Speesees is one of those companies that you hear about and it quickly becomes a favorite.  Their bright, creative, and fun clothing is all 100% organic and 100% adorable.  Everything that speesees does and stands for is exactly what you want to hear.  This company is not only good to your children, but good to the environment surrounding them and even the workers and communities that help make this operation successful.

From speesees: “speesees fabrics are treated with low-impact and herbal dyes, prints are made with pigments and pvc-free plastisols, and we skip the dioxin + formaldehyde altogether. our soft + durable cotton is long-staple (long fibers :: no prickles) and extra-comfy for kids…”

“…meanwhile, in a small village in india…surrounded by an organic garden, our factory’s limestone walls create an open, airy ambiance, and chai breaks twice a day make work days pretty sweet. our factory is certified  SA8000, a social accountability standard for decent working conditions (including workplace safety, renumeration, fair working hours, no discrimination, child labor, etc)…”

“…for every dollar that you spend at speesees, it is used for a variety of purposes within the indian village where we manufacture: from buying school supplies and a water pump for the zari pada school, to building a playground called *ananya playground* (named after our manufacturer’s daughter, ananya) at the local orphanage.”

I was drawn to their dress/bloomer combos.  The bloomers make the outfit wearable ANYWHERE, while the dress satisfies my daughter’s “dress-only” attitude.   Making a great first impression, the products ordered come in beautiful, eco-friendly packaging.  The clothing is so super soft but not see-through thin like a lot of organic apparel is.  I can tell that this is an outfit that will withstand many washings, and for kid’s clothing that’s a big plus.  With my skinny and long daughter, I was THRILLED that the bloomers ran a little small and actually fit her for once… so order accordingly.   After her countless swirls, twirls and eyelash battings, she resumed her day, playing fiercely, eating, and sleeping.  This outfit was comfy for her and kept up with her extremely active personality.  Never once was I adjusting her clothing, top or bottom, which is quite rare.  When nap time came she didn’t want to take it off, unlike some of her stiffer dresses.  And when she got up, the outfit was wrinkle-free and ready to go.  What more could one ask for from an outfit?  This is a company to remain loyal to.  Check out their other items ranging from feeding time necessities to bed time essentials.

Erin: I fell in love with the Speesees Kimono Dress in Robin’s Egg. It’s such a fun and refreshing color mixed with a classy and traditional style. The material is 100% interlock organic cotton and let me just tell you it’s thick and oh so very soft. It reminds me of baby blankets I had for my daughter when she was iddy biddy. I found myself telling her everyday that she couldn’t wear it because it was too nice. I have to remind myself that it’s ok to let her be a kid and get messy (even in my favorite dresses). Then…dun dun dun the dreaded blueberry/raspberry fruit smoothie spilled all over the entire dress as she took the lid off of her cup while in her car seat. I couldn’t even look at it until we got home. I sprayed the dress down, threw it in the wash and EVERYTHING came right out of the dress. I can’t even begin to tell you how impressed I am that not only is this beautiful, but it’s completely durable as well. So no more fears from this girl about her getting her dress dirty anymore. Two thumbs up from this mama…and her daughter who was crying because she thought she ruined her favorite dress. LOVE

Thank you to Speesees for providing samples for review!

I know we sang the praises of Hoppop in a previous post here at ITKM before they were available to purchase in the US. Oh boy, things have changed and we were able to check out their Bato and Donut first hand. Hoppop products are not only gorgeous, they make sense and are nothing like any other items on the market. The high supportive sides to their Bato infant tub are actually insulated to maintain the water temperature. How innovative is that!

Hoppop’s Donut potty is very near and dear to my heart. We have a potty trained three year old, but when we go out on our boat, where is she supposed to go? I know what you’re thinking, you gross people, but the water is a chilly 72 degrees. The kiddo has fun on the boat, but doesn’t get hot enough that she wants to jump in the water to cool off just yet. The Donut was so handy on our trip last weekend up to Apache Lake in Arizona. We were able to ride around on the boat and when she had to go potty, she’d use the Donut with a flushable wipe that she’d put into the garbage bag. The Donut is so small that we were able to tuck it under a seat of the boat and it was never in our way. This was seriously a true life saver for us this weekend.

Sarah: The Bato tub is incredibly well designed, perfect for any baby.  The actual tub (without water) is extremely lightweight and has easy-to-carry handles.  Another amazing feature of the Bato is it has a drain in the bottom like a cooler, making drainage a snap.  The sides are also insulated to maintain a consistent water temperature.  This tub clearly has the upper edge over inflatables, and old school tubs.  Remember: never leave your baby alone in the tub!  If you’re concerned with slippage, just attach a few adhesives on the floor.

