Sippy cups: Can’t find the right top; can’t find the right bottom. There’s a crack; the spout is chewed up, leaking or clogged with residue.

The new Poli spillproof sippy cup solves all those problems with a patented, easy-to-clean, no-parts-to-lose design. The small parts come apart for easy access but are tethered to the inside of the cap. Poli can go right into the dishwasher for a thorough scrub. The 8-ounce cups are free of BPA and phthalates. The colorful nursery-rhyme illustrations were designed by the inventor.

The Poli cup is $19.95 at usapoli.com and amazon.com.

Toys filled with hugs and kisses

Who needs a special day to show they care? Here are some nice ways to say “I love you” to your little darlings:

Love Potion Pop Fizz: If you’ve got a game enthusiast in the family, check out Skylander’s new Love Potion Pop Fizz. Despite his name, this little guy is anything but mushy and sweet. Still, he’ll be a cherished addition to your gamer’s Skylanders collection. Find it at Amazon, Game Stop or your favorite retailer for about $10.

Glow Cuddles Bear: A well-rested child is a well-behaved child, and Cloud b encourages and facilitates sleep with a sweet line of creative nightlights and bedtime toys. One of our favorites is the adorable, soft Glow Cuddles Bear. Cuddles has a light hidden inside his chest and when he gets a hug, the light glows soothingly. There’s also a gentle, calming heartbeat sound and two timer options: 10 or 23 minutes. $35.95 on cloudb.com

Dreamz To Go Groovy Globes have graphics of hearts, flowers and peace signs etched into the globe. When you turn on the bulb, the light shines from inside and projects those groovy images onto your walls and ceiling. It’s a great way to move your little cherub toward sleep. The Globes are available in pink or aqua and require 3 AAA batteries (included). $25.95 on cloudb.com

Cosmic UFO: Shaped like a UFO, it projects images of the Northern Lights and makes “intergalactic” sounds that make your child’s space look and feel like the great outdoors. The UFO’s brightness settings are adjustable, and there’s a 23-mnute auto shutoff timer. $44.95 on cloudb.com

Love Poppers: Adding a whole new dimension to the phrase “blowing kisses,” Love Poppers are fun, silly animals that shoot soft “kisses” (foam balls with lips on them) at their target. Pop the balls into the animal’s mouth, squeeze the belly, and watch the kisses fly and the laughter ensue. Poppers come in four flavors: monkey, pig, squirrel and cow. Each comes with six balls and retails for $10.95. Refills are sold separately. hogwildtoys.com

Insight on new peanut allergies research

Children at high risk of developing peanut allergies are far less likely to do so if they are given peanut-containing foods before they turn 1, finds a major study. Some things to know:

• Peanut allergies are increasing and affect more than 2 percent of kids in the United States. They are the top cause of food allergy-related severe reactions and deaths. Food allergies often are inherited but also can develop during life, and age of exposure may matter.

• Researchers in England studied more than 600 children ages 4 months to 11 months old with possible signs of an allergy but no strong evidence of one on a skin test. They were assigned either to avoid peanuts until age 5, or to regularly eat them, usually as peanut butter or a peanut puff snack. At age 5, peanut allergies had developed in 3 percent of peanut eaters versus 17 percent of abstainers.

• Don’t try this on your own. Babies in the study were tested to ensure they didn’t already have a peanut allergy before they were fed peanut-based foods. Also, whole peanuts pose a choking risk. Doctors recommend peanut butter or other peanut-containing foods instead.

• Food guidelines may change. The American Academy of Pediatrics at one time recommended against giving children peanut-based foods before age 3 but dropped that advice in 2008, because there was no evidence it prevented allergies. Now, most parents introduce peanut-based foods when other solid foods are added unless a child is known to have a peanut allergy.

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