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.

For book bugs

I'm proud to say that Mr. Cheeks has been a book worm since he was a mere nipper, chewing on cloth books. He's also a big fan of push-pull toys and anything that looks like a wagon.

So imagine my delight to come across the P'kolino Book Buggee, a pull-along book shelf that contains four book holders and a front compartment where your kid can store other toys/junk. The Book Buggee makes a great gift for budding word nerds. And the powerful combo of stories and wheels should keep bubba busy while you catch up on some of your own reading. Find out more at kids' design store Mason and Matisse.

Bathing beauty

If you've ever tried to persuade a terrified toddler that showering for the first time in a strange hotel can be fun, you'll definitely appreciate this slick piece of baby gear. The Bibabath is a portable bath - sort of like a hammock - that lets you transform almost any type of shower into a fun, hygienic bath for kids.


Ideal for bathrooms with no space for a tub, the Bibabath is quick to install and made of non-slip material that's washable at 60° C. It features a drainage outlet that can be attached to the shower drain and when not in use, the bath can be folded flat against the wall. It can also be used outdoors as a mini splash pool. And at just 3kg, it weighs less than your average travel cot so comes in handy when you're off on holiday. Get more info at the Bibabath web site.

Swing high, butterfly

Summertime and the living is easy... So the deep freeze from Siberia may be heading to the UK, but this swinging baby makes us think of those lazy, hazy days we can only dream about. The Fisher Price Butterfly Garden Papasan Cradle Swing not only looks ridiculously cosy but it also comes with a variety of sound and music settings and plenty of good vibrations.

For playtime, the bubba can relax to bird song and 8 happy tunes while nap time mode features a soothing brook, chirping crickets and 8 lullabies. Along with the detachable butterfly mobile, there's a butterfly light show that projects onto the canopy and at the flick of a switch the cradle will swing from side to side or back to front. Order at Kiddicare, an online superstore with excellent deals for new parents.

Hot Roddlers

Auto freak daddies and mamas are already going ape doo doo for a fine piece of design known as the "Roddler". Possibly the most tricked-out stroller on the planet, the Roddler combines the safety and comfort of a traditional stroller with the sleek good looks of a classic Hot Rod. Not only does this ride boast one-of-a-kind features like its iPod docking station and integrated LCD screen, but it can be customised with chrome trims, flash colours and smoking accessories. You can even add your own graphics (e.g. flames) for seriously hot wheels.



Coming in 2009, Kid Kustoms are cranking things up with their highly covetable Roddler Trike, the world's first convertible trike. It comes available both as a stand-alone and as a conversion kit that replaces the front end of the Roddler stroller. Strictly for high rollers. Get the lowdown at the Kid Kustoms web site.

The Show must go on

The Baby Show, the UK's biggest exhibition for new and expectant parents, came back with a bang (shake and rattle) at London's Earl's Court arena last weekend. This three-day event features all the top baby and toddler brands like Mothercare, Maclaren, Graco and Avent, along with indie retailers and mumpreneurs eager to share their wares.


With live fashion shows, parenting experts on hand to guide you and row upon row of stands, the Baby Show is a great place to try out loads of gear and finally whittle down what you'll really need for those 0-3 years. The sheer range of goodies on offer can be exhausting and after what seemed like miles of trekking I was ready to nap in the giant bouncy chair set up at the Fisher Price stand. Mr. Cheeks was having a fab time scoping out toys and other toddlers - apart from being totally freaked out by a super-sized Bob the Builder. Luckily the kid was soon worn out leaving mama free to wander/shop in peace for another hour.

Sadly we weren't able to bring you live reports from the show, but over the coming weeks Hype Baby and our sister blog Brand New Mama will be featuring some of our favourite products and exhibitors. If you missed the weekend gig, you can catch the Baby Show in Manchester on November 14-16 or plan ahead for 2009 outings at London's ExCeL on March 1, Birmingham on May 15-17 and Earl's Court on October 16-18. For more info check out the Baby Show web site.

