We live in the land of toboganning, snow angels and daily snowman creation, and not much ends a snow-play afternoon quicker than frozen fingers, snow in the sleeves or mittens buried in a snow pile. With our recent discovery of Smittens, from Canadian company January Baby, we no longer have that problem with our two year old. Smittens are no-escape mitten for children between 6 months and 2.5 years that they can’t take off. They come in 4 sizes and 7 different colour combinations. They’re made with soft, warm, Canadian-milled Blizzard brand polar fleece and are made in Canada for Canadian winters. Well, for any cold kid, really, but if they’re good in Canada they’re good anywhere, right?

So how do they work? You place your child’s hand into one pocket, wrap the Smitten around the child’s back and place the other hand in the other pocket. Then put on the child’s jacket or snowsuit, and that’s it! The pockets will come up to the child’s elbows so there is no way the child can pull them off, but an adult can easily pull one off and get it back on for snacking and nose-picking emergencies. Smittens are loved by parents all over North America, and are available online ($15) and in select baby boutiques.

Win it! We’ve got a selection of Smittens to give away to T.O.P. readers. To enter, comment with your choice before noon mst on January 19, 2009. Your choices are (1)size large primary, (2)size medium blue or (3) size small two-tone green.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

There are a lot of gorgeous diaper bags on the market today – some practical and some not so much – but I’ve never seen anything like the Alpha Sherpa diaper backpack from Canadian company Baby Sherpa. It’s not just a comfortable backpack – it’s the most well-designed “diaper bag” ever, and it’s the kind of bag you can use for years after you finish carrying diapers. It’s five bags in one with a total of ten pockets – a padded laptop backpacks that holds a 14 inch laptop, an insulated cooler for snacks and bevvies (whether they come in a sippy cup or not), a parent pack with a change pad & bottle holder, a padded interior pocket and special pockets for your mobile devices & other electronic goodies. It’s ergonimically designed, with an ultra padded air mesh back panel with ventilation channels, padded shoulder straps,a sternum strap and an optional waist belt, and to top it all off it’s downright perty – the ‘Black Graphite’ colour is great for both men and women.

The Alpha Sherpa sells for $119 from the Baby Sherpa site.

Win it! An Alpha Sherpa valued at $119 is up for grabs. Comment here before noon mst on October 8, 2009 to enter.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Just in time for back to school, the 30+ degree weather has finally hit. It’s time to put away the rain hats and pull out the oh-so-cute summer bonnet from Alberta based Chic Peek.

Echo Wells, a Medicine Hat mama, designer & entrepreneur, designed these hats with both function and fashion in mind. They cover the child’s entire head and many have a large extended bonnet-style peak that provides shade for their delicate face. The sample bonnet we received (pictured) makes my daughter look like a little pioneer girl! (We’ll be donating it, as we do with 90% of our samples, to a deserving child at our local shelter or another charity.)

There are currently twenty-four styles available and they vary in pattern and style. There are some awesome boy patterns, which are often hard to find, and some decidedly non-pioneer styles for the girls too.They’re sized from newborn to four years, and retail for $28.99.

Chic Peek makes functional, fashionable.

Mention T.O.P. for a 10% refund on any order from Chic Peek.
Beautiful tutus, chic nursing covers, clips, hats, headbands, chic legwarmers, carseat covers, the best Buggie Hugs ever (for two kids!) and so much more.

This code is just one of many in our infamous TOP Shops, where you’ll find exclusive discount codes for some pretty darn awesome online shops.

Win it! Chic Peek is giving one T.O.P. reader their choice of summer bonnet. To enter, just take your pick and leave a comment before noon mst on August 31, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

TOP fave EcoBaby Canada isn’t just for eco-babies. Canadian mama of four, Andrea, carries a large selection of products for the green-leaning mom as well. Andrea is running for the Savvy Mom Entrepreneur of the Year and I happen to think she totally deserves it!

I’ve been checking out the LunaPads intro kit (Canadian made too!) It’s an introductory kit that allows you to try both pads (for light and average flow) and pantyliners (for daily needs or very light flow). It contains 1 Maxi Pad, 1 Maxi Liner, 1 Maxi Wing Liner, 1 Mini Pad, 1 Mini Liner, 1 Mini Wing Liner, 1 Mini Pantyliner and 1 Teeny Pantyliner in assorted colours. It sells for $57.99 and can save both you and the earth in the long run. Just think of the money you spend on feminine hygiene products between the teen years and menopause, and how much of it ends up in our landfills and sewers. If we get our young women started with eco-friendly products like those available from EcoBaby Canada, so much of that could be prevented.

I’ll admit I was a little leery of using these (and I’m still terrified of the Diva Cup!) but actually they’re pretty darn awesome! They can just go in with the regular laundry (not your cloth diapers – Andera says the flannel can make them pill) and come out just as good as new. If the thought grosses you out, be flexible – a little goes a long way when it comes to being green. Use a LunaPads liner with a regular tampon or Diva Cup, or even just use them on light flow days. Every little bit helps!

We’re giving a Luna Pads intro kit away to one reader (worldwide) courtesy of Eco Baby Canada. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on August 31, 2009.

CANADIAN residents, get TWO extra entries! Please go VOTE for Andrea in the Savvy Mom Entrepreneur of the Year contest – leave your email address (the one you voted with) in the form with your second comment and you’re entered two more times.

Additional entries are always available in T.O.P. contests. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We love classic wooden toys and, though our house is still overrun by plastic, we try our best to find and buy as many non-toxic items as we can.

Our latest fave is the Maple Landmark Spinny Speller from Canadian company Go Green Baby. It consists of three four-sided blocks that spin to make 3 dozen simple consonant-vowel-consonant words. It’s great for developing and challenging early reading skills, is constructed of hardwood construction and is 5″ long. It’s recommended for children aged 3 and up. My three year old son digs his, and though he can easily read all of the word sit makes he still has fun creating rhyming words and is trying to teach his sister how easy it is to sound out words and create word families – that alone is worth the price! It’s only $9 so makes an easy & inexpensive addition to your preschooler’s toybox, and a great addition to a birthday or Christmas gift.

The Spinny Speller and so many more cool things are available from Ontario based Go Green Baby.

Win it! We’re giving away a Spinny Speller to a randomly selected reader. To enter, visit Go Green Baby and let us know one or two of your favourite items or things you’d like to see reviewed before noon mst on August 19, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

It was almost exactly a year ago that we shared a great Canadian company with you – a company whose new products are so fab we’ve brought them back again! Clippopotamus (Clippo for short) isn’t just clips anymore. T.O.P. contributor Susan shares with you three new products from Clippo:

Soother Clippo:

If you have a child that uses a soother you will agree those things are like gold. The soother clippo could be your saviour. The material they use for the tether is made from fully washable grosgrain ribbons and the clips are stainless steel with plastic teeth that won’t ruin fabrics.

