Hand-assembled from select hardwoods, the Newport Cottages Highchair can be finished in one of 25 distinctive finishes, so you can be certain you’ll find the right color to complement your decor.

WIN IT! One lucky Project Nursery reader will win a Newport Cottages Highchair (a $345 value!).

HOW TO ENTER: To enter, visit Newport Cottages and let us know which color you would choose in a comment below. Contest ends Friday, January 20, 2012 at 11:59pm PST.

EXTRA ENTRIES
1. “Like” Project Nursery and Newport Cottages on Facebook, give us a shout out on our wall and tell us you did with a comment below.

2. Follow Project Nursery and Newport Cottages on Twitter, tweet about it and tell us you did with a comment below.

3. Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter or let us know you are already a subscriber with a comment below.

{Remember to use an individual comment to note what you did
for each extra entry (4 comment maximum)}

This is a sponsored post. Thanks for your support
in our effort to bring you exciting giveaways.

Some evenings I swear my children are better suited to be monkeys in the jungle than proper little boys and girls. I admit, I haven’t been the most persistent etiquette teacher in our house, and I’m starting to worry it might be too late! Thank you, lovelymanners, for helping parents and children brush up on their day-to-day manners with their handy and stylish Table Manners placemats.

These cool placemats take a playful stab at improving manners for the whole family. With a fun and cheeky tone, the tips are printed right on each placemat, so you can’t miss them. My favorite is “Please eat slowly, bring your food UP to your mouth, and chew with your mouth CLOSED. Never talk with FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH!” Amen!

The Table Manners placemats come in a set of six: each one is unique with different manners listed. This means you will be able to teach over 24 manners with each set! The mats are easy to clean, reusable and tear resistant. Proper and eco-friendly—a perfect combo—Emily Post would surely approve!

Find it on sale here today for 24-hours only!

Why not arm yourself with some reserve supplies for just such moments when you’re shaking your head saying, what no crayons? no balloon? nothing?! Modern-Twist Kidz Placemats make it easy for you to bring your own supplies with you. These food-grade silicone mats double as placemats and coloring pages. Each mat comes with a set of dry-erase markers, which will keep your kids busy filling in the lines while waiting for their food. Meaning, maybe Mom and Dad will actually get to talk to one another!

The placemats can be wiped clean to be colored in again and again. The flexible material won’t  crease or rip, so you can easily keep it in your car or diaper bag for keeping busy emergencies. Of course, these mats can be used anytime—either at your own dinner table or just for a quiet coloring activity.

And don’t worry, even though the markers are dry-erase, they do dry on the mat so you aren’t left with a inky mess once the food arrives. You just use soap and water to wipe the marker off after. Another benefit of these mats is that they cover up the table surface in front of your child. I’ve relaxed some as my son has gotten older, but the idea of his little hands all over a germy table then going straight into his mouth can still give me the heebie jeebies.

What tricks do you pull out of your bag when keeping kids happy at a restaurant?

Admittedly, we are already partial to Munchkin thanks to the “best smelling” diaper pail ever in our book. But after walking through their offices in North Hills, CA, we now know the folks behind Munchkin are truly an innovative group with a real sense of humor. Jennifer Campana, of Munchkin, kindly provided us with a tour of the expansive former Hockey rink—with old scoreboards intact—that now houses their corporate offices.

As we walked around, it was clear to us where their creativity stems from. Founder, Chairman and CEO, Steven Dunn, is an avid collector of art, and it is showcased wildly throughout the space. Inspiring indeed. We also hear that his daughter is an artist and happens to be responsible for one of our favorite pieces that we spotted on our tour (note: the Barbie doll bodies are inside!).

With every business, there is often an interesting back story on how it all got started, but this wasn’t exactly what we were expecting. Legend has it that the idea for Munchkin originated when the founder developed baby bottles to mimic pop soda bottles—think 80s here. We kid you not. And back in the day, they were a real hit! That success prompted Mr. Dunn and family to dive right into the baby business and to create clever products parents love.

