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.