I only wish my daughter’s soother had something I could clip on it… however, I used the soother clippo as a toy leash as they recommend on the Clippo website. I’m sure many of you can relate when I say if I had a dollar for every time my daughter threw something out of her stroller I would be a rich woman. Of course I know it is just a game she loves to play and generally I don’t mind… except when we are in a disgustingly dirty public washroom and she decides to launch her teething toys or worse yet her “surface wash only” plush teddy bear, eeeew. So, needless to say I was thrilled to put the Clippo to the test. And I am impressed. My daughter who is also very strong and determined was not able to pull her toy off the stroller thanks to the Soother Clippo.

Bib Clippo:

This is the coolest design ever! In case you haven’t guessed my daughter is also one of those kids that hates to wear a bib. She reefs on the Velcro bibs I have for her, tears them off, swings them around, and throws them on the ground. So, we tried the Bib Clippo while we were away this weekend, and I love it. I got the idea from the Clippopotamus website because I wasn’t sure how to use the bib clippo… but when they talked about being caught someplace without a bib and trying to stuff a napkin in a child’s collar, I laughed because I am totally guilty of that, and yes it was a bust. This is obviously one of those brilliant mom inventions. Just carry your bib clippo in the diaper bag and you’ve got yourself a disposable bib-on-the-go.

Honestly, I think my grandmother, who was 93 when she passed away, would have appreciated this product. She lived in a care facility where they had adult bibs, just what you would put on a baby only larger. If they had the bib clippo they could use napkins or paper towels attached to these sophisticated tethers. I definitely would have bought her one of these.
The other great thing about the bib clippo is because of the adjustable size moms can use it to make a quick and easy nursing cover. Now I would say I am middle of the road liberal/modest when it comes to nursing in public. Generally I have no problem whipping it out to feed my baby, however I was once stuck in the middle of a very busy mall on a Saturday in an unfamiliar city and was trying to cover up some with a blanket… well my daughter would not have this, so over and over again would try to pull it off her head and expose me for all to see. The bib clippo will keep your receiving blanket in place!

Blanket Clippo:

I don’t have a little one in a bucket car seat anymore but if I did I would want a blanket clippo. See their website for a visual. With the wind gusts we get here in Southern Alberta, the Clippo’s fierce bite is crucial. The blanket clippo straps on to the carseat or stroller and ensures your child’s blanket stays put. It is a nice alternative to those car seat covers. We were caught in a hail storm this weekend while at a park, and the Blanket Clippo came in very handy to keep my daughter’s blanket in place on the stroller. I have been known to run over a few blankets in my day… it’s extra special when the stroller wheels are nice and muddy.

What fantastic products from a fine company that prides themselves on giving back to the Canadian community. Four dollars from the sale of selectively designed soother clippos goes to the charity SickKids in Toronto.

Speaking of designs, did I mention the amazing variety of patterns to choose from? Very trendy, and there’s something for everyone’s taste.

Win it! We’re giving away one of each of the featured Clippos to one randomly selected T.O.P. reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on May 26, 2009 including your favourite fabric(s) form the Clippopotamus

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’ve never been much of a cosmetic junkie. I’ve got my bare minimum basics that I use daily, and that’s all I want. Since having children, though, I’ve become somewhat of a natural-product junkie. If it’s natural or organic and it’s made for kids, I’ll buy it. I’ve found shelves and shelves full of products that I like just fine, but a few standout items or companies are fabulous enough to make it on to T.O.P. The Spa Sisters make approximately a gazillion of those standout products. And they make them by hand, with fairly traded ingredients. Now that’s what I’m talking about.

The mandarin bubble bath from their kids line is made with pure essential oils and smells positively scrumptious. Unlike many natural bubbling products, this one actually makes bubbles, and they last more than thirty seconds after the kids get in the tub.

The lotions, which aren’t actually part of the kids line, are some of the best I’ve ever tried. While I don’t like to use any scents on myself, my kids love guessing what they’re going to smell like on any given night and these scents are pure awesome. My personal fave is mango margarita, a scent that’s rather unique – a little sweet, yet natural. They make a body wash in the same scent that’s a great pairing for the unbelievably nourishing lotion.

If you’re looking for something even more nourishing, the body meringues are like a butter that’s been whipped until it’s almost frothy. It feels kind of like rubbing moist air into your skin. But better, of course. It’s a really nice change from the standard body butters.

My daughter loves their tubes of lip butter. I honestly haven’t tried it – because she won’t let me – but according to her it’s “Yum yum kissy!” Any bets on how long before she takes a bite?

All Spa Sisters products are SLS and SLES free and contain no parabens, synthetic colourings or petroleum. According to their site, they’re releasing a baby line and an organic line this spring, and I can hardly wait to try them!

Win it! We’re giving away four bottles of the fab Spa Sisters lotion, in the following scents: mango margarita, orange jasmine, green tea and lemongrass, and vanilla fudge. To enter, visit Spa Sisters to browse around and come back to comment with some other goodies you’d like to try. Or just let us know what you think in a general sense. Or tell us something you wish they made. Just pay them a visit – that’s all we ask. Honesty = good karma! Contest closes at noon mst on May 14, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

With Earth Day having just passed, there’s no better time than now to introduce you to the Etsy shop of Ruth Smith, a Winnipeg-based Canadian working mom of two, PeriwinkleDzyns. Ruth got tired of seeing all the obsolete electronic components go into the garbage at a local factory and was industrious enough to rescue them, combine them with her jewellery making skills and create her line of upcycled e-waste jewelery.

Her custom original geekery lanyard is the coolest geekiest. It’s 44″ total length (adjustable to your specification) and has a sterling plated chain around the back of the neck for comfort. It’s very sturdily made of new resistors (never in contact with solder or circuit boards) that have been rescued from going to the landfill. It comes equipped with a 0.75″ key ring for your keys, pass card or whatever you need to have within reach. She makes some cool jewelery that’s less function and more fashion as well. I love this one and this one.

Another cool find in Ruth’s shop are the vintage pinback 1.25″ buttons made by her daughter Kendra. She uses words from vintage dictionaries and thesauri to create these cute accessories which she sells for just $2 each, keeping the books out of the recycle bin, increasing her vocabulary and learning basic business skills all at the same time. What a great venture for an obviously smart little girl!

We love a find that allows you to have it all – shop online, support a mom, support a kid and protect the earth.

Win it! We’ve got BOTH of the pictured items up for grabs – a yellow geekery lanyard and a full set of Charlie Brown dictionary buttons. To enter, visit the PeriwinkleDzyns shop and come back to comment with your fave(s) that were not mentioned in this review. Contest closes at noon mst on May 1, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a natural body product collector. Not so much for myself as for my kids. I can’t resist a non-toxic, scent-free or delicious smelling product if I come across it at a craft fair. It was at a Southern Alberta crafters marketplace that I discovered the wonderful A Family Affair. Owned by a mother & daughter team and supported by a dozen or so more family members, A Family Affair is truly a…um…family affair! Family matriarch Betty’s lifelong love of creating soaps and eldest daughter Jenn’s love of crafting have come together to build a successful growing business that we’re proud to support.

