KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Kat

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I have to admit something: I am not a fan of theme-dressing. Sparkly christmas earrings give me hives; licenced kidswear causes nausea.

So, thinking about ‘Easter Fashion’ I nearly choked on my Creme egg (theme-chocolates I can handle).

Thankfully, I’ve realised you can be cheerfully festive and dressed to impress, without the need for fluffy bunny ears…(though if you can’t resist, try the hip version: Rock Your Baby’s Rabbit knit hat, available at Baby’s Got Style for $29.95. Adorable!)

Nanny Pickle’s Bad Bunny Collection is so cute and cheeky it wins my vote for rabbit-themed clobber. Clobber, though, is a bit harsh, because this collection is made from supersoft bamboo and organic fabrics that are just luscious to touch, and come complete with important life lessons such as “Eat your Crusts” and “Don’t Run With Scissors”. Hehe! You can find the Bad Bunny at La Toriana from $19.95.

Cradlerock have a handy Easter section which includes these funky rabbit tees and hoody by Tiny Mammoth (designed by Beci Orphin of Princess Tina fame). How cool is this unique take on a gorgeous vintage print?!

Quinn Macool’s take on bunny prints is, erm, cool! From the cute retro “I Believe” (aaw!) to the “How To Draw A Bunny” tee, perfect for little artistes, you can personalise everything to your taste and nab a nifty new tee for only $22!

But if the only bunnies you want to see this Easter are of the chocolate variety, you could instead have fun putting together a gorgeous new outfit to celebrate:

Baby: Keep little ones warm and snug with a funky romper from Onesies – you’d be hard pressed to go past the simple and chic prints from Danish label Nanoou ($42, 0-12 months), teamed with this versatile, soft velour hat by Gertie & Me ($9.95) and gorgeous matching booties ($9.95; both available at The Hip Infant) for maximum aw-factor. You could also add a sweet little cardi like this one from Purebaby ($32.47 on sale from Just Ripe) for extra warmth and cuteness!

Little Boys: If Nanna’s going to be at Easter lunch, it might be wise to leave your rock’n'roll tees at home, and go for a timeless piece like this Wonderboy Stripe tee ($39.95, 6m-7Y, from Itty Bitty Yuppy). Work it with some classic denim (Munster Stovey 2 Jeans, $80, sizes 2-10; from Tiny People) and retro cool trainers – Adidas Country Stripe, $59.95, sizes US4-10; from Kido Store). If it’s cool, skip the hoody and go for a smart jacket like the Steve Mac coat from Freshbaked (on sale for $29.95 at BabysGotStyle). Watch out, ladies!

Little Girls: We all know how spoilt for choice little girls are now days when it comes to fashion – it’s hard to narrow down a party frock but this week my pick is Polka’s Black Birdy Frou Dress ($99, sizes 3-7; from BabysGotStyle). Accessorise with a slouchy knitted hat (Toshi, $18.95) and ribbed tights for a nice play on texture (Marquise knit tights, $9.95, both also from BabysGotStyle) - or try printed legwarmers scrunched at the ankle if you’re really cool (Huggalugs, $14.50 on sale from My Baby Rocks). Shoes? Yunginz Classeez ($59.95) are pretty enough for every occassion!

Please check individual stores for postage and delivery details. Always check the KSF All Current Deals page to see if you are eligible for any discount.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Somewhat aloof, mythical, and mesmerising, the rabbit form has remained virtually unchanged since its first apprearance on the planet. The rabbit is a great design, and a master of reproduction, and therefore, along with the chick and egg, an iconic symbol of Easter abundance and – plus they’re super cute!!

I unashamedly admit I am a “rabbit person” – I had house rabbit for decades – and I am significantly responsible for the ongoing success of Cadbury.

Easter blends bunnies and chocolate, and I couldn’t be happier!

If you’re on the hunt for the most bunderful gift for your own little rabbit this Easter, be sure to hop to it, and check out the finds below. You can buy all the below online, while you’re munching on a nice quiet pre-Easter egg

A. Sarah Jane Studios Button Badges, Set of 2 at Monkeytail & Wellington – $6.50 $5.20

B. Playsam Rocking Rabbit at Little Living – $429.00 $295.00

C. Peter Rabbit Pullalong Toy at La Toriana – $29.95

D. La Marelle Colouring Book from Rainbow Puppen – $19.95

E. Ikaboo Mini-Glow Night Light from 5 Little Monkeys – $39.95 $34.95

F. Kathe Kruse Luckies Mini Rabbit at The Hip Infant – $15.95

G. Dumpling Dynasty DIY Bunny Kit at Lark Made – $29.95

H. Stickmeon Sir Rabbit Wall Sticker at Stickmeon – $66.00

I. Schleich Black and White Rabbit at Little Possums Toys – $4.75

J. Toys Pure Rabbit Puzzle at The Hip Infant – $13.95

Please check individual stores for postage and delivery information.

Looking for a practical, low maintenance, comfortable and stylish highchair for your child? Don’t go past Nerida’s special feature on six of the best options on the market. Enjoy!

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Stokke Tripp Trapp

My personal choice, and what we have at home, the Stokke Tripp Trapp looks Nordic super-cool and comes in a range of fantastic colours.

It doesn’t come with a tray which is a little tough at first, but not a problem by nine months or so, as you just pull it into any regular table.

Best of all, the chair can be easily wiped down and there are very few places for dried rice cereal to hide.

