Fizzy Fun
Bathtime strategies can make or break an evening, and Dabble & Dollop Droplets (mixable bath bombs) stack the odds in your favor. Designed by California mom and natural cosmetics veteran Stephanie Leshney, the vegan line is gluten- and cruelty-free. Soothing seed oils (like jojoba and safflower) moisturize and soothe babies' skin, while fruit and spices provide amazing, mixable scents. Naples designer Julia Hall Liegeois’ 4-year-old, Henry, loves dropping the bombs in the water and watching them fizz and dissolve. “Bath time becomes a fun, interactive activity,” Julia says.
Courtesy Image
Surf's Up
Twin mom and Gulfshore Life Community Advisory Board member Jennifer McCurry has a hot tip for #girlmoms: Get your gal an Oopsie Daisy Zip Rash swimsuit. “My friends with daughters love their one-of-kind, fade-resistant designs,” Jennifer says. The suits have SPF 50 built-in and handy snaps for diaper changes in the smaller sizes.
Courtesy Image
Beach Bestie
Beach buckets get a darling upgrade with Sandy Beach Dolls. Designed by a Connecticut mom, these BPA-free plastic toys are essential companions for Florida kids. Sandy (and the newly launched boy doll, Sailor) floats and has a hole at the top for endless fun filling and refilling the 14-inch frame. Cleaning wet, sticky sand from all the nooks and crannies may take effort, but it’s nothing compared to dealing with a matted-haired, faded, bumped and bruised baby doll after a day on the water. “This was a huge hit with my toddler for the beach, pool and on our last cruise,” says Gulfshore Life photographer Anna Nguyen.
Courtesy Image
Sunny Outlook
Julia also loves Babiators sunnies for her preschooler. The shades—found at Naples children's boutique Sunset + Pine—block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays, and the mom-of-four says the durable frames are comfortable and stand up to her son’s splashing, tumbling and running. Plus, they come with a one-year replacement guarantee. “I don’t have to worry if they get lost or broken,” she says.
Courtesy Image
Mini Mindful Moments
Naples mom and yoga teacher Elaina Vasta created Just Play by E.CO to sell expandable breathing balls, meditation teddies, wooden hand chimes and other tools to make it easy for kids to learn invaluable mindfulness techniques while having fun. WINK News anchor Lindsey Sablan’s kids love the Butterfly Theme Yoga Kit, with a yoga pose dice game, shell-themed craft, scarf for visual learning during breathwork and wearable butterfly wings. “We spotted the kits at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) holiday market, and both my kids immediately wanted them,” Lindsay says. (Look into Elaina’s Mini Buddhas kids’ yoga classes in locations like CMON and Naples’ Salt Therapy Grotto & Spa).
Courtesy Image
A Magical Companion
Get your little a new best friend while doing good around the world with Cuddle + Kind’s Zoe the Unicorn. The brand partners with the United Nations World Food Program to donate 10 meals with the sale of every doll. “Cece is in her unicorn phase—big time,” Gulfshore Life editor-at-large and mother-of-two Dorothea Hunter Sönne says of her 5-year-old. Each doll is hand-knit in Peru using 100-percent cotton yarn, hypoallergenic polyfill, a high-stitch count (for durability) and fair-trade practices.
Courtesy Image