Category: Kids Clothes

Children, Families, Family Life, Fashion, Food, Gifts, Kids Clothes, Necklaces, Presents, Reviews, Shopping

Independent Shop Christmas Gift Guide

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Independent Shop Christmas Gift Guide

Over the years I have tried more and more to shop from independent stores for a whole host of reasons.

One being I know from experience how hard it is to run your own buisness, and how much blood, sweat and tears goes into making it a success. Because of this you always get that personal touch when shopping small and I know that each and every sale that is made will be appreciated.

I have compiled a gift guide this year showcasing a few of my favourite gifts from my favourite independents.

Something For The Kids – I always try to limit the amount of plastic contraptions that go on the kids Christmas lists and steer them towards things that are going to last longer and mean more…this doesn’t always work, but I definitely give them lots of alternative ideas to the ones that they see on screen.

Kind Words – I love anything that inspires children and encourages them to think about their day to day actions. Curious Child have a gorgeous range of fun, colourful clothing that they will love just as much as you!

This Be Kind jumper is certainly one of my favourites!

Colour Popping – For anyone who follows me regularly, you will know how much I love colouful clothing for the kids – and this is exactly what you get with We Love Frugi. They have a huge range of colourful, organic clothing and accessories from babies to adults. This super snuggle fleece and bobble hat would make a wonderful christmas gift.

Scrub Up – Bathtime gifts aren’t just for adults. I know that mine all absolutely love gifts that can be used in the bathroom. Childs Farm have everything covered, from this beautiful washbag full of body wash and bubble bath, a money box full of goodies and this super cute cracker for the tiny ones in your life.

All of their products are dermatologist and paediatrician approved, which makes them sutiable for even the most sensitive of skin.

Something Personal – Frankie suffers terribly with anxiety, with a large part of this attached to separation . When I came across these hoodies from Olive & Pip I couldn’t think of anything more perfect for him. Each super soft hoodie has a secret message printed on the inside cuff that is hand written by you. I think it will be a comforting reminder that there is always a little part of me with him when he is wearing it.

Olive & Pip don’t just stop there, they have a huge range of gifts from clothing to picture frames, prints to hampers and lots more so be sure to check them out.

Subscription Boxes – A gift they keeps giving in the form of a monthly subscription is always a lovely gift, and I think you are going to like this one.

Cover Those Toes – Socks are always a good idea at Christmas and what makes this Socks In A Box gift even better is that each month you get a box of of one or two pairs of beautiful bamboo socks through the door every month. They are lots of different options to choose from, including one off gift boxes.

Something Pretty – Christmas is definitely a time for jewellery and I have a couple of beautiful pieces here you might like to take a look at.

Snowflake Loveliness – Snowflakes and Christmas go hand in hand and this beautiful enamel snowflake pendent from I Am Rachel Shop would make a stunning present. This handmade pendent comes in white or mint green and hang from a sterling silver chain. Rachel also has a gorgeous range of other pieces that are definitely worth checking out!

Personalised Jewels – If you are looking for delicate, beautiful, personalised jewellery then Bloom Boutique is the place to go. They have stunning pieces such as this secret message birthstone necklace and bracelet. That are gorgeous on their own, but made that little more special with the personalisation.

Something Smelly – Who doesn’t love a scented gift at this time of year! I for one have always loved to fill the house with christmas smells and these wax melt hampers from Scentsational Candle Co give you a whole range of different Christmas scents – the hardest thing is to pick which one I like best!

In The Kitchen – I love gifts for the kitchen as I spend so much time in there and here are a few pieces that have really caught my eye.

Eco Friendly Kitchen – Sustainability is at the forefront of most peoples minds these days and I have been trying to move away from plastic food covering and EdiBee have got the perfect solution to this. They have a stunning range of sandwich bags, snack packs and bowl coverings in a range of different sizes and designs.

They have even done a Christmas Gluhwein mix in a reusable snackpocket that brings you that delicious smell of Christmas the moment you open them.

On The Go – Last but by no means least is this gorgeous flask, designed by my very own Oscar! Dinky Artist has a massive range of different items that can be personalised with your little ones creations. Oscar went with Santa as he said we love hot chocolate at Christmas and this could go in our thermal flask.

I really am in love with how well made and thoughtful these pieces are and I think they would make for a wonderful Christmas gift.

*PR Products included.

