Spotted! Hello World Personalised Nursey Gift at Lush Baby
I need a friend with a new baby so I can buy them one of these as a new baby gift. Isn’t it gorgeous? You personalise it with the new baby’s name and date of birth. Just lovely.
It is also available in pink and an orangey-yellow and is only £22.00 and includes the mount (frame not included).
Spotted! Brilliant oilcloth tunic cover ups for toddlers.
What a fab product from the equally fab Messy-Me. They specialise in really very lovely products, all made from oilcloth (genius, no?) that’ll keep your small person (and your house!) just that little bit easier to clean up.
And I love this tunic because we all know that they grow out of the bibs LONG before they grow out of dribbling food down their fronts. And even when they’re not eating this can be used for messy play too.
PLUS – when was the last time you saw a children’s bib look this darn PRETTY?
Fably.
(they do bibs, mats and ingenious high chair covers too!)
Read MoreSpotted! My Hospital Bag – fab ready-packed labour bags.
A pre-packed labour bag?
My first instinct was to roll my eyes and sigh at the silliness.
But then I looked.
And found myself in the unheard of position of admitting I was wrong.
I actually really love this idea.
One of the really common frets of a first time mum is “what do I need to take in my bag for the birth?”.
And running my oh-so-experienced (well, I’ve done it four times) eye over the packed list of ‘ingredients’ in these bags?
I’d say there’s little I’d want to add. They’re well thought out, have good quality items, and pretty much cover all the bases.
At £85 it doesn’t sound cheap, but once you tot up everything you’d buy yourself to go inside, I don’t think it’s a lot at all. And that’s a large amount checked off your pre-birth To Do List in one easy purchasing click.
My one criticism?
Snip those horrible bows off the side of what was a very nice holdall!
The bags are available in a variety of colours (and there’s a twins version too), and are available direct from My Hospital Bag
Read MoreSpotted! Gumigem Teething Bubba Bangles.
Gumigem Bubba Bangle - The Chameleon - £8.50
Teething babies and jewelery don’t usually go together – unless it’s Gumigem jewellery!
Gumigem Bubba Bangles are fantastic teethers and look gorgeous too. Say you’re out, having coffee with a friend and little one gets a little restless, remove your bangle, hand it to baby and badda bing…. Happy chomping baby!
Available in two fab shapes and many different colours, Gumigem Teething Bangles are suitable to hand to your baby from birth.
Gumigem Bermuda Bangle in Kiwi - £8.50
Spotted! Perfect Car rug.
One of the things I’ve learned as a parent is that a blanket of one’s own is invaluable.
You drag them downstairs with you on a chilly morning, you use them in bed for a little extra snuggability, you curl under them in the corner of your room when you read (or are in trouble…), you lay on top of them when you’re sorting out your soldiers, you take them in the car for sleep-comfort on long journeys, you take them when you visit anywhere overnight for a little feel of home…
Invaluable.
And this rather lovely one from John Lewis is great – soft, big enough, and not too babyish to still be in use when they’re 9.
We love it.
The Here, There and Everywhere Cars Throw is £20 from John Lewis.
Read MoreThe MOST perfect child’s lamp – The Bunny Rabbit
Oh how I love this lamp!
And oh how my daughter loves this lamp too!
What a darling little rabbit he is – though at nearly a foot tall he’s not really in the ‘little’ rabbit class.
(and yes, he is a ‘he’. Wully, actually, is how he’s known around here. Just in case you were wondering)
Just a gorgeous gorgeous lamp.
Bright enough to read by, and yet dim enough to not make you yelp with eye-burny-pain if you turn him on during a 2a.m. emergency. And perfectly safe to leave him on all night as a night light for those small people who are afeared of the dark.
Really – what more do you want in a child’s bedroom lamp?
The fabulous Heico Rabbit Lamp can be found at Petit Home for just £35. I can’t imagine your home is complete without one, to be honest.
