduce clutter by bringing your gently-used and loved children's books and toys to our BOOK & TOY EXCHANGE held during Keiki Earth Day.

How it works:
The idea is to give books and toys your family no longer uses in exchange for "new" books and toys your family may want. Bring your items for advance drop-off at Baby Awearness during store hours from April 18 - 21. You will be put on a list and given a bag.

On Saturday April 23, during our Keiki Earth Day festivities, you may peruse through our exchange tables to fill your bag and teach your children the joy of recycling.

Guidelines:
Wooden, nontoxic, eco-friendly toys and puzzles -- no plastic or stuffed animals!
Toys must be unbroken and in working condition with all pieces intact
Toys & books must be clean
Books must not have ripped or missing pages

If you have questions about whether a toy is eligible for the exchange, please call the store first. Leftover toys and books at the end of the event will be donated to BAX and/or community nonprofit organizations benefitting children.

BAX Buy-In Event!

Saturday, March 5th
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Clean out your playrooms and diaper stash to get cash or store credit AND join us for some delightful storytelling in English, Spanish and Japanese! We will also have a special BAX Bargain Basket filled with goodies (everything $3.50 or less!) as well as a donation drive of any books and toys we don't accept for resale. It will be a fun-filled family day that will leave you feeling good all around!

Toy Sale!

Toys will be on sale 10 to 20% off on Dec 11th and 12th (consignment toys excluded). Snatch up these great holiday specials this weekend only

Nova Naturals
Wooden Horse Stable Barn

Great for imaginative play with animals and dolls!

20% off regular price: $199.99
** Sale price: $160.00 ** 

Wooden Vehicles by Kinderkram, handmade in Germany

15% off regular price: $95.00
** Sale price: $80.75 **

Also available:
Wooden Tow Truck

   Table Top Kitchen
Handcrafted cherry and walnut stove with knobs that turn and a removable sink. Perfect for hours of cooking play!


10% off regular price: $150.00
   ** Sale price: $135.00 **
 

Also on sale ~ 15% to 20% off all toys by Maxim, Green Toys, Evi Dolls and Gnomes

Holiday Storytelling with Miss Roberta

Be sure to break away from the holiday madness by bringing your little ones to our Holiday Storytelling Hour on Saturday, December 11th at 11 a.m. Miss Roberta Ducharme of Waldorf Honolulu School's parent/child program will lead a delightful segment of songs, stories, rhythm and rhyme. Perfect for children ages 0 to 5 years.

All toys will be on sale 10 to 20% off during the weekend of Dec 11th and 12th.

Let’s Talk Dolls With Julliet Lowe

What makes dolls so magical?

Dolls are the last toys out there in the world of talking creatures that even adults can still hear.

Most adults have lost touch with their childhood and through the help of a doll, this magical world awakens again. When your doll speaks, everything else joins in, soft toys, pets, and households appliances.

As parents/ storytellers, we have the opportunity to open gates to a world where animals talk and inanimate objects have their own stories to tell. Here is a world where everything is alive. Dolls provide an awesome outlet to explore with your young child regarding all of life’s challenges and how we relate to them.

To give a doll to your child, symbolically, you are saying, “ This is your first of tasks, the care for your essential self.” A doll is often the first real responsibility in the life of a child. I recall both my children taking the time to feed their dolls, change their clothes, and turn them into wonderful companions.  This exchange brings baby “alive” and through this care, taps into the child’s higher self and mission in the world. When they threw their babies around, I gently reminded them that babies are treated with loving hands and they picked up their babies with care and tucked them to sleep in their doll beds. It is with this attention that the doll remains alive. It is when the doll is thrown in a drawer or buried in a pile that the doll dies.

Dolls may help us talk to our children about death, environment, terrible noises, war, life, hope, and questions that cannot be answered.

The ideal doll is a simple one without much detail. A doll with a simple face is able to mirror all your child’s moods and can express anything.  Happiness, sadness, fear, anger, etc. It is really hard to imagine a doll being sad when there is a happy face painted permanently on their face.
Again, simple is best. Imagine a doll that may grow with your child, laugh and cry with your child. This is a magical doll.