Children, Families, Family Life, Kids Clothes, Kids Style, Parents, Reviews, School

Treads – The Indestructible School Shoe

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Treads – The Indestructible School Shoe

[GIFTED] It’s that time of year when parents are frantically trying to get ready for the return of ‘back to school’ labels are being stuck in, trousers are being taken up and for me the dreaded shoe shop is taking place.

With years of school shoe shopping under my belt I still haven’t found a stress free way to keep the kids happy and me sane whilst getting what we need.

So when Treads asked if I would like to try out their online shoe shop I was immediately drawn in as the prospect of hitting the shops was something I had been avoiding – especially in the current pandemic.

Treads specialise in durable school shoes for children aged 6-16 using a combination of top quality materials and clever technology to turn construction style footwear into school shoes.

The boys sat with me and happily scrolled through the shoes and selecting them for themselves. There wasn’t a huge range which for me was much better as they came to a decision really quickly.

Frankie went for the smart, Velcro option with the Sydney shoe and Oscar went for a more casual, lace up with the Boston.

Children are in school shoes for a good six or more hours a day, so fitting is important to me and is the only reason I usually opt to go in store for this. However Treads have a print out paper gauge that allows you to take the measurements and then enter online to get the perfect fit. They also come with a dual fitting system which means you can take out one of the inner soles to give you a wider fit.

The biggest pull for me though was their ’12 month indestructible guarantee’ which means if they don’t meet their high standards they will replace them for FREE.

My youngest two have been known to ruin shoes in a matter of weeks so I’m eager to see if they can stand the rest of time with them and by the sounds of these shoes they should have their work cut out trying to get through these!

A special Strobel technique is used which means the upper part of the shoe is placed into the mould and then the sole is injected around it – making it come complete entity. As well as this, the heels are reinforced to prevent splitting so they really have covered everything.

I will of course keep you updated and let you know if the demolishers manage to break through…I have high hopes for these though!

Children, Families, Family Life, Kids Clothes

Finding The Best Kidswear Online

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Finding The Best Kidswear Online

We might not be able to get out of the house to go shopping at the moment, but that doesn’t stop little bodies and toes growing and needing clothing.

We have certainly been opting for comfort over the past few weeks of lockdown and with the boys ordinarily living in school uniform and skinny jeans I found myself having to look for clothes that were more suitable for spending time indoors and out in garden.

Comfy tracksuit bottoms, shorts, T-shirt’s and of course swimming trunks for all this good weather we have been blessed with have become our staples and instead of perusing the shops as we usually would I have taken all my clothes shopping online.

It has really opened my eyes up to the vast way to can shop online and I have thoroughly enjoyed using my usual stores as well as discovering new ways to shop.

I have always been a fan of shopping small and Instagram is a great way to find unique children’s wear whist supporting small businesses which is even more important during this time.

There are also a huge range of preloaded sites available where you can pick up some real bargains as we all know how quickly children grow out of clothes and shoes, or in the boys case trash them within no time at all!

When my older children were younger I did a fair amount of shopping from catalogues which have now been moved online and it’s not something I really thought about before, but they give you a great variety of clothing choices for all ages and most of these fall into the buy now pay later clothing catalogues which might be an option some of you might want to look at.

Children, Families, Family Life, Giveaways, Kids Clothes, Kids Style, Reviews, Toddlers

Ergo Pouch Sleepsuit Giveaway

by thejoyoffive57 Comments on Ergo Pouch Sleepsuit Giveaway

All of mine have been crazy sleepers in the sense that they can’t keep still in bed for more than a few minutes! From tiny babies it was always the relentless task of going into their rooms at night to cover them back up before they got woken by the cold.

This is where the discovery of baby sleeping bags with my youngest two was an absolute game changer and the ability to keep them warm all night was finally discovered!

As they grew though we still had the issue with missing bedcovers but a real lack of anything to use once they outgrew the sleeping bag stage.

However the clever people at ergoPouch have got this covered with their amazing Ergo Pouch Sleepsuit.

Ergo Pouch in fact start with baby swaddles and sleeping bags for little ones and then allow older children to progress to the sleep suit.

All their products are made with natural, skin friendly fibres that allow both temperature regulation and breathability which gives the child comfort and you peace of mind.

Oscar is probably on of my most wiggly little ones who also feels the cold terribly so trying out the sleep suit bag on him made for the perfect candidate.

The bag is easily converted into a suit from a bag allowing the child freedom to move around or the perfect way to move them from car to bed in one easy movement without having to fuss around.

