Gift Hero

Talk about magic bullets: Gift Hero is a website, shop, and blog founded by two moms who've "spent too much time staring at the overwhelming, yet unsatisfying selection of toys in our local stores and at big online retailers trying to find that perfect gift...a gift we felt good about giving and the birthday child (and her mom) would love. We felt there had to be a better, easier, more convenient way." At the site, you can search for a gift by age, gender, and price, then buy it directly; all the items sold on the site are tested by kids and parents. The Gift Hero blog covers some favorite toys (recently: wood-like soft blocks, top holiday picks, and gifts for 2-year-olds). And Gift Hero is also involved with local charities, getting toys to kids whose families can't afford them.