Indie Squid Kid

I realized that the two posts I made earlier this weekend both featured octopuses playing the drums, so I figured I’d go for the trifecta. Once again, Kid Indie Squid Kid is sporting an outfit by OshKosh B’gosh. I won’t go into another mini-rant about unrealistic octopi on baby clothing, but I will say that it’s good to see a full complement of arms on this particular musically gifted cephalopod.

Here Kid Indie Squid Kid models a cute little marine-themed bodysuit by OshKosh B’gosh. Of course it would be better if the giant octopus was attacking the sub…but still, it’s pretty awesome.

This is as good a time as any to mention the generally sorry representation of octopi on children’s clothing and toys. The problem is no that they are hard to find, but that they are rarely biologically accurate. Like the one show above, they usually have fewer than eight arms and little smiley faces. I doubt that in 95 million years of octopus history there has been a single case of an octopus that could smile!

Others go even further and are given cheeks, noses, teeth, and even clothes! Case in point, the octopus that Kid Indie Squid Kid is pointing to on this quilt.

Yeah, the little sailor hat is pretty dumb, and octopi most definitely do not have noses. But the blue rings are a nice touch, and I also like the way the arms curl…even if there are only six of them. This quilt, by the way, is part of the (now discontinued) Sea Life bedding set from Babies R’ Us.

So what is the discerning cephalopod-obsessed parent to do? Personally, I try to not to be too picky, while at the same time staying vigilant for the best octo-gear. The shape of an octopus’ arms and head, and the position of the eyes, can do a lot to lend a touch of realism to what would otherwise be silly and cartoony. For example, I would consider the “Under the Sea” OshKosh-topus to be fairly accurate. (Although not nearly as accurate as the Ahou Octu bodysuit by Finny’s Greens.)

By the way, we’ve finally started decorating Kid Indie Squid Kid’s room (ocean-theme, natch!), so you can expect many more super-cute photos like this in the near future. Oh yes.

Today is my first Father’s Day as Indie Squid Dad, and it seems like the perfect occasion to introduce you to my Very Good Excuse for taking so long to resume this blog.

Meet Kid Indie Kid Squid (a.k.a. Commander Awesome)! He’s hanging out with a portion of my plush cephalopod collection. They’ll all be his one day, so it seemed best to begin the acclimation process early! Each of these stuffed toys will eventually make an individual appearance here in the blog, and I’m sure I have another box of them somewhere…

Kid Indie Squid Kid is wearing an Ahou Octu bodysuit (don’t call it a “Onesie,” Gerber has that trademarked!) by Finny’s Greens.