Here is an example of a parent using their child’s doll, “Sally” to create a story;

“Sally the doll sat in the laundry leaning against the sink tap.
‘Don’t you ever get dizzy?’ She asked.’ Not really,’ said the dryer in a grumbling voice. ‘Just a little hot and bothered.’

‘Where does all the fluff come from?’ asked Sally. ‘Off the clothes of course,’ said the dryer with a giggle.

Sally heard a thump, strangely recurring.’Ohhhhhh,’ said the dryer with a groan,’ I wish she wouldn’t do the sneakers, they give me such a belly ache.”

One more example of a story from a dolls perspective about a child’s doll that disappeared and then resurfaced:

         Guess where I have been?
          I’ve been up in the air on the back of bird.
          I was inside the blue sky.
         A bee flew past and buzzed in my ear.
         Then the bird flew down
         and gently put me
         right back here.

Blessings to you and yours,

Julliet Lowe

Let’s Talk Toys With Julliet Lowe

Introducing  Camden Rose at Baby Awearness!
  

“Each item that we sell is meticulously constructed by craftspeople that specialize in their art. Our items are not mass-produced, rather they are created one-by-one, the old-fashioned way. Our toys are constructed to last through multiple generations and the materials that make up the toys are gathered through organized sustainability programs. We use the highest quality materials, all certified non-toxic. Toys made from natural materials such as wood, silk, wool or beeswax have a warm and honest quality that does not give a false impression of weight, mass or touch. It is our responsibility to provide an environment that tells the story of our world honestly                                                       and at the same time protects that world."

Unless noted, ALL items offered by Camden Rose are made in the United States with materials gathered from sustainably sources. This is a choice in the protection of our future. By utilizing skilled American craftsmanship we assist in the renaissance of great American manufacturing. We also have assisted in the creation of a Fair Trade worker-owned cooperative outside of Lima, Peru. We diligently work to broaden the notion of family to include everyone in need of assistance. We feel that all people should have equal opportunity to flourish in life.”

This book and block set is simple, yet extremely clever and loads of fun for all! The story was designed to introduce some of the ways in which three simple shapes can be organized to form a wide variety of people, animals and objects. This is not only fun, but also deeply educational, as it increases the capacity for both creativity and geometric thinking. While reading the story, children and adults alike arrange and fit the blocks in the shapes pictured. After reading the story a new story of ones own can be made by tracing new shapes on paper and creating ones own book. From flowers to animals to the moon, the creation of objects is limited only by the imagination.

Our NEW Camden Dolls are crafted with pure wool innards, a cotton shell and cotton clothing. All of the girl dolls have a hairstyle with a matching cloth band that can be undone and the hair can restyled differently. Each doll is packaged with an identity card that tells a story about that particular doll and the Camden Rose Fair Trade Cooperative. Each doll is made by hand by hearing disabled women in our Fair Trade cooperative in Lima, Peru.

Please, E Kipa Mai.” Come Visit Us”

Let's Talk Toys With Julliet Lowe

Coming Soon: Green Toys!

Start Simple: Recycled Plastic Milk Jugs 

We use recycled milk containers as the main ingredient in creating our toys. Yes, the exact plastic milk jugs that you and your family drink from everyday. When you finish your milk and toss the container in the recycling bin, these milk containers are collected at your curb by a local recycling company, who then sorts them from all the other types of plastic. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. For you plastic geeks, the plastic material we use is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This material is considered one of the safest and cleanest plastics around.

Made in California, U.S.A.: Less Transportation, Less Energy 
All Green Toys products are 100% made in the USA. To be more specific, they are produced in California, a state known for strict toy safety and environmental laws. It's cool to buy U.S.A. but also think about this: transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gasses. We all know driving less is good for mother nature, but did you ever think about how many miles a toy logs before it ends up in your local store?

