Want a 20% discount? Send us your HOLIDAY IDEAS! Visit blog.letop-usa.com for details

Calling all parent-fashionistas! We are in the midst of designing our Holiday 2013 collection – yes, that is correct! It seems far away, but in order to make the quality clothing that Le Top is known for, we need to design far in advance for YOU! Read below to receive your 20% discount code for http://www.letop-usa.com/.

DON’T FORGET TO NOW VISIT OUR NEW BLOG AT
HTTP://BLOG.LETOP-USA.COM

 

 

What We Need:
We would love to hear you input on what you would like to see on your kiddo during the holidays. A red velour dress? Penguins on a fun icy blue boy’s shirt? Elves booties? A candy striped one-piece for your baby? You let us know!

What do you get in return?   A pre-holiday gift where you will receive a 20% discount code to our online boutique: www.letop-usa.com.                                

How to:

1. Just post your ideas on our Facebook wall at: http://on.fb.me/Pogy17 or email us at service@letop-usa.com
2. We will contact you directly with an exclusive 20% discount code. All ideas must be posted or emailed by Monday, August 27^th.
3. Shop at www.letop-usa.com with your exclusive discount!

HAPPY (early) HOLIDAYS!

Promotional offer valid through October 31, 2012. Offer not valid on phone orders. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or sale items and cannot be applied to previous purchases.

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Tips for Putting Your Baby to Sleep in a Crib

I was talking to my best friend Kristen yesterday who had a baby boy in February – and she is dying of sleep because it has become really hard to put him down for naps and even to bed at night. She kept pushing on me that when I have a baby, nothing is predictable—except for a shortage of shut-eye!  It’s every parent’s recurring nightmare: you and your baby are super tired, but your baby will not fall asleep.  In the first few months of your baby’s life, getting her to sleep can be a challenge. Newborn babies sleep around 16 hours a day, but due to the need for frequent feedings, these often occur in one- and two-hour stretches at a time. When your baby is 3 months old, sleep time increases up to five-hour intervals, and by 6 months, she may sleep from nine to 12 hours at a time. Mayo Clinic experts point out that regardless of your child’s age, it’s never too soon to learn how to put a baby to sleep in a crib to encourage good sleeping habits.

This post has been moved to our website. To view the full post and specific tips for putting you baby to sleep click on this link: http://blog.letop-usa.com/?p=25614

CHECK OUT LE TOP BABY AND CHILDREN’S CLOTHING AT
www.letop-usa.com

 

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The Purple Turtle Boutique: PREMIER STORE SPOTLIGHT Q&A

This week we interviewed storeowner, Karen Smith, for our 2nd Premier Store Spotlight of the New Year – The Purple Turtle – located in Gallipolis, Ohio. Not only does she have the cutest baby and kids clothes in Gallipolis, but she also throws fabulous anniversary events at her store with local photographers that take pictures of your kiddos (eh, hem, make sure to go!)! Karen’s store is sure to be your “go-to” for the best baby shower gifts in town, and she reveals in her interview her secret reading gift for any new mom, as well dishing on what she swore she would “never do as a grandparent.” Read more about the fabulous boutique, The Purple Turtle below!

 

The Purple Turtle

300 2^nd Avenue
Gallipolis, OH 45631-1163
740.446.1998
www.purpleturtlekids.com

 CHECK-IN and JOIN The Purple Turtle’s Facebook page and click HERE

Model wearing Le Top "My Best Friend" collection

1.    What a cute name for a store! Tell us the inspiration the name The Purple Turtle? How long has your store been around?
I tried to think of a name that the children would remember and maybe connect with, and The Purple Turtle came to mind.  We have purple carpet and pictures of our mascot Purple Turtle on the walls.  Who doesn’t like Purple Turtles?!  We’ve been in business since October 2000.

2.    It’s 2012 and resort and spring 2012 styles are coming into stores. What are your top 3 items (clothes, toys, giftables, etc.) for any parent shopping for warm weather items for a nice holiday vacation this winter?
We sell many baby shower gifts, so warm blankets and sleepers are very popular.  Snuggly jackets are good for the cold weather.