Today, Munchkin’s mission is to make parenting safer, easier and more fun. They understand that it’s the “little things” that often make the biggest difference, which is why they have developed a loyal following of parents over the decades.

We’d like to think that we helped inspire Munchkin at one point, just a tiny bit. And we only say that because, to our surprise, we found a few trend boards that we created as a project for Munchkin in our former life as Little Apple Design. Awesome to see that they are relevant!

Impressed with the open floor plan of the office space, we couldn’t help but ask to peek into Mr. Dunn’s office. Lo and behold, it was wide open just like everyone else’s office. That’s setting a pretty cool example as a CEO, don’t you think?

Large indeed, here’s just one of the Munchkin warehouses.

And here’s the long awaited jackpot! All of Munchkin’s terrific products are lined up in rows of sample bins.

From their new pacifier wipes to fresh food silicon freezer cups, Munchkin has it all.

Of course, we couldn’t resist, so we asked to dig our hands into these giant sample bins to choose our personal favorite Munchkin products for one lucky Project Nursery reader. We’re not sure of the exact prize value, but as you can see below, it’s one giant basket (aka SaraBear Diaper Caddy) with loads of exciting treats for your baby and toddler!

WIN IT! One lucky Project Nursery reader will win a giant basket of goodies courtesy of Munchkin! To enter, visit Munchkin, and let us know what your must-have Munchkin product is with a comment below. Contest ends Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 11:59pm PST.

EXTRA ENTRIES
1. “Like” Project Nursery and Munchkin on Facebook, give us a shout out on our wall and tell us you did with a comment below.

2. Follow Project Nursery and Munchkin on Twitter, tweet about it and tell us you did with a comment below.

3. Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter or let us know you are already a subscriber with a comment below.

CONTEST CLOSED

Access the list of products featured and our tips for adding pops of color on the Bravado! Designs’ blog.

So when I received a sample package from Citrus Lane, a service that delivers monthly care packages filled with the best, mom-recommended baby products, I felt like that camp kid again. My pretty little Citrus Lane Welcome Baby box, with its signature yellow stripe and logo, contained some terrific products any new mom would be excited to try. Take a peek inside…

Have you always wanted to try that cool feeding spoon, new muslin swaddle blanket or healthy toddler snack but haven’t had the time, patience or energy to figure out which brands are best? Citrus Lane does all the legwork for you; each monthly box is filled with 4-5 healthy and useful baby products that have been pre-tested and reviewed by other real moms. The subscription cost is $25 per month, but the treats inside each box would retail for about $50. You pick the box that’s best suited for your child based on age, from newborn up to 18 months, so moms of older babies can get in on the treats too.

Citrus Lane’s mission is helping parents discover the best baby products on the market. Sometimes it’s an undiscovered gem that catches their eye. Other times, it’s a tried-and-true parent favorite that they know will always be essential. What a great luxe shower gift for expecting parents—a 3-month gift subscription is $75.

PN DISCOUNT: Order now and get 1/2 off your first delivery! This deal applies to any month-to-month subscription box (does not apply to 3/6/12 month gift subscriptions) so it’s like getting your first box for $12.50! Enter promo code CITRUSHALF at checkout!

WIN IT! One Project Nursery reader will win a 3-month subscription to Citrus Lane! A $75 value! Visit Citrus Lane, and let us know which box most excites you in a comment below. Contest ends Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 at 11:59pm PST.

EXTRA ENTRIES
1. “Like” Project Nursery and Citrus Lane on Facebook, give us a shout out on our wall and tell us you did with a comment below.

2. Follow Project Nursery and Citrus Lane on Twitter, tweet about it and tell us you did with a comment below.

3. Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter or let us know you are already a subscriber with a comment below.

For official rules & details click here.

