Kid’s Bargain Style

Since we are now adopting domestically I am in need of baby items. We adopted our first child when he was two years old and granted we needed plenty of “baby” items because he was very delayed. He was still in diapers, had just learned to walk, did not have any language skills, and was still not chewing so all of his food was baby food or formula. We got all the essential baby/toddler products like bottles, sippy cups, a crib and bedding, a changing table, toys and toy storage, diaper bag, potty chair, car seat, stroller, etc.

What we are missing? The infant products and I’m craving products from stores like Land of Nod because of the quality and the cute factor. No, this is not some random…I found this site and thought I would promote them…I LOVE this store and have since my friend Carrie had the catalogs in her living room about four years ago. I used to browse while I was babysitting her newborn and dreaming of mine.

So, I went to their site this evening and created my very own registry (which you can hide until you want to show others) and made one for fun. I’m not showing anyone until we are matched with a birth mother.

What we will need:
1. Quality Baby Moses Baskets for sleeping in our room (we have a small house and it would be difficult to fit a bassinet).
2. Baby Girl Diamond Crib Bedding , if its a girl of course. If its a boy again…I have everything.
3. Bebe Pod Infant Seat
4. Chenille, Velvet, and Satin Pastel Baby Blanket
5. Primo Baby EuroBath
6. Good Will Baby Bunting
7. Britax Companion Infant Car Seat - Britax Companion Infant Car Seat
8. Ultra MobiCam Video Monitor - Mobicam Monitor System because I want to keep an eye on AJ…and our monitor is shot!
9. BABYBJÖRN(r) Soft Bib These are my FAVORITE bibs and you can NEVER have enough of them. They are the only ones I used with AJ.
10. Baby Pacifier Pack…AJ ate all the ones I had.
11. Maclaren Rocker . Every baby needs a good rocker, right?
12. Orbit Rocker Cradle. Or, Simply combine the rocker, cradle all in one? And, it fits right into the stroller! Orbit Infant Stroller System

After I created that list I took a look at the Nods and Ends Outlet . Some beautiful blankets, photo albums, and a mobile! I can’t wait to buy baby things!

Ooh! Don’t forget the coupons!
Sure it may be early, but Santa’s reindeer are already in the giving spirit. They’re offering free shipping for our customers on select holiday items. For the best selection, it’s best to shop early. So hoof it on over to landofnod.com, because Santa’s reindeer can’t work gratis forever. Through 12/19/07

And, Free Shipping on all Gift Cards through 12/19/07.

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You’re waiting, right?

You’re excited, right?

So am I.

I love giving…and so do these companies.

All November you have the chance to win Non-Toxic Toys from Hazelnut Kids, Therapy Shoppe, Lala Naturals, Natural Pod, Quiet Hour Toys, Mookla, and Duck Duck Goose.

Excited now?

Starting November 1 and lasting ALL November.

Seriously…I can’t seem to think straight I’ve been working so stinkin’ hard on something for another blog that I don’t know what day it is. But, the good thing is that you all are going to be able to reap the benefits too.

All you have to do is visit my site, My Two Boys, starting November 1, and cash in on some surprises. hee hee.

But, to give you a hint…I’ve been reconfiguring the Lead Free Toys List for the Holidays, working on this post because I totally don’t agree with Toy’s R’ Us’s list of the top Holiday Toys, unless, of course, you’re in to plastic.

Anyway, holiday toy sales are starting to pop up all over the place. Some are from my treasured non-toxic sites and some are from sites that I love but just can’t list (ahhh, Pokka Dots, you’re killin’ me!). Nonetheless, here are some great sales on incredible fun toys.

Tiddley Widdley has this beautiful kitchen set on sale for one third its original price. It has a matching refrigerator that is just as cute. Free shipping over $75.