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Spotted! Union Jack Soft Leather Slippers
Union Jack Soft Leather Shoes from Starchild - sizes 0-5yrs available - £17.00
With the Jubilee weekend around the corner and the Olympics in London this Summer what self-respecting kid wouldn’t want a pair of these, eh?
Free delivery in the UK too!
Pink Union Jack Soft Leather Shoes from Starchild - available in sizes 0-5years - £17.00
And you know what? They have them in grown-up sizes too…..
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Spotted! The Most Beautiful Giant Floor Cushion
Just. Want. This.
Isn’t it beautiful?
And yes I know it’s £150, but this is a cushion that will last your child a lifetime – sit on it as a child, and also use it for their own child to learn to sit on.
Perfect for the book corner of a child’s bedroom, but equally at home in your own sitting room.
Like I said. I just *want* one.
We Spotted it on Etsy in the fabulous Big Bird’s Boutique. (please note each one is made to order, so there’s some weeks delay before you can get your hands on your own one!)
Read MoreMust-Have Baby Clothing
When it comes to dressing your baby, the most important thing to remember is that simplicity is essential. Whatever it is you are buying, whether every day or for a special occasion, look for easy access wear that is soft and comfortable. Select easy to slip-on bottoms and for tops and one-piece items worn next to the skin, look for snaps rather than buttons and zips. This not only simplifies the nappy changing process, it also prevents baby from accidentally being injured by the zip during a hurried or awkward positioned moment. Everyday items should be purchased in sets; generally five to seven is sufficient; babies are messy and changes will be frequent, so having plenty of day wear on hand means fewer trips to the laundry.
It is also important to remember that babies grow quickly. Whatever you buy now will need to be replaced within a few weeks! While it may be tempting to buy higher ticket items, doing so can result in needless expenditure. Having cool baby clothes does not mean you have to go broke; select quality basics and save the splurge for special occasions.
Here are a few of the essentials you will need:
Image courtesy of Vertbaudet
Bodysuits and T-shirts
Bodysuits and T-shirts are the staple of the baby-clothing world; the perfect thing to have on hand when baby is brought home for the first time. Usually sold in packs of three and up, bodysuits are snap on one-piece items available in long sleeved, short sleeved and sleeveless varieties. Selecting basic white bodysuits make getting stains out easier and because they are inexpensive, once they become too stained or threadbare, they can be easily replaced with new ones.
Image courtesy of Vertbaudet
Sleepwear
Babies sleep a lot, typically 18 hours a day on average, so sleepwear is an important part of the baby’s wardrobe. During warmer seasons, one-piece cotton sleepers with closed bottoms are an excellent choice. In winter months, choose heavier weight sleep suits, which have footed legs.
Image courtesy of Vertbaudet
An assortment of hats, socks and shoes
When taking baby on an outing, you will need a hat and socks and/or shoes to protect their heads and feet. During warmer weather, cool baby clothes include sun hats, light cotton hats and soft baby baseball caps that are perfect for keeping their heads protected. For Winter, select warm beanies and hats with earflaps and ties or buttons to ensure they stay put. Shoes should be selected for comfort rather than purely for style.
Outerwear
Selecting outerwear can be something of a challenge; uncomfortably hot or cold babies can get mightily frustrated and will soon let you know about it. When selecting outerwear, think in layers; that way, minor adjustments can be made to ensure baby is comfortable. Zip-up hoodies and light cotton jackets are good warm weather choices, while easy to get on and off heavier Winter jackets are essential for the colder months. Snowsuits are also a practical idea; they generally come with attached feet and sewn-on mittens.
Vertbaudet offers a range of baby clothes, children’s clothes, maternity wear and home collections for you and your little one’s and with their Mid Season Sale is now on, there’s various items reduced by up to 50% off. Visit Vertbaudet now at www.vertbaudet.co.uk
Read MoreOh oh OH! I want a baby again, just so I can use one of these nappies…
Just LOOOOOOK!
