They grow up so fast! Now that they're eating with their own plates and spoons, we think Skip Hop's Stay-Put Mate is a smart addition to the dinner table. The place mat is soft, sturdy, and skid-resistant, and the plate and utensils snap in securely. The three-compartment plate pops out easily from below for clean-up. The Mate comes in raspberry, sky blue, and orange, and is made from food-safe materials that are BPA, phthalate, and PVC-free.

Price: $30
Manufacturer: Skip Hop
Available at: www.skiphop.com

Mama needs coffee! And every mama has had to drive, carry laundry, or pack three lunch boxes with her coffee cup in hand now and then (hey -- without coffee, this stuff might not get done!). Avoid burning your hands with this reusable silicone cozy. The planet will thank you since you won't have to use disposable cup protectors. (Bring it to Starbucks!)

Price: $3.99
Manufacturer: Fusion brands
Available at: fusionbrands.com

These didn't last very long around our office, and we bet they'll get gobbled up at your house, too! Back to Nature prides itself on making snacks with honest ingredients and a simple goodness, and now they're giving the Girl Scouts a run for their money with these minty, crispy, fudge-covered cookies. Because they use no high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, or artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors, you can feel good about putting these in your kids' lunchboxes...or grabbing a few for yourself!

Price: $3.39
Manufacturer: Back to Nature
Available at: A supermarket or health food store near you.

From legendary wordsmith Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots & Leaves) comes Twenty-Odd Ducks, a whimsical book about the importance of putting your punctuation in the right place (and getting your ducks in a row) with colorful pictures and phrases that illustrate the difference between "'Do you know who came last night? Santa Claus,' said my mom." and "'Do you know who came last night?' Santa Claus said. 'My mom.'" Laugh along with your kids -- and get a helpful grammar lesson, too.

Price: $16.99
Manufacturer: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Available at: www.penguingroup.com

We love anything that gets kids excited about cooking, especially when they can do it in style! These Pixie Dust aprons are très chic -- the designs are inspired by classic children's nursery books, vintage French textiles, and 1960's collectibles. With a bib front for boys and a waist tie for girls, they can crank out the cookies and keep their clothes batter-free.

Price: $24
Manufacturer: Pixie Dust
Available at: RosenberryRooms.com