If there’s one thing that comes in handy when you have kids, it’s portable food. Something easily palatable and transportable when on-the-go. Here’s a nifty way to make travel food at home, and ensure a (mostly) mess-free children’s meal on the run.

The Sili Squeeze is one of those fantastic little creations that we’ve all imagined in our minds, and now can be thankful someone with a little ingenuity has begun manufacturing. It’s a re-useable silicone food pouch which can be used to carry almost anything you can think to puree, like home-made smoothies,vegetable purees and ready-made food like yoghurt.

The Sili Squeeze is made from certified food and medical grade safe materials and is dishwasher safe and BPA and PVC-free. It’s designed to be used by children from six months old, so is perfect for those just starting out on their solids journey. But it’s also great for older kids – just think of those pre-packed squeezable yoghurts in the dairy fridge that all kids seem to adore.

In My Nest is the exclusive Australian distributor for the Sili Squeeze, and currently has the four ounce (about 100gm) version available for purchase for $16.99, with six (170gm) and two ounce (56gm) versions coming soon.

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B.Box is giving away a generous prize pack containing one of every product in their range, there are almost too many to list but let’s give it a go.

The pack, worth $234, contains: the essential nappy wallet, the only one with the wipes box built in; the essential nappy caddy, a portable change station for modern living; the essential travel bib with a spoon; and the essential sippy cup, voted sippy cup of the year with its innovative weighted straw. There is also an essential baby bottle -an all-in-one bottle with inbuilt formula dispenser – as well as accessory products including a flat bib, a spoon pack, teats, bottle bag and more.

To enter, leave a comment below with your full name in the Post a Comment section telling us which of the funky  nappy wallet designs you would love to see sticking out of your baby bag. You have seven days and entries close midnight, 5 June, 2013.

For full details, see our Terms & Conditions.

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With fourteen years of parenting under my belt, I can confidently say I’ve had my fair share of pint-sized plastic containers go in and out of my kitchen. If only these beaut glass containers were around back then – they would have saved me a fortune in time and money on others that simply didn’t work.

Littlelock Glasslock baby food containers promise big things in the kitchen – these containers are designed for storing, freezing, heating and serving baby food and toddler meals. Yes, you heard right, all of that, everything you need from the one container.

Stronger than conventional glass, Littlelock containers are made from tempered glass making them safe for the freezer, microwave (remove lids first) and the dishwasher – they’ll even resist stains and odours. To top it off, the bright airtight coloured lids lock on hard and don’t leak if toppled over in a bag.

Available in packs of three, you can start your collection with either 120ml size priced $29.95 or the bigger 210ml size, priced $33.95 from Littlelock.

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There’s not one, but three prize packages today, for people who want to take charge of their children’s food and their packaging in one hit. Come on through to make them yours!

Of course you recognise these – they’re the Squooshi reusable food pouches, and they’ve been a huge hit with our readers whenever we’ve mentioned them. If you were one of those people who saw the potential for these washable, refillable pouches to make a difference in your kitchen, today is the perfect day to make that dream a reality.

Squooshi are offering three prize packs today, each with a value of $50. The packs each include four small and four large food pouches (as pictured below), along with a natural wood drying rack for the pouches, and a six pack of replacement caps. With such a useful prize, you could be well on your way to taking charge of all the mushy kids’ foods in your life!

To enter leave a comment below with your full name in the Post a Comment section, telling us which of the recipe suggestions at Squooshi would have the kids licking their lips at your place. You have seven days and entries close midnight, 23 May, 2013.

For full details, see our Terms & Conditions.

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Knowing what and how much to feed children can be a guessing game. I know I’m guilty of piling my children’s plates high with food, which overwhelms them and leaves me uncertain as to how much they’ve actually eaten. Have a look at this great product that aims to take some of the guess work out of offering up balanced meals to children. 

The Portion Plate works in two ways. It makes meal times a little more fun for kids, and helps parents portion out a meal so that children are meeting their nutritional goals. The melamine plate features the latest dietary guidelines, and shows just how much of a meal should be dedicated to fruits and vegetables, grains and protein.

Likewise the Eat A Rainbow Placemat is all about educating children and parents about eating a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. It’s made from linen cotton canvas and can easily be wiped clean. The Portion Plate costs US$18 and the placemat is US$15 from Georgie Porgie, however it does appear they only ship within the USA, so you may need the assistance of a re-shipper.

