Hip Baby: For Hip Parents Looking For Sustainable Products

Christine — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:10 +0000

When you walk into Hip Baby in Kitsilano, you know you’ve entered something special. The 1,400 square foot store is colourful and inviting, with products attractively merchandised and free of the clutter found in so many children’s stores. It’s clear that careful thought has been put into the design of the store – the products easily flow from toys to diapering to feeding to sleeping and more.

Originally opened in 1995, Hip Baby changed hands in February 2009. “We walked in and could see the potential,” says Michael Ziff, who with his long-time business partner Jen MacCormack revamped the store, replacing most of the old product offering with sustainable and organic options that maintain practicality.

You won’t find strollers, cribs or high chairs here, but don’t equate Hip Baby’s boutique feel with “small.” The store has a surprisingly deep selection of brands and products – from the established Haba and Mother Ease to the local Sock Love and Padraig Cottage Slippers. Hip Baby also sells Fig, the duo’s own organic clothing line for children, and is the only retailer in Vancouver to offer Olli and Lime, the makers of one of Purl Mama’s top three sleep sack picks.

Hip Baby would like to break the increasingly “conservative mold of 4th Avenue,” according to Jen, who has witnessed the rise of more mainstream corporate chains in the area over the years and who uses words like “unique, local, Canadian” when describing Hip Baby.

Catering to the neighbourhood Kitsilano crowd and beyond, Michael thinks Hip Baby would appeal most to parents who are looking for “hip, modern baby clothing and products that are cool and sustainable with a design-minded aesthetic.”

As part of its vision for sustainability, Hip Baby offers the largest selection of cloth diapers in the city, giving customers the opportunity to touch and feel the different diaper brands, as well as get educated on what cloth diapering is all about. Hip Baby offers twice-monthly seminars on diapering at $20 per person or $30 per couple. Each person gets a $15 gift certificate toward a purchase of $100 worth of diapers – so for a couple intending to buy cloth diapers, the cost of the seminar pays for itself.

When I mention my husband’s apprehension to cloth diapering, Michael laughs, saying that most moms bring the dads to the seminars to show them how easy cloth diapers are. Granville Online recently posted a terrific article about Hip Baby’s cloth diapering seminars, which you can read here.

Michael and Jen plan on opening their online store in the next few weeks. Since Hip Baby offers more than cloth diapers, the team sees real potential for parents who want to buy diapers online, along with other items. The hope is not only to bring Hip Baby to Vancouver moms who can’t easily access the store, but also reach customers on an international level.

And why not? Hip Baby has what every urban family is looking for.

Hip Baby

2110 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Tel: 604.736.8020 | www.hipbaby.com | Twitter: @hipbaby_kits (see map below).

For more great photos of the store, check out Hip Baby’s blog.

Baby Sleep Sacks: Let Your Baby Sleep Easy

Christine — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:00:44 +0000

Now that autumn is here, you might be thinking about how to keep your baby warm throughout the night. A baby sleep sack, a wearable “blanket,” is a great alternative to a regular blanket since it leaves your child’s head exposed, can’t come loose and is believed to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Sleep deprived parents know the everyday benefits of a sleep sack. “Many parents say that their baby’s sleep is more peaceful and lasts longer,” says Penny Dawes, owner of Purl Mama & Baby, a Vancouver Island-based online store for stylish new mamas and babies with a focus on modern design. “Babies can’t kick off their covers and wake up because they’re cold or tangled up.”

Most sleep sacks are made of cotton with polyester filling, although there are some made with completely natural fibres like cotton or bamboo. “There’s definitely a trend away from sacks using polyester and towards ones with natural fibres,” says Penny, who says that they are softer, more breathable, odour resistant and regulate baby’s temperature in summer and winter – although they also tend to be more expensive.

How to Choose a Sleep Sack

Choose the right size. While it can be tempting and more economical to purchase a sleep sack that the baby can “grow into,” Penny cautions against it since there’s a risk that the sack might get tangled or the baby might slip down into the sack. Get a sleep sack that’s the right size for your child.

Choose a weight suitable for the season. There are sleep sacks that are lighter and therefore cooler for the summer, and heavier and warmer for the winter. “Some standard weight bags can be used year round,” says Penny, “just add another layer of clothing underneath in winter.”

Check how the sleep sack closes. A sleep sack fastens usually in the front or side with zippers or snaps. “Consider how easy it is to put on as well as undo for nighttime diaper changes,” says Penny.

Think about cleaning. “Look for something you can throw into a regular wash.”

Purl Mama’s Top Three Sleep Sack Picks

ErgoPouch Sleep Sacks

“I love the ErgoPouch range. They’re made from all natural fibres, including organic cotton and bamboo as well as a luxury version made from alpaca. They’re made with stretch inserts on the sides so babies can move about freely without getting tangled and they come with a double ended zipper for easy diaper changes.”

ErgoCocoon Sleep Sack

“Part of the ErgoPouch range, the ErgoCocoon sleep sack has been designed for newborns. It’s made from a supersoft organic cotton stretchy knit, and it’s like a swaddling wrap that’s been made into a sleep sack – swaddling made supereasy.”

Ollie and Lime Sleep Sacks

“The new sleep sacks from Olli and Lime (www.olliandlime.com) are available in three great modern designs. Not only do they look great but they’re amazingly soft and snuggly.”

ErgoPouch and ErgoCoccoon sleep sacks are available online on Purl Mama’s web site: www.purlmama.com | Twitter @purlmama

Ollie and Lime sleep sacks are available in Vancouver at Hip Baby, 2110 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver (in Kitsilano). Tel: 604.736.8020 | www.hipbaby.com | Twitter: @hipbaby_kits (see map below).

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