With a baby on the way, there’s so much to consider and so much to learn… and oh lord, there’s so much to buy! You can find all manner of checklists in books and online, but when you discover that those checklists are not one, not two, but SIX entire pages long (and more), it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s ... Read More »

Shopping at your average chain store can feel so impersonal – it’s huge, there’s constant staff turnover, and with an identical shop in every town, your experience never feels special. Not only is Magic Beans a smaller business, but getting to know our customers is built into our business model: when you’re filling out the registry for your first baby, ... Read More »

Sucking is a newborn’s first survival skill, along with crying, and it’s one of her earliest reflexes. Insert a finger, a pacifier, or a nipple in her mouth and she’ll start sucking, and if she’s having a bad time of it, this will calm her down. Heidi Murkoff of What to Expect writes, “Popping a binky into your baby’s mouth ... Read More »

Updated 4/20/2017: Baby Bouncer Comparison Updated: The 2016 4Moms Mamaroo vs Nuna Leaf with Wind The key to soothing a baby is motion, motion, motion: rocking, bouncing, swaying (or perhaps even driving). Each baby likes something a little different in terms of motion and speed, and sometimes they can be quite eccentric about it, like ThriftyNiftyMom’s daughter Zellene: “Unlike my ... Read More »

Get your tickets for the Drool Baby Expo CT October 29, 2014 from 4pm – 9pm Marriott Hotel and Spa, Stamford, CT Expectant parents get bombarded with a ton of advice, information, and people trying to sell you stuff (ok, yes, that includes us), and it can all get a bit overwhelming. We’ve always made it our mission to try ... Read More »

The Sparkup Magical Book Reader lets your child relive the magic of storytime even when you’re not in the room: just record yourself reading a storybook, and kids can replay your voice reading just by flipping the pages! We asked Tirzah Palcynski Katz to give Sparkup a try with her kids: Tirzah is a mom of two, a dear friend of ... Read More »

UPDATE 3/16/15: THE CAR SEAT BASE IS INCLUDED WITH THE DOONA, BUT DOES NOT HAVE A LOAD LEG. ALSO, DOONA WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE IN CANADA. SEE UPDATED INFO AND PLACE YOUR PREORDER HERE. UPDATE 3/10/15: DOONA IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-SALE! PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY – SUPPLIES WILL BE LIMITED! UPDATE 1/5/15: THE DOONA HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TO ... Read More »

Are you picturing a cloth diaper as an elaborate process of folding and pinning, secured with a safety pin (a sharp object you’d rather not be operating near your baby while sleep-deprived at 3am)? Today, there are so many better options that are not only eco-friendly, but even more cost-effective than ever. Here’s my overview of some great choices for ... Read More »

Shop all Bugaboo at Magic Beans Vegas is the land of glitz, glamour, and something Magic Beans fans are already quite familiar with: surprises! We’d been hearing whispers that Bugaboo would be unveiling a new stroller at tonight’s ABC Expo party, but every new stroller from Bugaboo finds a special new way to impress us, and the Bugaboo Runner Jogging ... Read More »

Update 4/26/2017: Eli Reviews the New Orbit O2 Jogging Stroller! A few months ago, a mysterious meeting was called at our office, in which the Magic Beans staff members were introduced to Orbit’s next stroller. Of course, we weren’t allowed to talk about it, because it was just a prototype with release anticipated far in the future… but now that ... Read More »