Author Archives: Kelly

Those pesky bugs that bite are back, but so is SWAT all natural alternative insect repellent. A blend of essential oils makes you virtually invisible to bugs.
And it smells nice too! $4.98/bottle.

… and it wants to know if you are ready for hiking, swimming, camping and a couple of vacations. Oh, and there might be a baby shower, a wedding, and probably a few birthdays. So, stock up on stylish and sturdy clothes for the kids, gifts for everyone you know and, of course, lots of sunscreen! You can check worrying off your calendar, because Mama Goose has anticipated all of your needs and has you covered.Visit our 4,000 square foot store in Ithaca’s West End and find everything you could possibly need for your kids this summer. In addition to our gently-used merchandise, we also carry NEW summer essentials such as sunglasses, sun hats, bathing suits, Badger products , SWAT natural bug spray alternative, sustainable snacking supplies and more!

Decked out for that wedding!

Road trip entertainment.

Time for summer camps!

Come one come all to Mama Goose for an Ithaca Festival Pre-Parade Porch Party! Stop by between 12pm-5pm Thursday 5/28 (Ithaca Festival Parade Day) for Free Face Painting, Washable Tattoos, Snacks, Coloring & Fun! Get your kids ready for the parade with some festive facial flair. Our talented staff members will be on hand to bring your child’s vision to life. We will be using our Natural Earth Paints which we love and think you will too. We will also have a bean-bag toss and light refreshments, so your kids will be snacked, hydrated and ready to go the distance! But wait…there’s more … from 12-2PM Moreland the Magician will be making balloon animals! Come celebrate with us!

Our customers often tell us that maternity and nursing apparel in Ithaca is hard to come by. Mama Goose offers a section of gently-used maternity and nursing wear, as well as select new items for pregnant and nursing Mamas. Currently in stock, we have a great selection of Majamas Organic Daily Bras which are comfortable to wear during pregnancy and are perfect for nursing. When the time comes that you are no longer nursing, these versatile bras can be used as a comfortable everyday bra.  They are made of super soft, organic cotton and give an amazing amount of support for such a lightweight bra.  Our selection of  Majamas Organic bras was a special purchase, so they are only in stock while supplies last. Made in the USA, our price is only $25 each!  Available in black or ivory.

We love organic cloth nursing pads because they are eco-friendly and breathable, and don’t contain plastics or chemicals that can irritate your skin. They are also easy to wash and dry along with your babies’ clothes.

We currently carry two brands of nursing pads: Under The Nile reusable nursing pads & Fresh Moon Organic Bamboo/Wool Breastpads. Under The Under The Nile pads are made with certified organic Egyptian cotton, and the outer layer is soft flannel knit, with one layer of terry liner. This combination makes them very absorbent, and still thin enough to not show through your blouse. Fresh Moon Breastpads are made with one layer of organic bamboo velour, one layer of hemp, and backed with a layer of wool interlock. This combination of layering provides supreme protection even during nursing letdown, inhibits bacterial growth while the natural oils help prevent the material from sticking to the skin.

Under the Nile Nursing Pad 2pk: $7.00

Fresh Moon Cloth Breastpads 2pk: $8.00

Introducing the Infinity Breast Feeding Scarf by Itzy Ritzy! If a nursing cover is on your list, then may we suggest this beauty? It looks like a fashionable infinity scarf that you can wear every day, yet it doubles as a nursing cover! It is easy to use and machine washable. Find it in these cute patterns at Mama Goose for just $25.

What should you do with your little one when you need to get stuff done around the house, in the yard, while running errands or enjoying the spring with a hike? Wear your baby! If you are not already utilizing a carrier, we think you will love this increased mobility. There are many different kinds of carriers  for various ages and stages of development: wraps, ring slings, pocket slings, structured soft carriers, and hiking backpack carriers will all provide a safe and convenient hang-out for your little one. We promise to help you find the right style that will feel great for both you and your baby!

The benefits of babywearing don’t stop at mobility: babywearing can actually make you less stressed. Snuggled together, babies and their grown-ups tend to synchronize their breathing, which forces both parties to relax and puts everyone at ease.Remember, baby carriers aren’t just for Mamas. Dads and caregivers alike can reap the benefits of babywearing, too.Many of our papa-customers tell us that the carrier is the first thing they reach for when they want to make their baby happy, or put them to sleep.

The award winning Ergobaby carrier has been a staple for us and our customers for years because Ergos (as they are affectionately known) have the three attributes that our customers love: style, comfort, and function.  Ergobaby carriers are a soft structured carrier that can be worn as an inward facing front carrier, a back carrier, or a side carrier, and can carry up to 45lbs with comfort and ease!  Recently Ergobaby answered the call for a carrier with an outward-facing option to satisfy those babies who don’t want to miss the action, and thus the Ergo 360 was born. We had to have them too and now have the Ergo 360 in stock! You can learn more about Ergobaby brand carriers by visiting their website here.