Wall of Fame

3.    Any special events that you have planned at your store for this New Year or Valentine’s Day next month? Tell us the inside scoop about any special events and fun deals we can expect!
The most exciting event that we do in the store is our “Gallery” opening in the spring and fall.  We work with a local children’s photographer, Melissa Echler, who takes fantastic pictures of our customers sporting outfits found in the store.  The evening before the public sees the new pictures, we have a private viewing for the families of our little models complete with special cookies and drinks.  Everyone loves to see their children/grandchildren on the wall of fame in The Purple Turtle! Check the below photos.

4.    What is your favorite children’s book that you would recommend to our readers?
On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman.  I give this book to many new moms.  They love it!

5.    Although spring 2012 styles are available soon, what would you suggest as the top 3 essentials in the winter that any parent should buy to brighten up their child’s wardrobe this winter?
I think accessories like new tights and leggings, new hair bows and headbands.  Those accessories always brighten up a winter day.

6.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?”
….talk about them all the time!!  But I just can’t help it…you know they are SO cute and I just must share all my pictures!

7.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Gallipolis, Ohio? Did you grow up in the local area?
No, I did not grow up here, but I raised my children here and have definitely set down roots.  Gallipolis is a beautiful historic town on the Ohio River with a beautiful city park in the center of the downtown area.  I would love for everyone to visit us anytime.

8.    What is the hottest trend for kids’ clothes right now?
Boots and cute skirts and tops.

9.    Where are the best/essential family hangouts and places to go around your store location?
Our lovely city park is the place to be in the summer. You will always see people walking, picnicking and looking at the Ohio River.

10.    What Le Top or rabbitmoon Winter 2011 or Spring 2012 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
The Le Top “Fantasia” Collection for winter was one of my favorites.  Every child who wore it looked so pretty….the colors are so vivid.  Of course, the Le Top Christmas “Candy Cane Cutie” Collection too with the striped or dotted tights that are great.

Model wearing Le Top '"Fantasia" collection

The Purple Turtle

300 2^nd Avenue
Gallipolis, OH 45631-1163
740.446.1998
www.purpleturtlekids.com

 

CHECK-IN and JOIN
The Purple Turtle’s Facebook
page and click HERE

**Photo Credits: Heartstrings Child Photography

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Casting Call on Friday

The Le Top casting call is just a few days away. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area and have a child that wears a size between 9month and 3T (unwashed) that loves to ham it up for the camera then read on. Your child could end up modeling Le Top or rabbitmoon clothing. All the details are below. The deadline for submissions is tomorrow!

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The Tabby Cat Boutique: PREMIER STORE SPOTLIGHT Q&A

Definition of a tabby cat? Not just a striped or dotted cat, but also one of the cutest darn boutiques in Oakton, Virginia – The Tabby Cat! We had the chance to interview storeowner, Alexandra Craige, about her boutique that she opened almost 2 years ago and how it’s still going strong after 3 natural disasters in the local area. She definitely knows kids style and what’s on the radar for spring 2012 for boys and girls and gives us the scoop on what she loves for next season! Alex also gives us her ideas on fun snow day activities, things she swore she would never do now being a mom, and the best family hangouts in the area. Read more to find out the inside scoop about Tabby Cat and stop by for great shopping if you are in the local area!

Hunter Mill Plaza
2946-F Chain Bridge Road
Oakton, VA
703.255.0812

www.tabbycatkids.com

Mon – Fri: 9am-6pm
Fri – Sat: 9am-5pm
Sun: closed

CHECK-IN and JOIN The Tabby Cat’s Facebook page and click HERE

1.    Tell us the inspiration the name The Tabby Cat? How long has your store been around?
I did some online research on store names and realized that I really wanted something that was gender neutral and still cute and remember able! We have four Tabby Cats at home and although we’d love to bring them to work with us – we don’t. We opened last fall (2010) and it’s been a crazy and exciting time with 3 natural disasters during our first year while trying to build a customer base!

2.    It’s (almost) 2012 and resort and spring 2012 styles are coming into stores. What are your top 3 items (clothes, toys, giftables, etc.) for any parent shopping for warm weather items for a nice holiday vacation this winter?
For resort and spring 2012 NOTHING is cuter than the Le Top swimsuits for babies and infants! The bright colors and fun graphics makes the swimsuits pop out when you’re at the pool or beach. Then you can accessorize them with matching hats and cover-ups! So CUTE!

3.    Any special events that you have planned at your store for the New Year or even Valentine’s Day next month? Tell us the inside scoop about any special events and especially the fun deals we can expect!
Writing this 10 days before Christmas, I haven’t a clue what I’m doing after December 25th – hopefully my brain will reboot that day and I can focus on Valentine’s Day!

