KidStyleFile

The Green Guide is brought to you on the first Monday of each month by expert in the field Raquel, from Growing Up Green (affectionately dubbed ‘GUG’), the Australian authority on modern eco options for kids.

Read previous The Green Guide posts here.

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1 – Parents will be wishing for cold days just so they can dress bub’s chubby mitts in these super adorable mittens. Made from bamboo fleece with extra long cuffs to keep them on, MimiTENS toasty accessories are a must have for animating winter wear! Learn more

2 - A playful statement in eco design, Twirls and Twigs clothes mix recycled designer remnants with eco fabrics to create pieces with a whole lot of twirl! And the best person to put those flouncy skirts to the twirl test is your little miss, who’ll no doubt be delighted to pirouette in one of their pretty dresses! Read more

3 – I’m not trying to hurry summer away, really, but aren’t these wellies the coolest? And you don’t need wet weather to warrant buying them; I could have done with these today when the children decided to make mud pies in the garden, their sandals did not fare well!  Note to self, need a pair of CaLavi’s natural rubber boots. Read more

4 – Another month, another cool lunch box! And this baby is ALL stainless steel, so it will last – not just a year or two – but all the way through school (r, not accounting for every school parents thorn: lost property!). You won’t need baggies either, its slick interior houses built-in compartments and kids can even customise the exterior with some colourful magnets! Learn more

5 - Tightology’s leggings are all a funky flutter in butterflies, birds and the odd cupcake or three: a no fail way to take your daughter’s outfit from so so to WOW in seconds! The tights are made from organic cotton and if you fancy some eco cool for yourself, you’re in luck; Tightology also make women’s leggings. Read more

6 – Whenever I look at these toys I conjure up meringues, but these handmade sweets will enrich playtimes, not rot teeth! The vintage look toys are stunning and flash free, their appeal lying in the classic push design, a childhood favourite. Simple, safe, and finally available in Australia! Find out where

7 – You’ve packed a super healthy sandwich in his chemical free lunch box. What’s missing? A lovely organic napkin for little master to clean up with! He’ll have fun choosing which to take: maybe a lion today, and monkey tomorrow? And there’s even a label to write his name on. Learn about Fabkins

8 – Like our real friends, your kid’s best doll should be a one of a kind that’ll stay with her as she grows up. The Earth Friends are handcrafted heirloom pieces fashioned from organic and recycled fabrics that are as smart as they’re cute. Each comes carrying a backpack with seeds, ready to introduce your little guy to our wonderful natural world. Discover The Earth Friends

9 - I know a sneaky way to get the kids to clean up your household junk, and they won’t even mind, in fact they’ll be delighted to pick up the rubbish! Australian company Makedo’s craft kit contains 68 pieces children can use to transform those cereal boxes etc., into recycled toys/ Now, when they’re bored, you really can tell them to Makedo! Read more

10 – I’m having a huge love affair with linen at the moment, so when I spied these unique coated linen lunch boxes, trimmed in a lash of colour and stamped with funky graphics .. well, I’m completely smitten! These lunch boxes don’t just look cool, their insulated interiors keep things fresh, and of course there’s no BPAs or other nasties. Check them out

Discover more green finds at Growing Up Green the Australian authority on modern eco options for kids.

Please check individual stores for postage and shipping information.

Today’s post written by Bec

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Are you thinking of joining the MCN (Modern Cloth Nappy) revolution, or adding to your current collection?  Then you’ll love these handmade, eco-friendly and super funky nappy goodies available from a bevvy of fine independent designer-makers over at madeit – madeit.com.au.

You can read more madeit.com.au Five Fabulous Finds posts here.

		Terry Nappy Cover Seller - BohemianBabes Price – $10.50 More info/Buy It
		Lushies Cloth Nappy Seller - nappylady Price – $18.00 More info/Buy It
		Summer Baby Bloomers Seller - joeyjellybean Price – $15.00 More info/Buy It
		Nappy Wallet Fairytale Seller - ZeeBee Price – $18.00 More info/Buy It
		‘All in Two’ Minky Nappy Cover in Choc Blue Bubbles print Seller - MJs Mummy Price – $29.99 More info/Buy It

All prices quoted are AUD$. Please contact individual sellers for postage and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Leah

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In Denmark it is not unsual for a person to go through life without ever posessing a car. Bicycles are the favored mode of transport across much of the country, and most locations are bike friendly. As a result, the bicycles that are designed in this country are quite exceptional and designed to functionally optimally with the users lifestyle. One example which is perfect for families is the new Velorbis Mobii Trike Bicycle.

