Kid's Style

 I love diaper covers.  You know - the pretty white ruffle-butt thingys that are often monogrammed?  Yes.  LOVE.  But since I gave birth...

If my mom had said this to me ten years ago, or, I’m embarrassed to admit, maybe even 5, I totally would have rolled my eyes. But life since having children has flown by at an alarmingly fast (and heart wrenching) clip. . . nd now I have purchased (gasp!) a backpack (!). For my little son who is quickly growing into a big boy and is going off to his first day (sob) of early learner school next Tuesday. . . Given the significance I have attached to said knapsack, naturally I wanted it to be the best, so I trolled the Internets for the best of the best. Here are my picks for the back-to-school season’s top-five preschooler backpacks.

If this is your first winter with a toddler, you will undoubtedly scoff not only at the timing of this post, but at the cost of the item I am recommending that you purchase now, in the heat of July, or in the next 6-8 weeks, before they sell out. The Patagonia Baby Down Sweater ($80) is hands-down the single best winter jacket for kids. Period. It is warm, well-made, light, durable, uber-washable, and. . . drum roll, please. . . your child will actually wear it. Without protest.

Longtime readers of this blog will know I'm a huge, HUGE fan of Chinny Chin Chin (aka Esther Croak).  I drooled over her...

It’s a sad fact.  From the moment the cord is cut, your child is on a steady march toward independence, and it’s your job...

  For those of you so inclined (and much, much more talented than I am), I found a fantastic DIY option for a cool...

We don't do cutesy in this family.  We don't do clothing with puppies, kitties, bunnies, or even happy little hammers with slogans like,...

Her line is a little big boho, a little bit rocker, but SO chic and clean. It's so good, in fact, that it's almost wasted on the kids! Almost. What I find so refreshing - besides the use of re-purposed fabric - is the fact that she manages to infuse a children's line with chic, never veering into the realm of cutesy, fussy or trying to hard. She just offers great design, great lines, and great fabric. It's a recipe so deceptively simple that you almost miss the genius behind it. And the fact that this line is also so ridiculously affordable (prices range from $6 - $44) is simply the icing on the cake.

Splashers rain boots are made in Canada (Yay! Not China!), have a moisture wicking inner lining, are completely puddle (or ocean) proof and sturdy as hell. With the exception of the camo print, their other designs are very, very cool.

When you see your precious child in this retro-inspired organic cotton pajama sleeper from HappyGreenBaby.com, you'll immediately flash back to those Saturday morning cartoon marathons spent slurping down Lucky Charms on rust-colored shag carpet, only without all the pesticides and chemicals we all rolled around in and ate.