Being avid campers this is also the perfect alternate to the traditional and somewhat uncomfortable sleeping bags we usually use for the children and we will be testing ours out at Camp Bestival in a few weeks time.

If this sounds like the perfect solution for your little ones then please feel free to enter my completion below to win one of your very own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Children, Families, Family Life, Fashion, Kids Clothes, Kids Style, Reviews, Summer

Bobux:Shoes For Thoses Precious Toes

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Bobux:Shoes For Thoses Precious Toes

I vividly recall shoe shopping trips with my Mum when I was a child. Walking into shoe shops and spotting those hugely impractical glittery heeled beauties that was oh so impractical but just so tempting.

I would be abruptly turned away from the sparkle and instead have my feet slipped into the boring grey t-bar shoes that my Mum always opted for.

The 80’s certainly didn’t cross practically with style and I am so grateful that things have come such a long way since then and I have the opportunity to allow my own children to pick shoes that will protect their little feet as well as being super stylish.

I am a huge fan of Bobux Shoes and so are my youngest two as they are the masters of crossing practicality with style.

With this fantastic weather it is sandals that are most definitely called for and this actually always fills my heat with dread! Over the years I have found very few sandals that my children firstly like the look of and secondly don’t rub!

For many summers I have actually had to resort to them having sweaty feet in trainers and this is a better option than tending to sore feet.

Bobux are always our first choice when it comes to shoes and boots but sandals are not something we had tried from them before so I was really happy when Frankie and Oscar received some to try out.

The first test came with the box opening and from the smiles on their faces I knew this one was passed with flying colours. The Soul sandals that we chose come in a beautiful tan and navy premium leather that is super supple and literally moulds to their feet. The velcro fastening to the back makes them really easy to get on and off and there is also the added benefit of additional straps across the toes and just below the ankle that can be adjusted to make for the perfect fit.

These sandals have trappsed across the beach, climbed trees and visited many playgrounds without a moan or whimper from either of them and they are certainly something I would buy time and time again.

*We were sent this sandals for the purpose of this review an they are all my own, honest opinions.

Children, Families, Family Life, Fashion, Grandchildren, Grandparents, Kids Clothes, London, Memories, Shopping, Sons, Toddlers

Celebrating The Small Things:Week Three

by thejoyoffive2 Comments on Celebrating The Small Things:Week Three

Im a little bit late with this entry as life has got in the way and things have been sidelined. Last week was full of mundane tasks but I certainly have a few special moments to record.

Isla’s First Haircut: Being a grandparent is a completely new ball game to being a parent and one thing that I have found hard is bitting my tongue when Alice does things differently to I would. I have to hold myself back and remember all those times I got annoyed with my own mother for voicing her opinion so I told myself I wouldn’t be that fussing, interfering mother.
For months Isla’s hair has been growing out of control and I have wanted to take the scissors to it for so long.
Finally this week they decided it was time to be taken for her first haircut and I was so please to have been able to take her along for this experience.

Eyesight Improvement For Frankie: Last year Frankie was prescribed glasses and the vision in the right eye was a lot poorer than his left. The glasses alone hadn’t made any improvement so just over a month ago he was given a patch to wear for four hours everyday.
To be honest I thought we were going to have more trouble getting him to wear it then we have and apart from a few strops he’s been pretty good with it. This has paid off and he had improved by two lines on his sight test last week which was a big win for us.

Shopping With The Boys: Walking round the shops is somewhat of a distant memory for me since having children…well actually it’s only the last two that have put me off shopping with children for life.
All my shopping is done online and it wasn’t until we had a walk down Carnaby Street at the weekend that I realised now the boys are older they actually loved being able to walk around picking out things they like and trying the on.
They both certainly have and know their own minds when it comes to their style and Frankie was over the moon to be able to choose his first pair of ‘real’ trainers.

Children, Families, Family Life, Fashion, Kid Bloggers, Kids Clothes, Reviews, Shopping

Tootsa MacGinty:Bold, Comfy and Perfect For Kids

by thejoyoffive2 Comments on Tootsa MacGinty:Bold, Comfy and Perfect For Kids

‘I wanted to offer an alternative to the sea of pinks and blues, whilst also being practical, easy care, quality clothing. A unisex range which doesn’t limit a child and and lets a child be a child.’

These are the wise words of Tootsa MacGinty owner – Kate Pietrasik and are the exact thoughts that have run through my mind so many times whilst out shopping with my little ones.

As a mum of five I know how each and every child is so wonderfully different and not one of mine has fallen into a box that goes with those stereotypical tags that are in place when it comes to choosing clothing for girls and boys.

