A nappy bag that transforms into a change station? It sounded too good
to be true until I tried one! The versatile Baby Traveller from
gr8x
will fill many roles in
any situation you care to throw at it.
The Baby Traveller has a bungee cord from which to hang blankets and
wraps, removable pram straps, mobile phone pouch, bottle holder
(insulated), backpack straps, and a soft separate changemat, all in an
attractive machine-washable (Deluxe models only) package. Available in
an astounding 16 different colours over two styles, you won't have a
problem finding one to suit your style.
I find using stretchy wraps a breeze with a large, strong Houdini of a baby, and these
Stretch Swaddling Wraps
are big enough for even the largest of babies.
They measure up to 145cm x 85cm and the stretch means your baby is
super comfy with a bit of moving room, but without disassembling
your swaddling! Available in single and double packs.
I found a breastfeeding pillow absolutely essential in the newborn
days. Tiny ones are so fragile, they need the support, and so do your
neck, back and arms. Feeding pillows tend to be bulky, however gr8x
have addressed this with its
Self Inflating Feeding Pillow.
Coming to
you in a handy matching bag with drawstring, the inflatable pillow is
available in black, pink/natural and green/natural. It's just so
compact and
automatically inflates, so baby won't have to wait to be fed and you
won't hyperventilate trying to blow it up!
Gr8x products are available from good baby shops and online retailers Australia-wide.
I love my bright red Vanchi nappy bag - as seen here on Babyology. It’s sassy, stylish and incredibly hip. But my husband? He’s not so keen. His face turns a similar shade of red if he has to walk out the door with my Geisha Vanchi slung over his shoulder. So he’s going to be thrilled – or at least, a little less embarrassed - to switch my gorgeous but very unmanly Vanchi for his own dad-approved Scout Journey Pack from the perennially chic Petunia Pickle Bottom.
This bag is also stylish and incredibly hip. But in a way that’s good for dads. Like your man’s favourite pair of cargoes, the Journey Pack has more pockets than you can poke a stick at. And they snap on and off for easy access and positioning. There’s one for magazines, one for the mobile, two for baby bottles and plenty more for all the other kid paraphernalia men need when out and about with their offspring. Dads who care about the small stuff might also be impressed with the Journey Pack’s coordinating wipes container and change mat. But most likely they will only care that it looks cool instead of girly.
The pack comes in two guy-friendly colours – grey, or my husband’s favourite, olive green. Like it? They're not widely available here yet but you can order the Scout Journey Pack from Childhood Bliss, who will happily ship to Australia, for US$135 plus postage.
I doubt the freshly released
Bugaboo Car Seat will
see the interior of an Australian car anytime soon, but if you've got
some cash to splash, they make a
mighty fine capsule for your Bugaboo stroller. Wanting a slice of the
pie currently served up by Maxi Cosi, Bugaboo (with car seat
manufacturer Takata) has made its
very own version of the space-age infant transport unit, complete with
water-resistant hood, 5-point harness and of course that
distinctive logo.
They come in blue, red, black, sand and yellow, with
the adapters necessary for fitting it to your Cameleon or Bee
chassis available at additional cost.
The styling looks so lush - the fabric is immaculate
and spongy, the head area so beautifully padded, the lines slightly
soft. There is a height indicator for strap adjustment, so you know
you've got it set just right
for your little one.
It's for babies from newborn up to 13kg - if you're puzzled about
how this
works, baby has outgrown the seat once the head reaches the top of the
restraint rather than when the legs appear too long for it.
Apparently they just swing the legs over the side, and this way these
brilliant capsules last until about 14 months!
It comes close to $400 plus shipping, so this really is an
extravagance as it cannot be used as a car seat here. Still, you'll be
the
toast of the high street with this atop your Bugaboo ride. Now I'm left
wondering if our car seat laws will ever accomodate the new and
wonderful child restraints coming out of Europe. I'll be interested to
see how the Bug car seat stacks up against the Maxi Cosi in terms
of safety. For now, I'll just keep my eyes peeled for the first influx
on Sydney streets, no doubt owned by people who travel to
Europe.
If a European jaunt is not on the cards, then
Baby Traderstock both the capsules and the adapters, and have been happily and reliably shipping to Australia for a long time now.
I don't often have any good ideas while folding my laundry but this clever Sydney Mum has and the result is Tat Your Tot. Based on removable character tattoos these little personalised lovelies help ensure your child has their details on them at all times when out and about and unlike the identity braclets they can't take them off.
The Identatats come in a wide range of designs and can contain name, phone number and any relevant medical information. At $15.00 for 8 or $30.00 for 20 this is a small cost to put your mind at ease.
The Allergy Tattoos are a lifesaver at only $9.60 for 10 - perfect for outings in large gatherings or children's parties to remind the host and other adults to be aware of your childs needs. They come in a range of allergies including wheat, eggs, nuts, bees and even cats.
The Party Time tattoos would be a perfect loot bag filler or why not have the birthday child place one on each guest as they arrive. For $1.25 each these can be personalised with your child's name and the special birthday number. There are plenty of designs to choose from and they make a great keepsake of the day.
Tat Your Tot also offers a fundraising service to support your local community. Take a look around their website today at Tat Your Tot and place your order now.
What is a Zoobie you might ask? According the Zoobie Pets creators “it’s a cuddly plush animal, a soft comfy pillow and a cozy warm blanket”. While this description might not be found in the Macquarie Dictionary, it certainly is a fair call on Zoobie Pets.
Born out of a desire for innovation, a love of children and a thirst for travel, two brothers (hailing from a clan of nine kids) have designed these cuddly little toys.
The versatile designs triple up as a portable toy, pillow and blanket. Very clever and perfect for moving about with baby.
They currently design two ranges - The Zoo Collection (ranging from a blue monkey called GoGo to a cuddly tiger, Taj) and The Safari Collection (complete with a giraffe called Jafaru, a croc who goes by the name of Kojo and zebra called Zulu). Each one is cuter than the next. I can see how kids might want to have more than just one!
Zoobie Pets have won many accolades including the highly coveted (in the toy world) Toy Man Favourite Seal, Best of Show at the LA Baby Celebration 2008 and the Babies and Mom’s Radio’s Squeal of Approval – and this was just in April! They have also been awarded the Creative Child’s Magazine’s Top Toy of the Year Award for 2007 and the Oppenheim Gold Seal as well as a long list of other prestigious gongs that grace the bottom of the funky toys’ website, not to mention celebrity endorsements such as Tori Spelling, Denise Richards, Jason Priestly and more.