Although it seemed expensive for a high chair at the time, the chair grows with the child so that eventually it can be used for a chair for an adult (I heard a rumour that all staff at the Stokke headquarters use them at their desks). The chairs are also ergonomic so encourage good posture.

Stokke Tripp Trapp highchairs are available from Minimee.

FunPod

The FunPod has just recently arrived in Australia and is quite a clever piece of furniture. Like the Tripp Trapp, it is chair that grows with the child and can be used as a chair from six months to around 5 years of age.

It includes a tray that can be removed so that a child can sit directly at the dinner table and join in family dinners. By removing the chair the FunPod becomes a stool for children to stand on so that they are at workbench height.

I know my daughter loves helping me in the kitchen and this would be a perfect, safe way for her to see what I am doing while cooking.

The FunPod ticks all my boxes in terms of being easy to clean, practical, comfortable and stylish and is available at Metro Mum.

Nest

The Nest highchair is a very cool piece of furniture that has already achieved iconic status for its smooth edges and modern design.

The chair can be converted from high chair for a 6 month old to a low chair for a 6 year old. Its tulip design has ensured that it is one of the most stable highchairs on the market – perfect if you have a very active toddler who tries to grab everything in sight while waiting for their meal. The chair is easy to clean, practical, comfortable and incredibly stylish. Note that the tray is on the small side.

Nest is available in four colours, white, black, bubblegum pink and retro orange at Urban Baby.

Bloom Fresco

What first struck me about the Bloom Fresco highchair is the incredible range of colours it comes in, ranging from white to bright shades of purple and orange.

The chair can be used from newborn, reclined back like a bassinet, to two years, as a playseat.

In between these ages, it is a very practical highchair that can be height adjusted easily (pneumatic assist!)

The Bloom is easy to clean, practical, comfortable and great to look at. It is available from Kido Store.

HandySitt

The Handysitt is a clever Danish designed travel seat that is easy to clean (tick!), comfortable (tick!), practical (tick!) and great to look at (tick!).

It can be used from 7 months to 4 years and straps on to most chairs, making a comfortable highchair and then packs away flat to take anywhere, or used as space saving highchair in the home.

The HandySitt is available online at The Infant Boutique.

Kaboost

Kaboost is a rather clever contraption that boosts chairs so that a child aged from 20 months to 6 years can sit at the same height as the dinner table without a special seat.

Kaboost sits at the base of the chair and is easy transportable so that it can be used at home or when out and about.

The Kaboost is very easy to clean, practical and a good solution for when kids are a little older but are still a little to sit on a normal seat at the dinner table.

The Kaboost is available from Belly2Baby.

1. Stokke Tripp Trapp $349.95 $323.70 from Minimee
2. FunPod Highchair 3 -in-1 $379.00 from Metro Mum
3. Nest Highchair $695.00 $545.00 from Urban Baby
4. Bloom Fresco $749.00 from Kido Store
5. HandySitt $149.95 $134.96 from The Infant Boutique
6. Kaboost $59.95 from Belly 2 Baby

Please check individual stores for shipping costs and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Angela

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There is such a wealth of design talent in this country, and the baby and kids contingent is a shining example. My favourite kids clothing designers include baobab, Chalk’n'Cheese, Edenstar, mill&mia, Oobi, Paper Wings, Eeni Meeni Miini Moh and Mini Metalicus, all Australian talents, who bring a fresh uniqueness and dynamic spark to kids wear, and who transcend fashion by following their own paths, and ensuring a timelessness to their work.

This year Polka Kids burst onto the scene, and their exuberant originality, and outstanding quality totally bowled me over: it was love at first sight! Polka win my ‘Best New Australian Kidswear Designer’ of 2008 award.

Marika, former graphic designer, and design ingenue behind Polka, and her business partner Jo, deliver a playful and fun aesthetic that fuses geometric and nature themed prints and bold stripes with a deep and rich colour palette, and quirky architectural ruffles and pleats. The result evokes a Scandinavian feel, while at the same time being like nothing else you’ve ever seen.

Not one’s to let style overwhelm substance, Marika and Jo have ensured that all Polka designs are exceptionally practical: all pieces co-ordinate together, which means you can mix and match with ease to create stunning new combinations, and the cotton composition, combined with a splash of elastane, makes these pieces super comfy for active little people.

Polka’s current collection is a girls only affair, but mums of boys can rejoice, as Polka have a great range of boyswear coming Autumn/Winter 2009. Watch this space!

Kido Store currently have a special offer (ending 5:30pm, 24 December 2008) on clothing, including Polka: buy two pieces and get the third piece free. Click on over for the details.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Well it’s only 5 days to the Big Day! Santa has had his suit dry-cleaned, and the reindeer are well fed and rested in preparation for their whirlwind world trip.

One place I know The Big Guy will have stocked up at for clothing, shoes, toys, books, and accessories for good little girls and boys with the finest taste in designed products is Kido Store – www.kidostore.com.

Kido have their finger on the pulse of everything that’s ultra-cool for kids, and they’re having a fabbo Xmas Sale on selected products right now. Take this opportunity to scoop up some Christmas finery, and state-of-the-art toys while they’re hot! (Because Kido ship via Express Post you can still squeak in an order before Christmas.)

Head on over pronto for the lowdown on this once-a-year sale, and don’t dilly dally now: this sale ends 5:30pm 24 December 2008, while stocks last.

Kido Store charge $7.50* flat rate postage, Australia-wide, and orders are shipped via Express Post or courier. Please visit the Kido Store Policies page for full information.