With a stackhat on my head (check out Nutcase for ultra coolness), the kids in the carrier with the built-in seat belts on – click clack! – I can just imagine myself pedaling this handcrafted Trike Bicycle  around my hometown.

At USD$3,895.00 (possibly what I spend on petrol biannually), this is not a bike for the casual cyclist, but a possiblity for a family wanting to adopt a seriously green alternative. The Velorbis Mobii Trike Bicycle is distributed in Australia by Morgans Bicycles, Alexandria, NSW. Phone (02) 9519 4666 for more details.

The Green Guide is brought to you on the first Monday of each month by expert in the field Raquel, from Growing Up Green (affectionately dubbed ‘GUG’), the Australian authority on modern eco options for kids.

Read previous The Green Guide posts here.

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1 - I’m pretty sure when NY preschool teacher Miss Brittany coined Fun Dough she wasn’t referring to the irksome task of cleaning up after your child’s creatively ‘messy’  session. But let’s not fuss, after all the sorbet coloured dough is all natural and all organic, which means little tikes tempted to taste it won’t be ingesting anything toxic, though it’ll be rather salty so eating large doses is definitely discouraged!  Read more

2 - Allergies aren’t great fun, especially when they manifest themselves in an endless trail of mucous. One could clear a small forest trying to keep tiny noses clean and dry, which is where Snottykins come in. Made in the US, these organic cotton hankies have bold colours and funky graphics, plus they come in multi-packs so you’ll be adequately armed for boogie busting when the sniffles hit. Read more

3 - Dressing cots up in natural fibres often means a choice of beige and off-white, or to be more precise: beige and beige. Enter Anton’s Lane who has given a much needed lesson in sheet chic. Their collection of pristine white canvasses are animated with colourful graphics, and while they’ve lost the beige they’ve maintained the crunch: these granola designs are created with 100% earth friendly organic cottons. Read more

4 - Get the kids off to a rocking start at school with some super reusable fabric stickers from Aus designers Love Mae. Fab for a little idle diversion during math, kids can use them to jazz up their lunch boxes and laptops, pulling them off and rearranging them as often as they fancy. Mini Mae stickers are made to last and last and will hold strong even if your child’s attention span doesn’t. Read more

5 - Laughing your diaper off is so not recommended in my house, though I’m perfectly cool about a little text message humour! These organic onesies from Text Message Baby deliver it on an eye popping palette: by the time the kids have mobiles – or their future equivalent – they’ll be SMS savvy!

6 - A lot of baby paraphernalia might be surplus to needs, but a fabulous baby wrap is priceless, and always organic! EazzWraps have created a vibrantly chic range of blankets to jolt us out of the baby pink and blues. Wrapping bubs up in warm and breathable fibres, their snazzy designs are generously sized with taggie edging: a nice tactile detail for babies and great for attaching toys to. Read more

7 - What do you get when you cross reconditioned cashmere with baby shoes? In the case of Christa Davis’ Lost and Found collection – bootiful! Corny I know, but you’ve gotta admit these toe snugglers are incredibly sweet and super soft, ie the ideal place for chubby toes to take cover. Read more

8 - They may not be as snuggable and warm as the kids themselves, but I reckon these funky plushies run a pretty close second. Ecoleeko’s bunch of quirky friends have faces to fall in love with and are lovingly handmade in organic yarns and fabrics filled with non toxic kapok fibres. Read more

9 - This top will be a hit with your resident cookie monster, after all who doesn’t love a furry blue fella with a weakness for baked sweets? Part of a range of recycled clothes, the Sesame Street collection from Morfs is super groovy attire kids will dig and the oldies can reminisce over. Read more

10 - This month’s top pick goes to Tiny Tastebuds, one Melbourne mum’s answer to healthy storage containers for DIY baby cuisine. Her clever range of hand blown glass food jars come in sets of six with stainless steel lids and magnetic labels to help Master Chef’s keep track of their culinary efforts. Find out more about Tiny Tastebuds here.

Discover more green finds at Growing Up Green the Australian authority on modern eco options for kids.

Please check individual stores for postage and shipping information.

Today’s post written by Leah

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One of my all time favourite childhood telly programs is Captain Planet a cartoon about a group of ‘Planeteers’ who combine their powers to create Captain Planet, and fight to protect Earth and solve environmental problems. (Do you remember it too, or am I showing my age?)

