Give these gifts to Mom, who'll coo

By Kimi Yoshino | Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 9, 2008

Hey, Daddy Warbucks, you already bought her the diamond earrings -- that "push present" to thank her for nine months of pregnancy and hours of labor -- but now Mother's Day is approaching. So for the new moms out there, we consulted Bel Bambini, a luxe baby shop in West Hollywood. If it's good enough for Jessica Alba, who is registered there, why not your Baby Mama?

Part hot rod, part stroller, this "Roddler" is a swank ride for the little one. Think custom paint job, an iPod docking station and stereo sound system. The tail lights shine when braking for those traffic jams on Rodeo Drive -- and the stroller even comes with vanity plates. SPOILED, maybe?

Who says diaper bags have to look like quilted, overstuffed totes? A faux-crocodile couture diaper satchel by Mia Bossi has plenty of room and pockets for keys to the Benz, bottles and diapers, plus a zip-out liner and changing mat. "It's everything they thought of for Mom, but beautiful and stylish," says Bel Bambini manager Dalena Morton.

Bratt Décor makes hand-carved cribs, using nontoxic, low-volatile organic compound stains and paints. Pricey? Yes. But think of the Chelsea Lifetime Crib as "heirloom quality furniture," Morton says. It converts into a twin headboard when baby grows up, so you could rationalize its purchase as an investment in the future.

If you've got a $1,500 crib, are you really going to put Sears sheets in there? Bel Bambini has a mattress made of coconut husks and organic wool, or you can go top-of-the-line with one that has a core made of horsetail hair wrapped in silky mohair: It's firm but porous and sure to air-dry quickly when baby springs a leak. Dwell makes 100% organic cotton sheets for the eco-friendly tot. A set includes a crib skirt, sheet, coverlet and bumper. $625 for the mattress; $540 for the sheets

So with baby well-rested and cruising Melrose Avenue in style, better dress her up in designer duds. Maybe in Miss Sixty or the new Gwen Stefani-designed footwear. Better yet, Italian designer Moschino offers a girlie three-piece pink-and-white flamingo outfit complete with white denim jacket.