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. There’s no limit to the worlds they can explore by wearing Aeromax‘s Get Real Gear designed to model careers of grownups that they admire and trust.

Aeromax strives for authenticity in their award-winning designs. Zippered pockets, clips, buckles, embroidered hats; official-looking patches, elastic waistbands and a wide selection of sizes and colors make Aeromax’s Get Real Gear dress-up line a smart choice. More importantly, they’re a wise investment in youngsters’ self esteem by introducing them to the wonders of imagination and the possibilities that each child can explore.

Costume Description: You’ll be waving the checkered flag for your little racer when he or she crosses the finish line in this detailed racing costume. They will look like a pro in this one completely detailed like a real racecar driver’s uniform with custom embroidery and logos. The embroidered neckline, shoulder and ankle straps give the playsuit that “cool racer look.”

Mom’s thoughts: The bright bold colors of this racing costume are what caught my eye first. The fabric is soft and doesn’t seem to irritate the skin. The patches are sewn on, just like you’d expect to see on a ‘real’ racer’s jumpsuit and has a velcro neck strap and ankle straps.

The fit was great. We tried it on Aiden, who is 7, and it fit him well in the length and we had no problems zipping the full-length zipper up over his clothes. I am also pleased with the quality of this costume. Aiden wore it for 2 days straight after we brought it home and every 6 and 7 year old we have had over has tried the costume on and played in it.

I think it’s great to find a ‘dress up’ costume geared towards boys, though the girls seem to love it also. This is a costume I would definitely recommend!

Aiden’s thoughts: This costume is very cool! I have been wearing a lot and can’t wait to wear it for Halloween because I really like it. My friends also think it is awesome and want one too!

That’s cool kid Aiden in the picture above sporting his Jr. Champion Racing Suit. You can order yours here or browse all of the kids ‘get real gear’ here. The costumes are available in size 18 mos up to adult!

Poopasnuffas!

We love finding unique clothing that helps our kids look different than all of the kids on our block and that can’t be found at the dreaded WalMart. With characters named PooPooMonkey, PooPooDragon, PooPooPuss, PooPooPooch and PooPooPotamus, they’ve got to be good, right? These crazy PooPoo folks are brought to life via the art of of Kelly Barnett and the delightful stories created by Poopasnuffas storytellers (kids, of course!) and you really can’t help but love them. And that’s not just because they have PooPoo in their names. (I’m not a 12 year old boy – I just have the same sense of humour.)

Your child can submit their own story too! Click on each character and follow the link to see the current winning stories that go with them written by kids just like yours & mine. The winners receive a free Poopasnuffas tee and a certificate of appreciation and their story will be shipped with every order for an item with their star character that month!

Poopasnuffas uses American Apparel tees which are always great & guaranteed sweatshop free. They’re comfy & durable and they wash up great. T-shirts are $20 USD and are available in sizes 2-12. There are also onesies (3-24 mos, $22), baby tees (3-24 mos, $18) and bibs ($7) available in each character line.

Win a Poopasnuffas tee of your choice! To be entered in the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with PooPoo (heh) in the subject line and tell us where the Poopasnuffas company is based. Hint: Check the snail mail address! Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, August 3, 2007. Congratulations Sylvia!

Learning to nurse is enough of a challenge for many moms that they don’t need to worry about flashing at the same time. While we’re of the opinion that boobs are for babies and if you don’t want to see them – don’t look, we do understand that the risk of flashing stresses many moms out. Though we don’t agree with covering up for other people’s comfort, we’re all for YOUR comfort and we think you’re better off doing it in style! There are a plethora of ugly & bulky nursing covers & capes available today that shout “I’m breastfeeding!” and/or “I have no sense of style now that I’m a mother!” and we think you deserve better than that.

The nursing covers from Generation Baby, a mom-run Canadian company, are about as fashionable and functional as a nursing cover’s going to get.

We tested out the beautiful chocolate damask pattern and it’s stunning. The fabric is a light & airy cotton and the pattern is such that you could easily wear it as a dress and you’d look fabulous. (It’s the top one pictured at right.) All of the nursing covers are machine wash & dry and feature an adjustable neck strap. It wasn’t long before my son figured out how to disengage the velcro & snaps on my nursing covers (which were, incidentally, incredibly ugly compared to this one) and a receiving blanket worked for about a week before I gave up altogether so I was pleased to hear from our reviewer that the fastener on the Generation Baby cover was easy for her to manipulate but no matter how hard her daughter pulled it didn’t come off. They’re large enough to cover mothers of all sizes (and to be used as a light blanket or stroller sun shade, which came in handy during our review due to the +40 C temps) and the rigid neck line makes it easy for mom to see baby without letting anyone else take a peek. Lastly, being that it’s very light cotton, it folds & fits easily in a diaper bag or even in a pocket.

We don’t think you need to cover up, but if you want to you deserve to look good at the same time.

Get 15% off your Generation Baby purchase with the code “coupon”

Win a nursing cover of your choice! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with GenBaby in the subject line and tell us the name of your favourite nursing cover fabric. Contest closes Thursday night at midnight MST. Congratulations Janice!

The Silly Wagon is a fabulous new online mom-run store (check out their funky website!) and they’re off to a great start! I love the name, love the colours, love the philosophy & love their stock.

Though I don’t have a girl, you can bet that if I ever do she’ll be the proud owner of several of these great darling pinafores from Pink Dixie. In fact, if this baby I’m currently growing is of the female persuasion, her closet just might be full of these by next summer!

The darling pinafore comes in six adorable but not cutesie fabrics and features comfortable thick tank straps and a flared style that I am in love with.

As parents, we all know that that there’s one necessity if it’s going to be worn more than once: It’s machine washable and dryer friendly. And I assure you that it will be worn at every available opportunity.

The Silly Wagon offers international shipping at very reasonable rates and even FREE with any order of $200 or more! The Silly Wagon is constantly adding new merchandise – check here for details! (And don’t forget the sales!)

Get 10% off at The Silly Wagon forever and ever using the code op10.

You’ll find The Silly Wagon in our TOP Shops, where we feature permanent and exclusive discounts at some of our favourite online shops just for you!

Win a wildflower darling pinafore in your choice of size. Simple email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with SILLY in the subject line and tell us the name of another fabric pattern that this truly darling pinafore is available in. Contest closes Wednesday night 8/1/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Kailani!

Bitty Braille is a new indie mom-run company that’s found a unique niche in the children’s market and I think you’ll be as impressed as I am.

Julie Dutt, the mom behind the operation, hand embroiders child-friendly words on soft & comfy tees and embellishes above them with the same word in Braille using either iron-on metal studs or Swarovski crystal rhinestones. She’ll even personalize a shirt for your child if you’d like their name or a word that’s meaningful to them.

These American Apparel tees are pre-washed so you can be assured that they won’t shrink and they wash up easily with no extra-special care required. Just wash inside out on gentle & dry on low. In our tests the Braille came through two washes with no sign of wear or weakness. These tees would make a great gift for the older sib (think “Big Brother”) or for any child to whom you’d like to present a fabulous & unique gift. I can pretty much guarantee it will be the only Braille tee at the baby shower!

