Baby

Baby and children's gifts and accessories continue to multiply in the marketplace. While many established companies are adding baby and children's accessories to their existing lines, at each market it seems a whole new set of vendors are being born.

Some of these companies have sprouted up in response to a lack of fun, edgy baby gifts. These products are mostly targeted to hipper, younger parents. But that doesn't mean that traditional is out — it's still available and always will be. What we're not seeing as much of is the cutesy designs of decades past. Parents today don't want to decorate their kids' rooms with pink bunnies and blue bears. Rather, they're looking for objects that blend with their own home decor. From now on, expect to find a more sophisticated selection of baby and children's accessories, with colors that are a little more grown-up and designs that are more subdued.

Today's parents aren't willing to give up style just because they have a baby. Expect them to demand fashionable versions of the simplest products. Even diaper bags and changing pads have become more sophisticated; at first glance, they look like totes or clutches. The bags feature cutting edge designs and motifs, hiding their true identity. The trendy designs are meant to give moms and dads a fashionable alternative to the styles that they grew up with.

Probably the hottest product in the market is edgy T-shirts, many of which feature unique packaging to entice the shopper looking for that perfect baby gift. Vendors have come up with countless clever ways to tell people that baby wants a bottle of milk — and consumers just can't seem to get enough.

Another trend on the upswing is luxury baby goods. Baby products are getting pricier … but that doesn't seem to be a deterrent, especially in bedding. Designers are turning to luxurious fabrics, such as brocades and high-quality cottons, for the ultimate glamorous baby room. Nothing, it seems, is too good for baby.