All wrapped up

Although the baby boom is no longer quite as intense as when I was expecting (funny how that happens), I just found out yet another relative is due in a couple of months. Always an excuse to hunt for new baby gifts.


I've fallen in love with the soft throws, wraps and nursery bedding by the Atlantic Blankets company. I'm particularly swayed by these Moss/Salmon striped blankies made in Ireland. These 100% lambswool babywraps are just designed for snuggling a newborn and will make both new mama and little bundle very happy indeed. Find your own perfect style at the Atlantic Blankets web site.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

All aboard

Happy New Year to all our readers! There’s no time like the present to reorganise your baby’s toys. Nowadays you can find a wide variety of storage solutions to jazz up the nursery or kids’ room. We’ve been carried away by this Guidecraft Train Toy Box that deftly combines two of our toddler’s favourite activities: imaginative play and tidy-up time. The hand-crafted choo choo chest is beautifully designed and features a safety hinge catch and cut-outs to prevent finger pinching. Visit the Guidecraft web site for more storage ideas and a list of sales partners and distributors.

Technorati tags baby toys furniture

All wrapped up

For an extra special Christmas parcel, wrap a brand new baby in one of these gorgeous quilts. Many Hands blankies are designed by artisans Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr and stitched together by a community of developmentally disabled adults in Chicago. These 100% cotton flannel reversible blankets feature elephants, dolphins or chimps in a range of vivid colours and are machine washable. The quilts will brighten up any nursery and make unique heirlooms that will be treasured for generations to come. Visit Brooklyn-based store Romp to find these and other one-of-a-kind products.

Technorati tags baby gifts Christmas

High price heels

What do you get for the parents who have everything? Nada. Simply point and click them in the direction of the Posh Tots web site. While the rest of the masses can merely ogle the 'most extraordinary children's furnishings in the world', Mummy and Daddy Warbucks might be tempted to drop a cool $49,000 on this shoe.

Well, it's not strictly a shoe. The handsome construction, cunningly disguised as an item of footwear, is actually a children's wardrobe that appears to be inspired by the nursery rhyme (old lady, too many kids, you know the one). This Whimsical Armoire is custom made upon order and features two sliding drawer doors, a cedar roof and one window nightlight. It's sure to provide hours of fun (priced at about $817 a minute) for future shoe fetishists.

This little piggy

Babies are more than worth their weight in gold. But boy, are they expensive. One way to help ease the burden is to teach your kid to save from an early age. This sheeny shiny piggy bank will smarten up the nursery and store pennies from birth or even before. The nickel-plated pig can be engraved with baby's name or one line of text - but it only takes 12 characters so save your 'Neither a borrower nor a lender be' speech for graduation. Now on sale at [the nest] baby shop.

Technorati tags baby money gifts

Sweet dreams

We tracked down this gorgeous quilted blanket and bib set at Groovy Mummy, a simply delicious site created by two UK mamas with a hype sense of style. You’ll find everything from funky nursery sets in ‘cosy dozes’ to the exquisite but plainly stated ‘burps and poops’ range of bibs, burp cloths and changing pads. Courteney Cox and Gwyneth Paltrow are just two celebs who are fans of Groovy Mummy products. If you want to spread the joy, book a Groovy Mummy party or baby shower coordinated by one of their representatives. Go ahead, get your groove on.

Technorati tags baby fashion bedding shopping