rock on

Whether you live at Baby Gap or swear by hand-me-downs from friends, chances are your kids' wardrobes can use a little boost. You know, one or two fun pieces that give it an edge...so they don't look like every other toddler at the playground. Rock Baby Rock, a high-end infant and toddler clothing line, was created to infuse kids' clothes with fun and energy that was missing from the childrenswear market. Think onesies, t-shirts, hoodies, board shorts, flared and straight legged pants, skirts, jumpers, and tiered or hooded dresses ($34 to $62) in infant sizes three to 12 months and toddler sizes two to four. Soon to be unleashed for Fall: The Wild, Wild Safari collection, designed to spread the love for the world we live in and its animals. Featuring adorable graphics of elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions and zebras, amidst paw prints, stripes and stars, the clothes promote messages like "love, love, love," "to love is to learn," and "knock on the sky and hear me." In the softest fleece, Supima cotton jersey and French terry, as well as brilliant colors like fuschia, carrot, teal, majesty, sunshine, castle rock and cocoa, they add an unexpected pop to any wee outfit. Go to www.rockbabyrock.net for stores and info.

born to swim

I was a lifeguard in high school and one of the most terrifying things for me was watching new mothers try to teach their babies to swim. I'd sit on the edge of my chair, ready to dive in at a moment's notice. Luckily, there were no mishaps on my watch...but as a result, I'm always looking for better ways to introduce kids to the water. Aquanilo, based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is one of them. "Danilo and I started this company with one thing in mind: To provide the best swimming for infants and babies, while providing parents with the support they need to supplement their parenting style," says Yaron Landow, CEO. Landow co-owns Aquanilo with Swim Director and 2000 Olympics participant Danilo Krvavac, a driving force behind the program, shown here teaching a five-month-old to swim. In addition to swimming lessons, an on-site certified doula offers exceptional parenting support. "The doula helps parents understand how specific exercises help their children's cognitive and physical growth," says Landow. "She is also there to talk to new moms about everything from breastfeeding to dealing with the necessary adjustments when becoming a new parent." The business wouldn't be a success without the duo's passion for the sport; Landow says he discovered his at a young age. "When I was about four years old, I was scared of dogs," he recalls. "I was at a hotel that had a resident dog that walked around the property and was always barking. One day I was at the pool with my older sister and the dog started chasing me and barking. I ran away and jumped into the pool. I was thankful that I knew how to swim and that the dog didn't like water." For more info on this innovative swim program, email aquaniloswim@gmail.com.