The Mothers' Retreat at Lavender Bay

Being launched next month by Sarah Murdoch is the Mothers' Retreat at Lavender Bay. This $1300 per night luxury retreat is for new mother's and their newborn baby.

The facility is a half way stop between the hospital and home and it is dedicated to supporting, educating and assisting mothers in becoming competent and confident in the care of their new babies.

The $8million, privately funded centre was created by Sydney obstetrician Keith Hartman, who delivered Mrs Murdoch's two children. Hartman felt "women needed to have the opportunity of having a longer stay in a facility where they could recover, refresh and gain confidence."

Some features of this luxurious retreat:

• Guests enjoy 24/7 assistance and guidance from our expert nursing staff
• Well appointed beauty salon with a resident trained beautician. Every guest receives one beauty treatment for each 2-day package.
• Security of mothers and babies is of the greatest importance - both are protected at all times by state-of-the-art technology including electronic tagging of babies and video surveillance of all common areas and the building's exterior.
• All bedrooms are air-conditioned (with individual temperature control), have new luxury bathrooms, telephone, high speed internet access, plasma screen television with Foxtel and a nurse call system.
• Gourmet cuisine created on site by a chef from the famous "Flying Fish" restaurant.
• Guests can choose to dine in the comfortable dining room or in their own suites.
• Mothers are able to watch their babies sleeping in the nursery on plasma screen television sets in their rooms.

Go to http://www.themothersretreat.com.au/ for more information.

Brio Grow Highchair

Brio is well renowned for making excellent wooden train sets and toys.

Now they are making highchairs and nursery products.

This is the brio grow highchair, and it is the first in a series of furniture from the Swedish designers of Brio. The high chair can be turned into a junior chair and the seat is made out of rubber foam - so it is easy to wipe down. It is available in orange, white and black seat.

This highchair is not currently available in Australia. It retails overseas for €389.00

Go to http://www.brio.co.uk/ for more information.

Katie Holmes and Suri at the LA Galaxy Game

Suri Cruise joined her Mum Katie Holmes at David Beckhams LA Galaxy vs Chelsea Soccer Game on the weekend. They were in good company; other people in the box with them were the Beckham family, Tom's Mum - Mary Lee and Eva Longoria

I think Suri is just so adorable. She has the cutest smile.

Suri wore a pink Ralph Lauren Cecilia Polo Dress.

100% biodegradable disposable nappy

Here is the worlds first 100% biodegradable nappy - The Safeties Nature Nappy has been created using a unique fibre technology, Safeties is a fabric-based nappy (not paper-based). This unique approach is what makes this disposable nappy 100% biodegradable.

What is Safeties made from? Safeties are made from 95% natural materials. The base material is viscose felted (patented). Natural polymer synthetically grafted to natural starch and fluff makes up the absorbent core. They also use semi syntactic polymers; these substances comply with ASTMD standards, an internationally tested and recognised standard of biodegradation.

Nappy Features:

Fabric-based breathability

Totally dry without dehydrating

Innovative leak-proof material

Fastening System

They retail for about $25.00 and can be purchased from http://www.natureschild.com.au/

Beautiful Blankets

Looking for a beautiful blanket for your baby/child's bed, or the perfect keepsake gift?

If you haven't seen the Branberry range of blankets they are well worth looking at.

I love these blankets so much that I bought each of my children one for their bed, and they look just beautiful, are long lasting and beautiful and soft.

Branberry blankets come in 3 sizes, bassinet, cot and single bed. They combine natural fibres (70% pure combined cotton and 30% extra fine merino wool), classic styles and timeless colours to create a brand of knitted blankets for babies and children like no other. They are both beautiful and functional. Although they are of the highest quality, they are meant for everyday use.

Each blanket is carefully knitted and hand finished in Australia ensuring lasting quality. Best of all, these classics are machine washable and dryable.

To see the full range go to http://www.branberry.com.au/

The first place in the world you can buy the Bugaboo Bee.

The Bugaboo Bee is due to be released in Australia December this year. However if you are desperate to get your hands on one before then Babystyle in the US will be the first to sell it from August. It will sell for US $529.

This streamline stroller can be folded flat using one hand and has a carrying handle. It is more affordable than its siblings, however it still maintains some of its great features such as:

• 360 degree turning radius
• A cushy interior
• Shock absorbing tyres that ensure a smooth ride
• The Bees seat can face front or back recline and extend
• Suitable from newborn
• Height adjustable handle bar and amazing accessories

Go to http://www.babystyle.com/ for more information and to see the colour choices.

Take a close look at what this baby is wearing.

This had me in hysterics. Yes its the pee-pee teepee. These are used to stop you getting covered by those little baby boy accidents. Keep yourself and everything dry while changing him.

I was browsing overseas web sites and on a site www.moderntots.com I came across this funny little product.

Each pack contains 5 pee-pee teepee's and a mini laundry bag (yes they are reusable). They cost US $13.00

Just to make me bend over in more laughter I see they come in Santa hat and biplane design.

Ridiculous or useful ? You decide.

Skip Hop Toolbox Nursery Organiser

This may be the answer to clutter in the contemporary nursery! The caddy holds up to a dozen nappies, a wide assortment of creams, cotton balls and other necessities, keeping them close at hand. With the built-in-handle, it can easily be moved from bedroom to bathroom to any other room in the house.

