Hot Seat

When travelling with Mr. Cheeks as a baby, I couldn't have gone anywhere without my Tot Seat portable highchair. This handy wrap keeps baby tied safely to most seats so he can have a little independence and leave you with both hands free.

Now that the Little Big Cheeks is weaning, I keep one in my baby bag but as an avid mummy blogger I'm always on the quest for what's new.

Enter Phil & Ted's Wriggle Wrapper, a genius little contraption that offers the same portability as the Totseat but goes one step further.

Not only does the Wriggle Wrapper secure baby snugly to a chair or around your waist, but you can also tie it to standard single beds for extra peace of mind when your little one's napping.

Phil & Ted's Wriggle Wrapper comes in chic grey or snazzy red, is machine washable and suitable for babies aged 6 to 24 months. Snap one up via the Phil & Ted site or available stockists.

Just frontin'

Now that the little big boy is starting out on solids, our thoughts have turned to getting him some stylish feeding gear. I'm charmed by this funky Island Stripe bib by Babylicious. With its wipe-clean surface, catch-all front pocket and Velcro closure, this plastic protector provides an easy way to inject a little attitude into chow time. Best of all, it's on sale now at Style Kid. Check out more discount offers at their web site.

Water colouring

Hype Baby is long overdue to release some kind of hot list relating to our top picks over the years. One of Mr. Cheek’s toys that would definitely make the grade is Tomy’s Aquadraw Deluxe mat. This mess-free drawing pad comes with water-filling pens and cute stencils, helps your kid learn numbers and alphabet, and is very portable for holidays and such. The only drawback is that it takes up a fair amount of space.

Now Tomy has come up with the Aqua Draw 'N' Go placemat which is just the right size to take on days out. The placemat comes in a handy carry tube and uses the same principles of ‘water colouring’ to entertain baby. It should also save parents from stressing over how to scrub crayon off the walls at that swish restaurant. Order direct from Tomy or see their web site for stockists.

Udderly fabulous

Whether you’re weaning baby off the breast or bottle, you’ll probably try out several different training cups before you find the right fit. Yummy mummies will go milk mad for this super stylish Cow Print sippy cup from Blooming Marvellous. Suitable from six-months-old, it'll keep your little one looking swishy even as she dribbles milk down her front.

Technorati tags baby weaning

Right for lefties

Once they actually discover their hands and how to use them, most babies are fairly ambidextrous for a while. But as their skills improve, you may soon notice a preference. Although he uses both hands, Mr. Cheeks tends to favour his left for major stuff like eating. So I was glad to find this first Baby Fork and Spoon set that includes spoons curved to allow babies to use either hand effectively. The fork is designed so your nipper can hold it in fist grip until he gets the hang of self-feeding. The set is available in pink or blue at the online store Anything Left-handed.

Technorati tags baby gadgets

Strap 'em in

We are currently overseas and Mr Cheeks, despite being a winter babe, is coping well with the African heat. Although I don't have easy access to my blog, being on our first long-distance trip has given us a chance to try out some great products for travel. One item that has proved indispensable is the 'washable, squashable' highchair in a bag known as the Tot Seat. This funky piece of fabric helps secure your baby to an adult seat with clip fastening and an integral cummerbund for extra support. It adjusts to fit most size chairs and comes in a handy travel pouch that easily fits into your baby bag. Mr. Cheeks loves being the star of the show when I strap him in and people come around to marvel. And I love eating almost anywhere without having to do the tricky 'balance the bubba' act on my lap.

Technorati tags baby travel feeding

HandySitt gives babies a boost

As someone who opted for a cheap and cheerful booster seat that has served my baby well, I’m always on the lookout for good alternatives to bulky highchairs. Made in Denmark, the HandySitt is an award-winning product crafted out of high grade steel and beech wood from managed forests. This portable booster seat gives your little one the right support and height to sit safely at the table with the adults. The arms adjust to fit almost any dining chair and it packs flat for easy storage. Each HandySitt also comes with a wipe clean cushion and can be bought with a neat TravelBagg for outings. Suitable from 7 months to 4 ½ years.