Our toys are truly local creations. Every step of the process -- from milk container recycling to toy production to final assembly -- occurs in California. Our raw materials and toys aren't shipped from overseas, which saves a lot of energy and reduces greenhouse gasses. It also guarantees your toys won't get seasick before they get to your home!

** Sage Mamas Making A Difference**

Lauren Rabb, Muse and Mom Behind The Felt Commissary

Here at Baby Awearness, we firmly believe in all things cute and lovable as well as eco-friendly. We are excited to add handmade felt food toys to our growing toy 'n play section (Also keep an eye out for July's "Let's Talk Toys" segment that's posting soon). Next time you're at the store, you'll have to take a look at these beautiful and well-made felt creations. They would make treasured additions to any child's toy collection.

Local mom and crafter Lauren is proudly married to her husband, a Navy man who just passed his 10-year mark this month. Their family is comprised of two young toddlers, their dog Kona, and their newest addition -- a foster St. Bernard named Rook.

In this debut post of our new monthly column Sage Mamas Making A Difference, Lauren shares some thoughts about being a busy momtrepeneur and the inspiration that started The Felt Commissary:

What inspired you to start making your own toys?
I was inspired to make my own toys because of all the recalls on toys that were being made in China. I only had one or two recalled toys but that scared me. Plus I had just spent my hard-earned money to buy toys that my son couldn't play with. I had seen a few felt toys around but they were extremely expensive and almost looked like something I wouldn't want my child to "mess up." So I jumped online and got some ideas from other craft sites and began experimenting.

My first few ventures weren't very pretty. I tried to make an eggplant and it turned out looking like a giant purple chili pepper... it was funny! I really couldn't help but laugh. As I started to get the hang of it, I really enjoyed the sense of pleasure I got from other parents' responses. I got a lot of "you could sell this," though I really didn't think I could until I started to ask people who weren't familiar with eco-friendly toys if they would be willing to pay for handmade toys. When one mom in particular, who told me she would rather spend money in a store "the easy way," saw my felt foods, she became an instant convert! That was validating and nudged me into the direction of turning my craft into a business venture.

On your label, it says you use eco-friendly materials. Where do you get them? Do you make your own felt?

I don't make my own felt... I would love to but I don't think I could keep my prices as low as they are if I were to do that. I get my felt threw local craft suppliers and I try and make my foods around the various colors that are in stock, which can sometimes limit my creativity. I also use locally made fiber-fill. I am a firm believer in helping the local economy.

How do you balance your crafting and business while being a mother?
This is the hardest part of the whole thing! I really have to scrape together little bits of time to make felt toys. I cut out pieces while I am waiting on noodles to cook for mac and cheese, or I sew while my husband and I catch up on our DVR-ed episodes! I really try and make the best of the little bits of time I have. However, I often find myself sitting up late at night crafting these little gems because I can't turn my creativity off long enough to go to bed (LOL).

Can you offer any ideas to parents and kids out there on creative ways to play with their felt food toys?
These felt toys have a wide array of uses. I use them to teach my son (who is 2.5 years old) and soon my daughter (who is 4 months old) about wise food choices. Instead of calling bread just bread I talk about wheat bread. I know he is only 2.5 years old but he seems to like when I explain things in an adult fashion. I also talk to him about carrots and strawberries and then show him our garden and I can see the light bulb go on as he makes the connection at the dinner table when he points out the food on his plate and the felt food on the floor! My husband and I joke that my son is a self-made fruitarian. He doesn't eat meat and would eat fruit for every meal if he could!

Also, the felt foods help sometimes to introduce new items. I also use them to teach colors and counting as well as chores. My son loves to pull out ALL of his felt food and pretend to cook, wash and eat them, but when it comes to the clean up part it can be more difficult. But by being specific it has really helped. For instance, I tell him to "bring me the carrots" and he does!

What is your favorite felt toy food so far?

Wow, I feel picking a favorite felt food is like picking a favorite child. I love them all. I just made pop-sicles or "pops" as they are called at my house and those turned out great! I love the corn in the husk as well as the peel-able bananas! However my son couldn't make it through a day with out his "appies" or apples, real or fake! I can't wait to see what my daughter's favorites are!

