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.

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.

Buggy warmers

We're barely halfway through September and already summer (or what passed for summer over here) is almost a distant memory. The air is getting chillier and it's time to start shopping for winter warmers for our precious offspring.

You'll be hard pressed to find something more luxurious for your little one than the Moore and Moore buggy blankets in faux fur or faux sheepskin. Available in irresistible colours like toffee, latte and truffle, these gorgeous blankets are guaranteed to keep any buggie snug through the coming months. The faux sheepskin versions also come with a cute Pocket Pal animal toy that nestles within easy reach to keep baby company as you stroll. All Moore and Moore products are made in the UK and can be found at a variety of online stores or visit their web site for more information.

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.

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.

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

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

Bling Buggy

For many urban mamas, the Maclaren is the lightweight buggy of choice. If the Bugaboo is a Baby Benz, then Maclaren Quest is the Toyota Corolla of pushchairs: smooth, sleek, sturdy and great value for money. But if you want to flex like your baby 'Trumps' all others (even that smug Stokke rider) splash out on the ultimate tricked-out stroller: the limited edition Maclaren GB Type Au.

This baby bling-mobile's kitted out in black leather and gold, kind of like Shaft meets old school LL Cool J. But with more class. It has a 9 carat gold brooch on the detachable cell-phone pocket along with standard Maclaren features like five-point harness and compact umbrella fold. In case you've missed out on one of these beauties (only 20 exist), you can still satisfy your inner snob with a buggy from Maclaren's designer range including ultra chic collections by Kate Spade, Lulu Guinness and Philippe Starck. Did somebody say Bugawho?

Technorati tags baby shopping gadgets

Strolling in the rain

Relief and a twinge of envy. That's how I felt when I came across the Buggy Brolly, a product I'd imagined and longed for but never got around to actually designing and patenting like clever mum Catherine Duffy. This stylish, hands-free umbrella attaches to most strollers by clamping firmly to the arms and can be neatly stored away with most buggies when folded down.

So say goodbye to zigzagging your pushchair with one hand while desperately trying to keep your salon-fresh hair under cover. Bid adieu to turning up at playgroup or nursery looking like a drowned rodent. And even if you don't live in Londrizzle, United Raindom, the Buggy Brolly offers UV-protection and can also be used as a sunshade.

Mary Poppins, eat your heart out. Visit the web site for details.

Technorati tags baby gadgets shopping

Snug as a bug in a rug

We've been enjoying an Indian summer over here in England's green and pleasant land. But the cold snap’s about to hit and it’s time to get the little ones kitted out for frosty days ahead. This funky kangaroo style pouch will keep bubba nice and snug. The Buggysnuggle fits all pushchairs and the top can be removed to leave the bottom as a liner in milder temperatures. The Buggysnuggle is available in many designs and textures including plush sherpa fleece, faux suede and yeti! Stylish babies make all the right moo-ves in this fake fur Cow Buggysnuggle. Check edirectory.com for deliveries outside UK/Europe.