We’re taking the day off tomorrow to enjoy Canada Day with our families. In honour of Canada’s birthday we’re featuring a fantastic Canadian business from which you can acquire the wares of many others. Enjoy, and HAPPY CANADA DAY!

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You know when you read repeatedly of a shop but don’t take the time to click through and explore? Well, I did that and feel like a moron for not knowing about Apples n’ Oranges sooner.

Owned by Ottawa moms Lara and Vicky, Apples n’ Oranges carries only Canadian brands. I am ashamed to say that I had no idea we Canucks had such amazing style. The selection is fabulous. With 33 brands to choose from, and growing, there’s no need to pay customs fees anymore. My wallet thanks you, ladies!

Apples n’ Oranges is the exclusive online retailer for my newest love, Vancouver based Peekaboo Beans - a functional and fashionable line of playwear that’s perilously close to being too nice to be playwear.

Each piece meets a “no fuss dressing” mission and is easy for children to get on and off when potty training or learning to dress themselves. Every piece mixes, matches and layers with the others and they’re more versatile than any line I’ve seen before - pants become capris, tunics become tanks and skirts become dresses to lengthen their lifespan. They’re also reversible for the inevitable spills while on the go. Made with high quality materials and super comfortable fabrics, there’s extra strength and durability built into the construction and the pieces are pre-washed. The pants feature a wide, flat waistband for comfort and all pieces use flat, seamless stitching for itch free wearing. The shirts are A-shaped and are a longer length than standard to accommodate those adorable kid-bellies. Added safety features are included, such as reflective piping, chin guards, and ironed in personal identification labels.

Peekaboo Beans is everything you want in a kids clothing line - perfect for playdate, playground and playtime…but you’ll want to make time for an impromptu photo shoot before you leave the house. This stuff is just that nice.

Save 20% on your first purchase with the code firsttop.

Win it! Apples n’ Oranges is giving away a Peekaboo Beans top AND bottom of the winner’s choice. To enter, leave a comment on this post with your choice of outfit should you be the lucky winner. (Be specific. As always, you can’t win if you’re too lazy to click through to this awesome shop. It’s bad karma.) Contest closes at noon MST on July 5/08.

Additional entries available - up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

With all of the toys and clothes out there posing as child-appropriate, [Bratz...ahem], it’s refreshing to find items that are really, truly childish.

If there’s one thing that’s really reserved just for little girls, it’s butt ruffles.

Parentrepreneur Amber Schaub created Rufflebutts to bring back the ruffled diaper cover of her own childhood. They’re fun, they’re frilly, and there’s no way you’d ever see a prostitute wearing one. (What does it say about our society that my criteria for appropriate children’s clothing has become so low?)

In addition to the most adorable diaper cover, Amber has designed an entire clothing line of 100% cotton tops, pants & dresses that are all priced under $50 and are all absolutely to-die-for cute. Just looking at the images of the Rufflebutts creations makes me smile. If you’re buying for my daughter, she’ll have this one because I just don’t think it gets any cuter.

Check out the Rufflebutts Spring 2008 slideshow here.

Win it! A bloomer in the size and colour of the winner’s choice is up for grabs. To enter, leave a comment on this post with the product colour & size you’d like to arrive in the mail if you’re the winner. Contest closes at noon MST on July 3/08.

Additional entries available - up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Since having children I, like many parents, have drastically reduced my usage of chemicals of all kinds. For me, that includes sunscreen. I do use it on every family member but I prefer to limit the amount of skin it’s on whenever I can and bathe or shower it off as soon as possible once we’re out of the sun’s rays.

Unprotected exposure to the sun in the first 15 years of life more than doubles the chances of getting skin cancer as an adult. Thanks to some fantastic products we’ve been using from Protect-A-Bub, we’ve been able to protect our little people from the risks of sun exposure a lot more naturally this year.

My two year old is perpetually outside (screaming wildly in his “outside boice,” but that’s beside the point) and is often sporting his UPF 50+ swim suit and hat. At less than $30, the Protect-A-Bub suits are comfortable and breathable and have the highest rating available for sun protection products. Available in sizes from 5 months to 5T and in a wide variety of one and two colour designs, there’s something there for everyone. The coordinating hat isn’t just a fashion statement. It looks adorable with the suit and alone and protects the vulnerable skin of the scalp to the same high degree that the suit does.

One often neglected area of little (and big) bodies are the lips. Our usual facial sunscreen applications do nothing for our vulnerable lip skin and non-SPF lip-stuff simply absorbs the sun and makes the problem worse. Now that my son is sporting his SPF 15 Lip Moisturizer we are a little more lenient about the time spent playing with the sun. It comes in three flavours and is only $2.25.

In addition to our enthusiastic un-sun-kissed two year old we’ve also got an amazing little five month old who is never left behind on our outdoor adventures. Being too young to wear any sunscreen at all, she can usually be found under one of the Protect-A-Bub sunshades. We absolutely love the inexpensive compact shade, but rarely use it on our stroller. (Though when we have, it works great as an extension of the canopy that’s already there.) We use the convenient ties to attach it to her bouncy chair on our deck and in our back yard every day. The shade rests on the toy bar and the ties keep it taut - it’s perfect and allows her to join us outside even in the hottest hours of the day.

With the increased awareness of both skin cancer and chemical exposure on the part of (we hope) all parents nowadays, we’re sure that Protect-A-Bub will be a welcome and awesome resource for parents who, you know, want to leave the house this summer.

