Southern Made and just for kids

Mom knows best

As a mom and dermatologist, Amy Kim was overwhelmed by the number of skin care products for infants. She also was frustrated by the lack of helpful, easy-to-follow information for new parents. Kim’s diagnosis: Develop a new skin care line. In March, she launched Baby Pibu (pronounced pea-boo).

The company: Based in Atlanta, the company's gentle skin care products are made in Miami.

The name: The name comes from a combination of Kim's Korean heritage and her husband's Thai background. In Korean, "pibu" means "skin." In the Thai culture, elephants are a symbol of good luck. The company's logo is a cute elephant.

The founder: Kim is a board-certified dermatologist and mother of two young children, who experienced different skin problems as infants. Kim also leads basic baby skin care classes at Atlanta's Northside Hospital.

The goods: The Newborn Essentials Skincare Kit ($98) is the heart of the product line. The kit, which includes 10 items ranging from hydrating ointment to intensive bottom relief, grew out of a baby shower gift Kim gave to friends and new moms.

Other favorites: Baby Sunscreen SPF 30+ ($26) and Pibu's Soothing Eczema Care Kit ($38).

What's new: The Travel Essentials Kit ($52) comes with four travel-size skincare items in a TSA-approved zipper bag. On the website now. In stores, July 1.

Where to buy: In Atlanta-area stores, including Baby Braithwaite, 102 W. Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta (babybraithwaite.com), and Cutie Pies, 5473 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody (cutiepiesonline.com). Also online at babypibu.com.

Shirt = dress

Minutes away from donating a bag full of her husband’s no-longer-worn work shirts to a thrift store, Jessica Johnson Moore thought: Why not repurpose these old shirts into something new for her daughter? Moore sat down at the sewing machine and made her first dress. In June 2011, she started Little Grey Line.

The company: Little Grey Line transforms worn button-down shirts into sophisticated yet playful dresses for girls. The custom children's clothing company is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The name: Named for her daughter, Adeline Grey. "I wanted the company to be meaningful to me and my family," Moore said. "I also wanted it to reflect the sophisticated yet playful vision I had for my designs."

The founder: After graduate school at North Carolina State University (NCSU), Moore moved to New York City and worked for Ralph Lauren, where the architecture grad helped design stores for the label. Moore later returned to Raleigh, worked as a licensed architect and taught at NCSU before teaching herself to sew and starting her dress company.

The goods: Button-down shirts, usually worn by a husband, father or grandfather, are sent to Moore and remade into one-of-a-kind dresses for infants, toddlers and girls. Once the garment becomes too short to be worn as a dress, it can work as a tunic with leggings or pants.

What's popular: Among the 17 different designs, "Grace" and "Elizabeth" are top styles for infants and toddlers as baby shower gifts. For older girls (sizes 2T and above), favorites are "Avery," "Birdie," "Collins," "Madison" and "Talia."

Where to buy: Dresses start at $75 at www.littlegreyline.com.

These toys rock

Trained as architects, Miami natives Catherine O’Sullivan and Michael Galea weren’t horsing around when they came up with a clever design for their modern rocking toys.

The company: Started in 2012, the Miami-based Wee Rock Toy Co. offers a unique line of rocking toys made from eco-friendly bamboo plywood.

The founders: O'Sullivan and Galea are both graduates of the University of Miami School of Architecture.

Inspiration: A desire to design a baby gift for one of O'Sullivan's relatives in Ireland, where the couple planned a visit. They challenged themselves to come up with their own take on a classic toy: the rocking horse. The toy also had to fit flat in their carry-on luggage and be easily assembled.

The goods: In addition to the Rocking Horse, choose the Rocking Giraffe, Gorilla, Rhino or Elephant. The rockers measure 33 inches long and 13 inches wide. The seat height is 13 inches.

Why they're different: Each rocker features just six parts and assembles in minutes. No tools, glue or hardware needed. It can be easily disassembled for travel or storage.

Best seller: Rocking Elephant

Where to buy: Rockers are $300, including shipping to 48 states, at www.weerocktoyco.com.

Best of the South

Do you have favorite finds from around the South that you give as gifts, buy for your home or rave about to friends? Send your suggestions to: lljerkins@gmail.com. Also find more Southern-made products, featured in the AJC, at Southernfinds on facebook.