When you are shopping for children’s clothing there is so much to consider: practicality, colours, versatility, wear and care, choice of materials, safety, where and how the clothing is made; sometimes it is hard to now where to look for clothing that ticks all the boxes. At least there is one brand that will not let you down on any of these features: Master & Miss.

Master & Miss is an Australian clothing label for little boys and girls up to 5 years old. All pieces are made from 100% certified organic fabrics and designed and made right here in Australia in a sweatshop free environment. So your child won’t be breathing in any dangerous pesticides and chemicals, you are supporting an Australian business and of course the clothing is gorgeous and high quality.

The cutest little dresses, cool tees, perfect go-with-everything leggings, comfy pants, it is clear that designer and mum Liane knows exactly what every child should have in his/her wardrobe. The Master & Miss range combines beautiful, unique prints with plain designs in classic colours so you can mix and match to your heart’s content. There is even a great selection of very sweet accessories available, the Signature Print Blanket is my favourite.

As you know I absolutely love red so I fell in love with this Sophie Red Spot Dress the moment I laid eyes on it. My biggest girl adores it too and together with some Master & Miss Leggings and a pair of boots she is ready for kindy in three months time (they are growing up too fast!). I might have to grab some more of those basic leggings in other colours as they are such a great fit, really soft, comfortable and very affordable ($19.99).

To find out more about Master & Miss, to browse the range and to order online visit www.masterandmiss.com.au.

For your chance to win a $100 Master & Miss voucher (not valid on cot blankets) visit www.masterandmiss.com.au and answer the following question: Which Master & Miss design is your favourite and why?

Submit your answer by leaving a comment below, your email address will not be published.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Master & Miss on Facebook
• Subscribe to the weekly Sales, Savings & Giveaways email
• Subscribe to Hip little one via RSS
• Follow Hip little one with Networked Blogs (click this link and click ‘follow’ http://bit.ly/pjPo0k)
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter using @hiplittleone in your tweet
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the left and right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends June 19, 2012. Sorry, Australian entries only.

As a child I remember dreaming of a beautiful, big doll house, I was particularly jealous of the one my cousins had. They owned a three storey Barbie doll house with the matching furniture and even the Barbie campervan. Now that I am a mum myself I can’t see the beauty in all that plastic, pink and glitter so I am very pleased to see that there is a very stylish new type of accommodation available to house our daughter’s precious dolls.

The stunning Miniio dollhouses are designed and handmade in Poland and you can find them in Australia at Coccinella. This wonderful online store features beautiful eco-friendly children’s products handpicked by mum Renata and the Miniio label fits in perfectly. These works of art are made by hand from wood, metal, stone (plus a few other modern, yet non-toxic and food-safe materials) and they are finished with natural beeswax. No wonder they are well received by modern, eco conscious parents.

Unlike many other dollhouses the impressive Miniio homes are sized down from reality six times making them the ideal size for 30cm fashion dolls like Barbie. It may not be Barbie’s favourite colour but she will soon realise that there is such a thing as ‘too much pink’ and you can make a home your own by adding a few of your own accessories. I on the other hand love the neutral coloured decor, it is not too girly and very timeless.

This amazingly beautiful Miniko design features two storeys and comes complete with everything you need to decorate this modern house. From a stylish sofa, coffee table and bookcase to lights, mirror, rugs and much, much more; this is not your ordinary starter home. The Miniko home looks as if it comes straight from a high class architecture and interior design magazine, styled by a very talented designer.

You can be sure that a Miniio dollhouse will be used for years, handed down to siblings and kept as a keepsake. Years from now it will be taken out again for precious granddaughters to play with when they come visit.

To find out more about Coccinella, to take a closer look at the Miniio range and to order online visit www.coccinella.com.au.

Many people think that only men suffer from thinning hair while in reality nearly every mum struggles with it at some stage after giving birth. We try to ignore it and might even be embarrassed but there really is no need to be, it is completely normal AND there are fabulous products out there that will help you get your tresses back in tip top shape in no time. For many years Nioxin has been supplying men and women worldwide with effective, customised treatments for hair thinning, with six different systems available there is a treatment for everyone.