Win it! Protect-A-Bub is giving away a compact stroller sunshade just like the one we love so much. To enter, visit the Protect-A-Bub site and browse their great selection. Come back and leave a comment on this post mentioning a product you think would be useful in your life before noon MST on July 1/08.

Additional entries available - up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED - Congrats Lori!

We reviewed Stuk On U velcro sleepers just last week.

I know what you were thinking…

What? No giveaway?

I can read your mind.

Are you scared now?

Well, you can relax.

About the giveaway thing, I mean. I still might be able to read your mind - I’m not telling.

Jeanine has offered to give one of you the sleeper of your choice!

(Oh yeah, I’m supposed to type Win it! for all you skimmers, right?)

To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on June 8/08 stating which of the seven styles and five sizes you’d like from the Stuk On U shop. (And remember what I said about the sizing.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

We love the Little Capers company (see our review here) so we were super excited to hear that they’ve released a line of Big Capes.

They’re available in five peaceful hero designs and are made of the same shiny way-cool fabric as the capes on their fabulous tees. Which, incidentally, my son adores. The big capes are sized for kids aged four and up and retail for $23.

Get 10% off at Little Capers with the code MAY10 until the end of May. You have just two days to take advantage of this special!

Win it! Enter to win a Little Capers Big Cape of your choice by leaving a comment on this post stating which of the five designs you’d like. Contest closes at noon MST on June 4/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

When Jeanine Altreche had her baby boy, she developed a severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome in her hand - so severe that it was painful even to snap up his cute little jammies. With the sheer volume of diaper changes that are necessary with a baby, Jeanine decided to create her own solution to alleviate the pain, and Stuk On U was born.

Whether you have medical troubles or not, chances are you’ve been frustrated by missed snaps or woken a baby when you’ve had to zip open the entire sleeper and expose their chest just to change a diaper. Jeanine uses a patent-pending design of soft (and nearly silent!) Velcro down the chest and legs so you can open and close just the areas you need. The Velcro is sewn in such a way that it never touches baby, and it completely eliminates the risk of pinching delicate skin in a zipper.

Stuk On U rompers are tagless and the available in sizes 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 18 months. They fit on the small size so order up if in doubt. (9-12 months fit my average size 4 month old perfectly.)

At just $11.99 (cotton) and $18.99 (fleece), a Stuk On U romper is a great alternative to snaps and zippers.

Save 10% with the code Oparent until December 31, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

See that picture right over there?

That’s my two year old son’s debut at The Opinionated Parent.

As he’d say…”Ta dah!”

I’ve never posted any of my kids here before, but he just looked so cute in his stars birthday tee from Tote and Tee that I couldn’t resist!

The nifty tees at mom-owned Tote and Tee are so incredibly awesome I’m almost speechless. That could also be the cuteness of my kid rendering me so, but nevertheless…

Designer Amy Trusler hand makes each tee in her own home. They’re available in a huge variety of colours and styles and the amazing array of fabrics can be applied in any letter or number to suit the little people in your life. Too bad it’s not cool to advertise “32!” because I’d totally do it if I could get away with it. (I’d look good in this style!)

They also carry the cutest (and softest - -wow soft!) knee socks and tights I’ve ever seen. The socks have a slight roll down at the top so there’s no digging in but they’re just tight enough to stay up.

And these personalized lunchboxes? (The “tote” part of Tote and Tee.) To die for. Figuratively, of course. (I think this one would look great with my imaginary “32″ tee. Alright. I’ll stop now.)

Amy is currently holding her Biggest Sale Ever until the end of May with all socks and tees on sale!

Save a whopping 20% on your order (including sale items!) with the code oparent.
This code is also listed in the TOP Shops!

Win it! One lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Tote and Tee. To enter, leave a comment telling us what you’d purchase with it! Contest closes at noon MST on May 16/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED - Congrats Krista Heidinger!

I dig finding new & unique shops from which to clothe my kids, and I dig even more finding shops that are eco-friendly.

Pondür is a 100% organic and 100% stylin’ shop that started with a childhood passion. Owners Shanna and Christy are dedicated to inspiring the world, one tiny thought at a time. The Pondür shop features organic tees & onesies printed with thought-provoking and inspirational quotes.

My personal favourite and the one my daughter wears regularly - Take care of me, Take care of the world.

So true, my friends. So true.

Pondür’s unique, environmentally friendly baby apparel not only inspires the little one wearing it but also everyone who sees it.

With every purchase you make from Pondür, you’re making a difference for kids.

Save 20% at Pondür with the code TOP20.

Pondür is a proud member of the TOP Shops, where they and many others are giving you great deals just for being an Opinionated Parent!

Win it! Pondür is giving away a tee to one TOP reader in your choice of size, quote and colour. Value $23.

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your choice for all three - size, quote and colour - should you be the randomly chosen winner.

Contest closes May 14 @ noon MST.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules. Maximum 4 entries per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

Parents know that the best shoes for baby are no shoes at all, but that doesn’t make it any easier to resist the gorgeous footwear options that abound from birth on up.

I’ve got some good news for parents who just can’t leave well enough alone. The brainchild of Winnie Liu,
Jazzy Toes™ are socks that replicate shoes. They’re available in ten styles for both boys and girls and are completely adorable - so much so that I’d recommend the variety pack, available in both boys and girls styles. Who needs shoes when there are socks that look like this?

Jazzy Toes socks have an elasticized ankle and non-skid grip on the bottom. They comes in a ready-to-mail gift box and are available in two sizes.

Win it! Winnie Liu is giving away a boxed set of Jazzy Toes to one lucky winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on May 12/08 stating which of all the boxed sets you’d choose, and in what size.

