As technological advances zoom forward over the course of our lifetime, every familiar product is transformed into something sleeker, more efficient, and more effective: for instance, could we have imagined in 1990 what the humble telephone would turn into? I’m still kind of amazed. Ironically, I almost never actually use my phone to call anyone (I prefer texting), but ... Read More »

Because we like to toot our own horn, we always want to make sure that parents know how much more value you can get for your dollar by shopping at specialty baby stores. Smaller stores offer personalized, one-on-one customer service you can trust, and since our reputation is staked on the quality of our merchandise, we won’t try to sell ... Read More »

Many thanks to Diana Toma in our Brookline store for all the great info! Did you know that most pools have to shut down for up to 24 hours after fecal matter has been discovered in the pool in order to disinfect and re-sanitize the water? Not only is that super-gross, but it ruins the day of everyone who was hoping ... Read More »

Remember scratch n’ sniff stickers? These prizes were the centerpiece of any ‘80s kid’s sticker collection, because they were ultimately so much more short-lived than their companions in a well-populated sticker book: those sweet scents were produced through a process called “micro-encapsulation,” which captured teeny, tiny whiffs of scent in little air-bubbles that would be broken when you scratched the ... Read More »

When Russian documentary photographer Jana Romanova was about 25, suddenly she found that all of her friends were getting pregnant (a familiar feeling for a lot of us!). It felt as though everyone around her was suddenly growing up, and she was at risk of being left behind, as the people around her were consumed with the challenges of preparing ... Read More »

Usually I like to keep things light here at Spilling the Beans, but this is such an important topic, and this blog from Safe Kids Worldwide has such great info that I wanted to make sure we shared it with you. Before we get started: since I know you’re busy busy busy, these are the two key tips that I gleaned ... Read More »

The mythology of Vincent Van Gogh tends to emphasize the sadder aspects of his life, but the great painter’s sentimental side is often forgotten. A huge number of his works were portraits of or tributes to his family, including portraits of his mother, sister, father, and grandfather, and numerous paintings and drawings of the family vicarage, garden, and church. His 1890 ... Read More »

Our staff at Magic Beans in Brookline took full advantage of the record-breaking snowfall this year by taking every floor model out for a walk. The results showed that very few strollers can gracefully handle snow and slush. Most, even with locked front wheels, turned into push-sleds. The Bugaboo Buffalo Stroller and the BOB Revolution Flex Stroller were the only models that ... Read More »

Babies love to bike! Ok, not ALL babies, but most small children are thrilled to feel the breeze on their face and watch the world whoosh by – the exhilaration of speed is a delight at any age. Just like you, and just like older kids, babies absolutely must wear helmets when they’re on a bike, and Nutcase, our #1 ... Read More »

Hey everyone – it’s Kelsey again, with the scoop from Magic Beans Fun Size, in NYC! As you may remember from my other blogs, our store is located in the lobby at Kidville in the Upper East Side, and we sell a handpicked selection of the best-of-the-best toys for ages 0-5. As with any other Magic Beans store, along with our amazing selection, ... Read More »