Monkey Bean Toys has Plan Toys on Sale and that Fabulous Doll House I talked about on My Two Boys is on SALE! AJ is getting the Plan City toys, specifically the Parking Garage, for Christmas (its compatible with Brio Trains!) but he may get the City Station because it connects directly to the train track and I don’t have enough funding to get him more car track. He’ll live, right?

One of my favorite stores, Oompa
has sleigh bells on sale.

eBeanstalk, an incredible developmental toy store, especially for sensory kids like mine and Melissa’s does not have sale prices. Instead, they have lowered all of their prices just in time for the Holiday season. What they have is a unique opportunity to create what they like to call . Please check them out. And, check out the Mom’s Favorites

Stay tuned for more…

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Its hard to find a good 1, that I know. We have two; one for everyday fold and go and one for jogging, which I have never used for that but is great for off-roading and using in the grass. The fold and go stroller we have is a Graco stroller that was only about $35 and has been used to its death. Because we adopted AJ at the age of two we never had a need for a car seat stroller, what one calls a travel system. However, we are now in need of TWO new stroller with the adoption of an infant. We will need a travel system and a double stroller, preferably a Sit and Stand because AJ will obviously be at an age wherein he will want to walk and sit/stand.

Instead of finding two different strollers, I found one. Great, huh? I found a sit-n-stand that accommodates an infant seat.

Our first stroller on sale is the Joovy Caboose Ultralight.

Joovy Caboose Ultralight - $ 229.95
Retail Price: 249.95
You Save: $20.00
From: Stroller Depot Stores It is 21 pounds with a stand and a seat for toddlers. It also comes with a parent organizer, canopy and sun visor, accommodates children from 6-45 pounds, and is compatible with 12 infant car seats.

Right now take $20 off and get free shipping.

Baby Trend Sit-n-Stand Plus with Parent Tray is on sale with free shipping as well.

Baby Trend Sit-n-Stand Plus with Parent Tray (On Sale) - $ 159.95
Retail Price: 179.95
You Save: $20.00
From: Stroller Depot Stores This one features the same frame as the original sit-n-stand but adds a second seat for tired toddlers (note that when the seat is functional, a toddler can not stand). The weight capacity in each seat is 40 pounds and both seats now include a 5 point harness for safety. This stroller is also compatible with several infant car seats including; Designer 35, Cosco Ariva, Peg Perego, Evenflo Cozy Carry & Portabout, Evenflo On My Way, Evenflo Embrace, Century Vante, Graco Snug Ride, and Baby Trend.

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Everyone is going green, right? Well, why not have all natural organic clothing as well? Of course, they are not necessarily a bargain deal all the time, but they will certainly hold up over time.

Soy Baby USA has fantastic line of Soy based products > and look at this beautiful wrapping.

Soybean fiber is a sustainable textile fiber made from renewable natural resources. It is part of an effort moving consumers away from petrochemical textile products and turning waste into useful products.

Check out the gorgeous gift box title="image_giftbox_image.jpg" width="96" height="96" border="0" /> for a gift.

Not bad prices either…$14.00 for a long sleeve all natural onesie? I would pay that.

One of my new favorite organic clothing sites is Happy Green Bee because of the colors. Most of the organic clothing I have found seems to be washed out and dull but this brand is bright, cheery, and just fun. They carry infant, toddler and toys.

But, there is also Lala Natural. I love this onesie from them…their Zen Collection.

Green Nest is making its way into the baby industry with its collection of baby clothing, bedding, and slings.

Our Green House is also making its way into the market with natural diapers, organic toys, and clothing for babies and kids.
Shop there for products like California Baby, natural cleaners, and all natural toys.

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I purchased AJ’s winter coat two years ago (yes, I know) at Gymboree for only $5. Yes, you can growl at me but I just could not pass up the price and I knew that eventually he would need a size five warm winter coat, especially with the winters in Chicago. I also got last years size four there at the same time (as well as a few sweaters for $3).
So, I have found you the cutest winter gear and the best sale winter gear. If wasn’t easy though because winter gear is rarely on sale this time of year. Make sure you check back later when the real stuff goes on sale and I bring you that.