So what causes hair thinning after pregnancy and how and when can Nioxin help you? Imelda Sebastian from Nioxin gives you all the answers you need:

Why do women experience thinning hair after pregnancy?
For most women hair loss post pregnancy is caused by changes in hormonal activity which can bring about a thyroid imbalance. An over or under active thyroid gland can cause a diverse range of health related side effects – one of which is hair thinning. For women experiencing these problems it is extremely important to consult a doctor to balance hormonal activity, and bring the body back to equilibrium.

How does Nioxin help create thicker healthier hair?
Thinning hair is characterised by three distinctive characteristics including fewer hair cuticles, finer hair strands and an unhealthy scalp environment. Nioxin helps to create thicker, healthier hair by reducing hair loss due to breakage, delivering denser looking hair, amplifying hair texture, strengthening the resilience of hair against damage and removing follicle clogging sebum to create a healthy scalp environment that promotes healthy re-growth and recovery.

When would you recommend women start using Nioxin – when they fall pregnant or after?
Nioxin is safe to use through any stage of pregnancy and also whilst breast feeding. So, it can be used as a preventative measure during pregnancy, or when women notice changes in the thickness of their hair.
By rule of thumb, if you begin to feel concerned about thinning, start using it!

To find out more about Nioxin, to take a closer look at the different Nioxin Systems and to locate a Nioxin salon near you visit www.nioxin.com.

For your chance to win a customised Nioxin System 30-day trial kit (RRP $57) visit www.nioxin.com and answer the following question: Which Nioxin System would be ideal for you and your hair?

Submit your answer by leaving a comment below, your email address will not be published.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Nioxin on Facebook
• Subscribe to the weekly Sales, Savings & Giveaways email
• Subscribe to Hip little one via RSS
• Follow Hip little one with Networked Blogs (click this link and click ‘follow’ http://bit.ly/pjPo0k)
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter using @hiplittleone in your tweet
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the left and right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends June 17, 2012. Sorry, Australian entries only.

Shop For Tots

Little Obsessions
What? 20% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘autumnsale’ at checkout
When? Ends May 28, 2012
Where? www.littleobsessions.com.au

Motherly Instincts
What? Up to 76% off in Clearance Sale
How? Prices as marked
When? Until stock lasts
Where? www.motherlyinstincts.com.au

Toddler Town
What? 25% off Woddlers Backpacks & Lunchboxes
How? Prices as marked, enter the code ‘Free Post’ at checkout for free postage for orders over $30
When? Until May 20, 2012
Where? www.toddlertown.com.au

Milt and Joe
What? 30% off storewide when you spend $50 or more
How? Enter the code ‘snap to it’ at checkout
When? Until May 20, 2012
Where? www.miltandjoe.com.au

Mama Love
What? 30% off storewide when you spend $50 or more
How? Enter the code ‘MAMA’ at checkout
When? Until May 22, 2012
Where? www.mamalove.com.au

Although these days many people find out the gender of their unborn baby I myself loved the excitement of not knowing. I chose not to find out for the twins or our youngest daughter and will never forget that short moment after the birth when you don’t know yet if you have just been blessed with a son or daughter (both equally welcome of course). If you are preparing a gender neutral nursery you will love the neutral and natural Baby Luxe Organic range from Gummy Babies.

As your baby will be spending the majority of the day sleeping in his or her bed it is very important to select bedlinen that is safe from harsh chemicals and gentle on the skin. The Baby Luxe Organic Sheets are available in bassinet ($26) or cot ($40, fits Boori too) size. The snug fitting sheet will provide a safe sleep environment for your baby while the specially designed patented safety stay-on corners and extra deep sides will keep the sheet neatly in place.

The matching Baby Luxe Organic Cotton Herringbone Blanket ($64) will not only complete your neutral nursery look but it is also perfect for in the pram, car or when travelling. The double layer of soft organic cotton is sure to keep your baby snuggly warm this winter. The classic herringbone structure and dark brown edging are timeless and will not date, a quality investment that will be enjoyed for a long time.

Especially in the early days you will use the change table a lot, during the countless nappy changes but also to get baby dried and dressed. With the Baby Luxe Organic Cotton Terry Change Pad Cover ($27) you can rest assured that your baby will be super comfortable. The terrycloth middle panel is highly absorbent and will be very soft for baby’s delicate skin. The natural colour makes this a beautiful addition to any little boys or girls nursery, and a lovely practical present for an unborn baby too.