4.    Surviving yet another winter day this winter can be brutal for kids, what would be your snow day recommended activity – inside or out?
I love board games. The time that I get with my daughter when we play a board game makes for interesting conversation and competiveness between us. Outside in Northern Virginia can mean 60-25 degrees during the ‘winter’. Any time I can spend wandering in a park and checking out nature and teaching my daughter about our local fauna.

5. Although spring 2012 styles are coming soon, what would you suggest as the top 3 essentials in the winter that any parent should buy to brighten up their child’s wardrobe this winter?
I had a winter baby and I’m a huge fan of baby bundlers and anything fleece for babies (mits, hats, pullovers…).

6.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?”
Be like my mom…Just kidding. Maybe a better question for me would be what I swore I ‘would do’. And the big one for that was spend lots of time with her, make sure she had a good support system around her, instill in her the value of working for something, and not to take things or friends for granted.

7.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Oakton, VA? Did you grow up in the local area?
I grew up in the South East part of Washington, D.C. so nothing like Oakton, Virginia! Oakton is a small pocket inside Fairfax County (most populated county in VA) that’s not a town or a City. Oakton has a great community of residents and a really strong public and private schools in walking distance to the store. We have a great mix of residents who have raised their kids here and continue to stay after retirement, to young families moving in for good schools, access to lots of kid activities, and local shopping!

8.    What is the hottest trend for kids clothes and toys right now?
I think shoppers want quality products at a good price range, and that’s one of the reasons that Le Top sells so well for us. People love the feel, look and price!

9.    Where are the best/essential family hangouts and places to go around your store location?
We are lucky that we are in a shopping center that offers a good selection of kid-friendly restaurants that you can pick from. So coming to visit us you can make it more than a one-stop trip. There are so many places to go and things to do in Northern Virginia that there are several websites that help track all that information for you. We’ve have had a relationship with www.dullesmoms.com for almost a year now and really like this free website that lists kids’ activities in our area.

10.What Le Top or rabbitmoon Winter 2011 or Spring 2012 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
I really liked 2 dresses that were for Winter 2011 – Le Top’s “Starry Night” and“Candy Cane Cutie”.  Both were huge sellers and they looked so cute on the little girls!

Le Top "Starry Night" collection

The Tabby Cat

Hunter Mill Plaza
2946-F Chain Bridge Road
Oakton, VA
703.255.0812

www.tabbycatkids.com

 Mon – Fri: 9am-6pm
Sat: 9am-5pm
Sun: closed

CHECK-IN and JOIN The Tabby Cat’s Facebook page and click HERE

 

 

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New Year’s Eve Fun and Activities for the Family

To those who say New Year’s Eve, with its late hours and reputation for excess, is a tough holiday to celebrate with kids, we only laugh and smile knowingly!

Here are some cute tips for packing your New Year’s Eve celebration with the kind of surprise and silliness children love. Happy New Year!

NOISEMAKER SHAKERS
Fill plastic film canisters halfway with corn kernels and decorate with shiny stickers. (Con-Tact or construction paper, glitter, fabric paint and opaque paint markers are also good for decorating.) We poked a hole in the canister’s cap (a parent’s job) and threaded curled ribbon through. Knot the ribbon on the underside of the cap, and let the rest stream out of the top.

STREAMERS
Staple lengths of crepe paper to an empty cardboard tube or a straw and decorate with abandon.

COUNTDOWN NUMBERS
Draw and color in the numbers 1 through 10 on poster boards–one number per board. At midnight, each child promenades down a flight of steps, number card held high, as the crowd yells out the number and cameras flash. “That was their moment,” says Susan. As the last child hits the last step, the streamers were blowing and the shakers were shaking. “You would just not believe how cool that turned out.”

MIDNIGHT BALLOON SHOWER
Here’s how to do it:

• Line up two rectangular paper tablecloths and punch holes every 2 to 3 inches down one long side of each.
• Stitch the tablecloths together with yarn, leaving a foot or so at the end for a rip cord.
• Tape the cloth to the ceiling on three sides, leaving the side opposite the rip cord open. Tape the cord up separately, so it’s accessible. Let the center of the cloth hang down to allow space for the balloons.
• Inflate at least 75 balloons.
• Buy thin streamers and metallic confetti.
• Stuff the cloth with balloons, then add the confetti and streamers on top. (Reverse it, and the confetti will weigh down the cloth and filter out ahead of time.) Tape up the last side of the cloth.
• Let her rip! At the stroke of midnight, just one strong pull tears through the paper, releasing a cascade of balloons and confetti–followed by stomping feet and a cacophony of pops.