Enter to win a Bitty Braille tee of your choice! Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Braille in the subject line and the answer to the question “To what organization does Bitty Braille donate 10% of every sale?” Contest closes Friday night at midnight MST. Congratulations to Lara Wellman!

If, like us, you’ve had enough of trucks & daisies on your kids’ shirts, you’ll love the catchy phrase baby & toddler tees from b.glam baby.

There are days around here when I wish I had this Grouchmeister tee for my son. At least then he’d have an excuse.

My Aunt’s a Hottie would make a great gift for your nieces & nephews if you’re in need of a little ego boost, or put it on your own kids and flatter their aunties.

Whether it’s Daddy’s Cupcake, high maintenance already or all gassed up,
chances are there’s a tee to match your little ones too.

We’ve got two $50 gift certificates to b.glam baby to give away. Wheee! Lucky Friday the 13th! To be entered to win, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with b.glam in the subject line and tell us the names of the ladies behind the b.glam baby style. Contest closes Monday @ midnight MST. Two winners will be selected randomly. Congratulations Carey G & K K!

Havins Originals is an Orange County based company that produces vintage-look children’s shirts. The designs of founder & designer Vikki Havins are influenced by southern California culture and inspired by her love of vintage design and rock n’ roll. I’m not always a fan of vintage. If I want my clothes to look worn, I’ll wear them myself thankyouverymuch and I’m not big on the “looks old, doesn’t last, pay more” phenomenon that often accompanies the vintage trend. But this isn’t the case with the Havins Originals brand. These shirts are amazingly soft. They feel like an old favourite right out of the bag! Yet they wash & wear well, are super comfortable and seem to be very well made. The prices vary depending on where you buy them so I’d suggest a little shopping around for the best deal.

Check out the way cool fall 2007 collection, available soon at retailers or online.

With shirts for boys, girls and babies (and now sweatshirts too!) there’s something for everyone. My personal favourites are ‘hardcore reader’ pictured above as well as the ‘Can’t talk, I’m reading.’ (I’m an early literacy teacher so I can’t help it. Sue me.) For the less literacy obsessed among us, there are so many more fab designs at Havins. Have a sugar freak? I Want Candy might be the one for him (or her). Once upon a time…the end is my favourite in the onesie styles and is sure to get some chuckles. Whatever your preference, you won’t be disappointed with the true vintage look and soft comfort of these handmade shirts.

And, of course, we’ve got some for you guys! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Havins-girl or Havins-boy in the subject line and tell us one Havins Originals design not mentioned in this review. Contest closes at midnight MST on 6/13/07. Prizes are sized for 2-4 year olds. Congratulations Cheryll & Jodi-Lynn!

My Conservation Baby is a new online venture for conservation enthusiasts Ellen & Michael McNeill. They offer hip and upscale onesies, onesie sets and toddler tees with conservation-inspired messages like Stop Global Warming and Protect the Environment in both organic and conventional cotton.

Since our babies are the ones inheriting this great earth from us, it’s important that we teach them to respect it and protect it from the very beginning. By using the tips from the website, setting an example at home and wearing socially responsible clothing like what’s available from My Conservation Baby you’d be heading in the right direction.

Like any socially responsible company, My Conservation Baby has a great selection of organic offerings. I was struck by how thick and soft the cotton was before it was even washed. The natural onesie set pictured at right is the perfect baby gift for the eco-conscious parent (and really, shouldn’t we all be?) along with the awesome ninja set with ties at the sides for truly effortless diaper changes. I’m also kind of in love with their pink camo gift sets.

Also worth checking out – the offer for free baby clothes from My Conservation Baby. Who doesn’t love free clothes?

My Conservation Baby has a completely hassle free return & exchange policy so you can shop with complete confidence.

Receive a free gift with orders over $100 and a free gift and free shipping for all orders over $150.

TOP readers also receive 10% off with the code OPINION

My Conservation Baby is TOP’s newest sponsor.
Check out their ad in our premium sidebar space!

Il Cocco di Mamma, a favourite store of opinionated parents everywhere, has added some 100% combed organic cottons to their already fabulous line of signature tees. Currently available in the gender neutral Good Day, Sweet Like Honey & Heaven Sent images in sizes from 6-24 months, these tees would make a fabulous gift for parents who are both eco-conscious and linguistically aware. They’re designed by Il Cocco owner & designer Donna Bottari and retail for $24. With their generous fit and itch-free tagless design, they’re sure to be a hit.

We’ve got a Bonjour organic tee in size 24 mos. to give away. To be entered, email theopininionatedparent@gmail.com with Il Cocco in the subject line and tell us the name of Donna’s first nephew who inspired her to start her awesome store. Contest closes at midnight MST on May 31/07. Congratulations Rheanna!

Bathing a slippery newborn baby can be slightly terrifying, and it’s made worse when you have to wrap them in a towel and hope they don’t kick out of it and freeze while you chase a toddler around the house with pajamas in hand. While I love hooded towels for the toddler set, as soon as you’ve got a big and a little to bathe they’re no longer the perfect post-bath accessory.

What is, you ask?

The gorgeous terry velour bath sacks from Bambini Carini, an upscale company devoted to manufacturing and distributing boutique style baby accessories for the discerning shopper.

Available in 13 exquisite designs including my favourite ‘melrose‘ (pictured at right) the bath sacks are luxuriously soft, hooded for warmth and feature turned cuffs too keep those tiny hands warm. The bathsack retails for $52.00 USD.

Bambini Carini products are available at select retailers. All of their products are available all prints.

Enter to win a luxurious melrose pattern bath sack and matching bib (total value $68 USD) by emailing theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 5/30/07 with Bambini Carini in the subject line and the correct answer to the question “According to the website, what does Bambini Carini mean?” Congratulations Nicolette!

I’ve always loved doing little girls’ hair in baubles & braids, and the great clips by investment analyst turned crafty mom extraordinaire Teri Dimalanta of Giddy Giddy make it even better! (And far less frustrating.)

Each adorable felt design is hand made and the clip is sewed securely inside so there are no painful snags and they stay on even the finest of baby hair. She designs clips in three categories – flowers, animals and food, and each category has clips for the little and the big girls in your life.

There are so many things to love about Giddy Giddy clips. They’re adorable; they’re not bows; they stay in – really; they’re not choking hazards; they don’t leave semi-permanent indentations in those precious little baby heads; and they’re made by a mom! I see no reason not to make these your hair clip of choice.

Giddygiddy clips area available at several online and retail locations.

We’ve got a set of Giddy Giddy clips to send to one lucky TOP reader. To be entered in the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with GIDDY in the subject line and tell us your favourite Giddy Giddy design. (Me? I’m partial to the ladybug.) Contest closes 5/29/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Laurel!