I’m not going to kid you, this Alice the Elephant Coat

is on of the cutest around, just like the
Sam Monkey Coat but they certainly don’t look that warm. At $90 I can find a much warmer winter coat but, if one wants a dress coat for a toddler this would be the way to go.

Leaps and Bounds has great prices on winter gear including Easy On Boots, the 3-in-one-jacket, the essential snow proof Elbow Mittens, and to top it off, the STAY PUT Fleece Hat.

Tea has a fantastic selection of warm winter coats at decent prices but at this time of year one will pay full price.

The girls coat is just as fluffy with 450 fill down with elastic to keep the chill out. It is a 70/30 cotton nylon shell but is also dry clean only.

At $110 these coats are not a bad price but I am certain there are better. Like these from Lands End? My Favorite ANY YEAR. And the girls have just as much style and warmth. And the Boots? Never have to worry about warmth or wet. And this hat would go perfectly with AJ’s Gymboree Bomber jacket.

Now, here are a few from Children’s Place that are absolutely adorable and can be used everyday or as dress. Go ahead…splurge. For the price you can actually get two.

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When I was little I remember my cousin had a fascination with sock monkeys. It was her lovey and she carried it around everywhere. When one fell apart another one miraculously appeared. Sock monkey’s have been around forever but they are hotter than ever now and the stores are selling out of them like crazy. So, get some Christmas shopping done early and stock up on your socks.

But, what is so special about the Sock Monkey? Well, for one they are from the Chicago Area! They are also a tradition in so many families that I know here. But, you can also make them yourselves. See today’s posting of Discussing Autism to learn how. But, if you are needing to cut corners you can simply order a kit from Super Sock Monkey and get started from there.

There are also some cool printables, finger puppets, and mazes on the site…including a history of why sock monkeys are so popular!

The Land of Nod: They have updated a retro toy and made it all the more classic.

Pokka Dots has these fabulous sock monkey kids slippers on sale right now for only $14.95 and adults can get matching ones for only $18.95.

I found a fantastic sock monkey backpack at Monkey Goods…

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For anyone who has a toddler or adopted a toddler in diapers this will be an essential diapering tool. I had several friends who told me that adopting/bringing home a two year old would be no problem…that he would be out of diapers in no time and that changing those diapers would be a cinch…just plop him down on the carpet and you will not have a problem, they said.

Easy for them to say. They never had to deal with explosive poops, non English speaking little boys, and sensory avoidant bums. If I could have I would strapped him down each time but in a two story house and a changing table upstairs we ended up changing him on the island in the kitchen and sanitizing it each and every time with Clorox bleach (he had some stomach bacterias that were country born and quite contagious…it was actually better for us to change him on the counter than the rug in this case).

However, if I had something like this I would have been in much better shape (of if I had a bidet but thats another story). The Ubi is a unique new table that actually helps one change a diaper by storing the diaper and

Additional features include fastener straps, hypoallergenic upholstery for easy cleaning, anti-microbial surface that prevents growth of odor causing bacteria, meets US safety standards for changing tables, safety belt, holds up to 30 pounds, and dispenser holds up to size 5 diapers. href='http://www.kidsbargainstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/ubi.jpg' title='ubi.jpg'>

Use this code here for free shipping from or sign up for their newsletter and get 5% off immediately.

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Sckoon has recently been featured in Cookie, Child, Mothering, and even Modern Dog (yes…they actually have doggie clothing!). Why? Because they are all the rage in organic clothing and they are one of the first sites I have found to actually have things on sale!

But why organic clothing? I understand organic foods…its better for the body. Organic clothing can be better for the environment and for your kids. Cotton has up to 25% of the worlds insecticides sprayed on it. Do you want that on your child’s body? Okay, don’t go throwing away all the clothing yet but maybe start phasing it out?

