To thank all of our loyal customers and treasured Red Tricycle (redtri.com) readers. Please use code REDTRI15 at checkout to receive 15% of your order for total order placed Monday November 28, 2011 from 12:01 am through 11:59pm.

Once you order on Cyber Monday, Nov .. you will be automatically entered into a drawing to receive your very own fashion-forward DEXTER shirt. (You choose sleeve length and side.) The winner will be notified via email on December 2, 2011.

Thank you and may you all have a very happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

The Fat Tie®, Inc. team

  

We’ve been nominated by Red Tricycle as The Most Awesome Boys Clothing Company!

We want to thank our fans and customers for voting us in the Red Tricycle Awards. We’re a Top 3 Finalist and over 70,000 votes have been cast. With only a few days left, we wanted to get the word out that we need your votes! As a thank-you, the dashingly handsome DEXTER tee is yours! You will be opted into our contest as soon as you VOTE for us, and post it on your Facebook wall. Check out our shirt in our shop and imagine your little man dipped in our menswear-inspired raw cotton.

Cast your vote here: http://www.redtri.com/awards/kids-clothing-and-fashion/boy-clothing-line to enter a contest to win a $500 GIGGLE Gift Certificate! You can vote only one time per email address.
Once you’ve voted for us, just respond to this post with “I’ve voted” – your entry will be received by our team.

TWICE AS NICE: Get another vote by posting this on your Facebook wall -

” I voted for Fat Tie®, Inc. at Red Tricycle’s Totally Awesome Awards http://www.redtri.com/awards/kids-clothing-and-fashion/boy-clothing-line”

///////////////Thank you!||||||||||||||||||

We’re about to approach the season of colds and flu – try as we might to hope it’ll be over soon. So we thought we’d talk a bit about some of the best ways to get reluctant tots to take their medicine.

Here are some tips that we find helpful when getting little ones to drink up:

1. Bribes - Ok, perhaps not the most not the most sophisticated method, and it probably won’t win you any parenting awards; but if your child is old enough to have an opinion about taking his medicine, he’s old enough to be bought with treats. And by treats, we don’t necessarily mean snacks. Offer stickers, a star on his behavior chart, an extra 10 minutes of TV, Leapster or computer time – something that is meaningful to him and will get him to bend peacefully to your will.

2. Just Go For It - Sometimes you just have to hold ‘em down and hit ‘em up. Measure the medicine in the dropper or syringe, bring him in close to you, stabilize him, lean him back and squeeze the medicine into the corner of the cheek. Shooting it directly down the throat will likely cause him to gag and throw up the medicine – only forcing you to start all over – so be sure to release the medicine into the side of the mouth so that he has to swallow.

3. A spoonful of “sugar” - Even though medicines today can be ordered from the pharmacy with special flavoring to match your child’s taste, sometimes it’s just not enough for Augmentin to taste like oranges and bubble gum. It may be easier for your child to swallow his medicine if he knows a tasty little treat will follow. This is not quite a bribe, it’s more the Mary Poppins approach. Just offer him a shot of something sweet (like honey – if over 1-year-old – or chocolate syrup) right after he swallows his dose. Even if you don’t give your child “sugar”, perhaps you could offer some of his favorite fruit or fruit juice mixed with water.

It’s officially the end of Summer – whether or not the temperature in your area feels like it. And that means that playground time has been upon us and will continue through the Fall. Did you know that U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 205,860 children receive emergency department care for injuries that occurred on playground equipment? Well, now you do; and we’re going to give you some tips to help prevent your child from a trip to the ER.

1. Supervise your children at the playground - This may seem like a no-brainer, but we all get wrapped up in conversations with other moms or caregivers at the playground and take our eyes off the kids. Try to be sure that you can see your children at ALL times.