Founded by three partners and devoted moms Lori, Suzanne and Karen, who believe that “Motherhood does not define us. We define it,” Peace Love Mom celebrates motherhood in one of the best ways possible. With clothes!

Their thermal long sleeved tees are my favourite way to tell everyone how happy I am to be a mom. My life’s pretty great, and I bet yours is too. And honestly, if we’re going to live in t-shirts (and I am – I’m not afraid to admit it) they might as well be well made, comfortable and make a great statement, right?

They’ve also got great classic rib tees, soft jersey tees, tanks & even stuff for baby. And they all celebrate life and motherhood. (Even the sale items!)

It’s the best job in the world, and it’s about time we advertised it.

Get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $30 with the code OPARENT until June 30th.
Happy Mother’s Day!

Our son has been sleeping in a sleep sack since birth. They’re fabulous, and I highly recommend them. But there was a point around 8 or 9 months old when he’d wake up screaming every night with both his legs trapped in one leg of his pajamas and/or his sleep sack so twisted up that he couldn’t move. I won’t put a blanket in his crib with him – not only because it’s risky but he’d never keep it on anyway.

I wish I had found Blankeaze a few months earlier.

The newest product from 2 Virtues, Blankeaze is a wearable fleece blanket made specifically for active sleepers. It’s a wearable blanket with leg holes that is worn over pajamas. It can’t be kicked off, pulled off and, unlike sleep sacks, Blankeaze won’t twist around even the most active sleeper. (And if it would twist, my little mix-master would do it so I assure you – it doesn’t.) It zips up in either the front or the back, depending on your preference, and the bottoms of the legs are elasticized so they stay down really well. Before 6 months I’d still recommend a sleep sack for those middle of the night changes, but the Blankeaze is the way to go once you’ve got a mobile kid that doesn’t need regular changes in the dark hours.

Blankeaze comes in 5 sizes, from 6 months to 3T and is available in pink or blue. They’re available for purchase from the 2 Virtues Store or look for a retailer in your area.

Summer is fast approaching and it’s the time of year when we start to apply sunscreen to our little ones to protect their delicate skin. But what about their eyes? They’re irreplaceable, and they can get sunburned too. In fact, according to the FRUBI SHADES site, “The human eye is ten times more sensitive to harmful UV rays than your skin. The lens of a child allows 70% more UV rays to reach the delicate retina than in an adult. Approximately half of the entire time we spend outdoors in our lifetime occurs in the first twenty years of our life.” Armed with that knowledge, we should all be picking up a pair or three of Frubi Shades!

Designed to fit kids from 6 months to 6 years of age (with a version for older kids coming soon) they’re made of a non-toxic, spongy, form fitting material that’s molded into one comfortable piece. (And I knew they were comfortable when my son actually forgot they were on!) They were originally invented to prevent early eye disease in babies and have grown into much more.

There are soft pads at each temple which add to the comfortable fit and also eliminate the need for the small parts [read:choking hazards] that are on many children’s sunglasses. The special nose piece prevents them from rubbing on the child’s eyelashes – a very important factor in comfort. The specially designed “Ultraguard” lens is non-shattering and extremely protective (from both the sun’s rays and foreign objects!). Frubi Shades are safe for water wear as well, and if they come off, they float. Sounds fun, but they’re not toys. They were designed by an ophthalmologist and are backed by some hard core science.

They’re only $15 for 1 pair or $30 for 3 at the FRUBI online store or at many other retailers (Prices are USD – currently about $17.30 & $34.60 CDN) – a steal of a deal for that much protection!

For eye protection tips, visit the Frubi blog.

Order yours via www.frubishades.com and get $2 off a 3 pack with the code FTOP07 (maximum of 3 packages) until August 31, 2007.

We’ve got a pair of Frubi Shades to give to one lucky TOP reader. To be entered in this random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with FRUBI in the subject header and submit the correct answer to the question “Where did the two inventers of Frubi Shades, Dr. Gary Hall and Renee Resler, meet?” Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/8/07. Congratulations Maia!

Okki Baby is the brain child of mom Laura Simmons. With her background in marketing & love of design, she has created some adorable & whimsical designs that capture the essence of her tagline – celebrating every child.

Know an adorable little boy that can’t stay clean for more than ten minutes? ‘I Make Dirt Look Good’ might be just the thing. And what about the little girl who has it all? Buy her this and present it with a knowing smile.

I’m also loving the birthday tees for boys & girls – perfect for the annual photo op and for the party. (Be sure to invest in a good bib for when the chocolate cake comes out – these shirts are high quality and they’ll last through several kids if you can keep ‘em clean!)

Need a unique gift? The tee & bib gift sets in 0-3 months are perfect. There’s not a parent anywhere who wouldn’t swoon over the ‘brand spanking new‘ onesie on their little newbie.

Each design is nested in a coordinating circle approximately 3 inches across and is printed on incredibly soft (like, really REALLY soft) 100% cotton onesies. I can tell you first-hand that these wash up beautifully and get, if possible, even softer. They’re available from newborn to 24 months and range from a very reasonable $20 – $30. (Even more reasonable when you factor in the always free gift wrapping and USPS shipping!)

Are you one of those fabulous people who like to give back as they shop? Okki Baby donates a portion of all retail sales to an orphanage. It’s almost like you’re getting the shirt for free.

We’ve got two super-soft Okki Baby tees to give away – one short sleeved ‘C is for Cupcake‘ (boys) & one long sleeved ‘Moo‘ (gender neutral), both 18-24 mos. To be entered in the random draw, send an email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with OKKI in the subject header & the correct answer to the question “What does ‘okki’ mean?” (Hint – see the ‘about’ page.) Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/5/07. Congratulations Nancy & Jackie!

Milk Bomb is an awesome online, full-of-snark kids t-shirt shop with an explosive attitude. Owned by snarky dad & designer Steve O’Neil, Milk Bomb is hip to the horrors of pastel & chicks.

The Congratulations, You Get To Sit Near Me tee, available in all sizes from 3 mos – 6T, is a surefire hit for the traveling family. Now that I’ve found this, I’m never getting on a plane with kids without them wearing one. Chances are, if you’re traveling with kids, you’re going to tick off at least one of your fellow passengers. Anyone with even a small semblance of a sense of humour will have a hard time veiling their smile when they see your kid’s shirt.

In honour of tomorrow’s Canadian tax filing deadline, I’m also loving this Our Little Tax Write Off tee. It’s also available in all sizes up to 6T.
[Side note: This is our first year filing with a dependent, and it turns out that in Canada your kids are only a tax write off if you're divorced. (Way to support family values, Canada!)]

Milk Bomb ships all orders free of charge!

Enter to win your choice of a 12-18 mos Live Free or Cry snapsuit or a size 2 Congratulations tee. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with MilkBomb 12-18 or MilkBomb 2 in the subject header and tell us one other snarky saying available from Milk Bomb that wasn’t mentioned in this review. Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/4/07. Congratulations Cara & Sara!