One of my best friends contacted me in search of a sale today because she needed a gift for a friend of hers whose baby just had major heart surgery. I knew I needed to find an all natural, organic outfit that was not fitted.

Cue the Kimono. At $14 it is not a bad price, especially when one is paying for quality.

On Sale Now…My Favorite? This polar bear tee in size 2-4 months…just perfect for those warm winter months in the windy city.

What is also great is that Sckoon carries organic toys, diapers, blankets, hats and bibs, and this is my absolute favorite from the entire site…an engineering marvel. There are no over the head struggles with this baby! I just wish they had larger sizes so I could get one in each size as baby grows.

To get a coupon and add to your savings make sure that you email a friend to get a special offer and sign up to receive updates and coupons. They also offer free shipping with any order over $90.

Look for them on my new Lead Free Toys Widget tomorrow at My Two Boys.

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When we adopted our first son we purchased the safest high chair we could find and we needed all the baby gear we could get.. Since then, manufacturers have come up with unique designs and even safer ways to secure our babies and toddlers to their tables. They have also designed seats that can adapt to smaller homes, modern styles, and the fast paced lifestyles that we live. However, I wish they could bring down the prices. High Chairs that cost $250 to $500 are rarely worth the cost.

Check out this

Svan High Chair…award winning, fully adjustable, and designed for every stage of child development. It is safety certified and ergonomically correct.

The Flair High Chair is a “sleek, futuristic”chair with a foot operated height adjuster, a comfortable seat, and it even converts to a toddler seat (up to age 5).

This high chair is the perfect portable AND at home chair. The KABOOST Portable Chair Booster Green “fits most four legged chairs, snaps on in seconds, has 2 height positions, and holds up to 300 pounds.”

I just bought this infant seat for a good friend of mine who had not registered for it. She was ecstatic to get it. The Baby Bumbo has RAVE reviews at One Step Ahead.

And this, is my absolutely favorite new booster seat. The Land of Nod: just rocks my world.

But, whichever way you go, go safe and use this code at One Step Ahead One Step Ahead 15% off $100 or more code SEPAFFB.

Some high chair shopping tips:
1. Skip the expensive chairs with metal legs. The screws fall apart.
2. Don’t buy one with toys attached. You pay extra for the toys and they become caked with food. Additionally, it only encourages play at the table. Why not encourage food play?
3. Don’t buy the reclining seat because they can be dangerous. Feeding a child solid food while reclining can cause choking.
4. Easy to clean, take apart, and store.
5. Pass on the hand-me-downs. They can be dangerous, especially if they are painted with wood.
6. Wheels are dangerous scoot toys. My son decided that he could muster up a scoot while in the chair and almost toppled himself. Granted, he was quite creative but it can happen.

Tips adapted from Bargain Buys for Baby’s First Year.

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Laura, you can use this, right? Email me with your address.

Its a giveaway week for me! All of my sites have something special this week and this one is no exception. My other three sites have fantastic giveaways from Therapy Shoppe, a leader in sensory integration products and occupational therapy products for children with special needs (and without…many kids just love those products too!).

But, because this site focuses on clothing, toys, music, shoes, anything kids love…that is exactly what this giveaway is.
An Old Navy Boys Medium Knit Shirt in Army Green. It has an logo on the front that has army characters on it. Picture to follow.

You know the drill: Just fill in the Mr. Linky below and then link to this contest. site in a post on your blog before Friday, October 12, 11 PM (CST.) If you don’t have a blog, still enter your name in the Mr. Linky and please email your friends to tell them about the Giveaway. Leave a comment here saying you’d like to win! Be sure I can contact you through your blog or email in the Mr. Linky and/or your comment.

There are three more giveaways this week! Head over to Discussing Autism and A Chosen Child for more from Therapy Shoppe! And My Two Boys has something special too!

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“A revolutionary, fun and educational toy with no batteries, no bits to plug-in, no rules and no instructions!”

