Tag Archives: babies

New Social Shopping Site Launched For New And Expecting Parents

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parents, parenting, kids, berry clever, Parents need all the help they can get. Which is why we think BerryClever, a brand new social shopping site for new and expecting parents is great. It aims to make online shopping more fun and interactive by giving parents the power to discover and choose the perfect parenting products by reading and sharing honest advice from the people they can trust the most, their friends. BerryClever has had over 7,000 members joins since it launched 3 months ago.

Online shopping has revolutionised our lives and the range of product choices available to parents for their little ones has never been greater. But with this overwhelming range of choice often comes more questions than answers, especially for first time parents who are under pressure to buy all sorts of baby essentials that they often know nothing about. BerryClever’s research found that an incredible 91% of people surveyed admitted that they had wasted money buying the wrong products for their babies. What’s more 86% of people surveyed wanted their friend’s recommendations when making purchasing decisions. So where do you start when it comes to choosing the right products for your baby? That’s where BerryClever comes in.

BerryClever has created a unique online environment, which allows you to connect with existing friends and new like-minded ones to discover the products they love, regret or simply can’t live without. Kristi Flax and Emma Kafton, who are both mums themselves, recognise that parents in particular prefer recommendations from people they know and trust when it comes to buying products for their babies. Because the reviews on BerryClever are written by friends in your network, you know they have no vested interest in promoting certain products and that they are just sharing their own honest and experienced views. Emma explains that “the idea is to make online shopping for your baby feel intuitive rather than the transactional and anonymous experience you get on many other ecommerce websites. With so much online content being disingenuous, the ability to read information from people you trust is ever more valuable”.

BerryClever’s reviews, known as ‘tips’, are no longer than 150 characters making them quick to write and read on mobile devices and ideal for busy mums on the go. As parents overwhelmingly prefer reviews from people they know, BerryClever’s unique algorithm ranks reviews based on their social profile so they will always be shown the most relevant products reviewed by their friends and the people they are most similar to first.

Users can also upload Pictips – a product photo review, watch recommended videos from the web and create lists of favourite or most wanted products for themselves or to share with others. The ability to explore friends’ lists provides a simple way for experienced parents to help their newly pregnant friends find everything they need for every stage of their birth and child’s development, from weaning and feeding to potty training, playing and learning.

Not only does BerryClever help parents make the important decisions on what to buy, it also quickly and easily links directly through to their Amazon account or the retailer’s website to allow them to make the purchase. There is even a ‘demand a lower price’ feature to help parents, who on average spend £5,000 in the first year of their child’s life alone, save money on expensive items like buggies and car seats. If a lower price can be found, the user will be sent an email within 48 hours confirming an offer which they can choose to either accept or decline, with no hidden small print.

Every feature is intended to make BerryClever a place where shopping can become a fun, social and resourceful experience.

Sign up now and invite your friends to see what they really think of those ‘must-have’ products www.berryclever.com

 

 

 

Skip Hop Duo Special Edition Changing Bag Review

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It is hard enough to find a bag you like in life without the addition of baby paraphenalia. Which is why changing bags have it so hard: they need to be functional and gorgeous. Parents don’t expect anything less.

First thoughts on the Skip Hop Duo Special Edition Changing Bag were good. It is a beautiful bag. It is well made and has a lovely design. It is so stylish and beautiful that I would actually buy it if it wasn’t a changing bag. But is it functional? Yes. The bag has wipable fabric and a cushioned changing pad. It has a total of nine pockets which included a personal zip pocket and two hidden insulated side pockets.

skiphopdiaperbag Skip Hop Duo Special Edition Skip Hop Duo Special Editionchangingbag

It has two pockets on the front of the bag which are very handy, and the pocket at the back has the cushioned changing pod in. The back pocket still has room for other things too. The front pockets have magnetic closure and one of the things I really love about the bag is that it is not bulky at all. It is incredibly well designed and you can tell a lot of thought and time has gone into making such an excellent changing bag.

