Made in America: Honoring Mompreneurs!

In America, children enjoy a better lifestyle than youngsters in many places in the world. The market for kids’ toys, clothing, and other products is so large that companies from around the world flock to U.S.-based annual expos highlighting the newest and best in children’s products. American innovation and entrepreneurial spirit inspire others and add to the draw of our domestic business.

The “mompreneur” has become a recognized contributor to American business. Mompreneurs are inspired by their own lives and their children, sometimes creating products or services based on a need they themselves wanted to fill. The following is just a sampling of some of the companies that have made an impression on the children’s market. They cover a wide range of products and age demographics, but they all have one thing in common: they were launched by American mompreneurs. Our review includes: Tattly, cachcach, Diapees and Wipees and No Slippy Hair Clippy.

Tattly is Pretty in Ink

With so many adults getting tattoos these days, it’s no wonder that kids want them too. Tattoos are colorful forms of self-expression that lend an air of coolness and maturity. Temporary stick-on tattoos have been around for decades, and are usually fine for very young children, but they traditionally had a very juvenile appearance that older kids found unappealing. Now, there are temporary tattoos that look closer to the real thing.

Tattly is a company that offers realistic-looking faux ink that the whole family can wear for fun and fancy. Their line of tattoos includes a mind-boggling array of themes in both color and black and white, and features everything from bicycles to animals to food. Some of the designs are geared toward younger kids, while others are edgy and spunky.

Like many momprenuers, Tina Roth Eisenberg created a product when she could not find anything on the market that met her needs. Her young daughter was a fan of press-on tattoos, but both mom and daughter found the styles to be limited and low-quality. With a keen artistic eye, Eisenberg decided to take matters into her own hands. The result is a company that produces hundreds of temporary tattoos designed by talented artists from around the world.

For more ink on the matter: www.tattly.com

cachcach Designs Attention-Worthy Fashions

Dressing up a child in fun, adorable outfits is among the most enjoyable and memorable highlights of parenthood. Babies and children look cute in just about anything, so when you add extra details like bows, ribbons and ultra-soft materials, the result is “oohs” and “aahs” all around.

cachcach is a children’s clothing company that focuses on soft floaty fabrics and eye-catching colors. Their signature design is their marabou fringe shirts, pants and jackets. They also offer hats, purses, and fur-like blankets for babies and children. Their clothing is perfect for holidays, family outings, parties and other special occasions. The company is developing a line of clothing for boys as well, and it’s likely to be as dapper and handsome as their girls’ designs are posh and pretty.

cachcach (French for “hide and seek”) was founded in 1984. At the time, bright colors and large prints were the trends of the moment, and designer Kathleen Dougherty indulged her customers with these over-the-top designs. She added a little extra surprise as well: each outfit came with a small toy –– a “pocket buddy” plaything for kids. The idea caught on and now, 28 years later, cachcach is still creating fun, trendy clothing that both kids and parents love.

Seek out the fashion and style of this brand favorite: www.cachcach.com

Diapees & Wipees Does Double Duty

Changing diapers is one of the least pleasant, and least glamorous, duties of being a parent. Changing a baby is way easier now than it was generations ago, but moms and dads are always looking for simpler, more convenient ways to get the job done. This is especially true for parents who seem to be on-the-go even more often than their children “have to go.”

Not only do most parents want their diaper-changing routine to be easy, they also want it to be stylish. Years ago, diaper bags and wipe cases were less than chic, but in recent years various companies have been taking steps to improve the appearance of baby necessities.

Diapees & Wipees is one of the leading brands of baby accessories in America. Founder Christina Rein wanted to blend the functionality of a diaper bag, without the bulk. The result was a smaller, more compact diaper carrier that can slip into a handbag. It can carry 2 or 3 diapers and a small package of wipes.

The company is now expanding to include more products, including baby blankets, “Moodeez” carriers for feminine protection products, and full-size diaper bags that give moms the room for all their baby stuff in a streamlined, attractive design.

For the entire collection from Christina Leigh & Co., visit www.diapeesandwipees.com

No Slippy Hair Clippy Takes a Bow

Most parents of little girls have at least occasionally grown frustrated when trying to put a clip or bow in their daughter’s hair. It might be school picture day, or Christmas, or another occasion that requires some extra glamorous touches, and mom is in the bathroom, wrestling with a clip that pops loose, pulls the child’s hair, or simply slips out. Whether the child’s hair is very fine, thick, or curly and wild, there always seems to be a challenge.

Since 2001, a hair accessory company has been answering parents’ hopes for clips that actually stay in. The California-based business has quickly become one of the best-known hair accessory suppliers and is a favorite with retailers across the country. Their name: No Slippy Hair Clippy.

No Slippy Hair Clippy is a company that’s dedicated to offering attractive, user friendly hair accessories. Don’t let the uber-cute name fool you; this company is serious about their hair clips! Owner Annie Salyer has given her all to keeping the company current and rolling with the punches through changing style trends and tough economic times. The line of products now covers a wide variety of clips for infants through tweens, all with the same high-quality, easy-to-use design that parents and kids love.

These fast sellers stay put in hair, but not on retailer’s shelves: www.hairclippy.com