BUBBLE WRAP STOMP
Looking for a way to ring in the New Year that will have the crowd on its feet? Look no further than a packaging supply store. For just a few dollars, you can pick up several yards of large Bubble Wrap (or recycle Bubble Wrap that comes with holiday gifts). Just before midnight, unroll it on a hard surface, such as a wooden floor or driveway, and when the countdown concludes, join the fun with a “the Bubble Wrap Stomp.” It sounds like firecrackers!

CHECK OUT LE TOP’S CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
AT WWW.LETOP-USA.COM

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Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly) and How to Avoid It

Plagiocephaly is a condition that causes a baby’s head to have a flat spot (flat head syndrome) or be misshapen.

The most common form is positional plagiocephaly. It occurs when a baby’s head develops a flat spot due to pressure on that area. Babies are vulnerable because their skull is soft and pliable when they’re born.

Positional plagiocephaly typically develops after birth when babies spend time in a position that puts pressure on one part of the skull. Because babies spend so much time lying on their back, for example, they may develop a flat spot where their head presses against the mattress.

Everyone’s skull is a bit asymmetrical. And in many cases, a flat spot on a baby’s head will round out on its own around 6 months of age, as she starts crawling and sitting up. Nevertheless, if you notice flattening of your baby’s head at any time, don’t wait and talk to your pediatrician. More severe cases of positional plagiocephaly can be corrected by having the baby wear a custom helmet or band for two to four months. Be sure to chat with your baby’s provider about head shape at each well-child checkup.

The Back to Sleep Campaign was launched in the early 1990s to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics started recommending placing babies on their backs when putting them to bed, the number of cases of SIDS has been cut in half, according to the CDC. That’s awesome!

But something that has increased since then is the number of cases of babies with flat head syndrome, sometimes referred to as positional plagiocephaly. If babies spend all of their time on their backs, it can lead to positional flattening or molding of the head.

A new report published this week in the journal Pediatrics contains new recommendations for pediatricians and parents on how to prevent and correct head flattening in babies. The number of babies diagnosed with the misshapen skull syndrome known as positional plagiocephaly has increased exponentially since safe sleep recommendations have had infants spending so much time on their backs, researchers found. And while they in no way suggest that parents ignore the recommended safe sleep practices, researchers suggest that pediatricians counsel parents from their babies’ very first checkups on ways to prevent and correct flattening heads.

CHECK OUT LE TOP BABY AND CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
AT WWW.LETOP-USA.COM

CNN.com lists 5 of the recommendations, which can help parents avoid placing their babies in skull-correcting helmets if the problem has not improved by 6 months of age:

1. Increase “tummy” time, which is supervised time during the day when baby lies on its stomach. A baby should spend at least 30 to 60 minutes a day on it’s belly, something that can be done immediately after birth. This will help develop neck and shoulder muscles, says [the report’s lead author, Dr. James] Laughlin. It has also been shown to “enhance motor developmental scores,” according to this new report.
2. The NIH recommends changing the direction your baby lies in the crib each week.  They say this change will encourage the baby to turn his or her head in different directions to avoid resting in the same position all the time.
3. Some babies prefer to hold their head to one side. Laughlin suggests laying them down in a different way when they’re awake, so they have something interesting to look at on the opposite side. If you have them in a car seat or sitting in something else, you can also change the position to make the baby look in the opposite direction.
4. Parents may find their babies sleep well sitting in a car seat, but this is another way they can develop an asymmetrical shape, especially in the first 6 months of life.  So experts suggest babies shouldn’t spend a prolonged period of time in a car seat (unless they are in a car of course) or bouncy seat.
5. Cuddle!  The NIH says “getting cuddle time with the baby by holding him or her upright over one shoulder often during the day,” is another way to prevent flat spots.

CHECK OUT LE TOP BABY AND CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
AT WWW.LETOP-USA.COM

 

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Santa Holiday Picture Contest! Win $100 worth of Le Top!

The next two weeks we are looking for the cutest and “most scared” pictures of your babies and kiddos photographed with Santa!