Available in raspberry, blue and white and it retails for $99.95

Need baby product advice?

This is the other side of my business. If you need advice on what baby products are best going to suit your needs, or you just want to make the right choices first time around saving you time and money. Then check out my web site for further information. http://www.babystyle.com.au/

I come to your home and offer expert advice tailored to you. Everything is covered from cots to car seats, prams, toys, bathing, feeding equipment, clothing and more.

I also present workshops to groups on 'buying for baby', 'child care choices' and 'educational toy selection' . If you have a group of friends or work colleges that are interested in a group workshop please contact me (contact details are on my web site)

Angela

Angelina bought this for Brad

Looking for a funky nappy bag just for Dad? This is a nappy bag hip Dads wont shy away from. It is simply loaded with features for on the go parents.

The brand is called Diaper Dude and this is their Black dragon bag, the same type Angelina bought for Brad.

I saw these bags ages ago when they were only available in the States through Diaper Dude, well now they are available in Australia from http://www.queenbee.com.au/ .

RRP is $139.95

Brooke Shields pushes a Phil and Teds

Here is another celebrity that owns a Phil and Teds sport. Brooke was seen out in California pushing her two children Rowan 4 and Grier 1.

Now that many celebrities are having their second child they seems to be giving up their Bugaboo and switching to the Phil and Teds, which allows them to add the double conversion kit and push two children one behind the other and both children can be seated.

I must say that Brooke looks uncomfortable pushing the Phil and Teds from the pic above, as she is so tall and the Phil and Teds doesn't allow for much adjusting on the handle bar height.

Jooki bags now available in tan

A while ago I blogged about Jooki bags. These bags are oh so stylish and beautifully made from soft nappa leather.

Now their 2 most popular styles the Talissa and Arielle are available in tan. They retail for about $379.95

Other colours available in the Talissa are: moonbeam, black, pink and olive green.

The Arielle is available in black

Visit www.jooki.com.au for more information

The white trend continues

White seems to be the latest trend in baby product colour trends. Although personally I think everyone has gone mad.

Peg Perego has released their new Prima Pappa Leatherette High Chair in pure (white) and oatmeal.

This high chair has 2 trays which is handy (for eating and playing). It has a 5 point safety harness. Seven height positions and 4 reclining positions. Easy and compact folding. The fabric is a deluxe leatherette fabric

Many years ago when the peg Perego high chair was new on the market I bought one for my first baby and I must say it was comfy for my baby while he was small but the biggest pain about it was how hard it was to keep clean.

The high chair retails for about $399.95

Bugaboo Bee Update

The latest news on when the Bugaboo Bee is due to be released in Australia is December this year.

Not long now until we see the newest member of the Bugaboo family!

Rock Your Baby

Forget the cutesy pastels and teddy bear designs of conventional baby wear. Rock Your Baby’s designs presents a new cutting edge kiddie couture, mixing rock ‘n roll attitude, with bold bright graphics and an irreverent sense of humour.

The hip jeans pictured above are their RYB style jeans. These jeans are 100% cotton and include detailed stitching and adjustable waist bands. They are sized from 6 months to 5 years. Retailing for about $40.00.

Go to www.rockyourbaby.com for more information.

Gwyneth Paltrow Pushes an Apple Phil and Teds

What a perfect buggy to push your daughter named Apple in. The Phil and Teds Apple green sport buggy is the pram of choice for Gwyneth Paltrow and rock star Dad Chris Martin for their children Apple and Moses.

Go to http://www.philandteds.com/ to see pics of Gwyneth and Chris pushing this pram.

A girly frock

Oobi make lovely clothing for babies and young children, and this girly dress is no exception. It is their Patchwork Storybook Cord Dress.

This new Oobi patchwork dress is made from a rich, soft corduroy with a fine ridge and has a gorgeous pinafore shape with buttons on the shoulders. Finished with a divine gros-grain French ribbon tie and decorated with forest scenes it is like something from a storybook.

Available in blue, pink or chocolate brown and sizes 0-1, 1-2 and 2-3 yrs. It retails for about $49.95

Go to www.oobi.com.au to see their full range.

The Breast Soother

If you have ever had engorgement, mastitis or blocked milk ducts then you will appreciate this product.

The Breast Soother provides both cooling and warming therapy to ease discomfort that may be caused by breastfeeding.

The cooling therapy is for engorgement, mastitis and weaning
The warming therapy is for blocked milk ducts and to stimulate milk flow

The breast soother is reusable just wash it in warm soapy water, rinse and return to fridge for next use .

You get 2 breast soothers per box and they retail for $39.95 - money well spent I would say!

Go to http://www.smartchoiceswomen.com.au/ for more information or to order.

Benetton Bambini Collection Stroller

Available exclusively to Australia in September is the Benetton Bambini Collection Stroller!

First to launch is the Luce – an innovative, high-end umbrella stroller that will be available in two, funky colourways. The stroller will be easy to pack away, include trendy designs and made from light-weight materials.

Available will be the Denim Collection and it will include the trademark Benetton green T-shirt jersey, mixed with smokey grey denim. The other colour will be the Chilli Collection and this will have bright, bold red and grey marl jersey.

The weight of the pram is 6.5kg
RRP Price is $399 which includes the footmuff and rain cover

Go to www.bornwithstyle.com.au for more information