Having only a three year old to try the Bato baby tub out on, I had to get creative.  I can’t wait to use this tub for my next baby but for now I had to think.  How could I possibly use this with my 3 year old?  She was DYING to take a bath in it, but that didn’t seem possible, although I have to say she did actually fit in it.  After vetoing a cramped bath, I started brainstorming.  And it came to me… this tub is perfect for camping trips where I don’t want to bring my daughter into the community showers (ick).  She can stand or comfortably sit for an on-the-go bath.  At home, we utilized the tub by using it to rinse her off after being at the pool.  It’s important to get the drying pool water chemicals and salts off their skin (and also your bathing suit).  The particular resort we haunt also features sand around the pool, making for a nice wet/sandy baby… yeah.  You don’t want that thing tromping through the house.  Instead of just taking the cold water hose to her, like I remember as a kid, I can quickly fill the tub with water for a quick rinse.  Simply a few Rinse Cups of water over the head and she’s good to go, conserving water that would have been wasted in a shower or large bath.  Now I know these aren’t the typical uses of the Bato, but I wanted to show you that this tub is large enough to really grow with your child as they turn from an infant to a small toddler.  And even after that, you can use the tub creatively to fit your needs.  Check out how high the sides are!!

Here is the test baby about to get rinsed after the pool… and here she is again, don’t mind the flying duck.

Want to purchase some of these items for yourself? Check out all of Hoppop’s modern and sleek items here. We’re so excited that they’re now available to us in the US and with extremely reasonble price tags. Next item on my list are the Triplo cups. What a fun item for travel to the beach, pool or even to use in the sandbox this summer.

Special thank you to Hoppop for providing samples for review purposes.

Bath time.  I don’t know if I love it or hate it.  I love it because I can get things done while she’s bathing, organize the bathroom, clean the bathroom, do my facials, nails, etc.  But on the other hand, it can be so aggravating to wash their hair.  Getting my daughter to tip her head back while rinsing shampoo out is, well, difficult.  She often likes to tilt her head forward creating a soapslide down her eyes, nose, and mouth.  Out come the screams, “SOAP EYE, SOAP EYE!”  This turns bath time into a stressful event as then I’m running around grabbing a towel while she rubs more and more soap into her eyes.

Luckily, I came across a super cool invention from Australia called Drieyes.  These super handy contraptions give your child the control over the rinsing.  They can hold the shield themselves, giving you two free hands to do the rinsing.  This makes the job pain and tear-free, but also quicker, which you know I love.  The soft and flexible seal, which they hold to their forehead, stops the water flow from coming over their face.  The water is channeled down the sides and away from the ears.  Note: this is not to be held like a visor!   They come in 5 cool colors (green, orange, blue, pink, and yellow).

My 3 year old loved Drieyes before she even knew what it’s purpose was.  The fun bright green color, with the goofy eyes thrilled her.  I told her it was for the bath so she proceeded to get every bath toy in the house and dump them in the tub.  That was my signal for bath time.  We practiced a couple times, and the third time she really got it!  It’s up to them to really hold it properly so I would recommend this product for 3 year olds and up at least.

lather, rinse, dry eyes.

To purchase a Drieyes for your pre-schooler, click here.

Thank you to Drieyes for providing a sample product.

I’m always on the search for perfect baby bath products.  Products that are gentle, soothe, and smell divine.  I’m lucky with my daughter because she doesn’t, and never has, had super sensitive skin.  But I still find it important to use gentle products on her young skin.  When I came across Vedababy, I was first drawn to the attractive packaging and spa-like look.  I knew I had to try it out on my daughter.  When the products arrived in the mail it was the middle of the afternoon, but I still threw my daughter in for a bath.  (She loves bath time.)  I scooped some of the Therapeutic Bath Powder. Instantly, I could feel the water become silky, and no wonder why because the powder contains aloe vera powder, lavender essential oil, German chamomile essential oil and Roman chamomile essential oil. The soothing affects of JUST THE WATER is quite amazing on it’s own.  This bath powder is perfect for a tot with dry skin.

Once my daughter was relaxing in her bath, I washed her hair and body with the fresh Shampoo/body wash.  It is ph balanced for all those sensitive skinned babies out there.  Rule number one for me is that the wash MUST LATHER.  Without a good lather I just can’t convince myself that their was a full cleansing.  I need to see it to believe it I suppose.  The wash contains wheat protein, oat amino acid, Roman and German chamomile, lavender to cleanse and calm any skin type.  It has a super fresh and crisp scent that lingers throughout the day.

Everyone knows that even the most moisturizsing of baths can be drying on the skin.  Water just has that affect.  So moisturizing post bath is key for baby soft skin.  Vedababy’s soothing Body Cream uses shea butter, jojoba, and sweet almond oil to hydrate and moisturize, gently comforting and protecting baby’s tender skin. Orange blossom, chamomile and lavender are also added to calm and pacify. The cream goes on smoothe and really sinks into the skin, deeply moisturizing your child’s skin.  The Moisturizing Cream is also a gem.  It was originally formulated for treating eczema, so you know it is a powerful cream.  This premium cream is designed to fully hydrate and treat the driest of dry (and irritated) skin.