Leaving the market armed with a large selection of reasonably priced goodies, I set off to test them out with my own family to see if they were worthy of sharing with you here. Let me tell you, these are some perfectly amazing products!

Just for kids, A Family Affair offers an awesome foaming hand soap (just $8 and in three great scents) that is a great way to entice kids to wash their hands. My own kids love to pump their own soap and the bottle lasts a surprisingly long time. The SLS free powdered bubble bath ($15, and only five ingredients!) is gentle on the skin, delightfully fragrant and produces a tub full of bubbles!

For my own bath, I dig the bubble bars which are a super cool take on creating a bath full of bubbles…so fun to crack off a piece and smush it under the running water. I’d use one tonight if the kids hadn’t used them all up! In fact, each time I am able to take the time to soak in the tub, I discover another bath product that I love. Mmmm, chocolate! In the shower, the whipped sugar scrubs are truly amazing. I use the Creamsicle scent which is wonderfully refreshing, but it’s not the scent that’s the best thing about it. It’s the thickest, most…scrubby scrub I’ve ever used. If you’re like me and you get annoyed with the sparse scrubbies in many products available, you’ll love the fact that every finger full you pull from the jar is completely saturated with sugary exfoliating goodness. It leaves my skin moist and smelling absolutely amazing, but the smell isn’t overpowering and doesn’t last very long. That’s a good thing.

The products that A Family Affair has created for your feet are all awesome. Having tried them all on myself and on my family, I intend to continue to use them. However, I must give special mention to the Callous Balm. When my Dad became sick a couple of years ago, his feet began to crack and he was no longer able to bend over and take care of them. When I went home to visit, I’d often give him a mini-pedicure and tried everything I could find to massage his heels and soothe his tired feet. When I finally discovered Callous Balm, the first product from A Family Affair that I’d discovered, we both knew we’d found a winner. It’s at once cooling, soothing and healing, and now that I no longer have my dad’s feet to rub I continue to use it on my own and my husband’s. If you know anyone with diabetes or even just tired feet in need of a little love, Callous Balm is for them. It makes a great stocking stuffer or gift addition! (What? You haven’t started stuffing stockings yet?)

Gift baskets are available for any occasion, and be sure to become a fan of their new facebook page. Currently, A Family Affair only ships to Canadian addresses.

Save 10% with the code TOP10. A Family Affair is the newest addition to our TOP Shops where they’ve purchased one of our new permanent image based spaces that save you money. Check it out!

Win it! We’ve got both of the fab baby gift baskets (valued at $30 each) to give away to two randomly selected winners. To enter, visit A Family Affair and take a look around. Come back to tell us some products or scents that you like that weren’t mentioned in this review, or give Betty & Jenn some suggestions for future products or scents you’d like to see them develop. Also be sure to let us know if you’d like to be entered for the blue or the pink basket. Worldwide entries are welcome! Contest closes at noon mst on April 22, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

When new parent discussions turn to baby carriers it is almost always the more modern pack-style baby carriers that first come to mind despite the great variety of baby carriers available today. There is no denying that pack-style baby carriers are one of the most popular options, and there are many reasons why parents opt to purchase a structured carrier.
Soft-structured baby carriers are essentially mei tai baby carriers with buckles. They consist of a main body and four straps that attach to the wearer and hold baby close. Rather than wrapping or tying the carrier to your body, quick-release buckles are used. Buckle carriers lack the versatility that wraps and mei tai’s offer as you are limited to strap and buckle placement when it comes to securing the carrier to your body, however the addition of buckles make for a very convenient option when it comes to a baby carrier.

As Many Unique Pack Carriers as There Are Babies

Unlike simple baby slings or wraparound baby carriers that have a very basic and similar construction between brand names, soft-structured baby carriers vary widely from one model to the next. There seems to be as many unique styles of structured carriers as there are babies, each with its own distinctive features. Differences between soft-structured baby carriers can be found in the number of carrying positions offered, whether or not a waist belt has been used for dispersing weight more ergonomically over the wearer, how a baby is suspended in the carrier, the angle at which buckles, belts and straps are placed as well as how much of your baby is supported by the body of the baby carrier itself, depending on the size of the panel.

This aspect of varying styles and features is important to keep in mind when selecting a buckle-style baby carrier. If one brand does not seem to be working well for you or your baby, you are experiencing discomfort, or a carrier lacks the versatility you are after in its design, there are many others to choose from that will fit and feel differently.

When selecting a soft-structured baby carrier one of the most important features to look for is a carrier that makes use of back-packing technology. Wider shoulder straps, padding in all the right places, and a supportive waist belt to help distribute baby’s weight to your hips and upper thighs for maximum comfort will aid in preventing strain on your neck, back and shoulders.

In-Arms Parenting – for Toddlers too!

Many parents are looking for a baby carrier to use with their older or heavier children. A soft-structured baby carrier is ideal for this. Because a structured baby carrier of the highest standards will adequately distribute a heavier child’s weight to the wearer’s hips and not put strain on the neck and shoulders, you can easily (and comfortably!) carry a child up to 40 or more pounds in many soft-pack carriers.

Advantages of Soft-Structured Baby Carriers:

• Easy for most parents to learn how to use as their concept is similar to that of a standard backpack.
• Ergonomic design in many carriers is more comfortable for wearers offering balanced weight distribution across both shoulders (choose brands carefully!).
• One of the best carriers for older babies & toddlers (40+ lbs), most parents find they can carry a baby the longest in a soft-structured carrier.
• Many can be worn on the front and back, with some brands offering more flexibility than others in carrying positions.
• An excellent option for the active parent that hikes or walks often or for longer periods of babywearing.
• Some carriers are designed primarily for “hip” carrying, a natural position for many parents when carrying an older, heavier baby or toddler.
• Convenient to put on and off quickly and easily.
• No wrapping, knots to tie or dragging fabric.
• A one-size fits most baby carrier, soft-structured carriers can easily be shared by different users.
• Mainstream look and ease of use is highly appealing to dads.
• These carriers usually have the highest resale value.

Disadvantages of Soft-Structured Baby Carriers:

• Buckles and the adjustment of belt straps have a learning curve many parents are unprepared for. Carrier may be uncomfortable if adjusted incorrectly.
• Not usually recommended for newborns without head control (less than 4 months old), although some carriers may have additional accessories to accommodate infants.
• Not the easiest or most discrete for nursing an infant. Some may require additional accessories for nursing.
• Structured baby carriers don’t offer the same “hug” or hold some other carriers are well known for, so they are less than ideal for cuddling with an infant or young baby.
• Usually these are the most expensive baby carriers due to the great deal of extra hardware and workmanship involved in manufacturing.
• Buckles make this a bulkier baby carrier so it’s not as compact for travel and may not fit in a diaper bag.

Because of their unique design and the ability to transfer most of a child’s weight to the hips, structured carriers are among the most comfortable baby carriers with even the heaviest of children. Parents that plan to use their baby carriers for a long walks, hiking, back-carrying, or for extended babywearing with an older baby or child, may find a soft-structured baby carrier suits their needs best.

