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! Funky Fresh Fashions for Kids at Captain Tortue
Have just been browsing the new Summer clothes on the Captain Tortue website and spotted some really nice stuff.
Click here to find a Captain Tortue consultant near you.
Read MoreThe Squirrel Point Hoodie from Lucas Frank
You know how buying stuff for older boys is just… tricky?
The style is never what you AND they agree on.
The fabric is never soft/smooth enough (or is that just mine that insist on the Soft test before they will wear anything?).
The quality is never good enough to withstand the Boy Thing.
Well. Here’s your answer.
Lucas Frank haven’t been around for long, but they’re making quite a splash as they have spotted what needs doing – and are getting it right. By focussing on making good quality basics (there’s just polo shirts, tees and hoodies in their range currently) you just can’t help but love the styling. It’s classic, simple – and yet contemporary enough to be wearable by certain young men. They also go up to age 10.
We’ve had the above Squirrel Point hoodie on review, and it’s a total favourite – one of those items that you have to sneak in and steal to get it in the wash as it is worn consistently.
I love the off-centre wooden buttons, and I know that the subtle quilting makes it the top he reaches for at all times, sliding it in with a sigh of contentment when he’s tired or chilly.
The quality is such that it’ll have years of hand-me-down wear in it, and for under £30, you really can’t go wrong.
Read MoreSpotted! 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…..
Read More
Must-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 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 MoreHello to Bumblebee Kids!
A gorgeous new site has joined our shopping directory today; Bumblebee Kids – fabulous children’s clothing and gifts from ages 0-6 years. They stock some of the funkiest children’s clothing brands; Frugi, Bob & Blossom, Olive & Moss, Toby Tiger and more. Alongside a selection of toys, gifts, luxury natural skincare from Boo Boo and designer changing bags from Skip-Hop.
I spotted this little fella in their sale….
Spook Toys Nono Dog at Bumblebee Kids - £25.00 (was £35.00)
And I also spotted these wonderfully appropriate-for-the-weather-we’re-having Toby Tiger wellies…
Toby Tiger Wellies at Bumblebee Kids - £18.00 (was £22.00)
We have also been given a 10% Discount Code to share with you….
Spotted! An Absolute Classic – The Yellow Macintosh.
It can be tricky sometimes, finding a decent raincoat that is acceptable to a ‘tween’ – that tricky age where they’re too old for dinosaurs on their coats, but too young for the dullness of older coats.
And this is exactly where the fabulous Yellow Macintosh steps right in.
The fact that it is a design that hasn’t changed much in a hundred years speaks volumes, I think.
And (more importantly) I LOVE it.
Who wouldn’t?
And this Hatley version of the perennially popular raincoat has it all – just the right classic yellow colour, a comfy cotton terry lining, zipper opening to the front with additional velcro fastening, detachable hood, front pockets… just what’s needed for this delicious weather.
Available from the brilliant Bubbahubb in ages 6-12yrs for £37.50 (and being Hatley it will probably last two seasons with their generous cuts)
Read MoreSpotted! 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.
Sale Alert – 20% Off Everything at LittleSunflowers
Quick! The fabulous Little Sunflowers have a flash 20% off everything sale on right now!
Truly gorgeous clothing for children at awesome prices.
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 )
Read More
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 MoreFunky Moose 10% Discount Code
Have you met the Funky Moose yet? Oh you should. It’s a fabulous place for stuff for the kids; clothes, wooden toys, gifts, baby changing bags and more, much more.
As a way of encouraging you to go and check them out, they’ve given us a discount code to share with you;
So go, and say Hi to the Funky Moose from us!
Read MoreWee Gooseberry Sale – 70% off!
oh yes, we love a good sale, don’t we?
How about this Geox Tech Jacket Anthracite, reduced from £125 to £50?
Or this gorgeous Geox Rope Cardigan, reduced from £65 to £35?
Maybe this Darcy Brown Peony Pink & Mocha Tartan Dress is more your thing? Esecially when it is reduced from £55 down to £20!