Additionally, Ergos have a fantastic resale value! In fact, we will buy your used Ergo back from you when you are done with it (which will be years from now).

Also near and dear to our heart, is the beautiful and oh-so-soft Bamboo Happy Wrap, which we were pleased to introduce to our customers this past winter.  Now that spring has sprung, these 100% USA made, lightweight organic Bamboo wraps have become very popular! We are also proud to be the first retailer in Central New York to carry these cheerful wraps. You can learn more about Bamboo Happy Wraps by visiting their website here.

To see any of these carriers in person and to give them a try, just stop in to Mama Goose and let us assist you. We also carry a wide variety of used baby carriers and wraps at bargain prices. Which one is right for you? Let’s find out!

Spring is HERE. It’s official. It’s time to go bounding through the woods and remember why we all live here.

While you’re out there appreciating Mother Earth, treat her right! Avoid excess packaging by carrying your trail mix, water, sandwiches, and snacks in eco-friendly, reusable products. We’ve got all your snack-packing needs covered for your adventures through the wilderness this season! Check out these great new products for sustainable snacking:

Kid Basix Water Bottles

Get your daily dose of H2O with these stainless steel, leak-proof water bottles! Available in an 11oz sippy cup style, 12oz water bottle, and a new 16oz size for big kids (and Mamas!) They come in several snazzy colors to fit your style, and their wide mouth makes them easy to clean so you can use it for ages and ages. They could be the last water bottles you’ll ever need!

Itzy Ritzy Snack Bags

Quit re-washing your ziplock bags. In fact, quit buying them all together. Itzy Ritzy snack bags are machine washable and have a food-grade lining that is lead-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, and BPA-free. They could also just be wiped clean when you’re doing your dishes. The zip-top closure and water-resistant interior keep any crumbs and drips securely inside. And, bonus, they’re adorable! And just because they’re FDA approved for food saftey doesn’t mean you should only use them for food. They make great pencil cases, change purses, travel packs, and more!

Green Sprouts Sippy Cups

Talk about being gentle on mother earth, these sippy cups are actually made from plants! Each box set includes three cups, three sippy lids, and one spill-proof travel lid. So, while your little one is scaling Buttermilk Falls, use that travel lid to keep everything else in their pack juice-free. Then switch to the sippy lid to drink in the view and a nice cran-apple blend with your little adventurer.

Green Sprouts Lunch Boxes

You’ll never want to pack a paper bagged lunch again once you meet these little guys! They’re super lightweight and durable so the kids will be able to use them for ages. Plus they coordinate perfectly with…

 Green Sprouts Bento Boxes

These compact bento boxes keep meals sealed, separated, and adorable until feeding time. They’re easy for toddlers to open on their own, but don’t come loose or jostle around in their packs. Perfect for outdoor day camps, trips to the beach, long hikes, anywhere snacks can go along with you!

Wherever your adventuring spirit takes you this season, be prepared!

We thought some of you crafty mama’s out there might be interested in this great new resource coming to our community. The Clay School is an emerging center where students of all ages will be able to learn directly from some of our areas most revered clay artists. Striving to be a place, “where community meets creativity”, they will be offering classes, workshops, and open studio hours starting in the Fall of this year. If you’re a budding potter, or have a child who might be, you can even take classes together! What a fun way to grow and learn something together! And it’s located right in town at the South Hill Business Campus on Rt. 96B.

That’s Julie in the stripes!

The Clay School is the brainchild of our dear friend, Julie Dean (in collaboration with several other local artist-teachers). Julie was a member of the Mama Goose team for years, starting way back when we were in our tiny store on Seneca St. Her artistic and entrepreneurial spirit were vital to making Mama Goose the store it is today. If you don’t know Julie or weren’t around the Goose when she worked here, you might recognize her as the designer of the custom Mama Goose tiles that line our current location. That’s just one of the many ways she made her mark here!

You can read all about The Clay School and even get a sneak peak at their up-coming class schedule on their website. If you think you might like to support this project, check out their Indiegogo page here.

Our own original works by Julie Dean.

When the time comes to cajole your new walker into their first pair of real shoes, consider these three elements: flexibility, breathability, and fit. A good soft-soled, highly flexible shoe allows your youngster to really feel the earth underneath them and work on their sense of balance. Experts recommend breathable fabrics like leather and canvas. As for fit, they should be loose enough to press your thumb down on the shoe in front of their biggest toe or slip your pinky behind their heel, but not so loose that your little escape artist can shimmy out of them.

If this seems confusing, we’re here to help! And we’ve done a lot of research and taken the guess work out of it for you. We love the See Kai Run brand and have been carrying them for years. They are specifically built with flexibility in mind and are available in both leather and canvas options. Plus, they’re so stinkin’ cute!!

Ohmygosh, sharks?!  TOO cute.

We’ve just received several new See Kai Run styles for spring if your little one is in the market for them! Stop by to peruse our selection in toddler sizes 3-9.

Prices range from $39.48-$50.00.