I have two little boys that have a huge love for pink and neither of my girls have been big fans of pink, frilly dresses so to find a brand that allows them to chose what they like without the worry of choosing something from ‘the wrong’ section is a breath of fresh air and this is exactly what Toota offer.

Their bold patterns and striking colours make this brand stand out from the crowd and the comfortable, wearable design and fit are perfect for active little ones.

My boys were lucky enough to be sent some items from Tootsa and they certainly put them through their paces.

The Newfoundland Lumberjack Jacket has been pretty much surgically attached to them since it arrived!

The bright checked print and cosy fluffy lining bring a more wearable addition to the usual denim jacket for this time of year and we have been stopped on more than one occasion to ask where they are from.

We love layering in this house as being on the go all the time and going from being cosy inside to hitting the great outdoors several times a day we need clothes to suit every eventuality.

Tootsa has a great collection of cosy sweatshirts to help with this. There is a whole host of different colours and patterns To choose from. The boys absolutely love their Toronto Sweatshirt covered in eskimos and totem poles that is perfect for this time of year.

Lastly we tried out their Classic Slimfit Jeans. This was a bit of a change for me as I always opt of super skinny jeans for all the children and I ordinarily don’t like the fit of any other styles, but I was very pleasantly surprised by these.

The looser fit that tapers in at the ankle was a great style and makes for a great wardrobe staple.

The thing that really draws me to Tootsa clothing though is their attention to detail and quality make in every piece.

From patches on the pockets to flashes of fabric in the turn-ups they have thought of everything to make for happy parents and happy kids alike!

* We were sent these items for the purpose of this review and they are all my own, honest opinions.

Gifts, Kids Clothes, Uncategorized

Shop Small And Share The Love This Christmas

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Shop Small And Share The Love This Christmas

Christmas lists have been written and people are heading to the high street in droves and spending many an hour sat staring at a laptop filling their virtual baskets with very little thought behind where each of these presents is coming from…many will also think does it really matter?

We are all looking to get value for money and ease of purchase and very rarely take five minutes to search independent shops that offer so much more than the big chain stores.

Small business offer you something completely different to just a straight transaction. There is a little bit of love send with each order, a personal touch with each package and that warm feeling inside knowing the fact you are helping to build someones dream.

When they package arrives through your door beautifully packaged, usually with a little handwritten note inside it makes the experience so different and so worthwhile.

Over the past few years I have found a real love for many small business, most of which I have stumbled upon on scrolling through Instagram and not only do I get fabulous products with amazing customer service, I have built good friendships with many which makes a huge difference to my whole shopping experience.

I have listed a few of my favs below and I highly recommend you go and check them out:

Five Boys Clothing:Five Boys Clothing is an amazing online store that I came across a couple of years ago now. They turn the stereotypical thought the all boys clothing is boring on its head and offer an amazing range of cool clothes and quirky gifts that would bring a smile to any face if they were tucked under the tree this year.

My boys are absolutely in love with Lego and its the only toy they go back to again and again. However somethings they could do with something a little different to create and this is where the Brikkon Ninja Temple is a brilliant gift.

The easy to assemble wooden structure can be put together and then covered with Lego bricks from your own collections. It really allows children to use their own imaginations and create whatever they want.

Little Gnashers: Mine may be past the teething stage now but it dosent mean I can’t enjoy the contempery designs of Little Gnashers teething jewellery.

The fab necklace pictured here would be perfect to cheer up any outfit and still keeps my youngest one occupied whist out and about.

Handmade in London these necklaces come in a huge range of colours and shapes and can be mixed and matched to create the perfect combination for you.

Kids LDN: Kids LDN is a brand that is relatively new to me but has had me hooked since I first caught sight of them on Instagram.

Their bold colours and edgy designs give a quirky look that suits my youngest two’s personalities perfectly and certainly makes them stand out in the crowd.

Oscar and Frankie are both the proud owners of these super cool beanies that not only keep them toasty but also puts a smile on their face with every wear.

Sweetpea Pantry: Getting the kids in the kitchen is something that is very important to me along with trying my hardest to make good food choices.

Sweetpea Pantry have come up with a fantastic range of mixes that allow little ones to prepare delicious, nutritious goodies that are fun to make and soooo good to eat.

These mixes would be perfect to keep the children busy over the holidays and what could be better then getting them involved with the present giving by getting them to make some delicious gifts.