I’m sure my son will eat up all his veggies when they are served to him in this Din Din Smart bus platter. The platter is stainless steel, so you know it’s BPA-free, and it’s dishwasher safe. The divided compartments are a must for kids who don’t like to mix their food together; plus it’s a nice reminder to get all five food groups into a meal.

I love the functionality of the Packin’ Smart canisters, which are also BPA-free. Each tier snaps apart easily, so you can take as many or as few as you need. There’s a removable spout for each tier, which makes storing and pouring formula powder or rice cereal a snap. I know I’ll be using mine to carry my never-leave-home-without-it supply of cheerios, goldfish and raisins in my diaper bag. You won’t have to feel wasteful using plastic zip bags to tote your snacks because you can wash and reuse your Packin’ Smart. And because the container is made of hard, durable plastic, you don’t have to worry about the snacks getting crushed in your bag and becoming a crumby mess.

Make sure you check out innobaby’s other innovative products!

To ensure this product fit our readers’ needs,
Project Nursery received a sample for review.

We formed what we all affectionately refer to as “The Boob Group.” The power of those women gave me the courage to nurse discreetly in public, as opposed to hiding in my apartment. Without their encouragement and advice, I would not have been brave enough to do it. I armed myself with some nursing accessories and hit the streets of NYC. Here are a few of my favorite finds:

The Hooter Hider (gotta love the name) is the perfect nursing coverup. The boning at the top keeps the neckline open, allowing you to maintain eye contact with your baby. The cotton is airy enough for ventilation to keep the baby cool. These coverups make flashing at a park bench a non issue.

I loved the Glamourmom nursing tanks. They have a built-in nursing bra with excellent support. The tanks are long enough, so they cover the postpartum tummy. Genius!

I had every color of the Bravado Silk Seamless bra, and I found the Medela Seamless Softcup bra to be super comfy. I wore a lot of white button down shirts. I would simply unbutton from the top down. So easy! If you do decide to breastfeed your baby, The Nursing Mother’s Companion is a handy book to have on your bedside table.

I leave you with this, if you’re still feeling nervous or shy, “fake it till you make it”—you will build confidence the more you practice in public. Breastfeeding in public can be controversial; not everyone is comfortable with it, but rest assured, most states have laws that protect your rights to breastfeed. If you want to find out what the rule is where you live, check out the National Conference of State Legislatures.

When The Lunch Punch was first introduced into my home, my biggest mistake was storing our bread within a 4-year-old’s reach. He tore open The Lunch Punch packaging, swiped a loaf of bread and declared that he needed to make eight sandwiches as he proceeded to “punch” an entire loaf! How’s that for a customer satisfaction?

These clever little sandwich cutters come in four fun themes, are bpa-free and dishwasher safe. Kids will love making their own sandwiches for school. And as a mom, it’s really satisfying to see their faces light up; not to mention, the extra time and effort is minimal. The Lunch Punch makes for a great gift this back-to-school season and also encourages quality time in the kitchen! We give The Lunch Punch an A+ for creativity and fun!

Find it on sale here today for 24-hours only!

These personalized towels by Shoots and Ladders are not only adorable but also fabulous quality. The cute vintage fabrics are available in matching burp cloth sets, dining sets, totes and more.

Personalized tableware is a gift that lasts for years. Kids love eating, drinking and snacking on anything with their names on it. It’s a great baby gift, a perfect big brother or sister gift, or a fabulous first birthday gift. Each piece by Kelly Hughes works as a set or alone.

Sometimes clothing with a monogram or a name can be of questionable quality, but Blume Girl can do no wrong. They offer onesies, thermals, tees, bibs and hats with their signature patch in a coordinating color. Simple and cute—give them as a set with matching  personalized burp clothes.

I See Me books are one of my favorite personalized gifts. A story book that include the child’s name is a gift that keeps on giving. A keepsake the child will have for years, it’s a meaningful gift that every child will adore.