Tots to Teens: The children's clothing company that uses only organic fabrics

Plus affordable baby and toddler items in Aldi and free football lessons with Decathlon and Little Kickers

Milly McCarthy’s Wild Atlantic Antics by Leona Forde; the hot air balloon dress from My Mini Munch; and Bold Bunny prints.

My Mini Munch is having a summer sale. Founded by a Dublin-based mum-of-three, this children’s clothing company uses only organic fabrics to create clothes that children enjoy wearing.

Take this hot air balloon dress, for example. There’s a gentle stretch in the fabric that allows it to be gently pulled over the head so there is no need for snaps, zips, or fastenings.

It’s ethically made in Ireland, comes in sizes ranging from six months to seven years, and is machine washable. It’s on sale for €38.21 and you can buy it from myminimunch.com.

New Milly McCarthy book

If your little bookworms run out of reading material over the holidays, hand them the latest in the Milly McCarthy series.

Milly McCarthy’s Wild Atlantic Antics by Leona Forde sees the Cork schoolgirl head to the Kerry Gaeltacht. She can’t wait to be away from home with her friends, but her teachers aren’t quite so excited. Milly may be charming and clever, but she also has a habit of creating trouble wherever she goes.

Told from Milly’s perspective, this book is written in diary style, making it an ideal fit for Wimpy Kid fans. It’s packed with Irish references and aimed at readers aged eight and up.

It’s widely available and costs €10.99

Affordable items at Aldi

Aldi’s Baby and Toddler Event is back this week, offering products at affordable prices.

The Graco Turn2M i-Size R129 Midnight is available for €130. This two-in-one convertible stroller can be used in forward-facing or rear-facing mode. It can be rotated to make it easier to get little ones in and out of the car. It’s suitable for newborns up to four years old.

The Graco Myavo Stroller, which costs €100, is lightweight, compact and requires the use of only one hand to fold easily. It has multiple recline options and adjustable calf support to suit babies or toddlers.

Other products for sale include sterilising kits, baby safety gates, and potties — designed to look, sound, and feel like real toilets.

Positive messaging

Remind your children just how much you love them with a colourful print from Bold Bunny.

Bold Bunny is the brainchild of Ali Jones, a mum who started out selling greeting cards to shops in Dublin. 

She now has a website (boldbunny.ie) that showcases her growing range of cards, prints, and her best-selling forget-me-not calendars.

All of her products are designed and made in a sustainable, climate-conscious way. ‘Love You Lots Like Jelly Tots’ is printed on paper made from eucalyptus fibre, and is packed in a biodegradable bag.

It comes in two sizes, measuring 23cm by 23cm or 30cm by 40cm. Prices start from €18.

Free football lessons

Bring your little ones along to Decathlon in Limerick for a free football lesson this July and August. 

Decathlon is teaming up with Little Kickers, an international organisation that aims to give children a positive introduction to sport by teaching football skills in a pressure-free environment.

These 30-minute classes will take place every Saturday and Sunday from now until August 24. 

There are sessions for toddlers aged from 18 months to two-and-a-half, as well as sessions for older kids up to the age of six.

These classes are free but parents are advised to book online at eventbrite.ie.

Solutions for summer

Some kids find the summer holidays difficult. The lack of routine, camps, later bedtimes, and influx of visitors can be disorienting for them, and they can act up as a result.

Dr Jazmine McCoy, aka @themompsychologist on Instagram, has tips to help. The California-based psychologist and mother of three has built up a following of more than one million people thanks to her simple and easy-to-follow advice on positive discipline and creating connections with children.