Additional entries are always available. See contest entry information and rules.

Once in a while, we’ll still place the information from that page within a post for your reference.

Here’s how to get those extra entries:

Get up to three additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here. Leave a comment with the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry).

AND/OR

2.Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your subscription.

AND/OR

3. Place our button in your sidebar or add us to your blogroll. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid url so we can confirm the addition.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.theopinionatedparent.com"><img src="http://www.theopinionatedparent.com/images/topbutton.jpg" alt="The Opinionated Parent" /></a>

Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

I buy a lot of organic clothing for my kids. It’s just one small thing I can do to make a difference for the earth (and for the people working in cotton fields who aren’t being sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.)

BoobyDooby is one of my newer finds and I’m loving their style and their philosophy. A company that gives back and also makes great statements with their clothing is my kind of company.

My personal faves? For girls, I love the “Trust Your Inner Voice” tee pictured at right. What a great lesson for all humankind to learn, but it’s especially necessary for young women. It’s super soft with a great long body (adding the lesson “People don’t need to see your belly button” to the whole ‘inner voice’ thing.) For the guys, I love the Peace themed tee. And check out all of the awesomely soft destroyed black vintage tees for the ladies. I can’t even pick a fave from there, but can vouch for the buttery softness of these inspirational shirts.

BoobyDooby charges only $4 for shipping for all orders!

Win It! We’re giving away a Just Giggle organic onesie valued at $24. To enter, leave a comment before May 1 @ noon telling us your favourite BoobyDooby tee(s) not mentioned in this review.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED

What little girl doesn’t love to spin around in ways that would make her parents vomit? The exhilaration of twirling is made better only by wearing a dress that rises in that perfect circular fashion.

A twirling dress is something that no little girl should be without, and I’ve found the perfect one. The reversible dresses from the aptly named Twirly Girl Shop are fabulously light and airy, made from the softest of fabrics and, of course, just the right amount of twirl. Just flip it over for a completely different style.

My personal fave, the mermaid dress, is super-fun in person - even more so than in the images - and it’s not just a coincidence that mom and par-entrepreneur Cynthia Jamin also makes coordinating superfun clothing. She makes suggestions for perfect matches for each dress at the bottom of their individual pages.

The dresses retail for $70 and the coordinating pants are $37, leggings are $24 and shirts are $20-$22.

Save 10% at the Twirly Girl Shop with the code “TOP”

Twirly Girl Shop has joined the ranks of some of the best online shops for moms and kids offering exclusive discounts to opinionated readers in the TOP Shops!

Win it! Any available dress from the Twirly Girl Shop could be yours!
(Does not include the super awesome “create your own” option.)

To enter, leave a comment on this post with a valid email address and tell us which dress and size you’d choose if you win. (Check the size chart before you enter to be sure you get the right size if you’re the lucky winner!)

The randomly selected winner will be contacted via email for their mailing address and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. You must leave a valid email address and all required information or you will not be entered in the draw. Comment approval is always at our discretion. If your comment gets through without the requested info and is chosen, your entry will be considered invalid and a new winner will be chosen, so read carefully.

< rant >“I like it” and “Wow” are not valid entries and comments like that are deleted. You must visit the Twirly Girl site and make the appropriate choices. Don’t be lazy! < /rant >

Contest closes March 14, 2008.

Get an additional entry into this contest by blogging about it!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment on this post containing the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry) or send a trackback to receive your second entry. If you don’t know how to do this, just email us for help!

Draw complete - New dresses being added March 21!

Every family eventually reaches the stage when kids start to express strong opinions about what and when, if ever, they’re going to wear certain items of clothing.

When they start to refuse coats in the often-iffy weather, po po’s ponchos has your answer. The un-coat coat the kids will actually wear!

Po po’s ponchos are proudly Canadian made in Vancouver, BC by par-entrepreneur Karen Stark. They’ve got some fab features that I was very impressed with.

1. The main fabric is lush & soft - your choice of micro fleece or CVC fleece, just like your favourite hoodie.
2. The cotton lining is printed and matches the trim.
3. There’s a snap closure at the neckline to keep the chills away. This also helps it fit a smaller child and makes the same size last even longer!
4. There are clever snaps at each side to create arm holes if you wish. They’re not overly noticeable at all and can be left open without looking undone but create a tighter and more secure “coat” when that’s what your little one is in the mood for. (Because you know darn well that you’ve got no say in it, right?)
5. The front muff pocket is lined & cozy and the perfect size for two hands and a few treasures picked up along the way.

The images in the po po’s shop don’t do these ponchos justice. They’re so much cuter & softer in person!

Hurry ~ there’s a sale on select items right now!

Enter to win the poncho of your choice from po po’s!

To enter, leave a comment on this post with with a valid email address and tell us which poncho you’d choose if you win and what size. (It must be one that’s currently available on the po po’s site and not sold out.)

The randomly selected winner will be contacted via email for their mailing address and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. You must leave a valid email address and all required information or you will not be entered in the draw. Comment approval is always at our discretion.
Contest closes March 13, 2008 at noon MST.

Get an additional entry into this contest by blogging about it!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment on this post containing the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry) or send a trackback to receive your second entry. If you don’t know how to do this, just email us for help!

Congratulations to Betty,who said “I would choose Smartie Sundae in size 4.”

By Andrea, Contributing Opinionated Parent and owner of EcoBaby Canada

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It’s 4:00am and my 3 week old is somewhat fussy. She’s decided she doesn’t want to sleep, eat, nor does she need a change. Like many other good intentioned parents, I reach for a pacifier and slowly put it in her mouth. This sends her in to a fit of rage as she rejects the soother with all she’s got. She can’t speak, but I know exactly what she’s saying. “Get this thing out of my mouth!”.