Sidneyboo: If you are looking for fun clothes for boys and girls under the age of 10 then this is the place to come.

Sidneyboo has been on my list of favs for a long time now as their clothes are so wearable which is a big must for my very active family. I love clothes that allow kids to be kids and Sidneyboo offer just this.

One item that I go back to time and time again are their Individual sweaters like the ‘trail’ footprint sweater.

Its cosy fit and fab colours make it a real favourite of ours.

Have you opted to shop small this Christmas? If so I would love for you to give a shout out to some of your favourite brands.

* I was given these items for the purpose of this gift guide and they are all my own, honest options and I’m sure you would share the same love as me too!

Children, Families, Family Life, Fashion, Kids Clothes, Kids Style, Photography, Reviews, Shopping

Bobux:Comfort, Style, Made With Love

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Bobux:Comfort, Style, Made With Love

“we make shoes that are the best thing parents can do for their kids feet”

These are the words of the husband and wife mastermind behind the beautiful brand – Bobux.

For me choosing shoes for infants is a hugely important task with so many things to consider. Their delicate little feet need to be well protected, the shoe needs to be comfortable and easy to move around in and also look good.

Bobux have got this down to a tee and taken all these elements to create beautiful shoes that grow with your child.

My youngest two are super adventurous and certainly know their own minds when it comes to dressing so something that can withstand active boys whist appealing to their fashion needs is always a challenge.

Thankfully from the minute they started to scroll though the vast collection that Bobux have online their wish lists grew and grew and had to be whittled down to their favourites.

With the colder weather fast approaching we decided on a pair of boots for the both of them with Oscar going for the red Outback boot and Frankie and his quirky taste going for the silver Vault boot.

Both boots are made of super soft leather with zip fastenings and an elastic panel to the side making them really easy to get on and off.

We put the boots to the test with a walk around town and no complaint was made about sore or uncomfortable feet. So often within a few hours I have little ones moaning and groaning about shoes that rub or simply just don’t feel right.

The quality make and leather of this boots really shone through and made for an easy day for us all.

The simplistic design means they are perfect for everyday wear but can equally be dressed up for a special occasion.

They also lend themselves well to suiting both sexes.

As I said Frankie loves something alternative so the super cool silver was a big hit with him and the boldred of oscars boots really makes a statement.

The love and attention to detail really shines thoughin each pair of shoes and they arecertainly a brand we will be going back to time and time again.

*collaborated post

Children, Families, Family Life, Fashion, Kid Bloggers, Kids Clothes, Kids Style

Protecting Young Eyes With Smart Buy Glasses

by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Protecting Young Eyes With Smart Buy Glasses

When it comes to sunglasses for me it is fashion first before anything else.

I’ve never been one to spend a lot on glasses as I change my mind all the time as to the style I like and I am also terrible at loosing them!

I have always made do with high street glasses that normally don’t cost more than £10 and for the children it is pretty much the same thing.

Picking up a pair that they are drawn to in the supermarket has always been how I shopped for them as I know they aren’t going to last five minutes before they get broken or lost.

It wasn’t until the other day when I had to make an eye appointment for Frankie that I was informed of how important it is to look after our little ones eyes.

Below are some of the reasons why we need to protect our eyes…especially when the children are little:

  • UV damage is not only harmful to our skin, it can also affect our eyes too. I mean none of us would let the children out without suncream would we.
  • Half of the damage of our lifetimes sun expose is in the first twenty years of life so it’s really important to protect ourselves from a young age.
  • Longterm effects of UV damage to the eyes can cause problems such as cataracts in old age.

There are so many things we can do to prevent this from happening so when Smart Buy Glasses asked me to try out some glasses for me and the children I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to get something trendy yet protective.

Smart Buy Glasses offer a huge range of designer glasses with up to a massive 50% discount on brands such as Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Oakley, Ralph Lauren and many more.

Ray-Ban have always been a favourite of mine for their timeless classic designs that never age.

I picked the Erica that have a really attractive oval shaped lens and a full frame.

They will be perfect for any occasion and will never go out of fashion.
For the kids I went for Ray Bans too as they are both durable and stylish and come with super bright cases so even my forgetful children would misplace them!

Izzy loved the mirrored lenses and the namesake of the Izzy Junior while Frankie thought he was super cool in his plastic frame Ray Ban Juniors.


If you are looking for a new pair of designer sunnies for yourself or looking to protect the eyes of your precious little ones then you will be spoiled for choice with Smart Buy Glasses.

*Collaborated post