Go, have a wander with one of our oldest and best-loved friends, The Wee Gooseberry. Show them some love, and snap up a bargain!
Read MoreThe Bird Pocket Dress. *happy*
CQQCP6M6Q5SH I asked the daughter to pose for a few pictures so that I can show you the beauty that is the Bird Pocket Dundelina Dress we were sent by Mayamin. She didn’t quite get the point at first…
Then she started to take it very seriously...
And rather bossily insisted that I show you the very best thing about the whole dress
Yes! Bird pockets! SWEE-E-EET!
The Apple Bloom blouse was very popular too - tops with flowers on are ALWAYS a hit
Then Model's-Bored-ism started to set in... (can you tell?)
Eventually we decided to just sit (on a rather chilly bench) and listen to the evening blackbird - who was OBVIOUSLY chatting to her own bird pockets.
We LOVE this Norwegian Dundelina dress and blouse. The quality is excellent, the fit is roomy and the weight is very light which means that it will carry Pink right through the summer.
The blouse has a pretty ruched collar (carefully hidden by my daughter’s spectacular modelling), and loose-fitting bloused sleeves over a nicely-long body (perfect for my own daughter-long-back).
The pinafore dress is fully lined in the Apple Bloom fabric, and is cut to a circle so it has the most fabulous swinging movement (that she finds very difficult not to make the most of whenever she’s wearing it). It’s pretty enough for ‘going out’, but practical enough to cope with running and jumping and spinning. Just the way a dress should be.
And those bird pockets? I’d buy a grown-up sized version, just for those.
Bird Pocket Dress is available from the incredibly fabulous Mayamin for £40.50, in ages 2-6yrs, and the Apple Bloom Blouse is £29, also ages 2-6yrs.
Read More
Gorgeously Practical Maternity Coat from Vertbaudet
REDUCED! Down from £99 to £74!
When I first found I was pregnant with baby #2 and my regular clothes started to nip in places they hadn’t before, my first stop was to search out my “pregnant” clothes from last time round. I despaired! Have styles and fashions (and my tastes!) REALLY changed that much in just 3 short years?! Er, yes. They have. So, it was back to the drawing board for my 9 month stretch in maternity wear. This is where the lovely Laura steps in and asks if I could possibly review some maternity wear from Vertbaudet. YAY! Lifesaver! (My bank manager also applauds you my dear!)
So, what did I get to review? Some bootcut jeans, a long-line cardi and a winter coat. Now, I’ve had them for some time, and they formed my core wardrobe for the duration of my pregnancy, so my thoughts are based on washing and wearing repeatedly, not just occasional wear.
When I opened my parcel, I was like a child on Christmas morning. Seriously, I’m sure if you had been a fly on the wall you would have laughed at my squeaks of glee at the selection I received from my wishlist. I was particularly pleased to have been blessed with the addition of the wool-cloth coat to keep me and the bump warm in the colder months. I can confirm now – it did its job well! I am a fuss-pot when it comes to coats. I admit it. I am desperately hard to please in that department (same as with jeans, but we’ll get to that later!) so when I say the coat was great, it really must have been. At first viewing, I thought it might be a bit lightweight should the weather be VERY cold, but despite the lack of weight, it was cosy and comfortable. A roomy fit around the bump, with plenty of room for expansion (even at the very end) but nicely fitted at the top to give some definition to the shape of the wearer – none of this waddling around looking like a blob thank you very much! The style and cut impressed me further by having “moveable arms”. Yes, I KNOW that seems like a small ask, but am I the only one who has a pet hate for these stylish but non-functional coats and jackets that you have to take off before getting in the car to drive? Grrrrr! Vertbaudet have it all worked out though – I happily drove around wearing the coat with no restrictions on my movement. Well done designers! So, for all the good things I have to say, I will add a small negative – it has no hood. I may not actually use a hood that often, but I do like a nice winter coat to have the option to keep my head dry should I need it. Take this coat and add a hood and I would be a VERY happy lady indeed.
