Last week I returned home from the Michael Buble concert around midnight to find my son bolt upright in bed, alert & ever so curious about the concert.  Part of me wanted to indulge us both in a thorough Buble de-brief -  another part of me was amazed at the ticking over of my sons thoughts in the middle of the night.   By question # 22,  I found myself offering my babysitter a mention in my will in exchange for relieving me of the incessant questions.

It is not abnormal for pre-school students to ask up to 100 questions within a given hour.  No wonder parents can feel overwhelmed, exhausted and infuriated.  As frustrating as the endless questions can be, its important we remind ourselves exactly WHY our children ask questions.

Questions serve to:
-give us clues as to what is capturing our childs attention
-help them make choices
-ask for help or guidance
-help tap children in to what those around them actually do
-help problem solve and learn about the world
-learn & recall (information received as a result of a question has been shown to be better remembered than information given unbidden)

Many toddler questions can leave us feeling exposed, inadequate and can therefore be a source of stress. It helps to remember that a key component of answering questions is to know what your child can grasp now & providing a first step answer to such questions. 

Remembering why he asks so many questions (no, its actually not to annoy ME)  is important and just being with him and having an honest bash at answering his questions,  is a key to meeting his needs. I will forgive myself for the fact that I dont know why the moon is smaller tonight than it was last night, and also for not having an interesting response to why  Michael Buble’s live band includes 9 members rather than 10.

Does that city tram go just too fast for you to catch a glimpse of bebe’s windows? We get many emails and calls from passers by wanting to know more about a particular item in our window display.

Both of bebe’s windows are updated every week by our Merchandising Star Michelle,  so catching a glimpse of the same item next time you pass can get a bit tricky.

To help out our local folk, we will now feature one of these windows every week, with a link to the product online in our new bebe window spotting feature.

A: Sirch Ride ons feature steam-curved plywood and “whisper-quiet” plastic wheels that can be used both inside and outside. Find out more about the Sirch Max Ride on and matching Sirch Lorette trailer here

B: The Cocoon Couture Cheeky Squirrel Bookends are finally back in stock. We love that these are made from environmentally friendly ply wood and beautifuly finished with non toxic varnish safe for children and the envirnoment

C: A bebe bestseller, the Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Bibs (shown in French Navy and Aloe) have great coverage and longevity.

D: Our window display is housed by the Oeuf Mini Library in Walnut, a contemporary furniture piece that will grow with your childs room.

E: Unlike your usual first-ride car toys, the minimal Sich Flix Ride On comes minus the distracting bells and whistles. IT is also compatible with the Sirch Lorette Trailer featured in the window

F: The delightful Early Bird book ends by Cocoon Couture feature crafted cut out designs of cheeky critters.

What would a blog be without a token reference to “Sex and the City - The Movie”?

No, we’re not going to ask you which character you most identify with, and we’re certainly not going to give away any of the movies secrets.. Instead we thought we’d tell you to look out for the Stokke Xplory which makes a star appearance at Charlotte’s baby shower.  We’re not surprised that the movies style team has selected this as Charlotte’s pram of choice - the Stokke Xplory in Cream is very much consistent with Charlotte’s playfully conservative character. 
The Stokke Xplory is fast becoming a popular pram for stylish mums walking The Tan here in Melbourne, and deservedly so..

There are just 4 days left of our Review Competition  (closes June 30th) - where one reviewer will win a Jooki Talissa Handbag valued at $379.95.  

We’ve receieved some great reviews so far, including these great ones on the Jooki Talissa bag …

STYLISH & TIMELESS BABY BAG by Jodie, 10/06/2008

GREAT LOOKING & PRACTICAL BAG! by Katie, 10/06/2008

STYLE! TO MATCH MY BABY.. by cass, 29/05/2008

The Silver Cross Dazzle has  been on the market for just a couple of months now and the overall feedback from you is that it is the perfect solution for new mums.  Researched on the streets of London, Paris, Tokyo and New York, Silver Cross really have created a system that meets the needs of modern parents.  We love its clean lines and minimalist design, which  give it a distinctive modern look  without compromising on comfort, safety or ease of use.

