It was hot as Hell on the East Coast this weekend, which means moms are scrambling this week to stock up on summer clothes for their kids. With perfect timing, J.Crew’s first-ever Crewcuts catalog will be arriving in mailboxes next week. Being our curious selves, we caught up with Crewcuts head designer Jenny Cooper and begged her for a sneak preview of the catalog—along with some tips on how to wear her favorite pieces from the Spring/Summer collection.

There are so many new fashion labels for babies, it’s impossible to keep up. But that doesn’t stop us from trying. Right now, we’ve got the following up-and-coming brands on our Next Big Thing radar.

With the rising mercury come stronger UV rays-and that wicked sidewalk glare. Sun block and sunglasses do their part for the toddler set, as long as you’re buying shades designed for UV protection and not just to look cute. (Try Baby Banz, Julbo, and Eyes Cream Shades.)

But for total block-out options, we asked our resident gear guy, Jamie Grayson, to dish up the best bets for car window blinds and stroller sunshades. Here are his picks for a squint-free, sunburn-free summer . . .

Is it just us, or is the backlash against matchy-matchy letting up? Maybe on some subconscious level, coordinating colors is a calming antidote to the financial chaos. Or, not. Maybe it’s just that customizing wall letters to match your nursery décor is really freaking cute.

In any case, it’s the trendlet of the moment . . .