Soft-structured baby carriers are comfortable, relatively simple to use and stylish with mainstream appeal. If you’re looking for a way to get started with babywearing but traditional baby carriers make you nervous, using a soft-structured baby carrier would be a great choice. With their longevity and easy back-carrying options, pack-style baby carries offer a value in a baby carrier that is hard to match. Pair this style of baby carrier with a popular infant option such as a baby sling or wraparound and you’ll have a perfect baby carrying combination from birth to toddler and beyond.

WIN IT! Parenting by Nature is giving one T.O.P. reader their choice of in stock soft-structured carriers from their site. Canada and US addresses only please. To enter, leave a comment on this post listing the carrier & fabric you’ll be choosing if you’re selected as the winner before noon mst on April 20, 2009.

This is part six and the final installment (so sad – we’ve loved them!) in a series of guest-written articles by Parenting By Nature’s founder and mother of two, Tamara Champion. For more articles and information visit Babywearing 101 on the Parenting By Nature website or browse their extensive baby carrier selection. You’re sure to find the right baby carrier to suit your individual needs, style and desires!

Thanks so much, Tamara, for your very educational articles and amazingly generous giveaways. All of us, readers and writers, have loved them and think you’re the bomb!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

If you love the versatility of a wrap-style baby carrier but find the actual art of “wrapping” to be too confusing, or more complex than you are ready for, you may find the perfect solution in a mei tai baby carrier (pronounced “may tie”). A simple, sleek baby carrier that is easy to use and beautiful to wear, it’s no wonder that the mei tai is quickly gaining in popularity among parents nationwide.

A mei tai baby carrier, also know as an Asian baby carrier (or ABC), is traditional to the Chinese culture and has only gained notice in North America since the early 2000’s. The design is simple – a rectangular piece of fabric (called the body) with four straps extending from each of it’s four corners. The design has been updated over the years and you will now find a large variety of mei tais with many features such as padded shoulders, straps of varying length and widths, and the addition of a headrest to support the head and neck of an infant or sleeping toddler.

The long straps, basic rectangular body and sash-style tying method remains the constant feature of all mei tai baby carriers.

The Perfect Combination of Ease & Versatility

We’re often asked if using a mei tai baby carrier is difficult. Securing the carrier involves only two “ties”, and so using a mei tai is as easy as (1) tying a sash around your waist, (2) holding baby in place with the body of the carrier, and (3) securing the two shoulder straps by tossing them over your shoulders and tying them around you and baby. It really can be as easy as 1, 2, 3! For many parents they will accomplish this with their first try, while others may need a bit more practice to feel confident when starting out with a mei tai. Before long, putting on and taking off a mei tai can be done in seconds.

A mei tai baby carrier offers the flexibility of unlimited carrying options, similar to that of wrap-style baby carriers with the added advantage of a baby carrier that can be tied on and taken off quickly and with ease. Your comfort & baby’s positioning can vary considerably, based on how your mei tai is tied. Suitable for front carrying (facing in and facing out), hip carrying and back carrying, a mei tai can truly be used from birth to toddler.

A mei tai is also one of the only baby carriers that offers complete head and neck support when carrying a very young baby on a caregiver’s back. This may be a very important feature for parents expecting baby #2. Successfully securing a young baby to your back makes life much easier while you are also chasing a toddler around all day. Tending to your older child’s needs when a new baby is on the scene is a breeze with a mei tai baby carrier.

You’ll find mei tai’s today in a wide variety of fabrics, colors and patterns, most of which are also reversible to solid colours. This is yet another reason why the mei tai appeals to both moms and dads alike!

Advantages of a Mei Tai Baby Carrier:
• Easy to use baby carrier with shallow learning curve.
• A favorite for back carrying, can also be used with a young baby on the back (especially helpful when there is a second child to attend to!).
• Unlimited number of carrying positions including front, hip and back carrying.
• Discreet and hands-free nursing.
• Suitable from infant to toddler (up to 40+ lbs).
• Baby’s weight is distributed across both shoulders & upper back so there is less neck & back strain.
• Less structured than a backpack carrier.
• No snaps, buckles, rings or clips to bother with or get in the way of you or baby.
• One-size fits most! Great for mom, dad & caregivers to share.
• A very lightweight, compact carrier, perfect for traveling or stashing in a diaper bag.

Disadvantages of a Mei Tai Baby Carrier:
• Hands-free nursing is in upright position only (can be tricky with a newborn).
• Not as heavily padded as most structured carrierS (but this can be an advantage for a parent that wants less “bulk!”).
• Straps are long and may drag on ground while learning to tie (can be messy in the rain or snow).

With the more mainstream appeal of a mei tai baby carrier and no limit in it’s flexibility, it is with a mei tai that many parents find babywearing bliss. As well, a mei tai baby carrier is enduringly practical and considering it’s longevity of use, a great value. With their ease of use, unlimited carrying positions, ability to use one carrier from birth to toddler and fabulous prints, with a mei tai baby carrier you really can have it all.

WIN IT! Parenting by Nature is giving one T.O.P. reader their choice of in stock Mei Tai Baby Carrier from their site. Canada and US addresses only please. To enter, leave a comment on this post listing the mei tai & fabric you’ll be choosing if you’re selected as the winner before noon mst on April 13, 2009.

This is part five in a series of guest-written articles by Parenting By Nature’s founder and mother of two, Tamara Champion. For more articles and information visit Babywearing 101 on the Parenting By Nature website or browse their extensive baby carrier selection. You’re sure to find the right baby carrier to suit your individual needs, style and desires! Be sure to come back next week for another of Tamara’s educational features and another chance to win!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

There’s no doubt that we’re in the midst of a recession, and even if you’re one of the lucky ones who hasn’t lost any money or jobs you’re sure to be feeling the urge to be a little bit more careful with your spare cash. However, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your desire to splurge for yourself and your babes on high quality and functional merchandise.

Medicine Hat, Alberta based ChicPeek, offers a great variety of incredibly high quality products at great prices. Owner & designer Echo Wells is a mom of three who has been creating beautiful items for over 15 years. Her experience is evident as soon as you see her products in person. They’re of a highly professional quality but sell for a handmade price.

The ChicPeek nursing covers (a steal at $24.99 without your discount – see below) is truly one of a kind. (Pictured in the two centre images at right.) Made of a gorgeous cashmere & silk pashmina (black or brown), it’s the required amount of discreet and modest, but unusually fashionable for a nursing cover. There are enough “Hey, guess what? I’m breastfeeding!” (a.k.a. ugly) nursing covers out there; it’s about time someone made one like this. Essentially just a long & wide scarf that’s strategically sewn with a head & arm hole, it covers all the way around, making it fully tug-proof. There’s an open side so one hand is always free to multi-task, and it’s the perfect weight to not swelter you or baby while you cuddle. If someone notices that you’re nursing, it’s likely either someone who has seen one of Echo’s great covers before or who spotted the gorgeous little toes peeking out from underneath. Even better is that when you’re done nursing or in between children, your nursing cover is a beautiful scarf that you can wear several ways without anyone having any idea that it once hid your boobs from strangers.