The post Make meals meaningful with the Eat A Rainbow Placemat & Portion Plate appeared first on Babyology.

Novelty item or genius? You be the judge.

My children love spaghetti and would happily slurp it up every night. But those delicious, yet slippery worms of pasta often defeat them. So often in fact, I’ve resorted to utterly shaming my Mediterranean heritage by cutting their spaghetti into manageable pieces and allowing them to scoop it with a spoon. The horror. I’m not sure my boys would have the dexterity or deft touch required to master this groovy little utensil, but I love the concept.

The Rolognese Spaghetti Fork by Donkey is a technical solution to the problem. Sit the wooden-handled fork in the spaghetti and turn the handle – like magic the spaghetti curls around the fork, not too much mess or fuss (and a bit of fun).

It’s available in pink and blue from Donkey for €9.95, and worldwide shipping is available. Try them with our toddler-pleasing recipe for rainbow spaghetti!

The post Tame wayward spaghetti with the Rolognese children’s fork appeared first on Babyology.

Got a peckish bub on hand? Fear not, today’s Prizeapalooza offering will have your baby’s table laden with delicious goodies!

Thanks to Ella’s Kitchen, two Babyologists will win an Ella’s Kitchen Baby Food prize pack. Each pack contains an Ella’s Kitchen cooler bag, packed with one hundred per cent organic baby food. The bags will contain seven tasty stage one Ella’s Kitchen Baby Food pouches, two Baby Brekkie pouches, three stage two Baby Food pouches, four delectable Smoothie Fruits pouches and an Ella’s Kitchen Bib. Each pack is worth $50.

Ella’s Kitchen’s products are organic, with no additives or preservatives. Suitable for babies from four months to preschoolers, they make a handy meal on the go. Kids love the squeezy pouches which are a great sensory experience, and they gain the independence of feeding themselves.

To enter, leave a comment below with your full name in the Post a Comment section, telling us which delicious variety from the Ella’s Kitchen collection is your little one’s favourite and why. You have seven days and entries close midnight, 12 May, 2013.

For full details, see our Terms & Conditions.

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Why is it that homemade cakes taste so much better than bought cakes? Is it because they have that special ingredient (a dash of love)?

Chef Alexis Diggins has a passion for baking and has always enjoyed sharing the experience with her daughter. A big slice of their repertoire is cakes.

Knowing that homemade cakes are that little bit more special, but also understanding that sometimes you don’t have at hand the ingredients and necessary decorations for a homemade cake with a ‘wow’ factor, Diggins and her daughter set up Together We Cook, an online business devoted to delivering cake-making kits to your door.

There’s a cake kit to appeal to every sweet-tooth including decadent, rich chocolate cakes, tangy lemon cakes, cake pop and cupcake kits for Easter and Christmas and even a gluten-free chocolate and hazelnut cake.

The cakes are simple, easy to cook and taste delicious (I can personally attest to their yumminess after sampling the chocolate cake at Victoria’s Red Hill Market). Each kits comes with everything you need to make a spectacular cake, right down to a disposable cake mould.

The cake kits make a different and fun gift for a child (or a parent!) and would also be a great idea as a holiday or party activity.

Find your next cake baking project at Together We Cook, which delivers Australia-wide. Kits are priced between $19.95 and $29.95 each.

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Day five of our Prizeapalooza is going to give some of our babyfood making readers some seriously handy help in the kitchen.

Miinki Moop Qubies are one of those products that just make your post-baby life easier. They simply help you freeze your breastmilk or pureed food in handy 30ml squares. Just fill the tray, snap on the lid, freeze and serve.

If you want to be one of five lucky readers to win one of these handy little guys worth $20 each, just leave a comment below with your full name in the Post a Comment section, telling us which Qubies Recipe is your favourite. You have seven days and entries close midnight, 11 May, 2013.

For full details, see our Terms & Conditions.

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Does the thought of a full set of brand new kitchen appliances make you go a little weak at the knees? Me too. It’s our May competition and we have two fantastic prize packs from Kambrook to give away to two lucky Babyology readers!

Kambrook, an Australian company, has been a leading provider of kitchen and home appliances since 1964. The ever expanding range encompasses appliances for the entire home, from the kitchen to living room, laundry and bedroom. And here’s a little competition trivia – did you know that Kambrook invented the world’s first power board in 1972?!