2. Be sure your children are dressed appropriately - Remove necklaces and drawstrings from your children’s clothing to avoid the possibility of strangulation. Also be sure their footwear is appropriate for the playground. Sneakers are ideal, as they have rubber soles for traction and generally are secure to the foot (unlike sandals or flip flops or clogs).

3. Check the equipment - Know which equipment is age appropriate for your children, and encourage them to stay within that area. Also, when it is hot outside, feel the sliding board to be sure that it is not too hot for little ones to sit on.

The playground is a fun place to go with your family when it is nice outside; and by following these few simple guidelines, it can also be a safe place!

At Fat Tie we know active kids. We also know traveling. And traveling with active kids. We’ve learned a thing or two over the years, and we’d love to share some of favorite tips for traveling toting tots.

1. Most airlines today offer some type of free inflight entertainment; but if you plan to let your kids take advantage of it, be sure to bring your own kid-friendly earphones. Several companies make preschool-sized earphones, a few of which have a feature that does not allow the sound level to increase beyond a safe level for little ears. Also, you should consider bringing a personal dvd player or laptop, so that your kids can watch their own favorites.

2. Two words: Handheld games. Whether it’s one of the LeapFrog products, the VTech MobiGo, Fisher Price ixl, or Nintendo DS, kids love handheld video games; and they are generally good for passing at least 1/2 hour quietly. If you’re on an airplane or other crowded place, though, you’ll want to have headphones so that your children can listen to the games without bothering others.

3. Bring plenty of snacks. You know your kids and what they like – bring as many of their favorites as you can reasonably carry… especially the treats that are usually reserved for special times, since they can be a good behavior bribe tool if absolutely necessary. Yes, using food as a reward can send mixed signals, we get it doctor who doesn’t have to keep a kid quiet on a plane; but hey, sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. And if a chocolate granola bar will save your sanity on a flight, then go for it!

4. Make sure the carry-on you carry on the plane fits neatly under the seat in front of you. Nothing is more annoying than having to get up every time your child wants a snack or a new toy; and flight attendants today will not let you slide with your big LL Bean Bag canvas bag sitting under your feet, no matter how much you plead.

5. Invest in travel bags for your stroller and car seats. If you plan to travel with “assist items” (strollers, car seats, etc.), which by the way are free to check on most airlines, invest in a bag that is meant to hold them for traveling. It is worth the investment to know that the items you use to carry your most precious cargo will be handled safely and the integrity of their fabrics will be protected.

We’d love to hear some of your favorite travel tips, too, so please let us know!

Has your under 5-year-old said these words to you “There’s an app for that”?

Does he love to “rock” his skinny jeans? Does he mouth the words to songs on the Indie Rock channel you created on Pandora, as though it were Sesame Street? If you answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you have a little hipster on your hands.

Kids today are getting cooler and more hip every year – and it’s happening at very young ages. We see toddlers and preschoolers all the time, who seem to have their own personal styles already. While “hipster” has its own connotations in the 20-30 year-old set, we think that hip kids are kids who have are proud to have their own personalities and senses of style – proud to be unique individuals. And parents, grandparents and caregivers, it’s up to you to cultivate and encourage those feelings of hipness and individuality in your kids.

Here are three tips to help you raise a hip kid:

1. Encourage their freedom of artistic expression (in a way that is safe and constructive, of course).
2. Encourage them to explore their sense of style by allowing them to pick out their own clothes – even if what they pick out is not necessarily what you would have…and introduce them to Fat Tie, Inc.
3. Allow them to have a voice in some simple decisions about family activities. Giving kids the confidence to make decisions that effect others will help them to make better decisions when they are older – and forced to make decisions when you’re not around.

Our new “Back To Cool” line of  FAT TIE shirts allows your hipster to be just that, hip!

As Passover and Easter approach, we wanted to remind you that FAT TIE shirts are the perfect mix of dressy and comfy to keep your little guy looking handsome – AND feeling good during the Spring holiday season.

And speaking of Spring holidays, let’s talk a little bit about what’s popping up as “healthier” alternatives for Spring holiday gifts this year.

