Thursday, May 30, 2013

Spotlight on Great Toys for Travelling Kids

Planning a Summer Vacation? Check out our huge selection of travel toys! Stop by the store for great recommendations or shop online

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Visit Our Neighborhood this Saturday, June 1, for the St. Anthony Arts Festival

This Saturday is the St. Anthony Park Art Fair! We'll be sponsoring the children's art tent, where you can make wonderful paper hats from up cycled remainder wrapping paper. This is one of our neighborhood's best annual events. See http://www.stanthonyparkartsfestival.org/ for details. The festval is a benefit for reading programs at the St. Anthony Public Library, which will also be holding a used book sale.

Made hats from remaindered wrapping paper at the Children's Art Tent, which is sponsored by Peapods
 Here's a link to the festival map:



The Best Toys Stimulate a Child's Imagination.


A parent writes to Sarah's Silks: "I really didn’t believe Norah would play with the silks. In the astounding way only a child can be, she becomes incredibly creative with the way she uses them: sling, baby, water, campfire, lion mane, hat, dress, hiding place. I’m sold."

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Announcing Peapods Annual Sidewalk Sale! Friday & Saturday, June 7-8th

Peapods Annual Sidewalk Sale
Our 13th Annual Sidewalk Sale! We only do this once a year because it's one monster of a sale! Gobs and gobs of stuff on sale for 25-75% off. Closeouts, overstocks, samples, scratch & dents, discontinued items, and a few things we discovered on our computer that haven't sold in a while... Expect some of everything--toys, baby carriers, cloth diapers, games, music, etc. This year we just may set the record for how much will be on sale. So, let's pop some tags! Sale runs 10am to 6pm


Peapods Annual Sidewalk Sale -- It's a Big Deal!
Peapods Annual Sidewalk Sale -- It's a Big Deal!

Because our sidewalk sale is a busy event, we recommend (but do not require) shopping without small children. Our sale will take place rain or shine. Sidewalk sale purchases are final—no returns or exchanges. No fair arriving early! 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Babywearing and a Baby's Instinct for Mutual Cooperation

This morning, we spent an hour or so mulching our vegetable garden while Ellie (now 11 months) rode on Millie's back in her Boba 3G. We wear her all the time of course, but it's always amazing how calm she gets when we're working. She was so calm that when Abby's friend came over later in the morning, her stranger anxiety (anyone with a 9-18 month old will know about this) seemed to have completely disappeared.

Ellie loves being carried, of course, but she only seems to zone out like this when we're doing some kind of manual labor. Whether it's garden work or stocking toys at the store, she seems to recognize that we're busy providing for her sustenance and she feels at peace. Dan often walks with her in his Beco Gemini to the store, a two mile trek that always puts Ellie to sleep. Unlike walking, though, working while babywearing seems to put her into a quiet and alert zone. She seems to realize that she should stay awake, observe, and learn while we're working, but simply walking is an invitation to check out.

Ellie at work at the store in her Boba 3G.
We noticed this pattern with our older kids, too, and it seems to be an instinct common to all babies. A recent study from Japan found that human babies (and several other mammalian species) respond immediately to being picked up and carried with a reduced heart rate. The accompanying video dramatically demonstrates a baby crying while sitting in his mother's lap and quieting instantly when she picks him up and walks around.

Importantly, it's the walking around that quiets the baby, not just holding. The study theorizes a system of mutual cooperation between parent and child which is geared to survival. In other words, babies are programmed to be carried while mom or dad gather food or do other work necessary for survival. Babywearing is simply an ancient adaptation that makes getting work done with your baby a lot easier.

Babies unfortunately don't consider typing on a computer or driving a car to be any kind of work. But, the right baby carrier can make doing almost any kind of physical work a lot easier. And, we believe it'll make your baby happier and more peaceful, too.  

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Now Earn Peapods Rewards Points on Everything!

Receive a $20 Store Credit for Every $300 You Spend

Now Applies to All Regularly-Priced Items, Not Just Cloth Diapers

Peapods Rewards now applies all year long to our entire store. Toys, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and baby clothes all earn rewards points.

There's no need to carry a points card--we'll keep track of your purchases for you. Simply stop into our store and sign up when you make your next purchase.


Existing Cloth Diaper Rewards and Holiday Rewards points will automatically carry over into our new program.

The fine print: Store credit redeemable on next purchase after earning 300 points. Store credit not redeemable for cash. Peapods, Inc. reserves the right to modify or discontinue this program at any time. Rewards can be earned while using coupons, but the amount earned will be based on the net sale amount. Returns or exchanges will affect your points total. Sale items and used items do not earn points. Products subject to manufacturer restrictions may be excluded. Reward points are not transferable.