To find out more about Gummy Babies, to take a closer look at the Baby Luxe Organic range and to order online visit www.gummybabies.com.au. Remember, shipping within Australia is free.

These days when I am filling the plates at dinnertime I find it hard to believe there was a time when the kids ate just a few tiny teaspoons full. Now they eat big bowls full, ask for second serves and still manage to eat plenty of fruit after. But not from our ordinary, boring white plates of course, they prefer something bright and interesting so I know they would love the awesome Oogaa feeding range that recently arrived in Australia.

You can find the fabulous Oogaa products at Boutique Brands, home of lots of hip and stylish goodies for kids. Oogaa ticks all the boxes for modern, eco concious parents: all products are free from BPA and other harsh chemicals, they are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe and they won’t break, chip or make loud noises. Of course they will also get the tick of approval from little ones as they are easy to hold and feature bright colours, fun characters and shapes.

It is definitely the cool shapes of those spoons that everyone is going gaga over (or should I say oogaa?). We all know little ones love getting their food delivered by train or plane and with the Oogaa spoons you can take the mealtime journeys to a whole other level. You can buy the Oogaa tableware as a Mealtime Set ($24.95, 1 bowl and 2 spoons) or purchase the Spoons individually ($8.95), there are mutliple colours to choose from.

Although you’d think kids don’t waste a drop when eating from these funky utensils it is better to be safe than sorry which is where the Oogaa Placemats ($10.95) come in. Like their siblings they are made from soft safe silicone which has many fantastic features, one of my favourites being that it will not support the growth of fungus, mould or bacteria and is heat resistant. Plus it is super flexible and folds easily so it is perfect for on the go.

To find out more about Oogaa, to browse the range and to order online visit www.boutiquebrands.com.au. Extra little bonus: enter the code ‘FREEPOST’ to receive free shipping on your order, anytime (not valid for items on special)!

For your chance to win a Oogaa Mealtime and Placemat Set (Green) visit www.boutiquebrands.com.au and answer the following question: Aside from the Oogaa range, name two other labels available at Boutique Brands.

Submit your answer by leaving a comment below, your email address will not be published.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Boutique Brands on Facebook
• Follow Boutique Brands on Twitter
• Subscribe to the weekly Sales, Savings & Giveaways email
• Subscribe to Hip little one via RSS
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter using @hiplittleone and @BoutiqueBrands in your tweet
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the left and right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends June 14, 2012. Sorry, Australian entries only.

Happy Mother’s Day! It is such a special day to reflect on how lucky we are to be a mum and of course to be spoilt a little by our loved ones. When you shop online you sometimes forget that behind most children’s stores are actually mums just like you and me. Mums who work hard running their family at home and juggle a business on top of that, it is not always easy!

Today we are enjoying a virtual coffee with one of those lovely mums, meet the gorgeous Marie from Parents Like Us.

What does your ideal Sunday look like?
My ideal Sunday would be a sleep in, anything after 7am is great! It involves attempting to read the Sunday Paper (this usually takes me the whole week though). Baking cupcakes with my girls (Kayla & Georgia), which we love doing together although there is always a massive clean-up after! And preferably eating out or getting takeaway with family and friends. My husband (Jeff) doesn’t work weekends, so if I get some ‘me’ time in it’s even better, and of course it depends a lot on if the Bulldogs are playing. Got to love football season … not!

What do you like most about running Parents Like Us?
Definitely connecting with our customers and community. Our aim from the beginning has always been to pass on our own experience through our products and service (hence our name), as well as continuing to refine our own parenting skills form what we learn through our customers. It’s great when customers love our products as much as we do and extremely rewarding when we have happy customers who keep coming back, as well as referring family and friends.

Making mistakes we enjoy too, which might sound odd, but it’s a great learning experience we use to improve what we do as is the challenge of achieving the work/life balance with young children.

What can we expect of Parents Like Us in the future?
On the product front, we will be definitely adding funky and innovative products to our range. Being a ‘boutique’ we are selective about what we stock, which means you shouldn’t expect to see thousands of products only those we consider ‘essential’ or ‘classics’ and of course they will be tried and tested by parents like us.