Kambrook have put together an amazing prize pack which includes some kitchen essentials as well as the latest gourmet gadgets. Our two May competition winners will each receive a prize pack containing:

• One Soup Simple Soup Maker ($99.95)

• One Pressure Express Pressure Cooker ($99.95)

• One Power Drive Direct Food Processor ($99.95)

• One Size Select Bread Maker ($99.95)

• One Ceramic Tower Heater ($109.05)

• One Little Chefs Soft Scoops Ice Cream Maker ($39.95)

The total value of each prize pack is $550 and will be shipped anywhere in Australia. The total prize pool is valued at $1100.

It’s simple to enter – if you’re already a Babyology newsletter subscriber, just wait on tomorrow’s newsletter – within is your first chance to enter this competition. If not, follow the instructions below and you’ll receive a newsletter tomorrow!

Submit your entries by midnight, 30 May, 2013. To be in the draw, follow the instructions found in the ‘Babyology Weekly’, which is sent via email to our mailing list each week. If you haven’t subscribed to the mailing list yet, just fill in the form below:

For competition Terms & Conditions, click here.

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We’re a little bit nuts about typography here at Babyology – so you can probably hear our squeals through the screen as we ooh and ahh over these beautiful typography-inspired kids’ bits and bobs.

If there’s one other thing we love as much as typography, it’s Danish-designed anything – so this collection is pretty much king! Danish design company Design Letters has been a pioneer in creating beautiful, classic typography pieces for children. The latest collection has been designed by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen – and it’s divine.

The melamine cups are a wonderful balance of style and practicality. Sturdy and perfect for children, what could be better than a cup with their initial on it? No more fighting over which drink belongs to who! And the cups can also be stacked on top of each other, so you can buy a whole bunch of them so the kids can form their entire names.

Likewise, the melamine plates and bowls are just as practical and look very swish. They are a really generous size, so can also double as serving plates when not being used by the kids. The plates cost £20 each, and the cups and bowls are £8.50 each, from Nordic Elements, which ships to Australia.

Design Letters also make a fabulous single bed set with their simple but eye-catching alphabet design. The organic cotton bedding features the Bauhaus-inspired typography, with the vowels printed in a pop of turquoise. The set is available from Kaiau which ships internationally.

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If you liked these baby-chewable necklaces when we first showed them to you, you’re going to love them now.

It’s only been a few months since we first wrote about Tiny and I, and this Melbourne-based business is already branching out into new styles.

The original Tiny and I range used rounded beads, and this new collection is hip to be square. The square beads are soft and non-toxic, and perfect for little mouths to chew on. And they mercifully come with a breakaway clasp, so no more near garrotting from a zealous child pulling on your necklace!

Each necklace in the new range costs $44, and can be purchased direction from Tiny and I, which has free shipping within Australia.

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It seems quite okay to go all Heston Blumenthal in the home kitchen these days. If contestants on My Kitchen Rules are using pipettes, dry ice and blow torches in their repertoire, then it’s not unreasonable to expect your local ice cream parlour to up the ante with creative cooking techniques.

Take a look at Chin Chin Laboratorists – it’s ice-cream-parlour-meets-mad-scientists-workshop and the result is delicious good fun.

Located in Camden, London, the ice cream at Chin Chin Laboratorists is frozen with liquid nitrogen in front of customers. The staff play up to the theme with white lab coats, safety goggles and beakers, flasks and test tubes at hand.

Are you wondering how cryogenic ice cream is different from the ordinary stuff? Ice cream made with liquid nitrogen is super cold and extra creamy, simply because the liquid nitrogen freezes the mixture so quickly that ‘lumpy’ ice crystals can’t form. The result is ice cream that is unbelievably smooth.

So what’s on the menu at Chin Chin? The selection is small but ever-changing and the madcap flavours sit well with the surrounds – Marshmallow Teacake, Madagascan Vanilla, Jelly Baby Sorbet, Guinness Caramel and Smoked Salt, Passionfruit Pavlova, Rum Baba, Alphonso Mango Brulee, Cigar-Smoked Caramel, Jaffa Cake, Valrhona Hot Choc, Fizzy Cherry Cola and, my favourite, Burnt Butter Hot Cross Bun – a concoction of browned butter and smooth ice cream that’s been infused with toasted hot cross buns and optional boozy raisins – wow!