Take a peek at VedaPURE’s entire collection of products, for mom, dad, and baby.  All your bath and skin needs have been covered, and covered well.  VedaPURE was created by a pediatrician, a graduate from Harvard College  John Hopkins University of Medicine, Natalie geary MD.  Please go over to her very informative site and learn from the wealth of knowledge there.  Modern Mums

The world of Archipelago is one scented with naturally fragranced soy candles, and luxurious bath and body products.  A favorite in their native Los Angeles, I knew they were feature-worthy.  Archipelago sent us their signature, and best selling, soy candles in Lindenwood.  I love woodsy smells and this one has moved into my top favorite position.  The best part is that this 70% natural soy wax candle will burn for approximately 90 hours!  The one candle had my entire upstairs smelling like Heaven.  Archipelago has much more than Lindenwood to offer, with scents ranging from florals and herbs to gourmand and fruits.  Go immediately to see all the scents here.  And with a $29.50 price tag, these candles are surely worth a burn.

Archipelago also makes divine bath and body products.  We tried out the MILK line, featuring dried milk solids and natural soy and oat proteins that gently nurture and sooth the skin. Soy Milk products are blended with proteins, amino acids and lipids- allowing for rapid hydration and cell regeneration. I tried the Soy Creme Milk on my parched desert skin and loved it.  The texture is thick yet creamy and really nourishes and enriches the skin.  The lotion disappeared into my skin, leaving a silky smooth finish.  To enjoy Archipelago’s bath and body products, click on over here.  There you will find a variety of luxurious body lotions and potions in five collections – Milk, Grapefruit, Mint, Sugar, and Pomegranate.

Erin: Candles and lotion are two of my necessary evils in life. They are the items that I consider “me time” for some reason. I’m extremely picky about both items and have been known to use them sparingly for fear that they’ll be gone too fast. You’d think I was born in the Depression Era or something. I love the clean smell that the Archipelago candle gives off. It’s not too heavy, but it’s not too light either. The earthy scent is both refreshing and cozy. The fact that it burns for 90 hours allows me to burn it as much as my heart desires without fearing it will be gone too soon. The Milk lotion is truly amazing. It absorbs into your skin and moisturizes them without feeling greasy. The light scent is barely there, which I love because sometimes heavily scented lotions can give me a headache. I’m continuously trying to smell it throughout the day.

The endless search for the safe, quality baby bath products – will it ever end?  We think the search can end here with Little Twig.  Little Twig’s products are manufactured with 100% organic natural ingredients. Little Twig is pediatrician tested, made in USA, not tested on animals, hypoallergenic, Phthalate free, Paraben free, SLS free, and made with no artificial colors or synthetic fragrances. And, to top it all off, the products are packaged in PET #1 recyclable bottles. Wow, that was a mouthful! But all soooo very important for you to know! All items other than their diaper cream are soy, wheat & nut free as well.  All products are PH balanced and non-irritating.  And sometimes most important, Little Twig LATHERS.  Some of these natural soaps can’t just get a lather and that gets me, well, all lathered up.

Little Twig has it all covered – shampoo, body wash, bubble bath, bodymilk, body oil, powder, sunscreen and diaper cream.  They feature three scents: Lavender, Tangerine, and Unscented.  Their lavender, lemon, and healing tea tree scent is divinely calming. The tangerine, lemon, rosemary scent is my personal favorite.

The shampoo contains jojoba and flax seed oil for healthy hair, and Calendula and Vitamin E for a healthy scalp.   I’ve found in my personal experience that the shampoos really leave baby’s hair soft and silky. The scents linger in your baby’s hair, unlike some that leave as soon as the hair hits the towel. So when we’re cuddling on the couch, I can lean over and smell my baby’s sweet hair.  We all do it, just admit it.

The body wash and bodymilk contain skin-softening vitamin E and aloe, skin-soothing jojoba oil, and healing tea tree.  Finish off with a little body oil containing calming lemon-lavender essence with sweet almond oil, and your baby will be first sudsy and then silky smooth.

Little Twig has a special offer just for our ITKM readers. Head on over to their site here and browse through all their products. Be sure to enter ITKM10 when checking out to receive 15% off of your entire order! Hurry though, offer ends November 3, 2009!!

Sign up for their mailing list here.

Puj is the creation of two designers who met in college, married and had two children. They used their talents and knowledge to create a line of products for children. Their latest and greatest design in my opinion, is their new Puj Tub that fits in any pedestal or counter top sink. It’s made from a warm soft foam that’s anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic and non toxic. I love how it hangs and stores flat. My old plastic tub that I washed my daughter in is huge and takes up half the shelf in the closet!

In order to use the tub, you simply bend the bottom walls of the tub inward and allow the magnets to snap together to form the tub. Place the tub in the sink and it’s go time!

Puj Tubs come in a rainbow of color choices and can be purchased from Puj’s site here for $99. Say goodbye to the old plastic tubs and hello to Puj.