It’s a well known fact even among the least environmentally conscious of us that chemicals are harmful. Susan Gluck-Pappajohn & Francesca Olivieri started Sage Baby NYC with the mission to help new and expectant parents take the next step –beyond organic food– in creating a healthier environment for their babies and children.

As new mothers, they saw their peers diligently serving organic milk and food to their children so that they are not exposed to numerous toxins and chemicals, only to turn around and unknowingly expose their children regularly to a variety of other toxic chemicals in their households and elsewhere. Through their company they have searched the world to identify the very finest and most stylish organic and non-toxic products, like this limited edition rattle hand-turned from pesticide free old-growth applewood. Wow.

Sage Baby began in 2005 selling only to NYC locals via trunk shows. With that success under their organic cotton belts, they decided to launch their website and have been live since March 2006. They offer a huge assortment of products including organic cotton clothing, bedding and towels; organic skincare; non-toxic toys; non-toxic cleaning products and air purifiers. And their site also contains some great advice and links to some great non-toxic resources.

There’s nothing Sage Baby carries that I wouldn’t buy. I’m especially loving this limited edition organic Soho Baby ‘see-hors’ set from the speesees line. It comes with a kimono (3-6 mos.) or long sleeve tee (6-12 mos.), yoga pants in a gorgeous shade of pear and a matching terry-lined bib.

And for that extra sensitive newborn skin, check out their organic preemie and newborn selection.

Enter to win this adorable limited edition Soho Baby Set (size 6-12 mos; value $49; pictured above). Simply email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with SAGE BABY in the subject line and the correct answer to the question How many children do the two moms behind Sage Baby NYC have between them? Contest closes at midnight MST on May 2/07.

‘Tis that time of year when we’re on the lookout for superb Mother’s Day gifts.

Motherhood is an amazing thing. Great moms deserve to be celebrated every day but there’s one day a year when mom gets all the attention. And presents!

Sometimes the presents collect dust. Find a knick knack that says mom and some poor woman will have to dust it forever. Sometimes they stick to the fridge. Every mom loves homemade art.
Sometimes you slime them down your throat with a fake smile on your face loving it all the same. Mmmm, kid-made eggs.

But sometimes, you just want something simple and understated. I’m a mom who hates clutter who was raised by a mom who hates clutter. (Stop reading here, Mom, or you won’t be surprised on May 13!)

The MOMS ROCK tees from 2 Funky Mums are the answer.

These awesome ‘flashy but totally not froofy’ t-shirts are hand emblazoned with rhinestones in large block letters. They have the classic MOMS ROCK in a variety of colours & styles, and also something for Grandma and even teacher! (Side note: Do you think it would be inappropriate for me to send that link to the parents of my class prior to next Christmas in hopes of avoiding the dreaded 13 mugs?)

All of the shirts are made of high quality stretch cotton. Also worth a look is the 2 Funky Mums children’s line. What little girl wouldn’t want a bright pink shirt proclaiming their status as the rock star they are?

Enter to win your choice of tee in your size from 2 Funky Mums! Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with 2 FUNKY MUMS in the subject line and the correct answer to the question What non-clothing item is available from the 2 Funky Mums site?. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/30/07. Congratulations Betty!

Planet Mom is my new favourite place to be. Being a mom is awesome. It’s hard, confusing, stressful, and downright freaking awesome.

Two long time mommy friends Elise Nappi and Eileen Schneidmann are the founders of Planet Mom T-Shirts, a cheeky line of apparel for moms (and for dads, but mostly moms). These tees will make even the non-parental crowd laugh and our peers in parenthood will nod in agreement.

Motherhood, when you take it lightly, is one big inside joke. Make sure you’re in on it with Planet Mom t-shirts.

Every morning when I’m seeking my tall, dark & rich…

cup of coffee, I’ll think of all the rest of the moms on the planet with a chuckle. We’re all in it together, and we’d might as well laugh about it.

Make sure you check out the pants & hats, too. And don’t forget about Mother’s Day! (Hint Hint. May 13.)

Enter to win a ‘Secretary of Transportation’ shirt (size L) valued at $36 USD (shown above). Simple email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Planet Mom in the subject header and tell us your favourite Planet Mom saying that’s not mentioned in this review. Contest closes on 4/27/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations JR!

Artist turned mom turned par.entrepreneur (whew) Jennifer Talbot is the founder & creative director of b.delicious – an online store full of the softest cotton onesies & tees featuring hand cut ultra-suede designs. That’s right – hand cut. Each and every piece.

For infant girls and boys, Jennifer has designed some truly adorably sweet (and delicious!) appliqués like the purse and gumball machine pictured here. She’s also got a super toddler line and she hasn’t forgotten about the mama! Her line for women is understated and original, like the splat tee. If you’re going to have goopy things on your shirt anyway, why not make a statement with it?

Everything from b.delicious is as cute as it looks on the site. Cuter, even. Totally sweet…in a totally non-cavity inducing way.

Enter the code URDelicious for $5 off a purchase of $45 dollars or more until June 15, 2007.

We’ve got a boys gumball onesie (6-12m) and a girls purse tee (18-24m) – both pictured – to give away, with a surprise bonus larger kid b delicious tee thrown in with each one. To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with delicious boy or delicious girl in the subject line and the correct answer to the question What’s one of the non-clothing accessory items available from b delicious? Get your answers in by midnight MST on 4/26/07. Congratulations Marie & James!

Par.entrepreneur Valerie LeCoeur thinks that pregnant women are beautiful, and so do we. Inspired by her daughter Zoë to start her own company, the aptly named Zoë B online boutique was born.

With Zoë B maternity shirts & tanks, you no longer need to dread the question “Do you know what you’re having?” (Duh. A baby.) Let your shirt tell them instead!

Zoë B maternity t-shirts are 100% cotton and designed for a snug fit — no loose, hiding-the-belly tees here. (Why do people do that anyway? Are they trying to look like they’re wearing a parachute?) All Zoë B products are guaranteed sweatshop-free & come in cute gift-bag packaging.

Also check out the Zoë B baby tees & onesies. Cute overload warning.

TOP readers save 10% at Zoë B online with the code oparents.
You’ll find Zoë B in the TOP Shops where we feature permanent and exclusive discounts just for you!

I’m especially missing my big pregnant belly today – It’s my son’s first birthday.
If we’re blessed with another child in the future, you can bet I’ll be getting the not finding out tee to show off my big bump.

Chinese takeout has never been so cute. Fortune Tee has hit both Hollywood and trendy parents everywhere by storm. Launched three years ago by LA based Australian Carla O’Brien, this line of hip tees featuring fortune cookie messages and lucky numbers are full of wisdom & whimsy. The sayings on the shirts are a twist on the proverbs found in fortune cookies.

Fortune maternity tees are a great way to announce your upcoming arrival (A baby boy/A baby girl/Twins are in my near future) or, my personal fave, to make people laugh and perhaps fend off some of the stupid yet inevitable pregnancy comments (Sleepless nights are in my near future).

