Style Rules for the First Day of School

The first day of school is an exciting event for kids (and their parents). Most kids want to start the year off right by making a good impression, and while a great attitude and a big smile go a long way toward creating a positive school experience, having some cool gear and outfits can be a big help too!

Every year, companies that specialize in children’s products roll out new, trendy items just in time for September. With all the options being marketed to kids, parents have to choose which make sense and will benefit their child the most as they begin a new grade.

Back to school gear should be both stylish and practical. It should help give children confidence and offer easier, better ways of doing what kids do each day. This means moms and dads should be shopping for durable clothes, tough backpacks, and convenient portable storage options. Here are some brands that score high marks from The Giggle Guide^®: Junebug, Lily & Momo, Madpax and Innobaby.

Junebug for September Semester

Wendy Wilson Bigbie is a Georgia mom with a flair for the creative. She always enjoyed mixing and matching colors and styles in unique, avant-garde ways. That spirit helped to launch her company, Junebug, which offers colorful, eye-catching clothing for boys and girls.

Most parents want their kids to be in style, but many have issues with the overly grown-up looks that can often be tempting for children. Junebug’s clothing is trendy without trying too hard to be hip.

Junebug’s dresses are one of the highlights of the company’s collection. Many of these dresses have a vintage feel that bring out a girl’s frilly feminine side, but they are made of breathable materials that make them more streamlined and moveable. Bright colors and well-placed bows and floral touches add to the overall charm.

Junebug’s boy’s collection features comfy skater shorts in plaids and solids, and classic khakis that will be go-to staples in a young guy’s closet. There are also a few versions of the screen-printed T’s that boys are so fond of, in shark, guitar and monster truck icons.

When it comes to this company, the bottom line is comfort, durability, and style. These clothes are perfect for the first week of school when parents want their kids to look neat, stylish and at ease.

For more info, join Junebug at www.junebugshop.com

Lily & Momo Finish Every Look with Hair Accessories and Bags

Being the mother of a little girl means going through a lot of stages when it comes to hair and hair care habits. Daughters might hate to have their hair combed one day and be begging for the latest styles and accessories the next. For the most part, little girls love cute hair clips, headbands, and ponytail holders, as long as they are colorful and comfortable.

Lily & Momo is an Atlanta, Georgia-based company specializing in high-quality, stylish hair accessories and handbags for children. Their goal is to provide accessories that make girls look delightful, and that they truly enjoy wearing.

The collection of barrettes from Lily & Momo features adorable designs, from flowers to butterflies to furry animals. The embellishments are crafted from colorful soft felt, and the working parts — the parts that hold the barrette or band onto the child’s hair — are made to stay securely in place until ready to easily remove.

Lily & Momo also offers whimsical, kid-sized purses and handbags that are perfect for the little girl who wants to carry a bag just like mommy. Much like the hair accessories offered by this company, the bags sport a brightly-colored design in soft felt material, and they’re available in a variety of designs, including houses, birds and fish.

To see Lily & Momo’s full line, check out www.lilyandmomo.com

Madpax Carries Mad Style to the Max in B-Packs

As children go into the higher grades in elementary school, their parents are often surprised by the sheer amount of “stuff” that they need to haul with them to school. With so much to carry, it’s important that kids have backpacks that are strong enough to stand the test of rowdy times while not hurting their growing bodies. Of course, packs need to meet high standards of coolness, too, and Madpax makes them to be the envy of the schoolyard.

The Bubble by Madpax looks somewhat like a huge moon rock. It’s raised bubbles cover the entire pack making it a stand-out accessory in any school setting. It also comes in several colors from understated to look-at-me bright.

But the Bubble isn’t the only fun this innovative pack designer has to offer. They also have the awesome Spiketus Rex and the Lator Gator, both of which feature impressive, dinosaur-style spikes that little boys love. The Gator also boasts a greenish “lizard skin” color.

Parents and kids alike will love Madpax. These carriers are tough, fun to look at, and come in a range of sizes to fit almost any quantity of books or gear a kid can carry.

To see all the styles, sizes and colors, visit www.madpax.com

Innobaby Helps Kids Stay “Neat” at Home and Away

It’s not just big kids who are heading back to school; little “curtain climbers” are going to preschool, nursery school and daycare where they’ll be introduced to the basics of group play. Parents of young children want to make sure their kids are outfitted for comfort and success as they take their first steps away from home, and that they can learn to appreciate the convenience of organization when they come home.

Innobaby is an Illinois-based company founded in 2006 by two entrepreneurial moms. Innobaby offers easy-to-use, safe storage containers meant to be used for storing food and snacks for young children.

Innobaby containers are similar in many ways to other top-quality food storage containers; they’re space-saving, easy to clean, convenient and able to prevent spills by offering a tight seal. However, Innobaby goes a step further by offering storage containers in BPA-free plastic, glass and even some stainless pieces. This appeals to the growing number of parents who are focusing on the safety and environmental integrity of the products they purchase.

In addition to food storage containers, InnoBaby also offers Sittin Smart seat covers. These covers can be used on car seats, strollers, high chairs and more. The natural fiber from which they’re made, ramie, is perfect for kids with sensitive skin. It also resists bacteria and is easy to clean.

To see all the convenient products available, check out www.innobaby.com