Weeride Bicycle Carrier

If you enjoy bike riding and thought you had to give it up now that you have kids well think again.

The weeride allows you and your child to enjoy the experience of the wind through your hair (with a helmet on!) as you enjoy fresh air and an adventure together.

Gone are the days that your child has to sit behind you and only see side views or your back as they ride along. With the weeride you can see your child at all times and they can see what you see - an unobstructed view at front.

Weeride states its following advantages as:·

Child is visible at all times by rider· Child's needs can be heard, seen and attended to more easily· Interesting view for child · Child's weight enhances rather than impairs bicycle stability· Better communication between adult and child· More comfortable, enjoyable riding experience for child· Improved balance for rider due to child's central position on bicycle · Enhanced safety because adults arms surround child· Easy to remove child carrier for riding alone· No dangling arms or legs to reach wheels· Rear of bike is free to carry equipment .

The Weeride costs $169.95 plus $15 postage. As a Father's Day Special Weeride comes with a free helmet.

Bloom Lounger

Also new to Bloom and Australia is the stylish Lounger.

Suitable from newborn to 12kg, this lounger would look great in any lounge room.

It includes

• a 5 point safety harness
• smooth rocking motion
• soft baby nest seat.

The lounger retails for $269.00 and is available in a range of colours.

Bloom High Chair

*Product update*

In May I blogged about the Bloom highchair and that it would be arriving in Australia later this year. It has now arrived and looks mighty good.

If you are looking for a high chair with a bit of style and difference to other highchair on the market then this high chair may be for you.

I was originally informed that the high chair would retail for about $399.99, however it is $699.00.

This futuristic designed highchair, comes with:

• multiple grow-with-child modes: - newborn to 6-months resting cradle - 6-months and up feeding chair with 'up-to-the-table'
• 2 years to 36 kg
• traditional (tray) modes play seat
• Super sized adjustable feeding tray and second play tray - removable and dishwasher-safe

Features include:

• 360 degree swivel with resistor pneumatic-assist
  easy-lift height adjustment allowing infinite positions
  multiple position reclining seat.
• 5 point safety harness with height adjustable shoulder straps
• micro-suede seat upholstery available in vibrant colours
• multiple position footrest
• enclosed castor wheels in base for easy 'lift and glide'
  

Making Toilet Training Fun!

Just released is the Fisher price Fun to Learn Potty.

Toilet training a toddler can be hard work as they often get bored and don’t want to sit still. The best results are often achieved if you reward the child. The new Fisher-Price Fun to Learn Potty does just that. The potty has a ‘flush’ lever with a real-life flushing sound which (hopefully!) will teach children to flush the real thing later on and there’s even a toilet-paper roll that plays music.

It has a spray shield to help little boys contain their wee in the potty and the removable tray is easy to wash out.

The potty also offers words of encouragement to your little toddler. Once your child gets the hang of it, the top can be removed and placed directly on a regular toilet seat. This will allow your child to get used to the size of a large toilet without falling in.

The Fisher-Price Fun to Learn Potty is available from Toys ‘R’ Us (RRP $64.99).

Baby Massage

While at the Aromababy birthday celebrations today there was a lady named Moira Forrest demonstrating baby massage. Moira has a lovely gentle nature, is very informative on infant massage and the baby that she was demonstrating on was loving the massage.

If you are interested in learning about infant massage then check out Luv-Bub Moira's web site, as she provides group classes, private tuition and fathers group sessions.

Aromababy Products

Today I went to the 10th birthday celebration of Aromababy. Aromababy have a lovely range of products that are designed to cleanse, moisturise, protect and pamper you and your baby.

All of Aromababy products are pure, pesticide free and 100% certified organic and natural.

Visit the Aromababy web site for more information on their range, and to download a $5.00 Aromababy gift voucher.

Zookies Chalkboard Lunchbox

I pack my daughters morning tea for preschool in a brown paper bag, and I always draw a picture or love heart or kiss on the paper bag next to her name.

I could go mad with a lunch box like this one from the U.S. and so could you. You could write a note or draw all sorts of things on it for her. Or she could have fun drawing on it herself.

Just draw, wipe off and draw again. Insulated with water resistant lining. Washable. Comes with smiley face sandwich and snack holders - very cute!

It includes chalk, and a sponge in small vinyl pouch.

The lunchbox retails for U.S. $24.99.

There are a few on line retailers that sell this product such as Care for the Kids boutique.

Fred Bare Spring/Summer Collection

I was in a children's boutique yesterday and saw some of the Fred Bare Spring/Summer collection. The collection is wonderful for boys and girls.

I just adore the items pictured above, they are perfect for the warmer months and very feminine.

