Oompa has a huge selection of gift items you won’t find at major retailers or even smaller specialty shops. And while these types of toys can cost a pretty penny, there’s an ample selection of  great gifts under $25. (I especially like this Soft Puppy Stacking Toy by Rich Frog, $21.99.) The site also offers very reasonable shipping rates:  $5 flat-rate shipping, with orders over $65 delivered for free.

A great site for anyone looking to escape the clutches of Hannah Montana and Optimus Prime–who, by the way, I hear are dating.

The set of 24 blocks in walnut, maplele, and cherry comes boxed and ready to give. And as with every purchase made from Little Sapling Toys, a tree will be planted for every purchase made. Your day to water it is Tuesday.

Block set from Little Sapling Toys, $20+ shipping.

*Parental assembly meltdown

1. Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of the Rolling Stones ($13.99, Amazon)

2. Taggies Clickety Twist ($13.99, Amazon)
Texturally stimulating rattle makes fun “clicking” noise when baby twists one of the three colorful sections.

3. Baberoo Organic Cotton Socks ($12.55-$13.99, Amazon)
In a variety of styles, including ballet slipper and nautical stripe. (Some styles in very limited quanities.)

4. Le Sac Baby Igloo 500 ($116-$136 based on size, Land Of Nod)
Cozy insulated fleece sac keeps baby warm and cozy, while you brave the wind and the cold and the rain. Babies have it goooood.

5. Diaper Dude Mini Diaper Bag ($36, Amazon)
Worn on the waist or as a messenger bag, the Mini Diaper Dude holds two diapers, wipes, and bottles for dads on the go.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gift Lists.

2. Eco Dog: Healthy Living for Your Pet by  Corbett Marshall and Jim Deskevich demonstrates the everyday dangers in traditional cleaners and pet products–then shows you how to make your own safe, natural foods, flea treatments, and toys. There’s even instructions to recycle your old sweaters into a felt blanket for Sparky. Here’s an idea: Make one of the recipes from the book (but don’t get it dirty!) to present with the gift.

3. The Green Bible: Understanding the Bible’s Powerful Message for the Earth, $19.99, highlights more than 1,000 verses pertaining to the earth’s beauty and our responsibility to protect it. There are also essays by scholars and religious leaders as well as a “Green Bible Trail Guide.” The bible itself is made from recycled paper, with soy-based ink, and is a New Revised Standard Version of the good book.

4. A gift from Oxfam, the international relief and development organization. For $50, you can donate a lamb or a goat in a friend’s name. Heck, they might even name the goat after your friend. (What you’re really doing is donating the cost of a goat for Oxfam to use as needed, such as training farmers to work with goats or helping women start their own businesses.) Your friend receives a nice card from Oxfam with a coat on it, and never has to clean out a stall. Gift is tax deductible.

5. Organic Monkey Ring Stacker for babies, $32.99 from Toys R Us (and available only online). Made form organic cotton with no chemical treatment.

Taking advantage of this ego-centric baby behavior, Manhattan Toy started a line of baby toys covered in pictures of babies.

I assume Manhattan Toy could do just as well selling a line of toys to Alec Baldwin covered in pictures of Alec Baldwin. (Get it? ‘Cause Alec Baldwin loves himself? Eh? Would it have been funnier with Paris Hilton? Nicki Hilton? Nick Nolte?)

Babyville toys, starting at $8. Visit the Manhattan Toy store locator for shops in your area and Web sites.

Hi there! I just found your site today while I was scouring the web for a baby shower gift for my boss, who is also a good friend. She is going to have a little boy in December. We are both pretty crafty, but I just had a baby and don’t have time to make something spectacular. They are going with a surf theme in the nursery. Any thoughts? My first thought was to turn to etsy, but I don’t even know what to look for! Love your site and thanks so much!

Hi, Abi! What a great idea for a nursery–you don’t see too many surfing-themed baby rooms.

Maybe I’m a pessimist, but when I heard “surfing,” I immediately thought, “shark.” Well, to be honest, I thought, “Don Ho Memorial Tiki Bar,” but that might not be appropriate for a nursery.

So, back to shark. This big guy from Melissa and Doug is a 40-incher just waiting to prey on your affections. For now, he’ll be an interesting conversation piece for visitors. Eventually, he’ll be a giant cuddle monster. And is there anything more American than a boy and his shark? ($29.99 + free shipping on Amazon.com)

Next up, the Surfboard Growth Chart from Ecotots. Not only will the board make a gnarly addition to the room, but its two stripes are left unvarnished–perfect for marking baby’s height as he grows from little squirt to big Kahuna. Available in four colors. ($69.99 + shipping at Oompa)

And to set the mood, there’s the Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of the Beach Boys. ($13.99 and free shipping eligible, Amazon.com)

Now, because you brought up ETSY, I wanted to mention a facet of the site I didn’t talk about in my ETSY love-post. Etsy offers an “Alchemy” board. Shoppers can post requests for what they want made, along with what they’d like to pay, and artists can “bid” on the job. So if you decide that a handmade ukulele-and-pineapple mobile is the way to go, chances are you’ll find someone willing to make it.

Happy baby!

1st birthday for a little girl. The little girl’s family wants for nothing and she has the cutest, trendiest clothes and accessories already. I want something that will fit their style, but doesn’t break my bank – I would think around $25-35?

I love this collection of four knitted cupcakes by Yellow Label Kids. They’re bright and soft, and for those keeping track, this is indeed the second non-edible cupcake post this week. These pseudo-snacks will stick with the birthday girl as she evolves from a baby (who will throw them) to a little lady (who will serve them at her first tea party).

$31.99 + shipping from Oompa.

If you’re looking for a fun, fresh baby gift, you might want to dig into this 100% calorie-free (but still sugary-sweet) diaper cake. Contents include: two handmade bibs, a swaddle blanket, pacifiers, travel-size toiletries, and more, all hidden inside a 3-tier “cake” of 54 Pampers size 1 Swaddlers diapers and (most) topped with a stuffed animal. Each cake can be decorated to a variety of themes, including, for example, cowgirl, Halloween, or baseball. The bibs and blanket also match the theme. And. . . we’re giving one away, sort of! In fact, we’re giving away a whole new mom/new baby set of gifts, as shown below. (We like giving things away. It makes us feel like Oprah, only without the billion dollars.) We have one smaller-sized 10-diaper “cupcake” filled with baby powder, a handmade onesie, and topped with a pink teddy bear. (Similar cupcakes on the Web site cost $32.) We also have a pair of See Kai Run shoes, a Happy Panda onesie, and a ModMum sling. Please leave a comment below if you’re interested in entering. Good luck! Three-tiered cakes starting at $65, cupcakes are $32, from sweetpeacakesetc.com

If you’d like to treat Mom to a little something, consider The Rookie Mom’s Handbook by experienced modern mommies Heather Gibbs Flett and Whitney Moss.

The book is filled with ideas for surviving (and thriving) through those first several months with Juinor in tow. For example, when making a “to do” list, make a “did do” list, just to show how much you’ve accomplished including dealing with doo-doo. Or maybe that goes on the doo-doo list. Other suggestions include: take a picture of your child once a month in the same place (to catalog his growth over the year), feeding your baby on the floor (where the food winds up anyway), and planning a night out without the rugrat. Ideas for several crafts, such as make-your-own books and baby pants, are also included.

Flett and Moss have a great Web site, RookieMoms.com, that is constantly updated with more fun tips.

$10.17 (and free shipping eligible) at Amazon.com. Also available at bookstores everywhere and at Quirkbooks.com.