What does a baby need? These must-have items
ASBURY PARK, N.Y. — Jean Polsky's draws inspiration from her children.
Their childlike spirit translates over into her designs for her high-end baby boutique Estella.
"Everything they see, they see for the first time. They're just so full of excitement and joy and happiness," Polsky said. "I try to carry some of that with me. My own kids keep that alive with me."
Estella is an e-boutique site that offers organic and handmade baby clothes, toys, blankets, nursery decor and accessories. The designs also have been sold at national retailers, like Barneys.
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The baby boutique was founded in 2002 with her husband, Chike Chukwulozie. Polsky's interest in fashion goes back to when she was 2. Prior to opening Estella, she worked as a buyer for Bergdorf Goodman.
"When I became pregnant and contemplated motherhood, I was looking at baby clothes here and noticed nothing was to my aesthetic," Polsky said. "Everything was very corporate. There wasn't a lot of individuality."
When she traveled to Europe, however, she noticed smaller baby brands owned by mothers.
She decided to bring back some much needed personality back home and open up Estella, where the slogan is "Kids have personality. Their clothes should too."
Chukwulozie said the duo was interested in bringing fresh ideas to the table. "We take from all the beautiful things we see in life," Chukwulozie said. "People want to find something interesting and different, something more unusual, something that tells a story, especially for baby gifts."
Her clothing and accessories feature quirky designs, like a hot dog onesie, an octopus romper, a hot sauce rattle and taxi cab rattle.
"It's funny because my husband first suggested the hot dog," Polsky said. "I thought, 'No way' at first, especially in this day and age when everyone's so (food)-conscious, but I trusted him so we started out with a hot dog rattle and it was wildly successful."
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Their clothing also incorporates uncommon colors, like black. For spring, they're bringing back a sleeveless simple black-knit romper with white accents around the thigh and pockets for boys and girls.
"People are generally shy to put babies in black for some reason," Chukwulozie said. "But black, I think, is so beautiful on babies. It's like, 'Why not?' I think it should be a staple."
Polsky said she interacts with mothers on a daily basis who find it fun to shop for their children rather than themselves.
Shira Stein, who is a mother of four, remembers the first time she started shopping for her newborn daughter, who is now turning 14.
"When she was first born, I was clueless," Stein said. "I bought a $700 stroller with a bassinet and a car seat. I hated it from day one. The car seat was too heavy, the wheels weren't good."
That's when she decided she was going to enter a career designed to educate new mothers on the best baby gear purchases.
Stein is the Head Baby Gear Expert at Pish Posh Baby in Lakewood, N.J. Pish Posh Baby sells strollers, car seats, carriers, rockers, bouncers, high chairs — you name it.
"We pride ourselves in mom-to-mom service," Stein said. "We're all moms here. When first-time moms call in, they're so confused and drowning in a sea of baby gear. They don't know where to start."
She recommends investing in a high-end stroller, especially if you're interested in having more than one child.
Uppababy Vista 2017 Stroller, $839.99, features a full up-right seat position with reversible and reclinable seat, as well as a pop-out bassinet that offers SPF 50 shade from the sun. It has a single push-button wheel removal, and a seat cushion with extra padding and removable, washable fabric.It also features simple brake activation.
The Doona Car Seat Stroller, $499, is one of Pish Posh Baby's bestsellers, and may be more convenient for women on the go.
It's a car seat with integrated wheels that can flip down to transition into a stroller. "The car seat comes with a base that you can attach it to in the car, and say mom is ready to run out to do some errands, you can just unclick it from the base, press a button and the wheels come down."
For extra car-seat precaution, the Boulevard ClickTight features extra layers of protection with complete side impact protection that absorbs the forces from a crash to protect your child's head and neck. Priced at $379.99.
The Deluxe Dockatot, $164.99, is another popular item. It is a baby lounger pillow that acts as a docking station for a baby up to 8 months old, where they can rest, sleep, play with toys or receive diaper changes. Stein said it resembles the comfort of being in a mother's womb so babies can rest soundly.
To keep your baby sound asleep, try 4moms Mamaroo Classic, $219.99. The reclinable seat bounces up and down, and side to side with five different motions built for your baby's preference. It can also connect to Bluetooth so you can control it remotely, and can play music.
The Boon Flair Pedestal High Chair, $229, comes with a five-point harness to strap in children, an adjustable height-position, waterproof pad to avoid messes and easy-gliding wheels that won't scratch floors.
Visit pishposhbaby.com or call 877-747-4767 for more information. Visit estella-nyc.com or call 212-255-3553 for more information.
Follow Liz Dennerlein on Twitter: @lizdennerlein