1. DVD’s - There are a host of cute, new movies out on DVD this Spring. Tangled (ok, it IS a Disney princess movie, but this movie definitely is appealing to little boys. And, hey, that’s alright in our book); Yogi Bear (yes, the CGI and dialogue are a bit cheesy, but it introduces our little guys to a character from our youth – we get to have a shared memory experience); MegaMind (this may be a bit violent for little ones, but it has that whole appeals to adults and kids thing going for it). Also, just a side note – if your kids are into The Veggie Tales, there are two Easter movies available in that series: “And Easter Carol” and “Twas the Night Before Easter”…

2. Stickers - A lot of big companies are selling eggs pre-filled with stickers of your kids’ favorite TV and movie characters. These are definitely more healthy than eggs filled with candy.

3. Healthy Snacks - Kids and parents both like the idea of yogurt-covered pretzels and raisins. They feel like junk food to kids, but they’re not the worst thing they can eat.

4. Finger Puppets - These encourage creativity and imaginary play, AND they are small enough to be hidden on their own.

5. KidCraft Passover Wooden Play Set - An educational AND fun toy to help kids understand the Passover Seder traditions.

These are just a few suggestions we have, but we’d love to hear your thoughts on this timely topic; so please drop us a line with your favorite Spring holiday gift ideas!

Not sure if you other moms have seen the news about this, so we wanted to help get the word out – and let you get a head start on stocking up now…

During the week of March 13th, several of our favorite household brands announced plans to raise prices on some of their most popular household products over the next few months. Some of the companies planning to raise prices are: Kimberly-Clark, Nike, Kraft, Smuckers and Heinz.

For example, Huggies diapers and Pull-Ups prices will go up by 3% to 7%; and Cottonelle and Scott 1000 toilet paper prices will rise about 7%. Also, Kraft Foods raised the price of Maxwell House coffee by 22% (70 cents per pound) after Smuckers said in February that it would raise the price of Folgers by 10%.

It’s enough that we are happy with our own clothing. But when he starts to complain? Watch out Mom. When it comes time for your little man to look like one the fear and panic may begin to set in. Clip-on ties are so yesterday. A formal collared-shirt with a tied tie only goes so far into the event/evening with him tugging and crying. Yes, FAT TIE, INC. shirts bridge the gap between uncomfortable and the hippest, softest dress shirt you have ever seen.

It makes you wonder why you wouldn’t have him don it more often. Dance recitals, birthday parties, Easter brunches–there is always an opportunity for him to wear and tear it up!

Cut and Sewn cotton shirts with ties for boys–heaven for your hipster! Dress Smart. Start Early.

Baby, it’s still cold outside. No, really. Its snowy and you need some activities for you and your little babe(s) to keep you occupied. While your little ones might enjoy the great outdoors, sometimes it’s just not an option. Although you could pop in a DVD and actually get some work done, why not make the movie-watching a family activity? Even if it is mid-day, put on your PJs, pick out a classic movie, cuddle under the blankets, and munch on some yummy popcorn. Your in-house movie theater can provide amenities that your local theater can’t-outbursts of giggling and the coziness of your couch.

If your kiddies like to be more actively engaged, why not set up a little scavenger hunt around the house? While this may take some time, it’s an activity that will surely keep both you and your kids occupied. Plant clues around the house that lead to other clues and an eventual prize. For example, if you have a furry friend in your life, write a clue that leads the little scavengers to your dog’s favorite hiding place.

If your kids can’t read yet, read the clues to them and take part in the fun! Scavenger hunts leave room for a ton of creativity; don’t be afraid to lay out the hunt in all parts of your house-even if a clue is located in the washer! At the end of the hunt, the prize can be ingredients to their favorite cupcakes or an arts-and-crafts project-whatever it is, an activity that you can do together is one that will surely warm your heart on a cold, almost-Spring day.