Cat and the hat

As the 'owners' of two cheeky munchkins of the male persuasion, it's not surprising that some of our finds tend to be a little boy-centric.

But every now and then we satisfy our blog's girlie side with something that catches our eye. Like this adorable Catriona the Cat playsuit by UK designers Olive & Moss. We're especially taken with Catriona's dinky little handbag and sweet mouse ears on the hat that comes as part of the set.

The romper is available in sizes 0-12 months in 100%, machine-washable cotton. Visit Olive & Moss to check out their range of playful characters and products.

Angel baby

She may keep you up all night feeding and drive you crazy all day crying, yet one gummy smile from baby and she's transformed from tiny fiend into cheeky little cherub.

Make her look the part with this angel wing bodysuit by Marie Chantel. The babygrow is made of 100 percent pima cotton and comes with the sweetest set of angel wings sewn on the back. It's also available in pink or blue, but we think you'll agree white looks most celestial. Browse for more heavenly finds at the Gift Library online store.

Green delicious

Our Little Big Cheeks is one of those babies that even strangers seem to want to take a bite out of. And he's almost irresistibly delicious squeezed into his blue on red Cherries bodysuit from eco-friendly range Green Baby.

We snapped up two luxuriously soft and roomy suits from Green Baby in Islington including the adorable Spotted Duck on a tangerine backdrop. Suitable from 0-18 months, all designs are 100% cotton and made by their fair trade partner in India. Visit Green Baby at one of their UK outlets or swing by the web site to check out more goodies in their award-winning collection.

Yellow Baby!

We at Hype Baby are proud to announce that our babe-in-waiting, Little Big Cheeks (as he shall be blogged about) is finally here. He's been with the Cheeky family for two weeks now and already we can't imagine life without him.

And we can think of no better way to greet him on this blog than with a sun salutation from one of our top shops, Nordic Kids.

This Yellow Smiling Sun bodysuit design by Mini Rodini is simply hot to trot. The sweet smiley face and funky, graphic print rays on sunshine cotton are irresistibly cheerful. It's the perfect way to inject a little summertime spirit indoors while we yearn for warmer days ahead. Check out this and more designs at the Nordic Kids web site.

Sleep easy

When it comes to their precious newborns, even the least eco-conscious amongst parents can suddenly develop a green conscience. You want to create as safe an environment as possible in your home and protect your progeny from any toxic influence. But one area that some newbie mamas and papas overlook is what mattress their baby sleeps on - many simply relying on the synthetic options that come with their crib or cot.

The Natural Mat Company specialises in 100% natural, breathable mattresses and organic bedding hand-made in Devon. These natural fibres create a constant circulation of air to allow babies to regulate their own temperatures and prevent from overheating. Each mattress is made from non-chemical fire retardant materials and treated with essential oils to provide allergy protection.

The Natural Mat Company can't guarantee their products will make your little one sleep through the night. But their promise of safety and long-lasting comfort for your child should help new parents rest a little easier. Find out more at the Natural Mat Company web site.

Wild thing

Although we welcomed the fairly mild conditions over the holiday period, I must admit being slightly disappointed Mr. Cheeks didn't get to experience a white Xmas. But I cheered up instantly when I imagined wrapping his little brother in this adorable unisex animal print Snowsuit from Mothercare. The little hood with ears and the paw prints on the feet are what crank this outfit up to irresistibly cute. Even if we don't get a whisper of snow all winter, I'll probably wind up stuffing the baby into this snow suit at the merest hint of frost. It's temporarily out of stock online but UK customers can find a list of retailers at the Mothercare web site.

Bugging out

How ridiculously snug does this baby look swaddled in his Bug in a Rug? These multipurpose baby wraps designed in Australia and distributed in the UK by Baby Rug are ideal for being out and about. They allow babies to be carried in and out of all 5 point harness and carry pouches without having to unwrap and rewrap them.

What's more, they come in multiple colours and a variety of fabrics -- from water resistant or polar fleece for wet, wintry weather to lightweight cotton and waffle for the warmer months. Bug in a Rug baby wraps are safe and simple to use and the cute factor is off the scale. I first spotted these at London's Baby Show but you can find out more at the Baby Rug 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.

To dream of Cuski

If you’re dead set against dummies and don’t want your baby lugging a bulky blankie everywhere, you might like to try a Cuski. Hugely popular with UK parents since its launch more than six years ago, Cuski is a super-soft baby comforter that’s especially helpful soothing newborns to sleep (indeed Cuski is an anglicised Welsh term meaning ‘to sleep’). On the first night mum or dad should sleep with the Cuski so it absorbs your natural scent. In the morning, the Cuski should be passed on to your baby who will associate it with the comfort and security of having you nearby. Cuski is compact and made out of soft, durable fabric that lasts wash after wash and is available in several colours. Check out the Cuski web site for a list of international stockists.

Technorati tags baby toys shopping sleep

Say it with flowers

For a perfect blend of style with practicality, one unique and ultra cute newborn gift idea we’ve come across is the BabyBlooms baby clothes bouquet. BabyBlooms puts together an exquisite hand-made bouquet of essential baby wear (bodysuits, hats, socks) fashioned into a stunning floral arrangement. The garments are all machine washable original BabyBlooms designs in 100% cotton and come in size 0-3 months. Now there’s no excuse to settle for a wilting bunch of roses from the hospital shop.

Surf's up!

Tummy time’s a shore thing with this adorable surfboard activity mat by Infantino. The padded play mat comes complete with a detachable prop-up pillow and a growth chart to measure your little surfer dude until he’s too old to ride. Other cute features include linkable toys and a water pouch filled with floating sea creatures to create a mini aquarium. Suitable from O months +.