Innovative, right? All it is is molded polyethylene plastic that is 100 percent recyclable. Its like playing with a box…but one has to pay close to $30 for it. Ironic, eh? Worth every penny? Yes.

According to Growing Tree Toys the Bilibo provides the following developmental benefits: intrapersonal, spatial, logical, and physical. It also encourages manipulative play, dramatic play, and active play.

How?

You can spin it, rock it, drag it, sit in it, use it as a ramp or garage for cars and trains, use it as a step stool, a shell, tunnel…the cool thing is that it sparks the imagination.

Imagine sledding down the hill in this instead of a traditional sled…or digging in the snow…or using it as a snowball shield. Or, better yet…imagine creating a tunnel for cars in the sand or strapping on a tortoise shell for Halloween.

Your innovative child will tote it around the house trying to get into cabinets that he never saw before. Your imaginative child will use it to help build train tunnels. Your organizer will use it for a storage solution…and your seeker will play peek-a-boo.

In 2007 Readers Digest rated Bilibo the world’s best toy stating that “the best games are the ones children create themselves.” It was also Winner of the Good Toy Award in 2006.

To purchase:

I have wrote about ebeanstalk a lot on My Two Boys and Discussing Autism because I believe that they have a brilliant concept, especially for families that have children with special needs or grandparents who live far away.

ebeanstalk has child development specialists that look at over 10,000 toys and select only the best to sell. They have a team of experts , a clinical psychologist, a physical therapist, a speech pathologist, a pediatric occupational therapist, a marriage, family and child therapist, and a special educator, and a MotherBoard of 700 moms around the US. They evaluated and selected toys and then match them to the stages of a child’s development and then put them into eBeanstalk’s Gift Series.

The Gift Series is developed so that a child will receive 4 gifts a year and is tailored to the child’s development. It comes with an instruction card on how to use the toy, the skills it develops, and how to parent and play with the child. It also comes with free shipping and handling, and gift wrapping. How cool is that?

M9 Sport Van

Even better? Not only can you shop by age but you can shop by skill or sensory need…social, language, dexterity…

eBeanstalk is also extremely dedicated to being safe.

Dear Customers,

At eBeanstalk we are dedicated to a child’s development and learning, and we never compromise a child’s safety. Rest assured that NONE of the recalled toys from Mattel or Fisher Price have ever been sold at eBeanstalk. NOT ONE.

10% Off Your Next Online Order

Lunchopolis, of course! Lunchopolis was created to establish a garbage-free lunchbox. Thank goodness there is finally a product that I don’t have to throw away…because those ziploc containers just don’t work?

Anne and Lisa, the founders, created a refillable, BPA free, lead free, and PVC free drinking bottle and modular study containers that stack vertically and fit neatly into compact, insulated lunch boxes.

Interesting…why? because the FDA would not approve the product if it were not PVC, lead, or BPA free. So, why not just purchase the Ziploc container and use Kids Dish to liven up your child’s appetite?

Well, I thought the Ziploc Containers and baggies worked just fine and I don’t understand why manufacturers are pushing for BPA free products when there are already BPA free products.

According to the SC Johnson Website, , SC Johnson does not use BPA in any of its products. Personally, they are the only brand I purchase and use, no matter what I am using it for. They are the only brand I bring into my home.

Save money in order to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

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One of my favorite stores is Hanna Andersson because it is all organic.

Hanna Andersson was a Swedish grandmother of the founder of the company, Gun Denhart. Denhart states on the store website that his grandmother had a way with babies. “Grandmother taught me the Swedish tradition of choosing the best quality she could find – and using things for a long, long time!”

What is so wonderful about the quality of Hanna Andersson is the 100% organic cotton and the certified products. Oko-Tex certifies each “garment, fabric, button, thread, and zipper” so that the product is healthy for kids.

With my son’s sensitive skin and sensory issues these are the perfect fabrics for him. And, they have sales ALL the time.

Check these out.

Spider Tee

A Thousand Flowers

Boys Argyles Vest

Knit Circle Dress

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