All good things must come to an end, and we recently had to say goodbye to our well-loved Magic Beans Fairfield management team, Lauren and Kyle Mellino. But they’re leaving your favorite local toy and baby gear store in good hands: here’s an intro to Stephanie Giustino, the newest member of the Magic Beans family! Q: Tell me a bit ... Read More »
How much baby clothing do you need? An introduction to layette
One of the universal delights of a new baby on the way is all of the teeny, adorable outfits: sweet little baby hats, miniature baby booties, darling little footies, and itty-bitty bodysuits. The only problem is, all of your relatives and other loved ones are also thinking precisely the same thing: “Oh boy! I get to buy CUTE TINY CLOTHES!” ... Read More »
VIDEO: 2016 Bugaboo Donkey Stroller Review
When revisiting the Bugaboo Donkey Stroller, it’s useful to look back at our initial impressions. We knew to expect the best from Bugaboo, who always find a unique, next-level engineering solution for every stroller contingency, but what would their double do differently? It turned out that the Bugaboo Donkey was the first and only single-to-double stroller to add a seat ... Read More »
Have more educational fun with Melissa & Doug!
One of the things that I love about Melissa & Doug toys for young children is that many items come with a list of “Extension Activities” that work educational content into playtime, helping kids to pick up crucial skills organically. For instance, for the longtime favorite Melissa & Doug Grocery Store / Lemonade Stand, they suggest the following: Have the ... Read More »
VIDEO: The IMMI GO Hybrid Car Seat Booster vs. the Britax Clicktight Frontier
As we’ve said many times before, quality and functionality will only take you so far with any baby gear item. If it isn’t the perfect match for your lifestyle, you might spend top-dollar on an item with the best ratings, but still just absolutely hate using it. That’s why our selection includes a lot of items that have essentially the same ... Read More »
NEW: OXO Transitions Soft Spout Sippy Cup Set!
Given that the bottle or your breast have been his sole source of food for the entirety of his short life, your child may look at you like you’ve got three heads if you try to get him to test out a sippy cup. Pediatricians recommend teaching your baby to use a sippy cup starting between 6 and 9 months, ... Read More »
VIDEO: 2016 UPPAbaby Vista Stroller vs. 2016 Bugaboo Cameleon
Update 6/8/2017: UPPAbaby Vista 2017 vs Bugaboo Cameleon 2017 Shop all Bugaboo and UPPAbaby at Magic Beans It’s summer in the city, and it’s time to introduce your new arrival to the sights and sounds of the bustling world around her. If your stroller is your primary vehicle with baby on board, some crucial features will help to keep your ... Read More »
Uber + the IMMI GO Hybrid Car Seat Booster: great for families without cars!
It’s an increasingly common question among parents today: if I don’t have a car, do I need a car seat? In this blog, we’re going to talk about why the IMMI Go Hybrid Car Seat Booster, which you can use in Uber cars in New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington DC, is especially terrific for car-free parents, but let’s start ... Read More »
Baby photography: tips and tricks
Chances are, you’re already lining up an expert to take some professional portraits of your baby when he arrives on the scene (and you can find some terrific Boston-area ones in this roundup from our recent Drool Baby Expo). But those are only a few of the precious moments that will absolutely need capturing in the years ahead: that sweet ... Read More »
VIDEO: The Baby Jogger City Tour Stroller vs. the BabyZen YoYo+ Stroller
Flying with babies is nobody’s favorite: getting familiar with the regulations and gathering up all the tips and tricks that you can will help, but at the end of the day, there is no way to guarantee that your precious little one isn’t going to scream her head off and/or have a diaper blowout. As with all parenting tasks, embracing the Zen ... Read More »