When I received the shirt from Revo Baby with the anti-soother emblem and the bold lettering spelling out, “I WILL NOT be pacified” I immediately knew this shirt was made for my daughters. Not necessarily because I am against the soother, but mainly because they are. Both of them rejected the soother as infants. My boys on the other hand, now that’s another story, but after looking at Revo Baby’s website I found a number of shirts that would suit them as well.

Revo Baby’s line of infant apparel is well suited for the activist parent and the protester baby alike. Although your baby may not be able to speak a word, the clothing speaks volumes! There are a variety of shirts for everyone, whether you’ve got a beef with bottles, soothers, and cribs, or you just want to show your support for the rights of children. And to top it off, the shirts are made of a 100% cotton that is super soft for your baby’s delicate skin, plus the shirt washes great without removing the print.

They are very cute, very controversial, very revolutionary!

Win It! Revo Baby is giving away the tee of your choice to one winner. To enter, leave a comment (yep, another comment!) with the design and size of shirt you’d choose from the Revo Baby product catalog. Choose carefully because this is what you’ll get if you win! The randomly selected winner will be contacted via email for their mailing address and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. You must leave a valid email address and all required information or you will not be entered in the draw. Comment approval is always at the blog owner’s discretion. Contest closes March 10, 2008.

Get an additional entry into this contest by blogging about it!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment on this post (in a separate comment from your other entry) or send a trackback to receive your second entry.

Congratulations to Chelle who said “Ooo that T is too cute!!!”

I absolutely love bright colourful clothing on kids. Pastels be gone, I say!

If you feel the same way then you are sure to love my newest find, Polkadot Patch Boutique! They carry baby clothes (3-24 mos) and gifts that are as funky as the kids you’re shopping for. Got bigger kids? They’ve got them covered too!

Dresses like the one pictured at left make my heart melt. And not in a mushy “Oooh, look at the baby imitating an Easter egg” kind of way. Nope, not at all. It’s more like an “Oh my God - I simply must find that dress for my child and do you think those tights come in my size?” kind of way.

Bright and funky clothes like those at the Polkadot Patch make me yearn to be a little girl again. Thankfully I’ve got a daughter to dress or I might be one of those rather scary eclectic women you see dancing down the street in her striped tights.

Seriously though, I’ve never seen a shop so full of such amazing clothing. Nary a khaki to be found, both the clothing for boys and girls is a true statement to what childhood should be. Bright, colourful and never-ending fun.

Save 10% at the Polkadot Patch Boutique with the code TOP10.

This code is one of many listed in the TOP Shops - why pay full price at the greatest online shops when you have the TOP Shops at your disposal?

Guest review by TOP reader Sara.

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As a proud mother, I know how frustrating it can be to find clothes that really represent your child. It seems as if most clothes are just made generally, with no regard to your region or culture. That is until I became aware of a great new company called Regionz Kidz! They specialize in clothes with a wide range of cultural and regional diversity! With over 100 designs and 4 ethnicities, you are bound to find one to fit your child. They appeal to everyone: Armed Forces, Sports Fans, Farmers, and Firefighters….just to name a few! They offer a wide variety of sizes and colors for their tees as well.

From the moment I opened my package from Regionz Kidz, I had a feeling I was going to love it! I pulled the shirt out and it instantly put a smile on my face! There, on the front, was an adorable little boy all ready to play baseball…And he really resembled my little man! The cotton fabric is SO soft…softer, even, than any shirt currently hanging in his closet! The black sleeves of the shirt give it a funky, fun look that is really hard to find for kids his size. The character on the front is super-cute and very unique! My son took immediate notice and kept pointing at it and saying “Baby”….Too sweet! The tags in the back are satin and soft, which as any mom knows is almost crucial! Scratchy Tags=Fussy Toddlers…So I was very happy to not have to bother with that! And after a day of toddler wear and tear, which can get pretty messy, the shirt washed great and didn’t shrink a bit. Very impressive!

In addition to these cute tees, Regionz Kidz also offer a variety of other products including Matching Mama Teez (how cute!), books, games and flashcards. You can also have their on-staff artist design a customized character based on a picture of your infant or toddler…How neat is that?

I think it is so great that Regionz Kidz celebrates diversity in such a cute and unique way! I can’t say enough great things about Regionz Kidz and I encourage every parent to check them out…You’ll be glad you did!

It’s been a rough winter in western Canada with many days reaching close to -50 with the windchill. That’s -58 for those of you in the US. Either way, it’s freaking cold and it’s pretty hard to look good when you’re bundled up with your eyes peeking through the only openings in your winter wear. However, nothing makes you appreciate cold weather like great knits!

Jenifer Selos is a work at home mom who owns Love Bug Knits. In honour of Valentines Day, Jenifer hand-knit my daughter the gorgeous Valentine Stripe Hat pictured at right and, if possible, it’s even cuter in person! It’s soft and thick and just absolutely perfectly hand crafted.

In addition to hats, Jenifer makes mittens, scarves, and even mini-backpacks! All Love Bug Knits products are her original designs and she’ll custom make something just for you if you don’t see what you like. All items are hand knit to order with 100% organic yarn. Her pre-made items are available from her Etsy shop.

Win a Love Bug Knits hat in your choice of size & style! To enter, go visit LoveBugKnits.com to check out the awesome hats and email your faves (good luck picking!) to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 2/22/07 with Love Bug Knits in the subject line.