ChicPeek offers a large selection of Miklips hair bows & clips for newbies and right up to moms. From the most adorable corkers to gorgeous big bows, the Chic Peek clips are of top quality, stay in your hair and are absolutely gorgeous.

Most of all, though, I was thrilled to discover the ChicPeek buggie hugs shopping cart cover ($49.99 – two bottom images at right). I have looked everywhere – brick and morter as well as online – and ChicPeek is the first place I’ve found stylish looking covers with holes and belts for two children to share the front seat of a cart. (The standards is two holes and one belt, but just ask and Echo will put another belt in for you.) The design of her buggy hugs are brilliant. Aside from the extra wide leg holes to accommodate one leg or two, these are also the only covers I’ve seen come equipped with an attached caribiner to secure the cover to the cart. My kids ride in the different shades of red pattern, which is gorgeous and commented on everywhere we go – particularly Costco when both kids are germ free & buckled in the front seat of the cart. If you’re going to have a second child before your first turns four, I highly recommend you pick up a Chic Peek buggy hug and get a second belt put in. The longer you can contain them safely, the happier you’ll be. Trust me on that.

Mention T.O.P. when you order and Echo will refund 10% of your order (because her cart won’t currently accept discount codes.)

This is just one of many great exclusive online shopping discounts that you’ll find in our TOP Shops.

You’ll notice that ChicPeek was the first to purchase one of our brand new image based TOP Shop spots, right at the top of the page. Check out her adorable ad!

Win it! Thanks to ChicPeek, we’re giving one very lucky randomly selected T.O.P. reader a gorgeous nursing cover, a selection of MiKlips AND a shopping cart cover! To enter, visit Chic Peek and come back to comment with your favourite items, patterns & styles, being sure to mention something that you didn’t read in this review in order to qualify. Open it in a new tab – you’ll want to go back and spend some more time browsing! Contest closes at noon mst on April 7, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

When parents first start talking baby carriers, it’s easy to understand why they might get confused. Many parents consider the most basic of all baby carriers to be the baby sling, but what exactly is meant by this term? There are ring slings and pouch slings, and considering ring slings have pouches and pouches are often called slings…well, I think you can see why someone might become overwhelmed! Let’s start by defining what we mean by the terms baby sling, pouches and ring slings.

What is a Baby Sling?

The Wikipedia encyclopedia’s definition of a baby sling is a piece of cloth that “supports an infant or child from a caregivers’ body”. So in actuality, any fabric that is used to carry a baby can be considered a baby carrier or “baby sling”. However, the term “baby sling” has really become synonymous with pouch slings and ring slings – a baby carrier that is used over only one-shoulder with a “pocket” that baby is supported in.

Pouch slings and ring slings are twists on traditional wraparound baby carriers. A short wrap can be transformed when the ends are sewn together or rings are added for a modern spin on this age-old carrying method.

Difference between Pouches and Ring Slings

A pouch sling is a single, continuous tube of fabric whereas a ring sling is a long piece of fabric with rings sewn onto one end. The tail, or opposite end of the fabric, is then threaded through the rings. The basic anatomy of both pouch slings and ring slings is similar. Both types of slings have a “pouch” which is essentially a pocket where baby is placed. They both are worn over one shoulder, and caregivers will be able to carry their baby in multiple positions from birth to toddler in both styles of slings.

While a main difference between a pouch and a ring sling is the addition of rings sewn into the latter, this leads to another very notable difference – adjustability.

Pouch Slings

A standard pouch sling does not have the ability to adjust to various sizes. This means that sizing is essential for the comfort of the wearer. A pouch sling that is sized too large will hang low causing strain on the back and shoulders of the wearer. A sling that is too small could make for a much more difficult time getting baby in and out of the baby sling, and could also be uncomfortable as baby grows. However, when sized correctly, a pouch sling is one of the easiest types of baby carriers you’ll find. It’s difficult to go wrong with a well-fitted pouch. With no belts, loops, snaps, rings or buckles, you can toss a pouch sling over your shoulder, slide your little one into the pocket folds and you’re on your way.

Ring Slings

Rings on the standard baby sling allow for the adjustment of sizing in this style of baby carrier. The “tail” on a ring sling is the piece of fabric that hangs down from the rings. Pulling down on the tail will tighten the sling, bringing baby higher. Alternately, you can loosen this tail to bring baby to a lower position. These quick and easy adjustments make a ring sling one of the most popular baby carriers for a mother that plans to nurse her baby. The adjustability allows a mother to provide an infant with easy access to the breast, and then the baby sling can be re-adjusted quickly when their nursling is done.

The best ring sling baby carriers are fully adjustable, ensuring a perfect fit no matter who is wearing the baby. An open tail is not only beautiful, but functional. It can serve many purposes such as a nursing cover-up, sun shade, lightweight blanket and more.

Advantages of Baby Slings:

• Have a short learning curve and most parents find baby slings to be one of the easiest baby carriers to use.
• Provides a swaddled feeling for baby making the transition from snug security of womb to new environment an easier one.
• Allows for hands-free, discreet breastfeeding and easy access to breast for newborns that nurse frequently.
• Easy on and easy off make a baby sling perfect for a fussy baby or one that likes to be up & down often throughout the day.
• Excellent for newborns and young babies, as well as quick trips with older babies & toddlers.
• Carrier will grow with your child (birth to 35 lbs) and allow for comfortable cradle carry, front carrying or hip carrying.
• Folds flat and very compact for traveling or diaper bag.
• Relatively inexpensive, most parents can find a baby sling at an affordable price.

Disadvantages of Baby Slings:

• Support for a young baby without head control is in cradle position only.
• Sizing is imperative for the most comfort. Ring slings make this easier, but some parents find the rings more difficult to adjust.
• Weight is carried on only one shoulder which can be tiring for longer periods of wearing.
• The asymmetrical weight distribution can make carrying a heavier child more challenging.
• Lack of ergonomic support may be an issue for caregivers with back problems.
• Size of baby will dictate baby’s position in the carrier.
• Less versatile for carrying positions. Back carrying is not as easy to achieve.

The Simplicity of a Sling-Style Baby Carrier

Baby slings are compact, sleek, easy to use, and their simplistic design make them one of the most popular baby carriers. Baby slings are particularly useful for the newborn and young baby stage, as well as for the toddler “up and down” phase – just leave the carrier on and pop your baby in and out throughout the day. Also a favorite baby carrier for nursing mothers, breastfeeding is generally easily accomplished in a sling. This does take patience and practice like any new skill, but once learned, being able to breastfeed in a sling can be extremely liberating for any mother.

A simple baby sling makes a wonderful addition to a baby layette and is always a welcome new baby or shower gift.

WIN IT! Parenting by Nature is giving one T.O.P. reader their choice of in stock pouch or ring sling from their site. Canada and US addresses only please. To enter, leave a comment on this post listing the sling you’ll be choosing if you’re selected as the winner before noon mst on April 5, 2009.