Scoot Along

If you read our recent post on balance bikes, you'll know that Hype Baby is quite caught up in the pedalless revolution. There are many new versions to choose from and one of the coolest we've stumbled upon is the Skipper Balance Scooter, based on the Vespa model. This funky little mover features rubber wheels, a lacquer finish and comes in racy red, hot pink, baby blue or black. And for extra retro appeal, you can even add a furry seat cover to pad your teeny one's tush. Get these stylish wheels at the Skipper Toys web site.

Buggy driver

Babes will do anything for their own set of wheels. So why not transform a regular stroller into your kid's very own automobile with the ultra cool Light & Sound Buggy Driver baby toy. This brightly coloured gadget attaches to the front of most makes of pushchairs and features a proper dashboard complete with steering wheel, flashing indicators, beeping horn, gear stick and side mirrors. The Buggy Driver will also make actual vroom vroom sounds when your little roadster figures out how to turn the ignition key. What a trip! This toy's recommended for ages 3 months to 2 years but will keep any stroller-confined tot busy for hours. Available at Growing Tree Toys.

The wheel deal

Unless you’ve been nowhere near a park this summer, you’ve probably spotted the cool 2-year-olds whizzing around on those funky wooden bikes they push with their feet (look mum, no pedals!) These learner bikes are excellent training for the real thing as they teach young kids how to balance without the need for stabilizers.

Balance bikes are quickly overtaking tricycles in the wheelie market and trendy mamas and papas are splashing out large chunks of change for top brands like Skuut, Puky and the hugely popular LikeaBike – check out a site like Run Bikes for more options. But if you hunt around you can find cheaper and equally attractive versions to set your toddler rolling. Target was selling a LikeaBike knockoff at $50 and over in the UK, you can pick up a Sesame Street balance bike like this cute Elmo Bike at The Kids Window for $59.99. Suitable from ages 2-5.

Going, going...Green!

If you want to do your bit for the planet, declutter your over-stuffed house and make a little money too, you should check out GreenKidsAuction.com. The newly launched online community auction site offers a user-friendly Ebay alternative that’s aimed at helping eco-loving mums and dads ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ unwanted gear. You can put new and gently used items up for sale at no cost and pay a fee of 4.95% billed only when your item sells. And just to put a little polish on your halo, 5% of proceeds will be donated to Healthy Child Healthy World.

Zap those night terrors!

Jessica Walker must be one of the most popular mums on the planet. First, she wooed our taste buds with Jessica Walker Chocolates. Now she’s come up with an ingenious idea to help kids (and weary parents) sleep easier at night. The Anti Monster Spray, invented to help combat the bedtime fears of her son Zak, is a fast acting lavender spray that can be squirted all around your baby’s bedroom to zap away those creepy critters lurking in the dark.

The lavender oil contains calming properties that help ease nervy nippers into slumber land – and it’s a well known fact that beasties and bogeymen cannot stand the scent. This rigorously tested spray can also be used as room freshener, pillow spray and laundry deodoriser. Order the spray and more gear from the growing Anti Monster range at Walker’s web site.

Wild ride

Once upon a time all you needed was a simple set of wheels to cart your pre-walkers from A to B. But in the Noughties, the seemingly limitless range of prams, carriers, strollers, trailers and baby joggers on the market could make your head spin. Sporty parents are going gaga for the Chariot Cougar 1 bike trailer, described as the “best-selling ultimate multi-functional child transportation system”.

The Cougar offers an ultra smooth ride with padded seats, soft harness and adjustable suspension. Each Cougar must be bought with at least one CTS conversion kit that allows it to function in one of 5 different modes: cycling, hiking, jogging, strolling and even skiing. It’s available in one-child or two-child (Cougar 2) models to accommodate your growing family and frankly, this cat looks hot. Check out the Chariot Cougar and other superfly child rides at the Bicycle Trailers site.

Technorati tags baby strollers cycling

Good clean fun

Every now and then a kid’s product comes along that is nothing short of genius. Designer Kristina Andersson devised the ultimate gadget for lazy parents: the world’s first rideable vacuum cleaner. Sadly it’s merely a design concept which basically means, ‘in your dreams, padre’. Never mind - there’s still a range of fun vacuuming toys on the market for mini housekeepers who have not yet discovered that cleaning up is a chore. We especially like this Fisher Price 2-in-1 Giggle Vacuum that features a triple whammy of Sesame stars: a reversible Elmo and Cookie Monster on its front and Oscar the Grouch spinning in the centre cylinder. Buy it online at the Etoys store.