Congratulations to winner Betty!

Remember when we reviewed the fabulous t-shirt capes from Little Capers? Well, they’re still as awesome as ever for your miniature super heroes and now’s the time to get a great deal and maybe stock up on a few gifts.

Through February 14th you can save up to 35% on the following styles while supplies last:

Flower Hero
Purple Star Hero
Green Earth Hero
Pink Earth Hero
Peace Hero
All Infant Styles

Where it says promotional code, enter secret code SSS35 for each sale style you wish to purchase.

If you read T.O.P. daily (if you don’t, you’re missing out on some great stuff!) then you know how much we love all things natural, safe and soft. And so it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to my newest find, BabyBam Collection.

Eco-friendly babies and parents alike will love the unparalleled softness that BabyBam offers in their bamboo & organic cotton combination. This fabulous mixture is hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and thermal regulating. All of the BabyBam apparel is natural in color, using no bleaches or dyes, and the silkscreens and tagless tags use low impact dye.

Currently the clothing line includes a onesiea, pants and a sleeper style pajama, both of which are amazingly soft & silky and just the thing I’d recommend putting against your new baby’s delicate skin. After washing I’d swear that they get even softer!

They also have a new line of bamboo body products in their bath time line including the best bum cream I’ve ever tried. Seriously? I’d use it on my own butt if I could get away with it.

Also part of their bath time line, BabyBam has recently added a brand new hooded towel & washcloth set to their collection. It’s incredibly absorbent and fast drying and is completely free of pesticides and chemical treatments so there’s no concern about skin allergies and irritations. Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial and odour free which is great for the wet environments in which you’d generally need a towel.

All of these fabulous products are available for purchase at the BabyBam Collection online shop and select stores.

Founded by mom of two Jody Graziano Jonas, BabyBam Collection is the kind of company we really like to get behind. Watch for upcoming guest posts on the subject of raising a green baby written by Jody and cross-posted from her own blog. As part of her environmentally responsible policies, she packages all of the BabyBam products in recycled, re-used, or recyclable packaging - everything from the tissue paper to the ribbon to the box it is shipped in. In addition, BabyBam regularly makes contributions to The Arbor Day Foundation and the Sierra Club. Love it!

You can win a onesie and pant set from BabyBam Collection with your choice of pink, blue or green heart on the pants. To enter the random draw, send one email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with BABYBAM (copied exactly) in the subject line and tell us which of the gift sets is your favourite. (Go to the BabyBam site, click through to the “online store” and click on “gift sets.”)
You must include both the answer and your complete mailing address in your email to qualify for the draw.
Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, February 8, 2008. The winner will be contacted via email. Congratulations Danielle M.!

Peas On Earth is a fab new company featuring awesome environmental tees for babies and kids that are all designed and hand drawn by founder Victoria McGowen.

The Peas on Earth designs inspire kids that they too can aspire to make a difference in anything they dream to become. All of Victoria’s images have a wonderful child-like quality and a focus on dreaming green - both things that opinionated parents can easily get behind.

I love all of her designs but especially dig the aspiring humanitarian tee, pictured, and the aspiring environmentalist design, and…oh, who am I kidding? I love them all!

T.O.P. readers get VIP FREE SHIPPING with the code top.

Peas On Earth is the newest addition to the TOP Shops, where we feature non-expiring exclusive discounts for our readers. Check it out for some awesome deals! (Seriously? Why would you ever subject yourself to the mall when these great online deals are available just for you?)

Pregnancy can be funny. Long, arduous, and uncomfortable? Yep. Especially at what seems like four months overdue, which is where I am right now. But funny too.

When you’re in need of a little funny, check out the new Denver-based baby&momma. Launched just this past fall, baby&momma offers a line of amusing & supersoft maternity tees that fit even through those last belly-rific weeks. (Trust me on that.) They bear expressions such as “I’m with my inner child,” “Sugarmomma” and “Who’s your mommy?”

Once baby arrives there’s no reason to ditch your sense of humour. Baby&momma has you covered in the onesie arena too with great lines like “Mom: Got Milk?” “Patent Pending” and the one that we certainly could have used around here with our firstborn - “Clone.”

We’ve got a 0-3mos “Are you really my relatives?” onesie to give away! To enter, send an email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with BABY & MOMMA copied and pasted into the subject line and tell us one available expression that was not mentioned in this review. Contest closes at midnight MST on January 11, 2008. Please include your full (real) name and mailing address with your entry. Incomplete entries are not eligible to win. Congratulations Bren!

Merry Christmas Eve! Between waiting for a baby to arrive and entertaining both side of my family (with a lot of help) I’m hoping to be able to continue to pump out a few reviews and contests over the holidays so be sure to check your RSS readers or pop in each day to see what great things we’ve got to share with you!

If you get something great over the holidays, be sure to send us your guest reviews so we can help make you famous. Or not, but we’ll definitely do our best!

Merry Christmas, from all of us to all of you. Enjoy the most precious people in your life this holidays season!

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Silikids is a company run by two moms that specializes in cool silicone products for kids. So far there are four products in their line up, each of which are equally cool.

Whether you put breastmilk or a substitute in to a bottle, you’ve got to be concerned about all of the chemicals from plastic that we now know without a doubt leach into the liquid and are linked to all kids of horrible illnesses. We know that glass bottles are the best if you choose to use a bottle but, though they’re thick and safer in many ways than plastics, it’s still a little scary to put glass in the hands of a child. Especially once they learn to throw.