The bag is a good size and I love a big bag. Other great things are the slip-resistant adjustable stroller strap & the rolled handles, the key fob zipper pull and the fact that the bag is BPA and Phthalate-free. This bag really is a winner: highly recommended. It is perfect for fashionable parents who want the best of everything.

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The latest changing bag to come from the New York based SkipHop brand is the Duo Special Edition.  The bag’s ultra-stylish, fresh design came about after Skip Hop cleverly incorporated all the style and functionality of its best-selling Duo Deluxe changing bag, but added three contemporary patterns and several extra special features, ensuring parents really stand out from the crowd.

With the Duo Special Edition, Skip Hop has cleverly combined high style with practicality.  Mums will love the faux leather detailing, smart key fob zipper pulls and rolled clutch handles in addition to the slip resistant shoulder strap. And when it comes to the bag’s material, it looks just like a regular, smart fabric but in fact it’s a clever, wipe-able material that ensures the bag stays looking as good as new for years to come.

Other features on the Duo Special Edition include Skip-Hop’s special patented shuttle clip system which allows the Duo Special Edition to attach effortlessly to the buggy handles in seconds.  The nine compartments let you organise all of baby’s essentials and keep wet and messy items separate; the pockets include a large, roomy main compartment with a zip closure to keep contents safe, large rear pocket for changing pad and nappies and two roomy front pouches. Contents are easy to spot with the contrasting lining and the convenient side phone holder and easy access pen holders ensure mums and dads have everything to hand. Parents will also appreciate the ‘quiet’ magnetic closures to help prevent waking baby.  The changing pad is cushioned and waterproof and the entire bag is of course BPA and Phthalate free.

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Parents have a choice of three fabric patterns: the smart black and white ‘Aztec’, chic ‘Blue Pin’ or the ‘French Stripe’, a classic ‘boating’ style navy striped fabric that looks just like canvas.

Skip Hop Duo Special Edition:  RRP £65.00

STOCKISTS: 

French Stripe – marksandspencer.com

Blue Pin – marksandspencer.com

Aztec – www.jaijai.co.uk

More Skip Hop Duo Changing Bag’s available here.

www.maguari.com

 

Shove a Stache in it: Very Cool Dummy | Parenting

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You need all of the amusement you can get when a child won’t stop crying so we loved this moustache dummy.

Shove a Stache in itcooldummiesdumm The Chill Baby Moustache Dummy

The Chill Baby Moustache Dummy. Made from non-toxic silicone this is the perfect present for pregnant friends, babies and tough toddler.

Get your baby equipped with a hip and hilarious dummy for an awesome price of £7.95 from www.prezzybox.com.

Milton Steriliser Reviews

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We reviewed some great products from sterilising experts Milton, whose products have been used by parents in homes and hospitals for over 65 years to ensure baby feeding equipment is clean and germ-free.

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The Milton Mini Portable Soother Steriliser  – This help solves every parent’s dilemma – what to do with a dropped dummy? This nifty little gadget cleans and sterilises dummies in less than 15 minutes, plus provides a safe and sterile place to store a spare dummy when you are out and about. The Velcro strap has been designed so you can attach the Mini to the pushchair when out and about. Small and would fit into any handbag. Very handy. Wouldn’t be without it.

 

The Milton Solo Travel Steriliser – this is a 2-in–1 microwave or cold water single bottle steriliser. It is ideal for sterilising when travelling or away from home. It sterilises from 2 minutes in the microwave and in 15 minutes with cold water. It safely sterilises most makes and sizes of bottles and also small baby equipment such as tethers and plastic toys. This is small enough to fit into a changing  bag. Is handy and works well.

 

The Milton Combi Microwave or Cold Water Steriliser is a 2-in-1 microwave or cold water steriliser. It effectively cleans and sterilises bottles from 2 minutes in the microwave and in 15 minutes for cold water. Its compact design is small enough to fit into most microwaves, yet spacious enough to sterilise up to 5 bottles of any brand.The Combi sterilises from 2 minutes in the microwave and in 15 minutes with cold water.  All bacteria, viruses and fungi are killed. It is a decent size and comes with some free tablets inside. Highly recommended.

