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Stop the Mall Madness!

© Amy Condra-Peters

As the weather warms, flowers bloom, and the sun shines well into the evening, many of us are feeling restless. Why sit inside when you can run barefoot into the lush green Springtime? Well, before you head out into another sunny morning, you might want to spend just a few more minutes at the computer!

A new season means a change of wardrobe for both ourselves and our children-- winter coats are traded in for t-shirts, and waterproof boots are shoved aside to make room for sneakers and sandals. Toys are also exchanged-- sleds and ice skates for baseballs and sandboxes.

Many of us automatically steer our cars to the mall when new clothes or toys are needed, but the web provides thousands of alternatives to the often bland choices that chain stores offer. And since many women are now running retail businesses from their homes, why not show your support of other moms instead of anonymous corporations? Most mother owned and operated businesses are more than happy to give personalized recommendations and product information. Creative toys, children's clothing, layettes, nursing clothes and accessories, books-- all can be found on the websites listed below.

Little Koala Mother and Baby Catalog offers maternity and nursing clothing and accessories (including discounted Japanese Weekend clothing-- my personal favorite when I was pregnant and now that I'm still nursing), baby and toddler clothing, mothering books and wooden toys.

Trying to find intellectually stimulating, nonviolent children's software? Visit The Tutor House. The owner of this site is committed to providing (and reviewing) titles that will gently entertain and educate your child. Highly recommended!

NaturalToys.com offers puzzles, art kits, doll houses and dolls, games, tree blocks, rattles and pull toys-- everything your child needs for hours of creative play!

As the mother of three daughters, I love the message of New Moon Magazine and Catalog: Girls and women are unique and powerful individuals! The products sold by New Moon include children's books (with female protagonists, of course), t-shirts, journals, artwork and jewelry.

For beautiful children's clothing and accessories at affordable prices, visit Cute as a Bug. This shop offers sizes from newborn to 7, and weekly specials are updated every Thursday.

Whether you are a new mom or a well-worn pro, you will find something of interest at Wears The Baby! As the name indicates, this site sells baby slings, but they also sell nursing clothes (Simply Delicious Nursingwear), books on a variety of subjects and beautiful wooden toys, including doll furniture and kitchen sets. Wears the Baby also provides a regularly updated news section, features such as "Ask the Feminist Mother", and parenting essays.

The copyright of the article Stop the Mall Madness! in Mothering is owned by Amy Condra-Peters. Permission to republish Stop the Mall Madness! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.