Siliskins, pictures at right, come in 4oz. & 8 oz. sizes and are translucent silicone ‘bottle condoms,’ for lack of a better term, that are microwave safe, hypo-allergenic and dishwasher friendly. They allow you to easily see how much is in the bottle, make it easy & safe to hold and also protect it if it should fall. As a test, we dropped one from a height of 5 feet onto both a carpeted and a linoleum floor and there was absolutely no damage to the bottle or the skin.

Some bottle covers can only be used with a proprietary bottle but Siliskins are designed to fit the Evenflo glass nurser which is easy to find across the continent. The 8 oz. retails for $12 and the 4 oz. for $10, and both include one bottle.

If you’ve got a little crawler, check out these awesome Silipads - silicone knee pads. If you’ve tried it with your kids, you are well aware that crawling can hurt! Silipads are super cute and available in four hip & bright colour combos (seen at left), easy to get on and off and machine washable. Now that’s what I’m talking about!

Last but not least in the Silikids lineup is the Silibib - a food grade silicone bib that lies completely flat against the chest and didn’t even stain when we used it at a spaghetti dinner. Miraculous? I’d say. It wipes clean easily with a wet cloth or you can just toss it in with the dishes for a thorough cleaning.

I think I’m in love with silicone and, therefore, with Silikids.

We’ve got one 4 oz. and one 8 oz. bottle in Siliskins to give to one lucky reader. To enter the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Silikids in the subject line by midnight MST on 12/31/07 and tell us one good reason to use silicone (from the website, please). Congratulations Lucinda!

Please include your full name and mailing address with your entry, and a blog link if applicable so we can link you up if you win. Entries without a mailing address are invalid. (Please note that these are deleted after the draws and are never sold or given to anyone.)

“You should never sacrifice style just because you happen to drool.”

That’s the very true motto of Canadian par.entrepreneur Sarah Howard and her company Febe Bebe.

Febe Bebe bibs and droolers (a smaller version of the bibs) are 100% vinyl free and are individually handmade in Canada. They incorporate fine fabrics and a sophisticated style while still being quite appropriate for the folks in your life that drool. And no teddy bears or ducks. Hooray!

They wash beautifully and are pre-shrunk so there’s no shrinkage at all. (Very important for the washing impaired such as myself.) All of the seams are double stitched for durability and the quality of crafts(wo)manship is evident even at first glance.

Enter to win a bib & drooler set from Febe Bebe valued at $36 with a simple email entry — email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with FEBE BEBE in the subject line by midnight MST on 12/17/07 and tell us which of the 13 available fabrics you’d choose.

Include your full name and mailing address. (And if you have a blog for us to link to if you win, include that too!)

One winner will be selected at random from all qualifying entries

Congratulations Grenda!

If you have ever had a baby, you know how frustrating it is when they go from the “sleep anywhere any time no matter what” newborn phase to the “blackout blinds no movement no anything” picky sleeper phase. Par.entrepreneur Andrea Verity knows that transition all too well but she was smart enough to do something about it. She developed the Downtime Sleepy Hat when her son made that unwelcome transition.

The hat is made of soft & luxurious organic cotton and looks like a normal hat - until you flip down the flap over baby’s eyes. As you can see in the picture at right, the hat becomes an effective visual stimulation & light blocker once flipped down and is also outwardly expressive. As in, it tells those little ladies who insist on touching your kid that it’s not an appropriate time. In addition to the company’s great low impact policies and the downright brilliant idea, I love the safety aspect of the Downtime Sleepy Hat - unlike masks made for older folks it has no strings or other hazards that could be dangerous to baby.

Here’s to all of us getting some sleep!

Win a Downtime Sleep Hat of your choice! (The contest is only available to readers in Canada & the US - sorry!) To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com by midnight MST on 12/11/07 with DOWNTIME in the subject line and tell us one of the four things that the company does to reduce their impact on the environment. (See: Our Story) Please include your full name and mailing address with your entry. Congratulations Megan!

Naturally, I get excited when I discover a Canadian business that I can recommend here at T.O.P., and I get even more excited when the business offers natural & earth loving products that are often hard to find for your average Canuck parent who is not interested in paying shipping from the US or overseas. For that reason and more, I’m excited to present EcoBaby Canada, a Lethbridge, Alberta based business run by parentrepreneur Andrea Johnson.

EcoBaby Canada’s shop carries a large assortment of earth-friendly (we love that!) products for mom, baby and the two together. A proponent of the attachment parenting philosophy, she has a great selection of slings. (If you’re not a slinging parent, you need to be - trust me!)

As a Canadian mother with winter sneaking up on me, I am absolutely loving the Australian made Huggalugs available in her accessories shop. The adorable cool and not at all cutesie skull pattern seen below comes in pink and black, and I also love the ‘Cool Spirit’ pattern (at right) for a more funky look. They’re great on both arms and legs on kids of any age and are only $13. I tried them on myself and they could easily be worn as mid-calf length leg warmers by teens & adults as well. With 1 washing, they returned to their original size and fit my little guy.

Shipping information is available here and she allows for free pick-up of local orders.

Win a pair of Huggalugs of your choice from EcoBaby Canada! Just look around the site and then email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with EcoBaby Canada in the subject line and send us the url and name of your favourite product. Just choose one - I know it’s hard but you can do it! Contest closes at midnight MST on 11/12/07. Congratulations Angela & Connor!

I love Georgie Tees for so many reasons.

(Yep, we’ve reviewed their stuff before and they’re back with more!)