Growing our little parenting community is definitely one of our goals. We plan to achieve this by making what we do more interactive and engaging through participation in community events, polls and reaching out to guest bloggers (if you are interested get in touch!).

Our website is also undergoing a major upgrade too which we hope to have completed by Christmas. The upgrade aims at adding many customer centric features like social engagement and incentive referrals, repeat customer recognition, loyalty programs, a completely new blog and a streamlined interface making the online shopping experience even simpler.

What is your favourite item in store?
We have many favourites! At the top of the list would have to be our Fetal Dopplers. The re assurance that a Fetal Doppler provides is second to none and they have proven to be hugely popular. Fetal Dopplers were the original plan for our store and differentiates us to competitors. We have always been extremely motivated in stocking quality Doppler’s aiming to place them in reach of expecting parents, by making them affordable, without compromising on quality.

The Baby Zoo Sleep Trainer Clock aka ‘Momo’ comes in second. Apart from being adorably cute ‘Momo’ teaches children when it’s time to sleep, and when it’s time to wake using a combination of eye moving actions, lights and jungle noises! ‘Momo’ has definitely been a sanity saver for both our customers and us (as parents) and epitomises everything about being innovative when it comes to children’s products.

How will you be celebrating Mother’s Day?
Last year Jeff, Kayla and Georgia surprised me with breakfast in bed, well almost, Gloria Jeans coffee and raspberry/ banana bread at the breakfast table, along with a card that the kids had recorded their mother days messages on. Hope I get the same this year! This will be followed by getting together with my mum, and my MIL, SIL and the rest of the clan. No cooking or chores all day! Can we make it Mother’s week, instead of Mother’s day?

To find out more about Parents Like Us, to browse the range and to order online visit www.parentslikeus.com.au. Australian orders over $50 are shipped free of charge and right now you can enjoy 20% off storewide at Parents Like Us. Simply enter the code ‘MUM20′ at checkout, hurry though as offer ends May 13, 2012.

Although the past week has been wonderful with many sunny days perfect for the park or playground we all know it won’t last forever. The days are already getting shorter and before we know it the kids will be forced to stay outside due to cold and rain. Luckily my three very much enjoy inside activities too and they spend lots of time playing with playdough, doing puzzles, drawing and, their big favourite, reading. And where better to sit down for a relaxing read than in a Lelbys Bean Chair from Avidiva.

Some gorgeous new Lelbys Bean Chairs have been released for this autumn season and the prints are just beautiful, they are a much more classy and timeless alternative to fluorescent pink Dora and in-your-face Spiderman couches. The unique prints will appeal to children and fit into your own decor too, proving you don’t have to give up your sense of style when you share a house with little people.

Based on the familiar concept of bean bags these bean chairs are filled with lots of little foam beans (not included but widely available in stores) to create a soft, comfortable seat for your little one. When filled the Lelbys Bean Chairs measure ca. 60cm wide by 60cm high, big enough for children up to 5 years old whilst not taking up too much room in your living room, play room or kids bedroom.

The Australian designed Lelbys Bean Chairs are available in 13 different prints to suit different genders, decors and colour schemes and all prints are made of high quality 100% cotton canvas. The bean chairs come with a no spill inner calico bag for safety and ease of cleaning (because no parent likes the idea of hundreds of beans spilling on the floor). And because they know little kids are curious the outer sleeve has a child proof zip which requires a paper clip to release and unlock.

To find out more about Avidiva, to take a closer look at the Lelbys Bean Chairs ($99.95+) and to order online visit www.avidiva.com.au, Australian orders ship free of charge.

If you are a regular Hip little one reader you may have read before that I am one of the many mothers who has lost an unborn baby. I don’t usually share my personal story but I know there are so many mums out there who have gone through this too and it is something that will always stay with me and has defined me as a person and a mother. After losing our first baby in a missed miscarriage I was terrified of it happening again when I was carrying the twins. The doctors ordered plenty of checkups just so I could hear/see the babies, but there were still many times that I wish I could quickly hear that reassuring sound of a beating heart and I would have loved to have my very own doppler to use at home.