Sprig Toys – www.sprigtoys.com – really reminds me of Captain Planet. Formed in 2007 by a group of like-minded industry veterans, Sprig Toys are making a conscious effort to change the way children interact with toys. All Sprig toys are battery-free, eco-friendly, paint-free and certain to get your child moving and playing.

What interests me the most, other than their fun design, is the material that the toys are made from: Sprigwood. Sprigwood is a durable, child safe, bio-composite material made from recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. To reduce their carbon footprint, Sprig Toys manufacture in their retail bases, the US and Europe. What’s more, each toy is kid powered through kinetic (push and pump) energy. That means that the more energy a child expends playing with the toy, the more they are rewarded with lights and sounds.

Sprig Toys received three 2009 Toy of the Year (TOTY) nominations from the Toy Industry Association, and is set for a big future.

Sprig Toys are currently not available to purchase within Australia. You can purchase from the overseas online retailers listed here.

Please check individual retailers for postage and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Raquel

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A new decade, a new year, a new month and ten of the hottest new eco and kid-friendly finds for you. Happy New Year!

The Green Guide is brought to you on the first Monday of each month by expert in the field Raquel, from Growing Up Green (affectionately dubbed ‘GUG’), the Australian authority on modern eco options for kids.

Read previous The Green Guide posts here.

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1. There’s not a moment of dull is this colour splashed collection from Skipping Girl designer and local girl Hayley Allen. Made in collaboration with Peruvian knitters you’ll find adorable softies, funky kids’ blankets and big doses of light and love in TIKA’s fair trade range. Read more

2. Scratching my lamp loving itch with some cool shades that don’t compromise the earth or décor sensibilities is fab local company Pookie. There’s no shortage of kiddy cool styles to choose from and none of the handmade shades are ickily cute or blemished with ‘licensed characters’, just the way style savvy parents like it. Read more

3. How neat would it be if you could serve up your little roo a deliciously healthy meal on an equally healthy plate that just happens to be called – are you ready for it – Rooware? Yep, the US mum behind this plant based dinnerware collection was definitely channeling our kids when she coined her design, but there’s much more to Rooware than an iconic name. Read more

4. Now I know there’s a terrific range of natural crayons and pencils around, but frustratingly my kids always come looking for markers. Which got me thinking: eco friendly marker anyone? And just like that, up popped Clementine Art to stunningly demonstrate that as yummy as strawberries are, their function and appeal is not limited to our tastebuds. Read more

5. Your little boy or girl has plenty of time to develop bad eating habits during their teenage years, until then you can make sure that nothing remotely toxic goes into their mouths with Indian Feather’s very sweet wooden rattles and teethers. Sure, there’s no nutritional value but you’ll gain what every parent craves: peace of mind, and they’ll gain a lovely sensory experience from their gorgeously crafted toy. Read more

6. I don’t know who came up with the name – Yoomi?? – but you’ve got to dig a bottle that heats itself up as much as a guy who knows his way around a vacuum. A little sci-fi – I’m half expecting a visit from a Borg! – forget microwaves or standing bottles in hot water, a simple click of the bottle’s orange button delivers 32 degree heated milk to baby’s lips in a swift 30 seconds. Read more

7. My love of shoes isn’t remotely matched by the number I own, which in part has a whole lot to do with my kids. Selfless no more, a good wad of my clothing budget goes straight to my successors, two of whom I know would love these bubbly bright shoes from Livie and Luca. As a mum I’m loving their earth friendly profile and the fact that 10% of online sales go to charitable causes. Read more

8. If running around after the kids is leaving you a little tired, the loud graphics of Dutch kids’ label Sprout Kingdom will certainly jolt you back into your day. Made from organic cotton they deliver a good ol’ fun fashion slap that’ll leave you with a big smile, ‘cause life shouldn’t be too serious and neither should kids clothing. Read more

9. It was a case of father designs best when it came to one little boy’s ultimate race track. Not content with shop options, one super committed dad threw together his and his son’s love of racing with some innovation and lots of sweat and tears before finally emerging from the tool shed victorious. The striking Stradablox Classic Magnetic Racetrack has some very clever design function behind its pretty surface. Read more

10. I’m awarding top points to Kids Konserve this month quite simply because it combines two of my favourite attributes: utter functionality with wonderful design. It works just as well in mum’s nappy bag for play and park dates as it does for the kid’s school lunches. If you haven’t yet met, it’s time you acquainted yourself with this ever-handy eco friendly lunch kit. Read more

Please check individual stores for postage and shipping information.

Discover more green finds at Growing Up Green the Australian authority on modern eco options for kids.