You’re sure to get a laugh of appreciation when you present the expectant parents with the Kung Pao Combo. Lounge pants and the top of your choice packaged together in a large takeout box – with the requisite fortune cookie of course. Make those old ladies in the grocery store gasp (A surprise will appear in my pants) laugh (A timeout is in my near future) or swoon (Confucius says: Little hearts give big hugs). Whatever your pleasure, a Fortune Tee onesie never goes unnoticed.

For the the family who has everything, they also have some great gift sets. Chances are they probably don’t have these. Also check out the Fortune Tee selection of side orders and tees for non-preggo women and men.

All Fortune Tees are 100% cotton and are served up in a way cool take-out box.

Whether a nap is really in your near future or not, it’s nice to pretend.

Enter to win! We have a Kung Pao Combo (your choice of fortune, size & pant fabric) and a maternity tee (your choice of fortune & size) to give away. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with your choice of Fortune Kung Pao or Fortune Maternity in the subject header and the answer to the question “What your favourite Fortune Tee saying that’s NOT mentioned in this review?” We’ll draw a random winner from all valid entries. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/24/07. Congratulations Sylvia & Betsy!

When Parade launched 4 years ago & decided to offer a full baby line, founders Bernard & Laura wanted it to be produced in a socially & environmentally responsible way and so the decided to go with 100% organic cotton. Grown without chemicals & pesticides, organic cotton is not only better for the farming communities where it is grown but it’s softer and longer lasting than processed cotton. All Parade clothing is made in sweatshop free environments through Fair Trade practices and they’ve also just started to manufacture some of their line right at home in Vancouver.

We love the innocent & environmental theme of their designs. They seem to have hit on all the names we call our babes-in-utero that carry over into life outside, like Bean & Peanut. The Parade Organic line of newborn kimonos are absolutely adorable (seen on the little peanut above) – and new parents quickly learn that anything that doesn’t have to be pulled over the head is sure to be worn again and again. The lounge sets, consisting of a lap neck onesie or tee & pants roomy enough to be comfortable over cloth diapers, make a great gift (hint hint to any relatives reading – our next baby wants the bean onesie with the pear green pants). The cotton gets softer with ever wash and is made to be handed down. Also be sure to check out their matching caps & blankets.

The Parade Organic line is available online or at retailers across Canada, the US, Australia & New Zealand.

Want to win? Of course you do! We have a 0-3 mos bug kimono onesie and a 12-18 month sprout t & coordinating brown pants to give away to two separate winners. To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with your preference of PARADE kimono or PARADE set in the subject line and tell us one other Parade design not mentioned in this review. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/24/07. Congratulations, Tyla & Rochelle!

I’m a fairly dedicated wearer of the child, but up here in the great white north it gets a little chilly at times. The very awesome Nori Peekaru Vest designed by par.entrepreneur Melissa Radcliffe & her company Together Be is a great solution.

The Peekaru is a fleece vest that zips over a soft baby carrier to keep you and your child warm. It fits comfortably over all carriers, including Baby Bjorns, Hotslings, Ergos, Mei Tais, and Wraps. We tested the Peekaru with a Bjorn, a ring sling & a mei tai and it worked perfectly over all of them. Available in five colours, the Nori Peekaru is a perfect accessory for the baby wearing crowd. It’s made of comfortable stretchy fleece (which I noticed makes it easy for the squirmy child to squirm comfortably) and has a hole for baby’s entire head or face to peek out of. The Peekaru can be worn with the carrier on your front or back. It can be worn with a coat over top (undone) to add warmth, and even in Canada I’ve found that an open coat is enough because the Peekaru did such a great job of keeping both mine and my baby’s body heat in.
It hugs the body in a rather flattering way (if I do say so myself *ahem*) and covers even my tall toddler’s long legs if he wraps them around me. I also love the small pocket – just big enough for a phone & keys.

Putting on the vest is pretty simple. It feels a little awkward at first but it gets easier every time. Simply place your child securely in your carrier of choice, pull the vest on, with your head and your baby’s head going through separate holes. The left side of the vest is completely open. Next, close the left side of the vest with a zipper and pull a drawstring at your child’s feet for a little more warmth if you like. My only suggestion would be an adjustable head opening for the child – perhaps a zipper or some soft Velcro to make it a little easier to pull over their head or to leave loose for those kids who don’t like things around their necks. It’s minor – I still love the Peekaru – but it would be a nice addition.

Enter to win a grey Nori Peekaru Vest in your own size. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Peekaru in the subject line and the correct answer to the question What are the five available colours of the Peekaru? Contest closes 4/23/07 @ midnight MST. Congratulations, Katalin!

Engaged couple Felix Sheng & Maria Jaramillo are the founders of the up & coming alternative tot clothing company Big Tantrum. With bold colours and fresh characters pulling in Asian pop culture, they’re sure to be a huge hit in the niche market of the PWHP club (Parents Who Hate Pastels). And it’s a big and ever growing market.

Maria’s designs and Felix’s business sense bring some great funk & fashion to the table. Check out their great Year of the Pig design. It comes in 6-12 months for the babies born this year and 12-24 months for the older or larger piggies in your life & retails at $25.

For an alternative to the girlie girl licensed characters from the big box stores, check out the little red riding hood tees. Not that they’re just for girls. All of the designs in the Big Tantrum introductory line are perfect for both boys and girls.

We’ve got a white 12 mos. BT shirt for the edgy kid in your family. To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Big Tantrum in the subject line and tell us what animal is featured in two of the Big Tantrum designs?
Contest closes on 4/23/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations, Leah!

Spring has sprung, and with it comes puddles. Lots of puddles. DLL Rainwear are specialists in…um…rainwear, and their great selection makes puddle jumping even more fun! Rain can be depressing if you’re stuck inside, but invest in the right gear and it’s no less fun than a sunny summer day. Maybe a little messier, but no less fun!

Check out their great mommy n’ me boot sets. I’m loving my Red Fire Chief set ~ perfect for girls or boys (pictured). They’re mid-calf height, 100% waterproof with a comfy moisture absorbing lining and they retail for only $50.95 for the set. And they’re bright red!!

DLL Rainwear (also known as Diane’s Little Lambs) has it all. Boots just for you and boots just for them. They have some pretty adorable adult rain clogs too.

Opinionated Parents – that’s you – use coupon code TOP upon check out to receive 15% off (not including shipping) through July 31, 2007.

Enter to win a Mommy n Me red firechief set in your choice of sizes. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with DLL in the subject line and tell us your favourite DLL Rainwear item. Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday 4/20/07. Congratulations Candice!

Looking for something different in a shirt? Sick & tired of your kid looking just like everyone else’s?

Nina and Tom Family Fashions to the rescue!
As a solely owned and operated husband and wife business, Nina and Tom are everything we’re looking for in a great t-shirt company. They design and screen-print all of the shirts themselves, which is pretty darn cool if you ask us. Nina and Tom shirts are of exceptional quality. They’re all 100% cotton and many are organic cotton, which all opinionated parents approve of since we’re all about responsibility and eco-conscious living. They also use low impact water-based inks. I think I’m in love.