Mention must be made of the amazing ‘lab’. It was designed by Shai Akram and Andrew Haythornthwaite and includes individual workstations for each stage of the ice cream-making process (decanting, mixing, freezing, topping and so forth), adding to the theatre of the experience.

(via Dezeen)

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Before having kids, I was a cookbook collector. I didn’t actually cook from many of my books but did spend a lot of time looking at the pictures! That all changed when my babies came along and there was one book that I actually did cook from. Every day. For years. And it was written by Annabel Karmel.

Annabel Karmel is the top chef when it comes to cooking for babies. Once you decide to wean your baby and you’re ready to move on from plain mashed pumpkin, Karmel will have the recipes for you.

Karmel has published numerous books but begin the weaning process by arming yourself with Top 100 Baby Purees. The collection includes Karmel’s most popular purees from the delicious smooth apple, apricot, pear and vanilla puree to tasty sweet potato with spinach and peas or pumpkin risotto. Take a look at some of Karmel’s puree recipes and you’ll see just how simple and economical they are.

All of the recipes included in the book are easy, nutritious and are suitable for children aged six months and above. By the time your bub has tried all one hundred purees, they’ll probably be ready for finger food!

Find Top 100 Baby Purees at Book Depository, with free shipping to Australia.

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You’ll be ‘decorating’ the dining room with half-eaten rusks and blobs of pumpkin puree, so make sure you keep the rest of the space ‘minimalist’.

From Slovenian design studio Froc, comes the simply styled Froc highchair. I’m not sure if it’s the blond wood or the bright pop of green, but the Froc chair has a distinctly Scandinavian-retro-aesthetic. And we’re loving it at Babyology!

The chair ‘grows’ with your child, transforming from a highchair suitable for babies six months and over to an adjustable regular chair for children up to age eight.

Froc is available in a range of colours and costs €249. Froc deliver internationally.

(via Gizmodo)

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“It was just an accident!” – this is a constant refrain at my place anytime my kids are anywhere near a plate, bowl, cup or anything else containing messy substances. More often than not, it IS just an accident, but I still have to clean it off the floor!

Children’s bowls and plates with suction cups attached have been around for ages, but they have disadvantages – a few trips through the dishwasher and they don’t work as well as they used to. And of course, they’re only useful for the bowl or plate they came with – and if your kids are like mine, they go through plenty of bowls and plates! An entire cupboard full of those bowls can get pricey.

Queensland mum Sarah Bell of Clever Mothers has created the Plate Sticka to deal with all these concerns. It’s a clear, removable, discreet suction cup that will attach to just about any flat surface. It’s safe to go into the top shelf of the dishwasher, and best of all, you can attach it to any bowl, plate or cup you want.

This all spells out a much tidier home environment, especially when cooking with little helpers or crafting with little artists. And because the Plate Sticka is so small and flexible, you can take it with you wherever you go with your kids – no more cafe meals on the floor!

You can buy the Plate Sticka directly from Clever Mothers for $12.95, plus $2 postage anywhere in Australia.

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There’s now a whole lot more to love about this brand of chemical-free products for children.

There’s been a large expansion of products in the range, since we first visited Adiri. The Adiri NxGen Nurser range now has four bottles: newborn, slow, medium and fast flow – catering for babies nine months and older. The bottles still have the same characteristics synonymous with Adiri, including a design that feels and functions like a mother’s breast.

The bottles include a vented, one-way Petal valve, which allows for consistent air flow, which the manufacturers claim reduces the possibility of colic.  The new range makes it a little easier to choose a bottle that best suits the stage your child is at. The bottles are BPA free and dishwasher safe. We haven’t been able to source any Australian stockists for Adiri, but you can get your hands on the bottles from Sugar Babies for US$11.99, which does ship internationally.

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Meal-time mayhem at your house? Try these clever new additions to the BabyBjorn range.

I often refer to meal times at our house as feeding time at the zoo. There’s the careful preparation of the meal, followed by the devouring (with little care to what the meal actually is) and then there’s the mess to clean. Of course, this is all part of allowing children to explore their world by taste and touch. And independence is also a big part of this exploration. These new kitchen products from BabyBjorn are designed for self-feeding, and look adorable to boot.

The plate and spoon is our pick of the bunch. The plate has a clever three leaf clover shape, which allows children to be able to scoop food up into the spoon. The plate sits nice and firmly on the table or high chair tray. And the bonus is that both the plate and spoon are dishwasher safe. The set costs $34.95.