One of last year's winners

We want to ring in the holiday season with a few laughs (and smiles) and have a contest on the best “scared of” and “cute” Santa pictures. We know it is only December 7th, so that’s why we are running this contest for the next week and half until December 16th to give you enough time to snap your photos. We will pick 2 winners – one will be for the cutest Santa picture with your child(ren) and the other will be for the funniest “I’m scared of” Santa photo with your child(ren). Submit your pictures starting TODAY through December 16th. (A little blurb about the pic would be great too!)

We will choose our winners (at random) who will win a $100 shopping spree from our Le Top online boutique – www.letop-usa.com. The lucky winner will be announced on Friday, December 16th.

So, where to send these photos?

Email service@letop-usa.com or Facebook your image with a blurb on our fan page by clicking here: Le Top Facebook Page

GO TO WWW.LETOP-USA.COM FOR LE TOP HOLIDAY CLOTHING

 

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What is Cyber Monday & Le Top SPECIAL deal for you!

It’s a special (shopping) day today! Cyber Monday! And just in time for your holiday shopping. My best friend is having a baby in February and is extremely stressed thinking about the cost of Christmas gifts on top of buying new baby furniture, baby clothes and kiddo type items to prep her apartment for her new arrival. What a better way to reduce that stress than by taking advantage of Cyber Monday deals today and save on holiday shopping (especially from your home or at work without the hassle of carrying heavy bags and the holiday mass rushes on the streets!). Her question to me, “What is Cyber Monday???” Well…here is a little debriefing, as well as our special Le Top (www.letop-usa.com) and rabbitmoon (www.rabbitmoon-usa.com) Cyber Monday deals and savings!

20% off + free shipping*
on all orders

HURRY & SHOP NOW
www.letop-usa.com

Use online code LETOPCYBERFF11 at checkout.
Ends December 4^th

* Offer valid on letop-usa.com only. Offer is applied at checkout with promo code LETOPCYBERFF11. Offer not valid on phone orders. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or sale items and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through Sunday, December 4, 2011 11:59pm ET and shipped via regular shipping (5-10 business days). Le Top is owned and controlled by C.K. Enterprises and reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time.

20% off + free shipping*
on all orders

HURRY & SHOP NOW
www.rabbitmoon-usa.com 

Use online code RMCYBERFF11 at checkout.
Ends December 4^th

* Offer valid on rabbitmon-usa.com only. Offer is applied at checkout with promo code RMCYBERFF11. Offer not valid on phone orders. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or sale items and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through Sunday, December 4, 2011 11:59pm ET and shipped via regular shipping (5-10 business days). Rabbitmoon is owned and controlled by C.K.Enterprises and reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time.

What is Cyber Monday?
Just as Black Friday represents the biggest physical store shoppingday, Cyber Monday is the biggest online shopping day, as people continue their Christmas shopping when they return to work. Mondays are good retail days for any online businesses, and typically, a Monday in December is usually when online retailers see their highest single day profit for the year. Why Monday? Now that over two-thirds of the American population have high speed internet at home, that trend of shopping at work has drastically reduced. People shop at home as well, but it’s still usually on Mondays. In this tough economy, people are looking for deals more than ever.

Background on Cyber Monday:
Despite the fact that Cyber Monday gets linked with Black Friday, it didn’t take off because of any drastic deals offered by online retailers. It was the perception of deals that propelled it. In fact, usually the products offered were those that didn’t sell on Black Friday. However Cyber Monday took off because of aggressive marketing campaigns by various online businesses who wanted to be a part of the buzz mostly conceived in consumer’s minds. Its fame eventually reached shoppers through word of mouth. The process of how Cyber Monday came onto being shows how important it is to relate to online shoppers in an organic way to ensure continued success.

Enjoy our holiday Cyber Monday deal and shop away! 🙂

 

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Le Top Holiday Shopping is HERE!

Black Friday is upon us, and here at Le Top we love to support our stores during the holiday shopping spirit! Check out a few of our favorite holiday styles for boys and girls – they are picture perfect for your holiday greetings portrait too! Make this season magic and shop Le Top holiday styles. Visit our Store Locator to find a store near you to find our festive collections!

Can’t find a store near you? Is it too chilly to leave the house today? Shop our Le Top online boutique: www.letop-usa.com to find your latest holiday fashions. Sign up and get in the loop to find the latest Le Top holiday steals and deals: CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

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