Need more proof that these artists offer a quality product? They vary the image size relative to the garment size, which is something you won’t see very often. If you ask nicely, they’ll vary the colour combinations and even the language used just to make you happy. It’s reminiscent of the good old days when customer service was the norm.

At $19 – $23 they won’t break the bank. Sure, you could get a cheaper shirt at a big box store that shall not be named, but you would be supporting child labour and unethical business instead of a great husband and wife team like Nina and Tom!

And, like all the rest of the cool kids, they have a blog. You’re not surprised.

Save 20% at Nina & Tom with the code oparent.
You’ll find Nina & Tom in the TOP Shops too! If you’re bitten by the shopping bug, always check the TOP Shops first!

You could win a 12 month membership to the Onesie a Month club – valued at $250 USD! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Nina & Tom in the subject header and tell us your favourite of the Nina & Tom ‘cheeky’ tees. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/19/07. Congratulations Betty!

Donna Bottari is the owner and designer behind TOP fave Il Cocco di Mamma. She designs her own line of signature onesies that are as soft as they are expressive. In line with her store’s goal of promoting & celebrating languages, cultures & people, these unique (and did I mention SO soft) onesies are the perfect gift when you’re looking for something unique. You’ll be asked where you got it, but this time it will be so the lucky recipient can buy more (and not so they can return it behind your back). Available in Italian, Spanish and French popular sayings for $22-$24. It’s a small price to pay for something so cute & original ~ and you’re supporting an indie business at the same time!

Il Cocco di Mamma is currently offering FREE SHIPPING in the US and Canada, and always offers free gift wrapping with every purchase. Now that’s service!

Enter to win one of two Il Cocco di Mamma onesies – a 6 month “C’est la vie!” or an 18 month “Baci & Abbracci.” Send an email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with “ICDM C’est la vie!” or “ICDM Baci & Abbracci” in the subject header and tell us one other popular international saying available on these tees. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/17/07. Congratulations Micki & Shae!

A favourite of opinionated parents everywhere, Vincent Shoes has got your puddle jumper’s tootsies covered this spring. Their great selection of rainy day boots makes me wish for a downpour – and that’s saying something.

What’s better than the freedom to jump in puddles with the knowledge that you’ll not only be dry but you’ll look fashionable at the same time. Have a daughter? The new Blomma style is adorned with romantic flowers for those dainty-ish puddle hops. The H2O and classic Vincent models are my favourite for little boys. The decorative laces add a fun touch – not that you’ll need any added fun once your little one dons these great boots. Our product tester for these boots, a picky seven year old boy, says “They’re comfortable, they’re not dorky and my feet are warm and dry. They totally pass. Can I go now?” From a seven year old boy, it doesn’t get any better than that.

(See our Previous review of Vincent Shoes)

TOP fave online boutique Baby Dagny has done it again with their newest exclusive product line, super soft Timboo organic bamboo products.

Bamboo is abundant in nature and regrows quickly making it the ideal choice for organic production. It’s also 50% more absorbent than cotton and there are no pesticides or fertilizers used. (Many people are unaware of the plethora of chemicals in non-organic cotton, including carcinogenic formaldehyde.)

Keeping chemicals away from babies is a priority for many parents, but sometimes we compromise luxury in favour of natural. Not so with bamboo. This stuff is amazingly soft, and gets softer with every wash. Available in robes, bibs and washcloths (which you’ll want extra of for yourself – trust me), the Baby Dagny bamboo line is a great investment in your baby’s tender skin, in the environment and in sustainable agriculture.

What’s better? It’s on sale right now! Get 15% off until April 10/07.

Sign up for their newsletter and receive an instant $20 gift certificate toward your order.

Not enough? When you spend a minimum of $75 at Baby Dagny, receive your choice of some great free gifts!

Enough chit chat. Let’s get shopping!

That’s hot as in cool, not hott as in skanky and Bratz-like.

Par.entrepreneur Michelle Seeger is the North American distributor of the Dolca line of clothing & accessories at her site, Dolca USA.

Dolca began in 2001 when Spanish artist Dulce Quesada Magro became inspired to apply her artwork to children’s clothing. Her unique style is a blend of bright scenes built upon playful line drawings. The light and fun feeling of Dolca clothing is what we love best about it.

It’s always exciting to find new lines of clothing for girls that looks like, well, clothing for girls. You know, as opposed to clothing for prostitutes. Like this 100% cotton polka-dotted jacket with Spanish script translating to “I am happy.” Now that’s childhood.

In addition to the clothes for little boys & girls, check out the Dolca shoes & accessories. And if you fall in love, you can commission Dulce to create something original for your home.

Buy Dolca at their online store or at one of their many retailers.

Save 15% at Dolca USA with the code TOP15.
You’ll find Dolca in the TOP Shops too, where we feature permanent & exclusive discounts for TOP readers.

Win a girls polka-dotted jacket, shown at the top of this post, in your choice of size 2,4 or 6. To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Dolca in the subject line and tell us the name of the shoes that Dolca carries. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/6/07. Congratulations Tisa!

How many times has your mom told you to “Cover your head!”?

You know you should always listen to your mother.

Keeping your head cozy and warm is both easy and green with Cozy Hoods from SueHavens.com. These warm hoods are made from recycled fabrics by Brooklyn artist Sue Havens.

Choose from the pre-designed collection, select your own from a huge selection of colours for inside and out, or choose ‘surprise me’ and see what you end up with. Each hood is made with a selection of warm wools, soft acrylics and comfy cottons.

Cozy Hoods can be worn tucked in or left out and with the hood up or down. If you live in Canada or the northern US, these hoods are for you.

(If you live somewhere warm, don’t rub it in.)

We have two cozy hoods to give away to someone, and that someone might be you! Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with COZY HOODS in the subject line and tell us where Sue received her fine arts training. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/6/07. Congratulations KR & BW!

Every once in a while it’s nice to have an option other than soft leather shoes sock holder-on’ers for baby. For those special days, a little patent leather is a great alternative.

Like these great Trumpette baby mocs from TOP fave online store Il Cocco di Mamma. We think they look slightly European, and perfectly adorable.

In these mocs, babies don’t walk. They strut.

Il Cocco di Mamma is currently offering FREE SHIPPING in the US and Canada, and always offers free gift wrapping with every purchase. Now that’s service!

Win a pair of black mocs in size 12-18 mos. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with MOCS in the subject line and the correct answer to the question What’s another footwear item available at Il Cocco di Mamma? If you have a blog, include it with your entry so we can link to you if you’re the lucky winner. Contest closes a midnight MST on 4/2/07. Congratulations, Kris!

With all of the great leather soft-soled baby shoes on the market, you might think we haven’t got anything else we could possibly share with you, but you’d be wrong.