Items pictured are:

Lotus floral smock dress

Lotus floral set

Lotus floral jumpsuit

Visit the Fred Bare web site to view the collection

Petit Enfant Range

I have been looking for a new and beautiful range of bath, body and hair products for babies and children for a while now. I am pleased to have found Petit Enfant.

I guess you could say they found me and asked if I would sample their products. I must say that I am really impressed with their range.

These lush products have it all, they smell devine, are packaged beautifully, they feel great on your skin and they are avoidably priced.

This gorgeous range has been approved by Karitane and was placed in their bags that are handed out to hundreds of mums and bubs.

Petit Enfant has 3 ranges catering for babies, toddlers, children and tweens.

Petit Enfant

This is the lovely range for new borns and toddlers. If you are searching for a newborn gift then look no further.

Petit Amour and Petit Prince

This stunning range is for girls and boys.

When my 3 1/2 year old daughter smelt the girls range she said 'yummy Mum' it truly is lovely. The boys products are wonderful too they smell great.

All of the products are made from natural based ingredients.

The Petit range was created in France to meet the needs of young children - despite being specifically formulated and produced for babies and young children, all the beautiful products can be used by the whole family!

Now even the littlest of your family members can experience luxury!

Visit the Petit Enfant web site for more details

Ducduc Alex Crib

This colourful Alex crib available in the US allows you to personalise your child's cot in bold colours and with a choice of graphics.

Colour choices are pink, blue, white, orange and yellow. You can choose from the following words to go on the cot - bambino, boy, fragile, girl and this end up.

The cot has fixed side rails and an adjustable mattress height setting. Converts into toddler bed with additional conversion kit.

Visit the Ducduc web site for more information

The Diaper Corner

What a fabulous idea!

Many of the clients I see wonder where the best position is to place their baby's change table. The great thing about having a corner change table like this one is that you are using space that is usually wasted, and your baby is facing you which makes changing easier.

This change table takes up little space, but it has a lot of storage space that some other change tables do not have.

This product retails for US $199.95. As you can tell from the name of the product 'Diaper Corner', it is an American product and not available in Australia.

Visit Badger Basket for more information.

Bay Bee Cino's Christening Range

Finding that 'something special' for your baby to wear on its christening day can be time consuming and there aren't many stores that sell them.

Bay Bee Cino has just launched a christening range and it is well worth a look.

The range is lovely and simple (not too fussy or over the top).

All items are hand embroided on crisp white cotton and they are just beautiful.

Sizes are 0-6 months and 6-12 months.

The above set retails for $195.00

Visit the Bay Bee Cino web site to view their full christening range.

Would you like to be a Toy Tester?

Want to become an official Fisher Price Toy Tester and receive a free toy each month?

Go to the link below to subscribe for your chance to win a spot on the Fisher-Price Toy Testing Panel , PLUS you get to tell Fisher Price what you love or where they could improve in their toy range.

Visit the Fisher Price web site to subscribe.

Good Luck!

Brighten up your Baby Bjorn Carrier

Love your Baby Bjorn Carrier but wish you could brighten it up? Then you may be interested in the Baby Bella Maya Designer Covers.

These covers have been around for a while in the States and I am surprised they have not taken off in Australia.

Marcia cross has one of these covers for each of her twins and they look so cute in them.

The covers are washable and reversible, slips on and off easily with side zip. Straps attach with Velcro to finish off the look.

Covers are designed for the Baby Bjorn Front Carriers, available in two styles; Active and Original.

Slip Covers are made of silky woven polyester blends.

The covers retail from US $40. The company ships internationally (e-mail them for costs).

Go to http://www.babybellamaya.com/ for more information and to see their other fabulous products.

Products from Lodger

One of my girlfriends is pregnant and we were out shopping on the weekend looking at baby things.

We came across a brand called Lodger which is new to Australia from the Netherlands.

Firstly we weren't quite sure what the wrapper was quite meant to do. However a helpful shop assistant showed us how it worked.

How does it work?
To wrap baby in the Lodger Wrapper simply follow the five simple steps (see pics above). The Velcro holds it securely together and the drawstrings for the hood are safely hidden in closed little pockets.
It can be used as a play mat too, simply lay flat and let out the hood drawstrings.
Ideal for use in the pram, stroller or carrycot, the Lodger Wrapper can be used anytime, anywhere and the play-mat is fantastic for tummy time.

The second product of theirs that I love is the Dreamer Cot Blanket. This 100% cotton velour blanket is so SO soft and fluffy. If you touched it you would want to buy it.

The size of the blanket is 100cm x 150cm.

The Wrapper retails for $85.95

The Dreamer retails for $79.95

To see their range go to www.lodger.com

Nearly Nude Maternity

Pregnant or not the Nearly Nude range is for everyone.