This is part four in a series of guest-written articles by Parenting By Nature’s founder and mother of two, Tamara Champion. For more articles and information visit Babywearing 101 on the Parenting By Nature website or browse their extensive baby carrier selection. You’re sure to find the right baby carrier to suit your individual needs, style and desires! Be sure to come back next week for another of Tamara’s educational features and another chance to win!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’m excited to introduce you to one of our new premium sponsors:

Small town Alberta based It’s A Family Affair creates all natural bath & body products that aren’t edible but some of them are certainly tempting. I used one of their new whipped sugar scrubs this morning and it was truthfully the nicest scrub I’ve ever used. Creamy & moisturizing, yet packed with enough sugar that it really does what it’s supposed to do.

I’m currently in the process of reviewing several of their products so watch for a review coming soon, but in the meantime I suggest you head over & check out some of their products. I can assure you that you won’t regret it.

I live in a drought ridden area of Canada, but have a lot of family & friends on the coasts where the rain is so prevalent and so heavy that it’s not only depressing but also keeps people inside when they should be out playing. We love to visit, but it’s always so nice to get away from the rain when we leave.

Some people can’t just fly home to dry off, though. For those, thank goodness for Raindrops Baby Gear, a company based in the small & rainy community of Pitt Meadows, BC. Owner and designer Corri Seers has created some awesome designer style baby & toddler rain hats without the accompanying designer prices. Both of my children wore a Raindrops hat in our last (relatively rare so always exciting) rain and not only did they love being able to play out in the rain without a cumbersome hood restraining their movements and restricting their vision, but I loved that they looked far cuter than really should be legal. The wide brims actually kept water off the children’s faces, unlike their hoods, and the velcro straps kept the hats on while they puddle jumped with an insane amount of energy. If you’re looking for a fashionable way to get your kids out in the rain, you’ll find it at Raindrops for under $30.

Corri uses 100% designer cottons that have been coated with polyurethane to make them waterproof. The hats are lined with either soft bamboo cotton or bamboo fleece. All of her products are both designed and manufactured in Canada, and Raindrops Baby Gear uses sustainable products wherever possible. Sizes XS – XL are available, covering newbies to school aged kids.

Win it! Raindrops Baby Gear is giving away a hat to one randomly selected T.O.P. reader. To enter, visit the Raindrops site to choose your style and size and then leave a comment letting us know your choice before noon mst on March 31, 2009.

(Thanks for the emails about the link issue. It’s now fixed, and fyi you can click on the image in any post to be taken directly to the reviewed site.)

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Infant carriers allow you to keep your baby close and secure while your hands are free. They make it easy for caregivers to bond with baby while accomplishing daily tasks. Despite the incredible variety of baby carriers on the market today, nearly all fall into one of four basic styles – Baby Wraps, Baby Slings, Mei Tai Baby Carriers and Soft Pack Baby Carriers. Today we’ll explore Baby Wraparound Carriers.

Baby Wraparound Carriers (aka. Baby Wraps)

A wraparound baby carrier is one of the most traditional styles of baby carriers. Baby wraps – also called simple cloths or wrap-style baby carriers – have been used for generations due to their simple yet incredibly versatile nature. No more than a large piece of fabric, a baby wrap carrier is wrapped around baby and the wearer to create a pocket for baby to lay or sit inside. The carrier is then secured with a series of tucks, ties or knots.

Available in a variety of fabrics, the most common are stretchy wraps (such as The CuddlyWrap) or woven wraps (such as an EllaRoo Wrap). A stretchy wrap is popular for infants as they are slightly easier to tie and generally “give” more than a woven wrap, so it’s easy to get an infant in and out of the wrap quickly. Woven wraps can be more supportive with less bounce than a stretchy wrap, so they are a popular choice for parents looking for a wrap to use from birth through to toddler hood.

So versatile!

With a wraparound baby carrier you have the ability to carry your baby in an unlimited number of carrying positions. While most parents use the wrap over two shoulders, you can also tie a wrap over one shoulder and use it “sling” style with an infant or on your hip with an older baby. Your baby can be on your front facing in or facing out, and back carrying is easily accommodated with a wrap-style baby carrier. The possibilities really are endless because with a baby wrap you aren’t limited to the placement of buckles, rings or straps.

A baby wrap also has uses beyond that of carrying your baby. A wrap can be used as a lightweight blanket on a cooler day, for protection against the sun or wind, or used as a safe and clean place to lay your baby down on in a pinch. We’ve even used ours as a seatbelt harness when we found ourselves without a highchair at a restaurant!

Advantages of a Wraparound Baby Carrier:

• Hands-down the most versatile baby carrier with unlimited carrying positions.
• Will easily accommodate any sized baby or wearer – ideal for sharing between partners.
• Ergonomic support for both baby and adult.
• One of the easiest carriers for hands-free nursing.
• Very comfortable with no buckles, rings or snaps to get in the way of wearing.
• Provides excellent support for a new baby’s head and neck and for a sleeping older baby, even when used for back carrying.
• Grows with your child – an ideal baby carrier to use from infancy up to 40+ lbs.
• Wraparound carriers are particularly suited for kangaroo care, the practice of holding premature and full-term newborns skin-to-skin for optimal neurological development.
• Folds flat and is compact for travel or diaper bag.

Disadvantages of a Wraparound Baby Carrier:

• Steeper learning curve than most other baby carriers – requires practice to become efficient in tying the baby carrier and adjusting to you and your baby.
• Extensive length fabric can be somewhat confusing to many parents.
• Not as easy to pop baby in and out of the carrier in a hurry (hungry newborn? fussy toddler?) unless you keep the carrier on at all times.
• Can be hot in the summertime (but keeps baby warmer in cooler weather!).

While the skill of wrapping may take some time to master, don’t let this scare you off of giving a baby wrap baby carrier a try. The “hug” that results from successfully securing your little on in a wrap is wonderful feeling. If you are really intimidated by the challenge they may present, there are now hybrid wrap carriers on the market. A great way to achieve the wrapping feeling without the fuss!

WIN IT! We’re giving one randomly selected T.O.P. reader their choice of any in stock wraparound carrier from Parenting by Nature! To enter, head over to choose your potential new carrier and leave a comment telling us your choice before noon mst on Monday, March 30, 2009. Canada and US mailing addresses only please.

This is part three in a series of guest-written articles by Parenting By Nature’s founder and mother of two, Tamara Champion. For more articles and information visit Babywearing 101 on the Parenting By Nature website or browse their extensive baby carrier selection. You’re sure to find the right baby carrier to suit your individual needs, style and desires! Be sure to come back next week for another of Tamara’s educational features and another chance to win!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED (Congratulations Amelia!)

In the dead of the cold Canadian winter, nobody in their right mind takes their kids to the park. Sure, we’re tough up here. We can get bundled up in balaclavas and down skidoo suits, with nothing showing but two squinting eyeballs, but once we get outside we can barely walk for the bundling and the kids sure couldn’t get up on any playground we were crazy enough to take them to. (And if they did, how long do you think it would take before someone’s tongue was stuck to the slide?)