Cute Baby Shoes are unique in the saturated market of baby shoes for a few reasons. The padded soles set them apart from the rest – they protect baby’s delicate feet, add a layer of warmth (a huge plus for Canadian babies!), yet still offer all of the benefits of soft soles. They feature buttery soft leather and are lined with a layer of white cotton fabric to keep all dyes away from baby. In a world where many parents are avoiding toxins at all costs, this feature is much appreciated.

Cute Baby Shoes also feature black suede soles to keep the shoes looking newer, longer …no more dirty footprint outlines on the bottom of baby’s shoes (something I’ll admit I didn’t think of until last month when our son started walking – it’s more annoying than you’d think).

Order online or check out the many international retail locations.

Win a $25 gift certificate to Cute Baby Shoes ~ just email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with cutebabyshoes in the subject header and tell us what other non-shoe product is available at cutebabyshoes.com?
Contest closes 3/29/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Abby!

If it weren’t for humour, pregnancy & parenthood would be a complete tear-fest on a lot of days. What with all the sleepless nights, explosive poops and inconsolable crying (for mom and baby), I might have flipped the switch to certifiably insane without the constant laughter.

Friends and co-founders of Georgie Tees LeShan and Emily took humour into their own hands when they created their unique line of maternity tees for mom and onesies for baby.

All funny aside for a moment, these are some nice tees. Made of pre-shrunk 100% cotton, they’re as soft & comfy as they come. The onesies are available in sizes ranging from 3-24 months and the maternity tees are a roomy “one size fits most.”

Now, back to the funny. The funny is, after all, what makes Georgie Tees so unique in the huge to overflowing children’s clothing market. The infant tees are sure to make you laugh with sayings such as “I wasn’t born yesterday,” “I Scream” (with a pic of an ice cream cone) and “Bald is beautiful.” They also have some great sets for twins like “Good things come in pears” and “Can’t have one without the other” featuring cookies on one and milk on the other.

The maternity tees feature such witty slogans as “Does this shirt make me look fat?” “Bigger is Better” and “No longer childproof.” If you’re looking for a conversation starter or a little extra attention, just put on a Georgie Tee and head out of the house. Perfect strangers will laugh with you.

Georgie Tees plans to add a new maternity tee and onesie around Mother’s Day, so be sure to head back to their site around that time for new designs!

Save 10% at Georgie tees with the code “opinionated” in the comments section at checkout.
You’ll find Georgie Tees in the TOP Shops!

Want to win? Of course you do! We’ve got a Bigger is Better one size maternity tee and a Heavy Drinker infant onesie (6-12m) up for grabs. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Georgie (big) or Georgie (little) in the subject line and tell us what’s one design from Georgie tees that you love that hasn’t been mentioned in this review? Contest closes 3/26/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Yolanda and Julia!

When mom of two young children Jodi Crisp realized she had pushed her own dreams aside to care for her children, she began the soul-search for a creative business opportunity that she’d truly enjoy. She eventually came up with her own line of adorable children’s clothing and opened her store, Roslyn’s Closet.

Jodi hand-illustrates many of the items at Roslyn’s Closet, like this adorable brand new onesie. Does it get any cuter?

She also creates adorable circular text and monogram designs. I’m loving this big brother shirt ~ what a great way to announce an upcoming arrival to the family!

Roslyn’s Closet apparel is all 100% cotton, washes up wonderfully and has no itchy scratch tags. All of Jodi’s fun and timeless designs are available on onesies and t-shirts for only $14, and on baby hats for only $6. At those prices, I suggest buying in multiples. It never hurts to stock up on baby gifts!

Save 10% at Roslyn’s Closet with the code M2005.
You’ll find Roslyn’s Closet in the TOP Shops, where we feature permanent discounts exclusively for TOP readers.

Enter to win a ‘Cowboy’ T-shirt (size 18 mos) by emailing theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Roslyn’s Closet in the subject header and tell us What’s your fave design from Roslyn’s Closet? Contest closes March 23/07 at midnight MST.

The infant onesies & toddler T’s from Tomat Kids are like a flashback to the seventies. In a good way.

Par.entrepreneur and Tomat designer Efi Latief creates uber cool graphics reminiscent of the days before everything for the under five set was plastered in licensed characters. Ahhh, those were the days. If you’re not a cutesy frou frou type of parent, you’re sure to love Let’s Rock & Roll, Sugar High and my personal fave, Under The Influence.

Instill a sense of humour and a sense of style in your kids with Tomat tees.

Save 10% at Tomat Kids with the code TOP2007.
You’ll find Tomat Kids in the TOP Shops, where we feature permanent and exclusive discounts for TOP readers.

In the mood to win? We have a teal “almost famous” toddler tee in size 4T and it might be yours. Email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Tomat in the subject line and the correct answer to the question Who is the inspiration for Tomat Kids designs? Contest closes at midnight on 3/22/07. Congratulations Laurie!

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(*not the literal translation)

Par.entrepreneur Suzy Helme is the creator of all of the unique designs at Focoloco. I say unique as in funky & whimsical. These are some cool shirts, quite unlike what you’ll find anywhere else. They’re kind of crazy in their celebration of the slightly naughty nature of children.

Two of my favourites are Nobody {hearts} Oatmeal and Pastels Make Me Puke. And check out their new ‘colour your own‘ shirts! Recycle. It’s RAD! is simply awesome.

Focoloco is a 100% sweatshop-free company and they use organically grown cotton for over 50% of their products. Opinionated Parents love that.

While you’re clicking, check out Suzy’s blog, too!

Save 15% at Focoloco with the code JOY.
You’ll find Focoloco in the TOP Shops!

You just might win a Focoloco shirt for your slightly naughty child. (Perfect children need not apply.) Email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Focoloco and either girl (6-12m) or boy (12-18m) in the subject line and tell us what’s your absolute fave of all the cool Focoloco designs?. Contest closes 3/19/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Rene and Kirstyn!

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A new parent has enough anxiety without worrying about clothing.

When her newborn daughter was lost in bulky clothing with scratchy tags and other hassles, Leigh Rubio was inspired. She hooked up with clothing designer Lyn Huffman and the
New line for babies was born.

Designed to fit babies from birth to approximately 3 months, these tiny layette items are just perfect for a precious new baby. There will be no swimming in necklines and no searching for baby amongst the folds. They thought of everything a new parent wants ~ the perfect narrow newborn fit, no tags, soft seams, luxurious cotton, neckline snaps, fold-over cuffs to prevent scratches and lowrise pants for those tender belly buttons. And one of those things you never think of until you’re trying to dress a baby on 24.5 minutes of sleep – everything matches. The items are available in basic white, blue, pink and green (all of which are beautifully muted ~ no easter eggs here) and no matter what you pull out of the drawer, your new baby will look perfectly put together. (Of course, that didn’t help me, but nobody was looking at me anyway!)

Available exclusively online from the New For Baby website, you can purchase items separately, or save by purchasing gift sets. There’s one for every budget, from $10 – $185. Every detail is perfect – right down to the packaging. They ship internationally (free shipping for orders over $100) so your new baby can be dressed in the perfect New layette no matter where you live.