The very cute spoons are also available separately, and are made to fit perfectly into little hands. They come in bright colours, and are a great size for gathering toddler-sized mouthfuls of food. A two pack of spoons is priced at $15.95.

The BabyBjorn Soft Bib is easy to clean and catches all of those bits of escaped food that usually end up on the floor or down the crevasses of a high chair.

Finally, BabyBjorn has also released a First Cup. It also stands nice and firm so hopefully won’t be knocked over, and is designed to be gripped easily by toddlers. The cup is priced at $15.95. All of the products can be purchased from Minimee Babies & Kids.

While you’re in the mood for food, have a look at our review of the fabulous BabyBjorn high chair.

The post Less feeding fuss with BabyBjorn kitchen products appeared first on Babyology.

The reason we love Dr. Seuss books is because they are so delightfully ridiculous. I mean, who would really eat green eggs and ham?

The team at Babble have put together a collection of recipes inspired by your kid’s favorite Dr. Seuss books.

There are party treats such as Grincherbread Cookies from How the Grinch Stole Christmas and mango and lime fruit ‘leather’, inspired by truffala trees in The Lorax, as well as some spectacular cake pops.

I love the simple but effective tomato and cheese ‘Cat in the Hat’ Hats (shown above) – easy enough to whip up at the drop of a hat!

The collection includes some inspired breakfast dishes such as Lorax pancakes and of course the most famous Seuss dish of them all – green eggs and ham. However, if green eggs aren’t hardcore-Seuss enough for your kids, test their mettle with a Fruit Swirl Coconut Chia Pudding inspired by my favourite Dr. Seuss title, Oh the Places You’ll Go!

(via Babble)

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I have a terrible confession to make, Babyologists. And it comes with a warning lest my confession offend. One of my favourite bits about being mum for the third time round is that I actually get to use all the fabulous baby gear we find instead of just telling you about it. Gear like the Stokke Tripp Trapp.

We’ve been banging on about how great this highchair is for some time, but now that I’ve actually used one for my baby girl, I have to take it all back. It’s not great, it’s so much better. In fact, it’s officially become one of those baby buys that I regret not investing in back when we had our first child. Ah well, better late then never.

I don’t need to remind you about the Stokke Tripp Trapp’s sublime design – its good looks are there for all to see. What has impressed from my own use with Audrey is just how well thought out Stokke’s accessories are for this brilliant, brilliant chair.

Take the newborn set. Though most babies don’t start the food journey until six months or so, that doesn’t mean they don’t want to sit up at the table with the rest of the clan. Sometimes having Audrey close and being able to make eye contact and talk to her made all the difference between having a hot dinner as a family or reheating my own meal forlornly in the microwave an hour or two later. It can also be used as a rocker on the floor. Now here’s the bit existing Tripp Trapp owners will really love – it can be fitted to any chair bought since 2003.

Now that Audrey is a little older, we’ve moved on to the baby set (that’s my sweetheart in her Tripp Trapp pictured top).  She loves sitting right up at the table with us, rather than off to the side as babies in ordinary highchairs with built-in trays are prone to do. The baby set clips in securely to the chair and has a high back and integrated crotch strap to support her properly. I like how the design makes it impossible to get both your baby’s legs through the same leg hole when putting them into their seat – I was always doing that with my old highchair! I also like how her feet are supported in the Tripp Trapp instead of being just left to dangle.

We chose natural but there are a swag of different colours to the sets and chairs. There are cushions in a tonne of different colours and patterns too to fit the baby set if you prefer a softer seat for your baby. We use one when Audrey sits in her Tripp Trapp to play but usually whip it out when she’s enjoying a snack or food, even though it’s machine washable as she’s proven to be an incredibly messy eater!

We haven’t tried our Tripp Trap in its guise as a child seat yet, as the baby set is designed to hold babies and children up until the age of three. But I’m sure that when we do, we will love it just as much. Check our past Stokke posts if you can’t wait for Audrey to grow and want to read more about using the Tripp Trapp with older children right now.

The Stokke Tripp Trapp retails for $299 and is available from most big-name baby stores across Australia, along with the newborn set (RRP$ 225), the baby set (RRP$79.95) and the cushion (RRP$69.95). To find a stockist near you,  visit the Stokke website.

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