Any new foods to look forward to?
I am having fun creating new food that should be in the store soon! I have cupcakes and green apples as well as cherry pie slices. I am also crafting pizzas with removable toppings! That should really be something to look out for!

Baby A: Thank you Lauren for taking the time to make such wonderful handmade goodies to share with us all as well as for inspiring us with your story.
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Sage Mamas Making A Difference is a new monthly column that is now part of Baby A's blossoming blog. If you know of any inspiring moms in our local community, or are one yourself (modesty not required), drop us a line at lani@babyawearness.com so that we may feature your story and endeavors about how you're making a difference right here in paradise. (LL)

Let's Talk Toys with Julliet Lowe

The Educational Value Of  Natural Toys

We all strive to live on a healthy plane. We strive for sincerity and love. This in itself is a form of education. Education, for me, means to draw out what we already have within ourselves.

When our children take an interest in something, whether it be from a toy in front of them or a school subject, they will follow that interest with intense concentration. This is when true learning takes place. We as parents have the responsibility to help our children unfold under our protection and guidance. We watch them bloom into wonderful personalities.   Healthy children grow up to benefit themselves, their parents, and essentially, the entire world.

I use this as my goal when purchasing toys for Baby aWEARness. Here's a sneak peek as to what's coming soon..

Push Toys

Pull Toys

Music Toys

Food Play

Happy Playtime to you and yours,
Julliet Lowe

Handmade Lovelies to Have and to Hold

Once upon a time, handmade gifts were the norm. It was not uncommon or unusual for someone to make something to mark a special occasion or person. In this fast and furious time of mass-manufactured products, receiving a handmade gift today is like a breath of fresh air and oftentimes a nice and unexpected surprise.

Stop into Baby Awearness, check out our array of beautiful handmade goodies just in courtesy of Muumuu Heaven, and surprise someone special today.

(From top left, clockwise)
1) A cuddly and adorable Daijyobu Bear. Daijyobu means "no worries, it will be alright," in Japanese. Bears are fashioned out of vintage fabrics, button joints, and pompom eyes. All materials are reclaimed, remnants, or recycled. Available in small and large bear hugs.

2) Peace Catchers, or Bird mobiles. Made from fabric scraps, these birds are strung with shells and vintage beads deconstructed from retro jewelry, and crystal pieces from a chandelier once displayed at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The driftwood is from local beaches.

3) Vintage Owl. Like the bears, these owls are made from vintage fabrics and buttons and meant to bring cheer and goodwill. Owls are considered a good omen in Hawaiian and Japanese culture.

4) Heavenly Patchwork Quilt. Lovingly sewn by quilting circles of grandmas and seasoned elders in care homes, these blankets will keep you and your little ones warm, loved, and safe. Again, all fabrics are recycled remnants from muumuus and aloha shirts. (LL)

Let's Talk Toys with Julliet Lowe

You're out shopping for a baby gift and/or birthday present for a special little someone in your life and you're wondering what to get..

Here are some questions to keep in mind.

1. Is it about quality or quantity? A quality toy lasts a lifetime vs. a quantity toy, where parts are cheaply made and break in a short time.

2. Is the toy beautiful? How will this toy affect my child? Does the toy feel good to touch and hold? Typically toys made from natural materials will be more satisfying than those made from plastic, particle board, and other synthetic materials.

3. Last but not least, does the toy smell? This might sound weird but our modern environment tends to overstimulate all the senses, including the sense of smell. Toys that have a strong plastic or perfumed smell should be avoided.

Baby aWEARness supports the idea that play is essential for healthy physical and mental development of each child.

Meet our Evi doll selection 

 

We provide toys that encourage spontaneous free play - such as playing with dolls.

  

 Sophie the Giraffe

Toys that help develop imagination and self direction

 Kinderkram Dumptruck

Kinderkram Farmhouse with Animals

 Wooden Sitching Cheese

Toys that are beautiful..