Get 10% off your order (unlimited use) with the code TOP.
You’ll find New For Baby in the TOP Shops where we feature permanent discounts for our fab readers from lots of great TOP recommended stores!

You can win the softest hoodie ever from New For Baby.

Simply email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with NEW in the subject line and the answer to the question “What’s the name of Leigh’s youngest child – the original inspiration for New?” Hint: Hit the ‘about’ page.
Get your answers in by midnight MST on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. Congratulations, Maria!

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Our son was swaddled to sleep for longer than many babies. As a sling worn baby, he was comforted by closeness, but sometimes it was necessary to put him down. For bedtime, there are some wonderful blankets on the market. For daytime, however, you’ve got to have a little style.

The mom-designed Sweetroll Swaddler from Suzy Creamcheese is the answer. In contrast to bulky blankets, the Sweetroll Swaddler makes travel easy. No more frustration of having to unwrap your baby (and wake him up) to place him in the carseat or stroller ~ the open legs allow you to easily move your baby from place to place. They’re easy to use, and they look great!

Save 10% and get free shipping –
Just mention The Opinionated Parent in the message section.
You’ll find Suzy Creamcheese in the TOP Shops!

We have a lovely unisex Sweetroll Swaddler in sage (size small) for one lucky TOP reader. Just email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Swaddler in the subject line and the correct answer to the question What is Patty Golin’s business strategy? Contest closes at midnight MST on Thursday, March 15, 2007. Congratulations, James!

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I spend many hours every day crawling around after a baby. I didn’t realize how hard it was until I tried it. Not only is it rather exhausting (now I need two naps a day, too!) but it’s extremely hard on the knees.

Mom of two Marina Westerdahl had the same problem but instead of complaining, she did something about it. After considering covering her entire house with foam padding, she instead pulled out her sewing machine and the first pair of Gissy Bella Comfy Crawlers was born.

These pants are pure genius. They’re made of machine washable, soft, comfortable fabrics ~ a must for children’s clothing. They have an adjustable waist that keeps them on my tall, slim little crawler and just the right amount of padding. We’ve actually tried another type of padded pants and the padding was so thick and uncomfortable that he pulled his pants right off, defeating the purpose of trying to protect his knees. Comfy Crawlers have a light layer of padding covering the knees and shins, as well as the back pockets – thick enough to cushion the joint but not so thick that children even notice it.

They’re available in 3 sizes spanning 6-24 months so your child can be protected through the entire crawling stage and well into walking and landing on their knees phase.

Now, if only Marina would make these in mommy sizes…

Win a pair of 18-24 mos. Comfy Crawlers to protect those little knees you love so much. Email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[cot]com with Comfy Crawlers in the subject line and the answer to the question What little person inspired Marina’s design of Comfy Crawlers? Contest closes Thursday, March 15, 2007. Congratulations, Jaime!

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There’s enough violence in the world without advertising it on our kids clothing. As cute as camo can be, I much prefer the peace themed tees from 2dtees.

Owner Jean Malanaphy is all about making designs that reflect the best in human potential. What better than peace? Her designs include ‘pass it on’ (seen at left), ‘catch it’ (pictured below) and five more that are equally thoughtful and engaging.

They’re good tees for good people. Give peace a chance.

Win a 2d tee for your peaceful little person. We have a size 4 girl tee and a size 6 boy tee to give away (fitting on the small side). Email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with either 2d girl or 2d boy in the subject header and name one other design from 2d tees. Contest closes @ midnight MST on Tuesday, March 13, 2007. Congratulations to Bethiclaus and Michelle.

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Chloe In Style is a girly store for girly girls. And I mean that in the best possible way. From stationery to baby to mom to even the walls, Chloe In Style has got you covered.

Skipping Hippos ponchos are a great example of some of the adorable baby and child items available at Chloe in Style. Ponchos are one trend that needs to stay. I wore one in the eighties (not as nice as these, unfortunately) and it was my favourite article of clothing for a long time. Every little girl needs a poncho. They leave the arms free and have a magical “twirlability” to them that adds to the delight of childhood. (Need an additional bonus? No wrestling wiggly arms into a coat!)

$5 from each sale of this Pink Mom tee (pictured at right) is donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. I love it.

Prices shown on the site are in Canadian dollars, but out of consideration for those of you who reside south of the border, as soon as you add an item to your shopping cart you will see both a Canadian and an American total. And the shipping rates and times are the same for both countries. It’s not often you hear that!

Enter the code parent10 for 10% off your orders at Chloe In Style for the next 10 days.

Win a Nancy Poncho (pictured above) in a size 4T. Simply email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with PONCHO in the subject heading and then answer to the question “What is the Chloe in Style tagline?” (Hint – check the “about us” page.) Contest closes Tuesday, March 13, 2007.

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Any parent of a toddler knows a few things for sure…

*Toddlers are very stubborn and want to do everything themselves.
*Toddlers cannot do everything themselves.

Now, though, there’s one more thing they can do.

Myself Belts are the answer for little ones who love to get themselves dressed. You’ll love them in the morning, and you’ll love them even more for those potty training days when before you’d have been doing up a belt twenty times to a chorus of “Iwannadoooooiiiiiitttttt!”

What a great gift these belts would make to celebrate the first potty success ~ a gift for your child and a gift for you rolled into one.

The innovative design developed, of course, by moms, promotes independence and boosts self-esteem by allowing children to easily fasten and unfasten their belt on their own. They’re simple to use (see the instructions) and there’s a design for every outfit ~ for girls and for boys.

Need more evidence that these two moms are brilliant? They’ve come out with Myself Belts in adult sizes to increase the independence of men and women with physical or cognitive impairments.

TOP loves everything about Myself Belts. And you will too.

Get 10% off your Myself Belts order with the code TOP.
You can find Myself Belts on our TOP Shops page!

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…the best idea for a blanket I’ve ever seen! It’s The Slanket.

A blanket with sleeves. Who’da thunk it?

Gary, that’s who. When he was compelled to tear a hole in his sleeping bag on a chilly night in Maine, the idea for this very cool blanket was conceived. He commissioned his mom to make one for him the following Christmas and The Slanket was born!

The Slanket is available in five colours and is made of very thick, cozy fleece that you won’t be able to help but curl up under.

The greatest thing about The Slanket for parents? You can be completely covered up and still hold your squirmy children, pass a snack, wipe a nose (not on your slanket, please) or many of the other tasks you can never seem to leave behind once you become a parent.

Don’t throw your blanket off ~ get The Slanket! This is one gift that is not going to be returned or re-gifted. Ever. In fact, I recommend that you get one for each member of your family or you may never get to use yours. I say this from experience.

Two very lucky readers are going to win a Slanket of their very own! Email us at theopinionatedparent [at] gmail [dot] com with THE SLANKET in the subject heading and the answer to the question “Which Slanket colour is your favourite?” Get your answers in by midnight MST on Friday, March 2, 2007.

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