They’ve added a new onesie, “freshly baked,” to their already fab line. It’s only available in newborn sizes and is the perfect baby shower gift! As with all Georgie Tees, the onesie is tagless and super-soft. And funny! Because Georgie Tees are always all about the funny. (Check out the 50% off onesies too!)

The gals from Georgie Tees have always had great maternity novelty tees but have recently added a new artistic line offering a more creative take on pregnancy. The tees are custom-made with enough stretch for the perfect fit before, during and after pregnancy. I love this tee not only for the great design that’s appropriate during pregnancy and forever after as a mama, but for the awesome fit and amazing stretch. It’s snug without being grossly revealing and pops right back to it’s original shape. Another bonus? It’s long enough to cover the tall gal’s pregnant belly and gathers nicely on the non-prego figure. You won’t believe how soft it is until you touch it yourself!

Check out the freshly baked blog too.

Save 15% at Georgie tees with the code “opinionated” in the comments section at checkout.
You’ll find Georgie Tees in the TOP Shops where we feature permanent & exclusive online shopping discounts for T.O.P. readers.

We’re giving them away! Enter to win a “freshly baked” onesie (0-3 months) or a “mama lisa” maternity tee (one size). Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com by midnight tonight with Georgie-fresh OR Georgie-mama in the subject line and tell us where the name georgie tees™ came from. (Hint - check the ‘not so’ faq.) Please remember to specify which contest you’d like to enter within the subject line for your entry to be valid. One winner for each contest will be selected at random and contacted via email by mid-week. Congrats to Glennia & Jack!

I’m always on the hunt for new organic kids clothing that’s different than the usual and I am loving Little Marmara. Founded by parentrepreneur Gabrielle Ackerman, Little Marmara items are all made from 100% chemical-free organic Turkish cotton and you just can’t get better than that. And apparently it’s hard to get softer than that. Contrary to much of the older organic fabrics which were slightly on the scratchy side (think wearing a hemp necklace all over), this fabric is amazingly soft. (And if you’re curious as to why I love organic fabrics so much, read Gabrielle’s page on organic cotton. The knowledge gained is well worth the minute it will take you. Go on…I’ll wait.)

The camel caravan, the stork and the lion on gorgeous tees and amazingly soft (and totally-safe-to-rest-your-precious-head-on) pillows and bags make up the Little Marmara introductory line, but there’s much more to come including pants, blankets, sweaters, hats, washcloths, towels and even toys, all of which will be made of the finest Turkish organic cotton.

Judging by both the quality and style of the products I’ve seen and touched, I can’t wait to see what’s coming. I see big things for Little Marmara.

Win a gift set #2 in size 12-18 months valued at $56 USD (pictured above). To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Little Marmara in the subject line by midnight MST tonight and tell us the Little Marmara tagline found at the top of each page of the website. Congratulations Karen!

Get 20% off with the code HOLIDAYSAVINGS until December 5, 2007.
(See the coupon below.)

Little Marmara is currently offering free shipping on all gift sets to US addresses.

I’ve heard my share of complaints about parents who make their own political statements on the chests of their children. I might agree with that if you’re advocating a vote for a certain crappy president, but when it’s a statement against war or for equality I see it more as a wonderful opportunity to teach both our children and the world to be compassionate and open minded. That’s why I was so excited to hear about Tiny Revolutionary, a simply wonderful family run company that creates hip designs that make statements and place them on the most buttery soft cotton they can find.

These aren’t just any statements, though. They’re ones that most people would find it very hard to disagree with. Like my personal fave “Bombs are bad for babies and other living things” which is printed on a long sleeved super-soft thermal tee and pictured at right.

“All babies are created equal” (pictured at left) is another of my faves, but all of their designs are really just as cool. I’m digging this one, and this one. Oh, and definitely this one. I could go on, but you get my drift. Great designs, great fabric, great service. And these ladies walk the talk - a portion of every purchase supports very worthwhile charities. Trust me on this one. Shop tiny and you just might make big changes.

Save 15% on your entire purchase with the code TOP15. You’ll find Tiny Revolutionary in the TOP Shops, where we feature fab forever discount codes for our fab forever readers!

Two lucky winners will receive a Tiny Revolutionary tee of their choice. To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 10/15/07 with TINY in the subject line and tell us the names of the two brilliant mamas behind this line. Congratulations Amy & Chelle!

Have you ever had to take your kid out shopping with a towel tied around their neck because they refused to leave their super-alter-ego at home?

Towels and sheets are great for the playroom but not so great for the mall or the grocery store.

I’m happy to announce that we’ve found the answer - Little Capers! Created by Jossamber Shapiro and Jessica Wise, Little Capers are “alternative Super Hero shirts” that come with fancy schmancy totally-cooler-than-a-dish-towel capes that easily attach and detach with Velcro.

There are so many things that I love about Little Capers, not least that they’re made by moms. I love that the unique designs allow for creative play without telling the kids what their power is. I love that the shirts are both non-violent and totally open to interpretation. I love the shimmery softness of the cape and the easily washable tee - a definite necessity after you’ve spent the day saving the world.

Win a Little Capers shirt of your choice! (This contest is open to Canadian and American readers only. Sorry for any inconvenience.) To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 10/11/07 with Little Capers in the subject line and tell us what Little Capers design describes a child you know, and why? Congratulations Adrienne!

As a mom of a kid who’s always in t-shirts, I am loving SATees. In looking around their site, I was hit hard with the fact that my vocabulary really needs some work. I knew the definition of seven of the words. How about you?

Designed by Debbie Glasserman and Scott Lynch, the tagline Big Words for Little Kids describes their shop exactly. There’s guaranteed to be at least one big word that describes your kid to a “tee.” A seemingly old soul? Always poops when you’re on the way out the door? Never shuts up? SATees has it covered!