Beautiful Playsilks

Taggies-100% certified organic cotton fibers, pure silk ribbons, safe dyes,wonderful for baby while being sensitive to the world in which they thrive.

Please visit us in store if you have any questions or would like to learn more about the toys featured here.


Warmest Blessings to you and yours,
Julliet Lowe

Lets Talk Toys with Julliet Lowe

Welcome to the land of "make believe." This is a wonderful age (between 2 to 5 years old) where children love to pretend. We had a mom walk into the store a while ago with her son dressed up like a fireman. He truly was a fireman in that costume.Those of us with daughters know all about the "princess" world and it never fails to amaze me how kids can imitate with instant accuracy.This type of creative play involves both growth and development and changes daily.

Baby aWEARness provides toys that stimulates this stage of play. Your little aspiring chef will have loads of fun preparing a healthy stir fry one day and prepare a yummy sushi meal the next. Everyday can be your birthday with our Melissa and Doug cake set.


We have building blocks that "becomes" scenes for villages.. or where your little ones imagination can turn them into boats or telephones.

Firetrucks, Dump trucks, Excavators, Trains, all provide hours of fun! These vehicles made out of natural beechwood with rubber tires have knobs to move for steering which makes it's function all the more cool!

Until the next, Let's Talk Toys..Happy Play time!

-Julliet Lowe

Lets Talk Toys with Julliet Lowe

Just how important is play in early childhood?
Joseph Pearce, "Child Play" 1993 has said, "All children want to do is learn which they try to do through their greatest learning tool, play."
Today, our keiki have so many toys to play with but they can do less and less with these toys. Also, too many toys can overwhelming and you might find that your little one may play with none of them. So how do we find a balance?
I'm a parent, who like you, wishes to provide our children with beautiful, natural, high quality toys. You know, The kind that still has magic in them. The kind where children need to work hard to find that magic and bring it out during play time. A good example would be a play silk: It might act as an ocean one day and turn into a cape fit for a king the next.

Baby aWEARness recognizes this need and believes that even though hand crafted toys cost alittle more, your child will benefit, blissfully unaware of its educational and growth development value. We would like to feature our Evi dolls made in Brazil this week.
Evi dolls, a simple doll, soft, warm, and made from natural fibers, provide an image of a human being for your child.
I've watched my own children adopt their dolls into their lives, giving them names and providing unconditional love towards them. I've observed the way they play act their own experiences with their dolls and was glad to see this healthy exchange.
Stay tuned for our next Let's talk Toys! blog. I would love to hear about your experiences as well.
warmest Blessings to you and yours,
julliet

Nova Natural Toys!

We are so excited to have Julliet Lowe from the Enchanted Forrest Store at Waldorf ordering our toys now! Check out some of the products we ordered this week:



A perennial favorite, this Rainbow Tunnel Set is one of our most versatile toys! Cut from a solid block of wood, all of its brightly colored arches fit perfectly into one another. With a little imagination, they become cozy caves for woodland gnomes and animals, bridges for block play, rocking boats for dolls, and even a telescoping caterpillar.


What child doesn't wish they could be a little taller? With our Walking Blocks, they don't have to wait until they are older. Stepping up onto them and grabbing the ropes, they are instantly 6" taller. The fun is then figuring out how to walk with them!



Make sure you stop by the store soon to see the new toys for yourself! All our love!

Give Green This Holiday Season!

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season. We just got in Kissaluv's Organic Cotton/Hemp Fitted Diapers in. Made of a mix of naturally durable and anti-bacterial Hemp, and certified Organic cotton, our new diapers take green and sustainability seriously. And now, even better, the newly redesigned V.2.0 Kissa's pack in yet more bang for the buck as the M/L size fits babies 15-40lbs. Buy the diapers once the baby grows out of the newborn stage and you're all set until potty training! Features that make these diapers so special: Superb fabric that brings the goodness of organic cotton and the durability of Hemp fibers Super Trim design, yet very absorbent Snap-in soaker provides enough absorbency even for heavy wetter's Our trademark ruffled legs and proprietary elastic which almost guarantees no-blowouts Sturdy polyacetal resin snap closures- easy for parents, not-so-easy for curious toddlers! Simple easy snap on design sure to be appreciated by moms, dads and grandparents alike Overlapping wings to ensure a good fit for skinny and chubby babies alike See our organic fitted diapers on babies! If you have a expecting moms in your family, Kissaluvs are a newborn favorite. Read on for more eco-friendly gift ideas or come visit us in store! All our love to your blossoming babies, Ashley and Nicky