How much do you want that little bottom of awesomeness peeking out from under a skirt or over the top of a pair of trousers? Or bimbling around a shady garden this summer with just a sun hat for accessorising?
Isn’t it brilliant?
And at £9.25 including the inserts it’s a fab price too. Grab yours now from the rather-fab Baba and Boo
Read MoreBabaslings – gorgeous new prints!
Love love LOVE the new limited edition floral prints from Babasling. – perfect for summer (don’t laugh. the sun wil shine. One day).
Available in three colours, but only for a limited time so get in quick. We liek the Dahlia best, but go see because the other two are a bit gorgeous as well…
the BabaSling®- Print is available now from www.thebabasling.com and is priced at £44.99.
Read MoreTOOTSIE & FUDGE FLASH CLEARANCE SALE!
Fabulous and fun online children’s retailer Tootsie and Fudge are having a flash clearance sale this weekend to make way for new summer stock.
Sale starts at noon on Friday 11th May, with 50% off many items it’s well worth a look to grab yourself a bargain!
Read MoreSpotted! Wonderful New Baby Announcement Cards from Little Patch
Blue Rocking Horse New Baby Card from Little Patch - £1.95
So very sweet and different and, well, just lovely.
There’s a pink version too…
Pink Rocking Horse New Baby Card - from Little Patch - £1.95
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Spotted! Dinosaur Print Kimono Pyjamas! CUTE!
Cute cute cute CUTE!
100% luxury cotton, these delicious dinosaur pj’s have an adorable kimono style wrap top that I love.
And they’re form the new Margery Ellen Baby sleepwear range that Wee Gooseberry have in stock – pretty much ALL of which I’d like to buy up please. Wonderful!
The Dinosaur Kimono Pyjamas come in 0-6mths sizes, and are £35 from Wee Gooseberry.
COMING SOON, MOBA® THE CONTEMPORARY MOSES BASKET
At last, the Moses Basket has been updated!
New Moba® (coming soon… patience grasshopper…) is a safe and cosy place for your baby to sleep. It’s also a seriously cool bit of kit!
Designed and made in the UK, Moba® cleverly combines a contemporary, ergonomic design with practicality. Chic, eco-friendly, hygienic, fully ventilated and very light to carry… and because it’s made from smooth recyclable material with special soft touch handles, Moba® is tough, safe and very durable.
We do love baby stuff that will last from generation to generation.
The RRP is £89.99: watch this space, it’s coming this summer (www.mobauk.com and @mobauk)
Dribbz for the dribblers *grin*
For the past few weeks Meadow Isabella my 10 month old daughter and I have been road testing these funky bandana bibs from Dribbz. The bibs come in a huge range of colours and designs – we have been rocking a cute little apple print, and a cowboy style red bandanna. The bibs are shaped in a neckerchief style and make a great alternative from the traditional scoop shaped bib. The Dribbz are fully lined and have two press stud fastenings levels to adjust to your babies size and give the fitting far more longevity – great as we know just how fast babies grow!
The bibs aren’t just for the dribblers, either – they have been great as we’ve gone through weaning, and have withstood spaghetti bolognese, blueberries and countless other spills without any staining and after a few months work of washes they have retained their colour and haven’t bobbled.
I’ve been clipping them around my baby bag and would definitely recommend Dribbz for catching your little bundles dribble in a heartbeat!
(reviewed for us by Luanne (and the beautiful Meadow Isabella) from www.luannemclean.blogspot.com )
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Spotted! Panda Sleepsuit! *CUTE*
I no longer have a person in the house small enough to wear all-in-one sleepsuits. Which makes me a bit sad.
But this panda suit? TOTALLY worth having another child for!
Just how CUTE is that suit?
