Michaels has announced the week of August 29-September 4 as “Baby Week!” During this time, daily workshops will be held for customers to create gifts and decor. Each project is designed with baby in mind and costs less than $8!

• Sunday, Aug. 29, 1-3pm – Baby Room Decor – “Personalize baby’s room with unique, handmade baby decor that also makes a great shower gift. Cost: Free supplies with purchase of clay pots and blocks.”
• Tuesday, Aug. 31, 6-8pm – Yarn Baby Shower Bag - “Add a whimsical, personal touch to a shower gift with a handmade yarn chick. Cost: Free supplies with purchase of bag.”
• Wednesday, Sept. 1, 6-8pm – Welcome Home Paper Bag Book – “Create the perfect keepsake for baby with a personalized memory book. Documents baby’s “firsts” to share for years to come. Cost: Free supplies with purchase of ribbon.”
• Thursday, Sept. 2, 6-8pm – Time Capsule Keepsakes – “Celebrate baby now and forever with a handcrafted time capsule keepsake. Seal it tight to treasure at a later date. Cost: Free supplies with purchase of pail.”
• Friday, Sept. 3, 6-8pm – Hospital Door Plaque - “Welcome baby with a customized hospital door plaque. This special gift will be a great room identifier at the hospital and the perfect embellishment in the nursery. Cost: Free supplies with purchase of wood plaque and embellishments.”
• Saturday, Sept. 4, 1-3pm – Big Brother/Big Sister Welcome Home Canvas – “A special ‘welcome home’ canvas from big brother or big sister is a sweet gesture that’s sure to be cherished forever. Cost: Free supplies with purchase of canvas. Ages 3 and up welcome.”

For more information about “Baby Week” or for more project ideas, click here.

And don’t forget about us! We offer some great gift ideas for baby showers, such as our Dr. Seuss Newborn Cap and Bootie Set to keep the newborn warm and stylish!

Do you have a project that you made for your newborn or as a gift? Did you receive a wonderful handmade gift from someone? Please share!

We are excited to announce the brand new children’s store…Zoolikins! Formerly wildflowers.com, this new store offers “safe, natural, creative products for babies, toddlers, and their parents.” Everything from BumGenius and FuzziBunz diapers to ErgoBaby carriers and Ju Ju Be Bags! Also offered are articles and tutorials on cloth diapering, wonderfully titled “Cloth Diapering 101.”

Zoolikins will also be carrying the full line of Bumkins items, including our Dr. Seuss and Haring products!

Visit them at www.zoolikins.com!

Zoolikins also has a physical location! The colorful store is located at 7118 E. 5th Ave. in Old Town Scottsdale. It has a bright green storefront, so you can’t miss it!

It’s that time again…

The hustling and bustling of back-to-school activities and events. Bumkins has some of your back-to-school items that are guaranteed to turn a heads during arts-and-crafts and lunchtime!

Check our our junior aprons and lunchboxes today and have your child even more popular while in class!

And a quick reminder — all of our products are lead safe, PVC, BPA, Phthalate & Vinyl free!

Researchers at the University of California have been taking a closer look at human milk and are finding that a large part of the breast milk seems to have a role beyond infant nutrition. An indigestible substance in breast milk  promotes a strain of bacteria found in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract. This bacteria may act as a probiotic and provide support for the baby’s immune system. Researchers are looking at the contents of breast milk to discover how to best feed and defend the human body. A great read!

As most of you know, Bumkins prides itself in having safe products for both you and your child. We make sure that our products are lead safe, PVC, BPA, phthalate & vinyl free. The Center for Health, Environment & Justice, an advocate for “responsible corporate behavior” and the use of safer chemical alternatives, released a “Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies.” The Bumkins Art Smocks made the list!

Our art smocks come in multiple prints, ranging from our Bumkins original designs to our loveable Seuss and Haring patterns. Keep your child and their favorite clothes and accessories mess free…and the paint stains to a minimum!

Bumkins Lunch Boxes are also free from such harmful chemicals and are another fantastic back-to-school item. Be sure to check them out and keep your children’s lunches and snacks safe next school year, while also keeping them looking cool with the 8 different designs now available.

What is PVC? It is found in everything…from plastic and clothing to ceiling tiles and pipes! Known to its chemical buddies as polyvinyl chloride, this multifunctional plastic is harmful and detrimental to one’s health. Products with PVC and its additives [used to make it flexible] have been found to be releasing toxins into the air. Luckily, there has been an increase in awareness of its harmful effects and companies have been using a safer alternative for their items.

What is BPA? Known to its chemical friends as bisphenol A, this organic compound is also commonly used in plastic production. Most commonly used as the inside coating for most food and beverage cans, it is also found in everything from baby toys to medical and dental devices to electronics in the household. Its harmful effects include obesity, neurological issues, thyroid complications, cancer…the list goes on. However, there is hope! As you may have noticed, awareness of this horrendous compound’s effects has also increased and BPA-free products are becoming more readily available.

What are phthalates? Working with the above in health crime, phthalates are also used in plastics to make them more durable and increases their longevity of use. They are found in almost everything: as coating on your everyday pills and vitamins, makeup, toys, household items, packaging, detergents, perfumes, electronics…the list goes on! Like BPA, it also has a long list of harmful effects. Also like BPA and PVC, it is being phased out of production in many countries, including the United States.