The Reusable Swim Diaper Perfect for your water loving keiki! Toss out all those bulky, gell-filled disposable swim diapers and switch to a diaper that is a swim diaper and bathing suit in one. Wear it alone or under a swim suit or swim trunks. Do not add anything to the inside; you do not want a swim diaper to be absorbent - it would just absorb pool water and could weigh the child down. The design is based on containment. Make sure it fits snugly without leaving red marks. When you get out of the pool, make sure to put on an absorbent diaper to prevent accidents. The One-Size Reusable Diaper Cloth diapering has come a long way since the days of pins, rubber pants and soaking. In fact, with today's top-of-the-line reusable diapers, cloth diapering is not only better for baby, it's better for your budget and the environment. With modern advances in cloth diaper design, they're easier to use than disposables and provide a sustainable alternative to the excessive waste generated with traditional disposable diapers. No more late night diaper runs, diaper rash, expensive diaper creams or constantly taking out the trash. A quick trip to the washing machine is all you need for three to four days of clean, highly absorbent, non-toxic diapers. For more info, check out my DIY Cloth Diapering Article in the Winter Issue of Green Magazine. Waste Free Lunches If you have ever been to a school cafeteria after lunchtime or glanced over at a Styrofoam filled trashcan in front of your favorite local eatery, you know how waste intensive our midday eating habits can be. With Waimanalo Gulch and other landfills reaching their capacity, it is time for Hawai'i to adopt a cleaner, greener way of fueling up. Consider the concept of the waste-free lunch. A waste-free lunch is prepared and served without disposable packaging or food waste. It is successfully achieved through the use of reusable water bottles, cloth napkins, stainless steal cutlery and lunch containers like bento box sets which promote appropriate portioning to lessen food waste while simultaneously scrapping the need for plastic baggies, plastic wrap or tin foil. Buying in bulk-nuts, beans and rice-also reduces the amount of trash entering the waste stream. Bulk items can be purchased and prepared regularly without all the excess packaging.

Non-Toxic Toys!

We have a wide variety of non-toxic toys for your growing keiki. From the always popular Sophie the Giraffe, to Melissa & Dougs wooden sushi set, we have the perfect toy for your babies and toddlers!

Klean Kanteens In 2004 Klean Kanteen™ introduced the first personal hydration bottle made from stainless steel to give health and environmentally conscious people an alternative to plastic. We have yet to see another bottle company, stainless or otherwise, that makes a product comparable to our high quality, handcrafted bottles or that commits to strong environmental and labor standards. Klean Kanteens are the PERFECT gift for the whole family! They come in 12oz, 18oz, 27oz and 40oz sizes.

Coming Soon! The FLIP Diaper System A Reusable/Disposable Hybrid Diaper by the makers of Bum Genius

Why Flip™? Cloth diapering has never been so easy! · TOSS the used insert into your diaper pail · REPLACE the insert with a clean one · REUSE the cover. The one-size cover and insert adjusts to fit most babies from 7-35 pounds. Flip features: · A waterproof shell, so no extra cover is needed. · Wipe the inside of the cover out and use it over and over again! · Form fitting elastic to prevent leaks. · Patent pending comfy butterfly closure. A feature that is unique to cloth diapers made by Cotton Babies. · No stuffing involved just tuck insert under flaps and go! · Choose between a one-size Stay-Dry Insert or a one-size Certified Organic Cotton Insert. · Disposable inserts are also available for use while traveling. · Patent pending 3x3 adjustable snap system to fit most babies from birth to potty training.