 

Milton Sterilising Tablets: a recent study shows that their sterilising tablets are now effective against the two germs responsible for Typhoid and Cholera. This means that parents travelling further abroad, to countries outside of Europe and the US, where sanitation is poor, can use Milton‘s products safe in the knowledge that they will sterilise all items. Thereby protecting little ones against the germs that cause serious illnesses, such as typhoid and cholera, which are contracted through contaminated food and water. They are just as great in the UK obviously.

 

Do you have any parenting recommendations?

 

 

PacaPod Hastings Parenting Bag Review

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Some parenting bags look awful, others are just not that functional. When we reviewed the PacaPod Hastings Parenting Bag we were very impressed. It has different removable sections for each aspect of parenting: feeding, changing and a mat. Even more impressive, it even has space for the ol’ parents things. The hastings is even better because it is also unisex, so the poor woman doesn’t end up always carrying the bag. It has three bags rolled into one and is easily cleaned. The mat and removable bags are easily wiped clean, they also can be unzipped and packed away flat in the bag.

We were very impressed with the bag, it is stylish, functional and is also lightweight: everything you could want in a parenting bag. It gets our stamp of approval. We interviewed Jacqueline Waggett, founder of the amazing PacaPod changing bags here.

Hastings driftwoods set hasting inner 2 pods pacapod hastings mocha 1

PacaPod’s new ‘Travel Lite’ Hastings puts the knapsack back on the map for adventure seeking parents. Versatile in design it can be worn as a shoulder bag or backpack and seamlessly marries style with practicality, combining utilitarian styling with innovative new design features and a super lightweight construction.

PacaPod Hastings Parenting Bag Review PacaPod Hastings Parenting Bag Review1 PacaPod Hastings Parenting Bag Review23

Perfect for all kinds of family road trips the Hastings is part of PacaPod’s ingenious new ‘Travel Lite’ range and weighs just .56kg. It has a practical top loading style which makes it easy to arrange baby gear and pack, grab and go. The brand’s unique 3-in-1 ‘baby organisation system’ has also been cranked up a notch with new flat pack feeder, changer pods and mat which are simple to clean and fold away.

 

Retaining a sense of tradition for this much-loved style the Hastings features a modern pin-stripe print, offset with faux leather trims that will have both mum and dad reaching for it as they leave the house. The sturdiest and most adaptable change bag on the market it represents a great value too, providing parents with three bags rolled into one and the tools they need to travel in confidence with tots on board.

 

Hastings in Mocha or Driftwood priced at £65 available from www.pacapod.com,  johnlewis.com and mummyandlittleme.co.uk

 

BabyBjörn Baby Carrier We Review

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I went to check out BabyBjörn’s new Baby Carrier We at the W Hotel. I was very impressed. First of all: it looks incredibly stylish but, equally important, it is easy to use. You don’t even need to take your baby out to turn the carrier around. It is very secure and safe. It is easy to put on, easy to manoeuvre and is comfortable. It doesn’t cut into the shoulders or rub. You can carry the baby on your front, inward-facing or on your back when your child is older. From newborns to three-years-old. The one we tried didn’t have an outward-facing option but not every parent wants that. It works and we highly recommend it.

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After hundreds of interviews with test families in several countries, a recurring theme was identified. Parents want a simple baby carrier that they can use for a long time, The BabyBjörn Baby Carrier We is flexible with perfect ergonomic support, and has a great design at an affordable price, it is unique in the market and will help new families everywhere enjoy the benefits of babywearing with BabyBjorn. Parents now expect baby carriers to be safe, comfortable and high quality, which is always guaranteed with all BabyBjörn products and carriers.