Maternity Wool Coat now reduced from £99.99 down to £74.25 (that’s 25% off!). Bargain.
Read MoreMother’s Day Gifts – Maminka Slippers = *happy feet*
Don’t you just *love* these?
Oh I WANT them.
I do I do I do.
And I bet you thought these were only for babies, right?
As always with Starchild, you get gorgeous Italian leather, and the slippers are actually made right here in the UK.
Read More
Just The BEST Wellies for children. Rainbow Striped Wellington Boots? Yes please.
Usually we’d do a good long fulsome review of a product.
But these Molo Striped Wellies sent us by Little Stomper?
We just need to show you them, we think.
How gorgeous are they?
Very, that’s how.
The daughter even yelped and hugged them when she opened the box (she’s a girl and she’s 5. Striped wellies are about as Good As It Gets).
She may actually never step foot out of doors with any other footwear on again. She even had to wear them to school. For a week (though was persuaded to change into school shoes once she got there). Though photographing a small personage inside them is remarkable tricky – they’re usually doing this…
She likes them a lot.
Us? We love them too.
And if you’re clever, a quick game of hide-and-seek is all the opportunity you need…
Available from the seriously brilliant Little Stomper website (do have a browse while you’re there, the entire shop is full to the brim with quirky, funky, gorgeous footwear for children) for a splash under £24.
Read MoreHandy Tips for Buying Baby Shoes
Babies begin to walk on average between the ages of 9 and 19 months. Of course, all children are unique and some will be earlier walkers, while others will take a more laid back approach to personal mobility.
For babies that are crawling, shoes may seem unnecessary. However, a pair of well fitted pre-walkers with plenty of toe room will keep feet warm and protect from bumps and bruises as they make their first explorative forays into the wider world.
Choose baby shoes with plenty of wiggle room for toes as the nerve endings in your baby’s feet are not very well developed at this stage and they may not feel that shoes are uncomfortable or too tight. Also remember that most children have one foot bigger than the other. Always fit shoes to the larger foot to avoid any restriction.
Babies are often totally fine wearing just socks or tights to keep their little feet warm, indeed going barefoot regularly is important for normal foot development. That said, there will be times when you want your little bundle of joy to be well shod. Perhaps you have bought a special outfit that needs the perfect finishing touch of just the right shoe? In these situations, I go to French company Vertbaudet and choose from their baby shoes collection. They have many styles to choose from for girls and boys. I personally love their little baby girl ballerina pumps which come in a range of colours and have easy fastening. They add the cutest final touch to any baby girl’s outfit.
Vertbaudet baby shoes for boys come in many styles from trainers, sandals, and boots by Kickers, Chipie and others with handy features to help your little one fasten their own shoes. With a range so comprehensive, your hardest decision will be choosing which shoes not to buy!
Once you have found the perfect pair of shoes for your baby and you are happy that the fit is correct, remember to regularly check that they are still fitting comfortably. Children’s feet grow in spurts and it is wise to check babies and toddler’s shoes every six to eight weeks. Check for sufficient toe room and width. If your child keeps pulling off the shoe, check there is nothing causing them discomfort. Babies cannot talk so they communicate with their actions a lot of the time.
It is best to buy baby shoes made from natural materials such as leather, cotton or canvas. Natural materials in uppers and linings allow for moisture to escape. Even baby’s feet get sweaty and if moisture can’t escape through breathable materials, a breeding ground is created for bacteria and fungal conditions such as Athlete’s Foot can develop. If perspiring feet are a problem it is a good idea to rotate your child’s shoes, allowing them to get a thorough airing between each wear.
Beware also of putting your baby’s feet into any shoes that are too rigid. A supple and flexible model is best suited to young ones. Remember, the bones in their feet are still soft and developing and any shoes that are rigid or restrictive can damage them.
So, that’s the news on baby shoes. What to look for. What to avoid. Where to go for the best value and selection of top quality baby shoes. What are you waiting for?
Read MoreFollow Us!