These tees are 100% cotton and wash easily with no noticeable shrinkage, but I’d buy one size up anyway just because you’d get more wear out of it and I’m cheap like that.

Get $5 off a minimum order of $50 through 10/31/07 with the code FALL2007 at checkout.

Win the onesie or tee of your choice from SATees! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 10/5/07 with SATee in the subject line and tell us which one you’d choose and why? Congratulations Stephanie J!

Whenever Vincent Shoes contacts us about a new line, it excites me perhaps a little too much. Maybe it’s because my old lady feet require orthotics so my own shoes aren’t very cool and with Vincent I can live vicariously through the children.

We’ve been checking out their new fall ‘07 line and it’s (not surprisingly) fantastic.

Stripe is the new indoor shoe/slipper for fall and I love it. With the full length zipper it’s easy to get on and off and the rubber sole keeps my son safe as he cruises the house. Slip n’ sliding around corners ending with heads in walls are less frequent since these great slips arrived.

Herman has to be one of my all time faves, and it’s not just because they look cool. It’s because kids should be spending their time outdoors whenever possible and with these shoes they’ll want to. The rugged kid who reviewed this model for us says “These shoes are wicked, man. I can climb way higher than I could before. Maybe they’re magic tree climbing shoes!” And his mom says “Thanks. Thanks a lot. I don’t have enough grey hairs yet.” I’m pretty sure I detected some sarcasm there.

Last but not least, we reviewed the Robin style. I personally love this shoe for those less-active days when you still need to be comfortable. They go from running to school through learning all day and on to playing at the park with ease. The website describes them as an “urban sneaker” and that’s the perfect description. Just because you’re hopping over downtown sidewalk lines instead of cow patties doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a good runner - and the Robin works in both locales. Our kid-reviewer for this pair says “I love my new shoes. I got to wear them to church because they look kinda fancy but they’re actually runners so I could play too!”

Whenever you’re in the mood to pick up some new shoes for your kids, a stop at Vincent should be at the top of the list. They’ve always got great sales too! (In fact, I plan to pick up a pair of Oskar’s at a steal of a deal for next summer!) And not having to leave the house to go shoe shopping? That’s a winner. I know a few people (okay, lots of people) who are nervous about buying shoes online. As long as you shop at Vincent, you don’t have to be. Exchanges for any reason are completely free! And they ship free on orders over $75 and cheap flat rates if you order less. They recommend using the Vincent Shoe Fitter before you order to reduce the chances of needing their great exchange policy, but it’s still nice to know it’s there.

As with most kids, ours play a lot and they play hard. It’s hard to spend $40 on a tee, no matter how great, when you’re pretty confident they’re either going to wreck it or grow out of it within a month or two. And that’s why we were SO excited to discover The Mini Tee - a Toronto based (Go Canada!) online store with great unique tees at wonderfully unique modest prices.

The sibling collection is my personal favourite, and at only $12-$15 I assure you that it will be yours too. Can you even make a shirt for that much? And they ship free with orders over $40 too. Don’t think that you’re getting transparent crap for these prices - these are some great quality thick cotton shirts that wash great and wear well.

There’s a large selection of shirts for boys and for girls. I can’t help but tell you the prices again - $12 for the tees and $15 for the onesies. Amazing. I’m almost speechless. I’ll pay extra to support small mom-run business but with the Mini Tee I don’t have to! (Who am I kidding? Now I’ll buy four.)

You can also get custom designed shirts for only $1 extra! I know - I didn’t believe it either!

Win a Mini Tee of your choice in any size! To be entered in the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with MINI TEE in the subject line and tell us what your choice would be if you’re the lucky winner! Contest closes at midnight MST on Wednesday, September 12, 2007. Congratulations Linsey!

In the past I have often found it incredibly frustrating to shop for baby gifts for friends children, what with all of the ducks and trucks, even at the not-even-close-to-Walmart stores, so I’m always excited to find unique parent-made totally non-generic non-big-box-store clothes online. I’ve got a new favourite go-to baby gift for the summer babies from Gigglygear.

I am absolutely in love with the baby tee & diaper cover sets. The boys sets include boxers and a t-shirt and the girls sets feature the same cute tee in pink with a diaper cover. Adorable! The sets are available in 0-6 and 6-12 months. I’m having a Christmas baby this year and this little outfit is going to be perfect for next summer’s days at the spray park.

No ducks, no trucks - what more could you ask? I love the cute tee that comes with the set, and it’s great to be able to choose pretty much any tee from the closet when that one’s dirty and be pretty much guaranteed a match or at least no clashing. In the 6-12 month stage when kids are really starting to move, they’re going to appreciate a great outfit like this that doesn’t impede their movement. It might even make them giggle!

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Enter the code TOP for 20% off any gigglygear items through 9/30/2007. And gigglygear always offers free shipping when you order any two items. I’ve seen these in person and, trust me, you want at least two!

Enter to win a girls or boys gift set in size 0-6 mos in your choice of fabric (valued at $28). Simply email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with gigglygear in the subject line and tell us the names of the two busy women behind the gigglygear phenomenon. Contest closes 8/22/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Naomi!

Guest review by mother & son T.O.P. readers, Jenn & Aiden.

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Jr. Champion Racing Suit from Aeromax- $49.95 USD

From the press release: Aeromax’s Get Real Gear focuses on more aspirational costumes that allow children to pretend they’re chefs, firemen, nurses, police officers or astronauts.