gives you daily information on unique and fabulous childrens products from around the globe. We also provide a place for you to discuss kids gear with other parents and help you choose and compare major products.
We've been hot on the trail of the wonderful Wee.go glass baby-safe bottles for over 18 months, after writing about them here in November 2007. Babyologists have always gone batty for them and we've received much communication from readers regarding where to get them from international sources. Local stock has often been hard to come by...until now!
My 'baby' turns two in October so I'm lamenting that I will be missing the Australian release of these awesome bottles. Those with the current batch of babies, or little ones on the way, will be ecstatic to learn that Until have secured these beauties, and will be receiving stock in time for an August Australian launch.
The 260ml bottle will be selling for $29.95 and will be available in the full range of colours - pink, raspberry, orange, yellow, sky and ocean. Sign up to receive the Until newsletter, and they will notify you when stock is due to arrive.
In terms of my children’s art work, I have to admit I have reached my limit. My kids produce many ‘masterpieces’ and each gets a turn in the spotlight (on the front of the fridge) but my problem lies with the quantity that is produced. Prolific…copious….out of control…are all words that pop to mind. When another afternoon of drawing is done the results are added to what I call the ‘Vesuvius of Art’ - that overflowing pile of paper in the craft corner. The growing mountain has prompted me to think that my kids really need to shift from the kitchen table to a desk so they can keep projects going, store favourite pieces and know whose textas are whose.
The Klick desk by P’kolino is perfectly sized for three to seven year olds and is both practical and fun. Kids will like the under-the-seat storage shelf and drawer for all their works in progress and adults will like the fact that the desk packs away into a simple, neat cube,- a bonus for those with minimal space. I particularly like that it is tailor made for younger children. The storage capacity makes it more practical than the simple table and chair more commonly available for this age group. See the desk in action and consider how it could 'klick' into your child's room.
The Klick desk is available in three colours – green, orange and red – and costs US$198. The desk is available from Uncommon Goods who ship internationally.
If I was a fashion designer for girls' clothing (and my close friends will know just how ludicrous this statement is) my designs would be exactly like those of Kiss Katch, a new label from the UK.
I think Kiss Katch ticks all the boxes for girls. It’s practical – you could do some serious climbing in the playground in a Kiss Katch playsuit – but it is also cute and girly without being of the ‘over-the-top pink’ variety.
Designed by Tori Smallwood, a mother who clearly knows her stuff, Kiss Katch pieces are easy to wear and need as little ironing as possible (yay). It may be because I was born in the seventies, but I think the use of terry towelling in the Kiss Katch range is brilliant. The playsuits and beach dresses are perfect for summer outings (getting dressed after a swim has never been so easy) and the co-ordinating t-shirts, skirts and shorts are sporty and cute. It’s the small details that keep these pieces perfectly in the girl zone – for example small ruffles, a gathered pocket, pink striped lining and silver prints.
Playsuits are £28.05 and zip-up beach dresses are £29.75 and both are available in aqua or raspberry. Kiss Katch deliver to Australia.
I wanted to share some exclusive news with you. Looie over at Plush Toys in New Zealand has given Babyology the heads up on Pastel Toys, letting us know they are finally coming to the Southern Hemisphere. This is very exciting and I'll tell you why.
I first heard of Israeli Pastel Toys about two years ago when my little girl was just a crawling baby. I admired the toys for various reasons including the high quality finish and the nostalgic design which reminded me of my own childhood toys. The way in which each toy has been produced is also admirable.
They are created in a village that has been established for adults with special needs and within this community Pastel Toys, a non-profit organisation, has provided work allowing residents to acquire skills in various areas and ensuring the welfare of each individual. Each toy is completely hand made, given a pastel coloured coat of paint and then hand worked to appear to have an aged patina, a result of many years of play.
After discovering them, I promptly wanted to secure one for my daughter but had a very hard time trying to get a toy posted to Australia, so I gave up. Alas, those days are over as Plush Toys in New Zealand just started stocking them and ships here! They have a wide range available including cars, a helicopter, trucks with blocks and cute giraffes. They are all on wheels, and we all know how much our children love any sort of wheeled toy.
Head to Plush Toys to purchase one of these heirloom quality toys. Prices start at NZ$56 plus shipping to Australia.They arrive in approximately 6 weeks so work out which one you want to buy and contact Plush Toys to put in your order.
In my opinion, dressing up is one of those things that's absolutely necessary in childhood. Not just 'fancy dress' dressing up but dressing up to feel pretty, dashing or, as my daughter would say, 'like a princess.' It's simply good for the soul.
Italian-based children's clothing company Il Gufo make clothing that is perfection for dressing up, for a big day out or a summer garden party. When I first clapped eyes on the collections, the first thought that came to mind was how the pieces could form a stunning littlie's wardrobe for a chichi tour of Italy (with parents in tow of course!). In saying this, Il Gufo's range oozes European high style with timeless dresses, blouses, skirts, shorts and tailored jackets.
The girls are covered with luxurious special occasion frocks suitable for weddings, christenings and big birthdays. Options for more casual, everyday clothing have the same air of sophistication. For boys, the range is a combination of long collared jackets, buttoned shirts and cuffed shorts, reminiscent of those old photos of little boys playing in Italian seaside villages.
To scoop up some of this swoon-worthy fare, head to Sydney's Arabella Boutique, the exclusive stockist of Il Gufo in Australia. If you're not in Sydney, you make contact via their website to order.
Last summer I introduced my kids to the joys of scribbling on the footpath in chalk. The neighbours were treated to chalky almost-drawings of trees, flowers, fish and plenty of other odd-shaped scribbles and squiggles for weeks. When the weather warms up this year, the neighbours will think my two have gone mad because we’ve just discovered Crayola’s amazing 3D Sidewalk Chalk.
Really, this stuff makes ordinary footpath chalk seem so yesterday. Each double-sided piece has two contrasting colours that work together to make your kids’ drawings seem to pop right off the footpath when they slip on a pair of 3D specs. So give each kid a set and cue the fun. Apparently the 3D effect works best on a dark background, which means I’ve finally got a reason to love the black bitumen footpaths outside our house!
Toybarn Australia has packs of the 3D Sidewalk Chalk, complete with glasses and a ‘how to book’ for getting the best results, for $11.95 plus postage.