At Parents Like Us they know a lot of mums feel like this, which is why they stock a great selection of fetal dopplers so you can listen to your baby’s heart whenever you want in the comfort of your own home. With a Sonotech Fetal Doppler you can share those wonderful moment with your husband, children or other family and friends who would love to hear the heartbeat of your unborn baby from as early as 10-12 weeks.

There are different doppler models available in store ranging from the basic Sonotech Lite Fetal Doppler ($69) to the Sonotech Xpress Fetal Doppler ($89.90) and finishing with the top-of-the-line Sonotech Pro Fetal Doppler ($149.90). This last model has loads of amazing features like a TFT colour LCD with diagnostic graph display, out of range fetal heart rate alarm indicator, crystal clear sound with noise isolation (very important) and much more.

Your new Sonotech doppler conveniently connects to two sets of headphones and computer for listening to and recording of those wonderful, amazing moments of hearing your unborn baby’s heartbeat, movements and hiccups. All Sonotech dopplers ship free of charge with tracking and come complete with 250ml ultrasound gel and 12 months warranty directly through Parents Like Us.

If you were thinking of getting yourself a doppler you are in luck, right now you can enjoy 20% off storewide at Parents Like Us. Simply enter the code ‘MUM20′ at checkout, hurry though as offer ends May 13, 2012.

To find out more about Parents Like Us, to take a closer look at the Sonotech doppler range and to order online visit www.parentslikeus.com.au.

For your chance to win a Sonotech Pro Fetal Doppler in blue or pink (RRP $149.90) simply like Parents Like Us on Facebook AND answer the following question: What do you like best about being pregnant?

Submit your answer by leaving a comment below, your email address will not be published.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Sign up for the free Parents Like Us newsletter (bottom right of homepage)
• Follow @parentslikeus on Twitter
• Subscribe to the weekly Sales, Savings & Giveaways email
• Subscribe to Hip little one via RSS
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter using @hiplittleone and @parentslikeus in your tweet
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the left and right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends June 11, 2012. Sorry, Australian entries only.

With the start of kindy just 3 months away I recently picked up the twins’ welcome packs so I can read up on all we need to know and all they need to bring on this new adventure. As three of my children are allergic to dairy I am very aware of allergy policies at schools and I was pleased to see our future kindy is very aware of allergies too. If you are looking for that perfect lunchbox treat that is healthy, tasty and safe you’ll love these yummy bars from Freedom Foods.

The name of the Nut Free Muesli Bars doesn’t actually do them justice, they are not only completely free from nuts but also free from gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast and eggs. Surely a bar doesn’t get any more allergy friendly than that? On top of being safe the bars are tasty too, made with wholegrains, juicy Australian fruit pieces and nutritious seeds. Unlike most bars the ingredients of the Nut Free Muesli Bars are only slightly warmed to preserve nutrients and keep the naturally wholesome flavours.

If you are on track with all the latest health trends you have probably heard about the super food quinoa, this grain is tiny in size but it makes up for it in nutritional properties. The brand new nut free Ancient Grains Super Bar contains a puffed version of this hugely popular grain and together with puffed millet, cereals, seeds and fruit makes for a delicious bar packed full of goodness (think magnesium, antioxidants, protein and fibre).

Since starting my healthy craze on January 1st I have come to understand the importance of a good, healthy breakfast. I never used to have breakfast and just grabbed something quick when I could find a spare minute (some days nothing at all) and never realised the disastrous effect it had on me. I think the Berry Good Morning cereal looks and sounds fantastic and I am very keen to give it a try, cranberries are one of my favourites these days so combined with dates and tasty flakes it has to be a winner.

To find out more about Freedom Foods, to locate a stockist near you or to order online visit www.freedomfoods.com.au.

For your chance to win a Freedom Foods gift hamper filled with lots of delicious products (RRP $50) visit www.freedomfoods.com.au and answer the following question: Which Freedom Foods product would your family love to try?

Submit your answer by leaving a comment below, your email address will not be published.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Freedom Foods on Facebook
• Register for the Freedom Foods newsletter
• Subscribe to the weekly Sales, Savings & Giveaways email
• Subscribe to Hip little one via RSS
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter using @hiplittleone in your tweet
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the left and right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends June 10, 2012. Sorry, Australian entries only.