The key feature on each product is the built-in support system which offers women the ultimate comfort solution. This product smooths and shapes your body and best of all it is still comfortable to wear.

Nearly Nude is ideal maternity underwear and suitable for the breastfeeding Mum too. None of the range has underwire. It moves and stretches with your body and makes sure you look good and feel comfortable in any outfit.

All of the range is made from, Polyamide/Elastane

For more information visit www.nearlynude.com.au

Ooba Nest Bassinet

I like to place products from around the world on my blog. I know this may make you want a product that is hard to get but its nice to see what is available from around the globe.

The Ooba’s Nest Bassinet is available in the States. Its creators wanted a product where both baby and parents can comfortably coexist. Where the addition of baby means enhancing your home environment and upgrading your living space, while remaining safe and comfortable.

This room-sharing solution brings peace of mind to parents, so they can rest soundly knowing their baby is safe and comfortable next to them.

It has an optional conversion play table that was designed to sustain the life of the Nest Bassinet while meeting the needs of your growing family. Now, with a few accessories and adjustments, the iconic Nest Bassinet will transform to a play table and toy bin to be used for years to come.

RRP US$600 plus US$250 for the conversion kit

Visit www.ooba.com for more information

Baby Cubes

Gone are the days of needing to use ice cube trays or lots of different containers to make portions of baby food, which can get messy. Baby cubes have flip top lids and a convenient storage tray to stack your home made delights for your baby.

Baby Cubes now have 2 sizes of their Baby Cube trays. The original size holds 35ml in each cube, and is a tray of 10 individual cubes. The new large size holds 70ml in each cube and is a tray of 8 individual cubes.

These Baby Cubes are not only suitable for baby food, they are also suitable for freezing breast milk. Also as you baby grows you can use the cubes to take portions of yogurt or custard for your toddler.

For more information go to www.bornwithstyle.com.au

Kindergallery Art for Children

Finding art work for your child's room can be time consuming, but not any more. Just launched is Kindergallery an online website dedicated to art for children. There is something for everyone, as this Sydney based company with a second home in Berlin, is able to source the finest art and design for children from around the globe.

The Kindergallery collection offers original paintings, limited edition works, prints, stretched canvases, box art and wall decals.

They have a fabulous web site http://www.kindergallery.com/ take a look.

A Giant Cup Cake

Looking for a cake idea for your child's next birthday? I love this idea of a giant cupcake, it looks fabulous.

This is from a web site called not Martha http://www.notmartha.org/

They have a cake tin to help you make it look like this, although if you are creative I am sure you could make do with what you already have in your kitchen.

Fisher Price Toys Recalled in Australia

Mattel Australia today recalled 43,000 Fisher Price Toys due to a discovery that many of them contained high levels of led.

Some of the characters affected are Dora the Explora, Sesame Street's Ernie and Barney the Dinosaur, plus there are many more

This is scary stuff, I think every child in Australia must have a Fisher Price toy. Not all toys are affected obviously but it still makes you worry. My children have a few Fisher Price toys and my 3 year old daughter took a particular shine to a small Dora character doll that she has played with constantly, put it in her mouth and bathed with it. Hmmmm!

"Surface paints on the affected toys may contain increased levels of lead, which, if ingested, may have health ramifications,'' Mattel Australia said in a statement today.

Almost 1 million plastic preschool toys made by a Chinese vendor were recalled.

Consumers who have bought the toxic toys should contact Mattel Australia directly, not through individual retailers. Individual stores cannot refund or exchange the defective toys.Consumers can call Mattel toll-free 1800 674 753, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm, or log on to www.service.mattel.com to determine if their product is affected.

All affected toys are marked Fisher-Price and have a date code between 109-7LF and 187-7LF marked on the product.

Please go through your child's toy box and check you do not have any of these toys.

New cots at IKEA

I visited IKEA on the weekend, and it has been quite a while since I last shopped there. I was amazed to see how much their baby product section has grown.

They have released two new cots to their range.

The Leksvik cot and it retails for $349.00.

• This cot converts into a junior bed
• The bed base has 2 heights.

The Hermelin cot which retails for $249.00

• The bed base can be placed at two different heights.
• One bed side can be removed when the child is big enough to climb into/out of the bed.

All new cots sold in Australia have to meet Australian Safety standards, therefore both of these cots meet Australian standards.

Nicole Kidman and sister Antonia go shopping in Sydney

Nicole and her sister Antonia were out shopping recently in Sydney with Antonia's 4 month old girl, Sybella. You are never too young to start shopping!

Both sisters look incredibly slim - how does one get so slim only months after the birth of their baby?

Antonia is pushing a Valco stroller.