I had a great time reading the translated text from the purely German site
Kokokaka. I got Babelfish - my trusty online translator - to do all the hard work for me. The
products aren't exactly self-explanatory, so some further investigation
was most definitely required.
As a great alternative to those
bear skin rugs we all have in front our hearths (wink wink), the play
rugs 'invite large and small discoverers' to remove and reposition the
white
rings, eyes and stripes. I just love the "Krake" design even though
it's not anatomically correct! They're 100% soft cotton, so are
machine washable and just perfect for nappy-free tummy time.
My 8 month old would adore the "Oktopus" bib - he shoves everything
into his mouth, especially the tags sewn into bibs and toys
- how lovely to have a favourite feature already built in! There's also
the hare and penguin designs to choose from.
Next up is the range of very strange "Schnullergewichten" (dummy holders), which seem to loop
around pram or car seat harnesses to keep the dummy accessible to baby,
as well as providing a soft play thing on the other end.
Perhaps the most puzzling of all the product range is the "Erdmännchen" (Earth
Man) baby burp cloth. Not quite sure about that one, but the "Fuchs" (fox)
design is most definitely chic. Both are available in black or red,
which along with white, are the signature colours of Kokokaka and
most appealing to the eyes of young babies.
Contact Kokokaka about stockists and shipping options.
Use an online translator if you're sheepish about emailing them in English.
Sleek and spunky, this monochrome delight of a trike will have everyone
captivated. There's so little information available on the
Bikey Trikey which makes it
all the more intriguing. It's from amazing Swedish site
pid.se (Personal Interior Design) who sell incredible products for the home.
Children's gear is not their main focus, but we couldn't go past the trike, or the
Nido Cave.
Bikey Trikey will suit children three and up who are able to branch
out into increased independence but may still need a helping hand
(or extra wheel) when it comes to cycling around. We can tell you that
it's based on a 1959 model and you can definitely see the retro
styling in those handlebars, over sized front wheel, old-style seat and
low slung back wheels. It's a feat of genius compositionally,
and we wish we had more specs to give you. For now we'll all be content
to sit back and admire the beauty of this street machine.
For a good dose of quirk, there's the Nido cave (or nest). This
strange little burrow will have kids, adults and pets all clamouring
for a turn to snuggle inside. It looks like the perfect hidey-hole for
midnight feasts, ghost story nights when the kids are older,
reading and resting. A nice pillow and they'd be out like a light. So
would I come to think of it! I can imagine the kids playing
alien landing games or acting out submarining adventures in this beaut
pod. It's just fantastic for imaginative play.
Making this site even sweeter is the fact that their products are
within reach - even the bulkier items can be shipped worldwide.
As with all things this
rarified, they come at a price - around AUD$520 for the trike, and a
hearty $1700 for the Nido. Add shipping to those and it's a
spending bonanza, but you'll have something unique for your efforts.
From
pid.se.
Perhaps fun kid’s crockery such as the Monster Go Round Crockery Set will entice fussy eaters into enjoying mealtimes. Well it might not be able to perform miracles, but I think most little ones will like eating from the set.
The clean design is digitally printed and hand applied by decal onto porcelain. It comes with a baby bowl, plate and mug. Londoner Nadia Sparham is the designer and all materials are sourced from the UK. Each product is handmade so the set might come with character imperfections.
Little Baby Company also sell the Wooden SAAB Roadster ride-on toy. Designed by Playsam, Sweden this design might look familiar – it’s been displayed in art galleries, museums and various design centres around the world. Not surprising considering how cool it is.
For a child’s first car, this isn’t bad at all. It’s actually based on the very first Saab. The steering wheel is made of wood and metal just like the old sports car steering wheels. Recommended for children 12 months and up.
The Monster Go Round Crockery Set costs £34.50 from Little Baby Company and the Wooden SAAB Roadster is available locally through RG Madden (they will ship Australia-wide) for $642.
I was given a Fish Lilly wrap when my daughter was born. The thick cotton doubled up as a cosy wrap for my baby and then when she no longer needed to be wrapped I used to spread the Fish Lilly blanket on the ground and lay her on it. Being nestled among the cotton blanket’s bright pink butterflies on a patch of soft green grass is a memory that will no doubt be lodged somewhere in her psyche. I certainly won’t forget how cute she looked!
Fish Lilly recently released the 08/09 range of wraps – featuring the trademark vibrant designs – cupcakes, hearts, butterflies (new and improved), trains, cowboy hats and boots and airplanes on a 100% cotton white backdrop.
The company is based in Australia and designs are created by Dione, who gets her inspiration from her two daughters Bronte and Maddy. Baby wraps cost $47.95 from Ekidna Kids.
Up until now there has only really been two choices in diapers – disposable or cloth. Disposables are bad for the environment and costly; cloth well, in drought-stricken Austriala they might not even be such a green option.
If gDiapers are as good as they claim to be, this is a breakthrough! These little gems consist of three parts - a washable, cotton outer “little g” pant, a snap-in waterproof liner and a plastic-free flushable diaper refill made from sustainably-farmed wood fluff pulp. The flushable component can be literally flushed down the toilet (thus not added to mounting landfill problems). They can even be added to garden composts (breaking down in 50-150 days!
Aussie couple Jason and Kim Graham-Nye have designed gDiapers according to Cradle to Cradle design principles, so everything that goes into their manufacture gets
re-absorbed back into the eco-system. Check the website for lots more information, including videos on how to use them.
The gDiaper starter kit ($US26.99) comes with two pairs of “little g” pants, 10 flushable diaper refills, a swishstick and a Handy User’s Guide.
The catch? Well there really isn’t one. From gDiapers and they will ship to Australia.