Technorati tags baby toys gadgets

Ride around the world

Planning on leaving these shores for warmer climes? Don’t make any sudden moves without picking up a Trunki for your little one. This fab new invention is the world’s first ride-on suitcase that has enough room for your babe’s spare clothes, toys and books. Kids can help pack then cruise along on their own luggage which is approved for storage in cabin compartments. Trunki is sturdy yet lightweight, gives parents a break from lugging heavy toddlers around and opens up a whole new world of fun for globe-trotting tots. Check it out at Trunki’s online store.

Technorati tags baby gadgets travel

Little Squirts

So you’ve decorated your nursery in blue, picked out your favourite boy’s names and imagined holding your male progeny in your arms. But unless you’ve parented sons before nothing prepares you for the moment when, as you undo his nappy, your little darling cheerfully squirts pee-pee in your eye. If you don’t feel cut out for this type of target practice, help is at hand in the form of Wee Blocks.

This clever cup-like device is covered in soft 2-ply cotton fabric and contains an absorbent sponge underneath. You simply pop the Wee Block on baby boy at changing time and spare yourself an unwanted shower. Wee Blocks are machine washable and come in fun colours with cheeky slogans like Lil Squirt, Whiz Kid and Wee Wee Man. Available online at Pokkadots.

Technorati tags baby baby boys gadgets

Bike cruise

As a keen cyclist, Papa Cheeks has been on the lookout for a baby bike seat but I think I've just found something even snazzier. Made by Little Tikes, Cosy Cruiser is a push-along that converts to a bike trailer without any need for tools. This funky little three-wheeler boasts fully adjustable padded handles, nylon canvas canopy, dual foot brakes and collapsible metal frame for easy transportation. It also promises a large storage compartment so you can turn a quick trip to the grocery store into a fun ride for baby. Suitable for ages 1-5 and now selling at Little Tikes.

Technorati tags baby toys

Picture this

If you're still stuck for daddy gift ideas, you can always turn to that old standby -a perfectly framed photo of his precious spawn. It's pretty hard to go wrong with this option but if you want yours to stand out from the traditional brag book, you need to update. Get Papa one of these digital picture key chains which holds up to 56 photos of baby with which to wow/bore friends, colleagues and passing strangers. Both PC and mac compatible, this handy gadget displays photos in standard or slideshow mode and contains a battery that lasts 2 weeks when fully charged. Order now at The Nest online store.

Technorati tags Father's Day dads gifts

Name that buggy

So your kid's rolling in one of the most popular brands of strollers in town. Of course there's safety in numbers, but how do you make your baby's wheels stand out from the pack? Add pizazz to his pushchair with a personalised name plate from Mini-U. There's a selection of styles to choose from and you can design and customise your name plate in just a few clicks. The plates act as reflectors in low light conditions so you can feel extra secure on the roads in the evening.

Personalised plates can also be fixed onto toy cars, Go-Karts or used to decorate the nursery walls. Order online at Mini-U or check out Hampton Registrations. To get a wider variety of plates and tags for everyone from your hubby to your horse, visit Supergrafik, a site based in Sweden where the craze really kicked off.

Technorati tags baby pushchairs gifts

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

Bubble trouble

As we've said before, often the most appreciated toys are the least pricey. We got Mr. Cheeks one of these bubble machines for his 1st birthday and it was a huge hit at the party. It's made for ages 3-8 but there's no reason why younger bubbas shoudn't get a little bubble love, so long as you're careful. Bubble blowers provide cheap, cheerful thrills on a day at the park. And sometimes we set the blower to spray out the window from our flat onto the street below. It's a joy to see the surprise, wonder and sheer delight on people's faces as the bubbles come flying by. Double your bubbles at Early Learning Centre.

Technorati tags baby toys shopping