Enter Toronto based DreamGYM Inc., the first company in Canada to produce indoor jungle gyms for home use. Company founder Marina Mironov has created an ingenious product which allows children to stay physically active all year round, regardless of the weather. DreamGYM Indoor Jungle Gyms and wide variety of accessories can be installed in almost any space of the home: a kids’ room, basement, or a spare bedroom. Children have a blast climbing ladders, scaling monkey bars, swinging on a trapeze bar, or doing flips on gym rings right inside their homes.

We tried out a few of the DreamGYM accessories with a local preschool group. The gym rings, trapeze/ring combo and disc swing all mounted very easily & safely in a room with exposed rafters and were a huge hit with all of the children. They’re obviously well made and feel very solid – almost industrial. The accessories are very affordable, especially for such high quality equipment. They range from just $15 for the trapeze bar to just under $200 for the four sided rope ladder. The basic model of the jungle gym sells for $950 (pine) or $1270 (maple), and all prices are in Canadian dollars so Americans get even better prices than that! Obesity prevention and health benefits aside, we all know that an exercised child is a happier child, which equals a calmer and quieter child. You’re welcome.

All DreamGYM Inc. products are available from their online store.

Win it! DreamGYM is giving away an accessory pack (gym rings, trapeze/ring combo and disc swing, an $80 value) to one randomly selected winner. To enter, pay a visit to the DreamGYM Inc. site and come back here to comment with what other items not mentioned in this review that you would love to have in your home. Contest closes at noon mst on March 25, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Please visit our sponsor:

As an opinionated baby (and toddler and preschooler) wearing and organic wannabe-eco-mama, I was thrilled to discover a Canadian company that is committed to helping parents across North America learn that traditional parenting techniques and practices like baby wearing and cloth diapering are a viable, easy and fun way to raise a baby.

Parenting By Nature carries a HUGE selection of the best baby carriers (with their personal reviews included!), cloth diapers, and a variety of products for baby and mama.

Among the huge selection of carriers, I found a gem. I’ve mentioned before that I’m an Ergo girl, and I continue to love my Ergo passionately. The only issue I have with it is that a child cannot face outward. Normally that’s not an issue, but there are those few children that reach a certain age and can’t stand facing inward any more. I just flipped my children to my back when that happened and that solved the problem, but for parents who aren’t comfortable with back carries the Pikkolo Carrier by CatBird Baby would be an awesome solution. It features all of the great features of the Ergo but adds the forward facing option. It has a unique cinching drawstring mechanism on the bottom that allows the narrowing or widening of the fabric between baby’s legs for smaller newborn babies to sit comfortably or larger babies to sit facing forward. The waist belt is thick, but completely un-padded (in contrast to my beloved Ergo) to allow for precise adjustment. I personally prefer the Ergo waist band, but that’s the only thing I prefer. Everything else is equal or better on the Pikkolo. Like the deluxe memory foam padded shoulder straps. Mmmm, comfort. And the easy transition to a hip carry is pretty fab too. Honestly, the first person to design a combination of the two carriers will make a mint. The perfect carrier for everyone. And it would surely be available from Parenting By Nature!

Win it! We’re giving away a $100 gift certificate to Parenting By Nature to be used toward ANY product(s) you like! US and Canada only. To enter, visit the Parenting By Nature site and browse around (make sure you have a few minutes – there’s lots to look at!). Come back and let us know via comment what you’d spend your $100 on. Contest closes at noon mst on March 14, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

If you’re looking for some out-of-the-ordinary accessories at out-of-the-ordinary low prices, let me introduce you to Manic Mittens. Canadian SAHM & entrepreneur Lorien van der Veen hand makes a huge selection of very unique bling for the heads of everyone from newborn baby girls to angst-filled emo teens to the stylish working mother.

I just love the handmade hair bows – they have a perfect boutique look but a craft sale price (ranging from $6-$7 for a pair), and it just doesn’t get much better than that.

I checked out the infant snap clips and they look absolutely adorable on my girlfriend’s nearly hairless baby girl. And they stay in, which you’d think is pretty amazing too if you saw her lack of hair. I think she has around seven hairs on her whole head, and these clips stay in one or two! A set of three sells for just $4.

The Manic Mittens’ selection of no slip clippies is rather astounding. She makes the standard ribbon clippies (only $8 for four!) but also button clippies, embellished clippies, and initialed clippies.

Lorien also makes a selection of way gorgeous Victorian-esque bobby pins for moms (or any woman, mama or not, I suppose!) that are different than any I’ve seen before. The pins are obviously high quality and grip the hair very well. The 2 1/2 inch long clips have a lovely silver (plated) shine to them and look quite stunning on – if I do say so myself.

Check out her sale page for some even more amazing deals!

Win it! We’re giving away the prize package pictured here to one lucky randomly selected winner…snap clips, clippies, bows & bobby pins…something for almost everyone! To enter, visit the Manic Mittens site and come back to comment with some of your favourite products or patterns not pictured here (be specific!). Contest closes at noon mst on March 9, 2009

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

It would come from this awesome new T.O.P. discovery.

There is certainly no shortage of pitches from people who make hair bows & clips in our inbox every week. We’re choosy about those we choose to check out, and even choosier about who we recommend once we give the product the opinionated-mom-test.

I am THRILLED to introduce you to Sarah’s Bowtique, a Chilliwack, British Columbia based business that features an absolutely huge variety of hair bows, clippies and tiny little snappies. There are small bows, medium bows, korkers in several styles, amazingly cute holiday styles and some of the most gorgeous and functional bow holder boards I’ve seen to date. You know, one with more than two usable ribbons? Count them – twenty! Twenty ribbons with room to clip 50 or more bows, depending on the styles you like. The photos on the site don’t do the holders or the bows justice – they’re truly awesome. Owner, designer & mom Kendra Christie covers all of the bases for your little one’s hair, from newborn peach fuzz to long school aged locks.

As if great style weren’t enough, the no-slip grip used is free of latex and toxins, and the ribbon is heat sealed to stop fraying without toxic glues. Now that’s what I’m talking about.

Want to help your friends save money on these fab bows and earn a store credit for doing it? Have an e-party! One of the best ideas I’ve heard in a while!

Another way to save – check out the bow of the month which is always buy one, get one free!

Yeah, I know I’m perhaps a little too excited about bows. I mean, they’re just bows, right? But these? Worth it.

Win it! We’re giving away a bow holder and a selection of super duper cute bows (including at least four of those pictured above, package valued at over $50) from Sarah’s Bowtique. To enter, visit the site and take a look around. Come back and comment with a few things that you hope are coming your way if you’re the randomly selected winner!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

On their website, the creators of Little Stars Bedtime Cards share a quote from Barbara Coloroso’s A Pocket Guide to Kids are Worth It. “Bedtime is a special time, a time of transition. It is an opportunity for closure to one day and a preparation for the next. It is a small turning point in the natural rhythm that gives structure and meaning to life. With care and patience and awareness of our children’s needs, each bedtime can be its own celebration of love and life.”