 

With the BabyBjörn We, you are guaranteed:

  • Ergonomic baby carrier offering maximum comfort – adjustable with padded shoulder straps and waist belt.
  • Three front and back carrying positions (special inward-facing option for newborns)
  • Long usage time, from birth to 3 years with support for the child’s head, back and hips.
  • Available from johnlewis.com and here.

 

“Today’s parents have an active lifestyle and a baby carrier needs to be practical and fit into all parts of family life. It should be just as easy to put on and wear at home in the middle of the night, as it is in a queue at the airport,” says Björn Jakobson, founder and CEO of BabyBjörn.

 

The Baby Carrier We is made of the best quality cotton and polyester. The materials are certified for use in baby products in accordance with Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Class 1, which guarantees that they do not contain any health-hazardous or allergenic substances.

 

 

Christmas Gift Ideas For Your Child

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Ah, your precious one. The apple of your eye. What isn’t too good for them? These picks all really caught our eye: perfect for your little one.christmasgiftlistforchildren

 

Blade & Rose Christmas Pudding Leggings and Cute Socks

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blade&rose socks

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These are adorable. I mean so unbelievably adorable. One of the best things about babies is that you can dress them however you want, and who wouldn’t melt at the sight of your baby in its festive clothes.

 

Carib Glass Wall Clock from Room To Grow

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Not only beautiful and stylish, it also has big numbers so your little one will be able to see clearly. Is fun and vibrant and will look stylish in any bedroom or playroom. Coloured glass with contrasting coloured numbers and chrome hands.

 

Peppa Pig 4-in-1 Shaped Bath Time Puzzle

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This is a great bath game, the pieces also stick to the bath. Fun and educational at the same time. From Jumbo Games. Available from Boots.com and argos.co.uk

Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders

Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders

You can also buy this amazing giant Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders game. A brilliant 80x80cm floor game for children over three.

Available from argos.co.uk and Amazon.

 

Gus & Me Book By Keith Richards

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Yes, THAT Keith Richards. Let’s be honest, it is never too early to get your kid hooked on the Rolling Stones. This is a wonderful children’s book which comes with a CD and has artwork from daughter Theodora Richards, so it is a family affair. Especially cool if your child is musical, or you want them to be. Available here and from foyles.co.uk, thebookpeople.co.uk, waterstones.com

 

Penguin Junior Wellies

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These are super cool and super cute at the same time. We love them and so do little ones. The Penguin Junior Wellies are a fully waterproof, durable and fun product for keeping children’s feet clean and dry. From mountainwarehouse.com

 

Horrid Henry’s Christmas Lunch

horridhenry'schristmaslunch

Perfect and fun for early readers. Horrid Henry would much rather have pizza and chips for his Christmas lunch, and this year, he might just get his way…This is the 100th book in the phenomenally popular Early Reader format, published during Henry’s 20th anniversary year. Available here and foyles.co.uk, thebookpeople.co.uk, waterstones.com

 

What will you get your little one?

 

My Daddy is a Soldier Calendar

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Our hearts nearly melted at Frost when this landed in our inbox. My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures supports the children (Little Troopers) of British Soldiers, both full time and those serving with the Reserves. They aim to build a community where the children and parent at home can support each other, share their experiences and coping mechanisms for long tours.  The charity has also developed unique resources such as the Separation pack; which includes monthly charts that the children use to count down until Mummy or Daddy is home again.

 

We love all of the photos but some of the highlights are:
  • March features little Joshua Hannon, aged 3 celebrating his Dad’s return home from Afghanistan
  • April shows Declan Jones 7 years old, and his Dad Sergeant Mike Jones on parade.
  • June features Reilly James Crowston with his Dad Craftman Michael Crowston.  Reilly was just nine days old and luckily Dad was at home for the birth because he was in special care for five days.
  • The back cover which has 27 shortlisted pictures showing army families from across the globe.

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This year the Little Troopers calendar will be A4 and include a useful family planner.  The calendars are just £9.99 and can be ordered from the Charity’s website www.mydaddyisasoldieradventures.org. All profits from the calendar will go towards the charity’s work and will help even more Little Troopers next year.