Panda sleepsuit £26 from Floppy Buddha over on NOTHS
Read MoreThe Little Green Sheep Organic cocoon wrap review
This gorgeous organic Cocoon Wrap swaddle blanket from Little Green Sheep is a lovely way to ensure your baby feels secure and safe in its early days. If you have never used a swaddle, it works a bit like a sleeping bag, in that the baby is put in it and then the ‘arms’ are wrapped round. Made from organic cotton, it is incredibly soft and comfortable. My baby is now 6 weeks old and I have used it a lot – I think it is one of those things that the more you use it, the more you WILL use it. I didn’t swaddle any of my other children, and I can really see how beneficial it is – one of the main things is that it will stop the ‘startled’ reflex that my daughter does in response to sudden shouts, which usually wakes her up! This can only be a good thing when you have a 6 and a 4 year old running around.
Reviewed by Nicole, and the very willing Erin.
We’re BIG fans of swaddling, and this particular swaddle is one of the softest, loveliest ones we’ve seen. The organic Little Green Sheep Cocoon Wrap is available from VUP Baby for a smidge under £16 – we love it, and are sure it’ll soon be one of those things that you wonder how you managed without. Actually, you might want to think about buying two, while you’re there…
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The Whirlee – another review classic from @becaboop
Right. I’m going to be honest with you. This Whirlee ride-on toy and I have a serious love/hate relationship…
LOVE the fact that despite its plastic it is actually a fairly stylish piece of kit. We had the red design to review which I loved, why can’t more toys be red instead of the obligatory blue or pink that is thrust upon us? (They do offer the gendered red or pink but this third colour way saved their butts in my opinion.)
HATE the noise it makes on my floorboards. I don’t know if it is it’s plastic material but between the 6 children that have whizzed around on this (not all mine, I am a child minder) the teeth clattering NOISE it makes on my floorboards has meant that at least once a week I have exclaimed RIGHT! ENOUGH! And banished it to the utility room. Sorry whirlee.
LOVE the price point, at just under the £20 mark it is a mahoosive bargain.
HATE the price point, yes, I know. No pleasing me is there. But I can’t help feel if the price point was a little higher, then the problem of the oh so flaming noisy wheels could be rectified. Thicker rubber? I don’t know the answer but I do know they are noisy.
LOVE the design, great shape, quirky, modern.
HATE the lack of padded seat. This has been used by the one year old I look after, my two year old, right up to four year olds and ME! Yes I’ve tried it! And it hurt my bum. Pad that seat! That being said kudos to the whirlee at spanning those age ranges.
LOVE how hardwearing this is. I’ve had it six months and it still looks great. Bear in mind I look after lots of children this has definitely been put through its paces.
If you have carpets, then this makes a great little first birthday present. If you have floorboards, do be prepared to get naffed off with it and huffily sling it in a cupboard for a moment’s peace!
The Whirlee is currently available from Amazon for a rattle under £20
*reviewed for us by Goddess Bec, who can usually be found over at Beetroot and Gherkins
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Okiedog Changing Bag review
I love this changing bag! I have been sent Okiedog’s Urban Mondo bag in red… and I also have a six week old baby alongside two other children – four and six.
When my older two were tiny my changing bag was heavy and thicker in material; so you not only had nappy weight and all the other things that go in but also the actual weight of the bag.
The Okiedog however is incredibly lightweight (but robust) and the strap is wide and comfortable on the shoulder. It’s incredibly well made, and has the necessary gazillion pockets that cater for what you need. I particularly like the hook for keys in one of the front pockets – in fact I have commandeered both front pocket for MY ‘stuff’ – diary, phone, purse, lipstick and keys etc, which still leaves ample room inside the bag for the baby stuff.
I also like the bottle pocket with its carrying case, and the accessories bag, the handy hooks to go on the pram, the fact the milk bottle case is designed to hang from one of the straps if so desired… the bag is just very well thought out and practical to use, which in the end is all you’re looking for in a baby changing bag. And I love the fact that mine’s red!
The 2012 Okiedog range is available from Mothercare – there’s different styles in different fabrics, but all in the same strong lightweight design.
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