As parents, we all wish for bedtime to be a positive time, but all too often it’s filled with whining, demands & less than stellar patience levels on the part of both parent and child. Canadian moms Shannon McQuillan & Linda Komori created Little Stars Bedtime Cards to help parents make bedtime the affirming and positive experience that it has the potential to be. They’re not designed to teach new concepts, but to ‘affirm positive qualities that already exist in your child.’

The Little Stars, Sparky, Blaxe & Shiner help parents ask “big questions for little people.” There are some great reasons for using questions as opposed to statements. According to the site, “when we have a specific lesson or message that we need to communicate, teaching or telling our child is very effective. However, when the goal is to connect and deepen our understanding of our child, questions about thoughts and feelings can be incredibly effective for the following kinds of reasons:

~It becomes a two way conversation
~It feels good when someone takes and interest you (even if you don’t have a lot to say)! The very nature of asking questions is an expression of the desire to learn about the other person
~There are no right or wrong answers when you are talking about thoughts and feelings
~Your child will feel loved knowing that you care enough to ask the question and to listen to their response (again even if they don’t have a lot to say)
~You see the world through your child’s lens and may end up talking about things you wouldn’t otherwise (you may be surprised to learn just how opinionated and observant your three year old really is!)
~It keeps your attention focused on your child and children love to have a parents undivided attention even for just a short while
~Children are naturally curious and while they love to answer questions, they may start to ask questions themselves which is lots of fun too.”

Any one of those reasons would have been enough for me to try these cards. I’ve seen them in action with my own little guy and I think they’re every but as awesome as they sound. The cards sell for $15 and ship for just $3. They’d make a great gift for your child who is transitioning to a big kid bed, don’t you think?

Win it! We’ve got a set of Bedtime Cards to give away to a randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on February 27, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Even here in the great white north, we get a lot of sun. Enough that our little ones’ noggins need protection, and wouldn’t it be a shame if that protection wasn’t fashionable?

How cute is this? A bandana for your baby! Not that my baby has any hair to keep out of her eyes, or works up much of a sweat in her Exersaucer, but she looks super hip with her baby bandana from Tsitah Threads on!

Tsitah Threads was founded by a new mom with a “desire to outfit her babe in comfort, happiness, and cheetah print”. This cute little bandana is 100% cotton and has a Velcro closure to allow for adjustable sizing. My daughter who is 7 months old not only looked adorable in her bandana, but had no trouble keeping it on. Just beware of the other children around that may try to snatch it from your baby’s head! Tsitah Threads currently makes these fashion statements for infants 0-12 months as well as a newly released toddler size. Organic cotton is available as well. They come in a variety of patterns and colors, so check at www.tsitah.com for your faves.

Be aware that the baby ones do fit a tad on the small side so if you have a baby with a large cranium or who is over 6 months old, you may want to grab a toddler size.

Tsitah Threads. Quality designs inspired by Earth & made in Canada. - By Susan

Win it! We’re giving away a baby girl bandana from Tsitah Threads on size 0-12 months. To enter, check out the Tsitah Threads site and come back to comment with your favourite fabric style. Contest closes at noon mst on January 30, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Natural Creation is a Canadian company that hand-makes all natural products for women. It was founded by two doulas, Chelsea LaFrance and Emily Baxter. They specialize in products for pregnancy, labour & postpartum, as well as babies. In addition to making organic cotton and hemp ring slings, Natural Creation offers natural solutions for nausea, headaches,exhaustion, varicose veins, stretch marks, perineal healing, stress, teething pain, cleaning and more. All of their products are made in small batches to ensure quality and freshness and are vegan and free of synthetic perfumes, colours, and preservatives.

As someone who cleans almost exclusively with vinegar and baking soda but often yearns for something that smells a little more pleasant, I was thrilled to discover Tea Tree Clean – a mixture of tea tree and lemon essential oils in purified water. The mixture is naturally antibacterial, antiviral, and deodorizing. While it’s technically labeled “for diaper bags,” Tea Tree Clean mist is awesome as a hand sanitizer or for cleaning change pads or toys. It’s perfect for wiping down shopping carts & restaurant tables, doorknobs and almost anything that could use a little bit of a clean up. It smells great and wonderfully clean, and the lemon lightens the strong tea tree scent just perfectly. The 120 ml glass bottle sells for $15.95 – a great deal since I’ve been using it many times a day for a few weeks and have barely made a dent in it.

Win it! We’ve got a bottle of Tea Tree Clean up for grabs. To enter, leave a comment on this post letting us know some of your other fave products from this page. Contest closes at noon mst on November 25, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

As a green-ish primarily organic mama, it’s often hard for me to find exactly what I need locally. My next turn is always the internet but I refuse to pay shipping from another country unless I absolutely can’t find it here. (Also, there’s almost always a free shipping code somewhere. Check here.)

Now that I’ve discovered the Canadian online shop Nayla Natural Care I can find almost anything I need in one place and support a Canadian family at the same time.

The TruKid products available at Nayla Natural Care are some of my new favourites and they’re all available at Nayla Natural Care for very reasonable prices. (And when you spend $150 they ship for free. You could fill your whole family’s stockings in one fell swoop!)

The Hero Stick is the newest permanent addition to my arsenal. It’s a soothing stick for bumps & boo boos packed with herbal remedies that have been used for centuries to nourish the skin & fix owies. I can officially sell my stock in Spiderman bandaids. Hero Stick to the rescue!

Happy Face & Body Lotion is a very lightly fruit scented lotion that’s perfect for toddlers. The scent is attractive enough to get them to sit still for an application but not strong enough to repel the parent that’s putting it on. It’s thick enough to be moisturizing but light enough to be used any time of the day or night.

The Spiffy Spearmint Lip Balm is a great before bed lip soother for these windy fall days. It’s enhanced with spearmint essential oil which is slightly cooling and also contains Stevia so it’s sweet enough to make the mint attractive to the little guys. As opposed to bubblegum – ew.

Win it! We’re giving away one of each of these great products to one randomly selected winner. To enter, visit the Nayla Natural Care site leave a comment on this post mentioning at least one other item you like before noon mst on November 5, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Some of our long time readers may remember my review of the Wrap N Mat from February 2007. With the shift toward green living becoming larger (yay!) every day, it’s time to revisit this great invention which is now available from the new-ish Vancouver-based Canadian boutique Lavish and Lime.

Lavish and Lime carries only the Wrap-N-Mats with the phthalate-free LDPE lining (the same material as plastic sandwich bags but a thicker grade to ensure re-usability) and carries a selection of the nicest available fabrics. I’m especially digging the dots fabric (pictured at right) for it’s decidedly not bright and ugly style. These fabulously green reusable sandwich wraps are not only great for sandwiches but also for muffins, crackers and other snacks. When opened they provide a clean place to eat that can be brought home, washed in warm water and re-used for an entire school year. At a price of $7.50, you’ll not only be doing your part to save the earth but you may even be saving money if you’re not buying as many costly ziploc bags.

Save 10% at Lavish and Lime with the code TOP