Famous Australian style Queens Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton of sass&bide have given the Silver Cross Dazzle the thumbs up, as have you.  The most popular colour for bebe customers so far is black, with silver a close second!
Here’s what some happy bebe customers have had to say about the Silver Cross Dazzle via bebe reviews…

 Truly Fabulous by Tracey, 06/22/2008
After owning nearly every stroller on the market, I find the Dazzle fabulous. It looks great is easy to fold, is lightweight and a pleasure to push.The rain cover is perfect and i love the use of magnets as opposed to velcro. Even my husband loves it and believe me he has complained about every other stroller we have owned. This is my third Baby and i just wished i had this one from the beginning !!

 best stroller by pat, 06/03/2008
we’re up to our fourth child now and have been through just about every stroller available. We love how sturdy the Silvercross feels - no vibrating wheels when picking up the pace, the height of the handles - no stooping at all, and the fact that you can buy the cosy bassinette for newborns works well in our colder climate. I only wish it could have been available for my first! I can’t fault it.

If you cant make it in to the store for a personal demo, find out more or purchase the Silver Cross Dazzle Stroller here.

Mealtime protests would have to be one of THE most common occurances in the daily life of a toddler.  Even the hint of ”merging vegetables” (ie: peas touching thier neighbouring potato on the plate) is a cardinal culinary sin in many a toddlers world, and can form the basis for the infamous Toddler Mealtime Meltdown. 

The distinct compartments of the Skip Hop Palatte Plate not only keep foods from touching, but also take much of the hassle out of preparing, storing and serving finger foods. Cleverly shaped like an artist’s palatte, the Palate Plate is a serving tool we know the modern parent will appreciate.  It’s perfect for the early days of feeding, as you’re trying several different types of food at each meal.  We cant put a price on providing our children with a nutritional healthy start through promoting variety in foods, not to mention making mealtimes that bit more fun. We also love that it is BPA, Phthalate & PVC Free. 

Purchase the Skip Hop Palatte Plate here..

Help keep baby warm this winter with a special value pack offer from bebe and Merino Kids. Buy one Merino Kids Sleeping Bag (RRP $159.95) and purchase the second for just $99.95. Thats a saving of $60.

This offer is valid on the full Merino Kids Sleeping Bag range, meaning you can purchase a standard weight & winter weight combo, a baby and toddler combo, or even two winter weight combos. 

This is a limited offer while stocks last.

Please note this offer concluded in August 2008 and is no longer available.

Pregnancy is seemingly one of those periods where people venture into inappropriate territory, asking awkward, inappropriate questions.  I was on the smaller side during my pregnancy and  was often asked “Are you SURE you’re THAT far along?“  - not want an anxious first timer needs to hear.  I also recall at my work farewell lunch  being publicly asked “Are you REALLY going to bother coming back after maternity leave?”

In fairness, I blunder as well. My worst was in-store at bebe asking a customer “when are you due”?  They awkwardly replied that they were not pregnant. My brilliant response (assuming they had just given birth): “Oh, how old is your baby now, then?”  It turns out there was never a pregnancy.   I wanted to chew off my right arm and offer it to her in apology.
Most of us have been both the deliverer and the recipient of awkward questions at some point. Here are a few doozys..

7 of the  Rudest Questions to Ask a Pregnant Woman..

7. To the expectant mother of twins or an older mother: We’re they “natural“?  

6. How much weight have you gained?  (is there ever an acceptable time to ask this question?!)

5. Are you planning on delivering vaginally/breastfeeding, etc? (wouldn’t be appropriate to ask about my parts when not pregnant, so why now?)

4. Regarding finding out the sex of the baby before birth: Don’t you want to be “surprised?” (Or its smug alternative: Some surprises are simply worth waiting for.)

3. To the woman who has just disclosed that after much research and careful consideration, she has planned a c-section/homebirth/natural birth or similar: Are you crazy?

2. To the rather large childbearer of a singleton: Are you having twins? Then: “Damn! You’re huge!” (when the answer is “no.”)

1. “When are you due?” (if in doubt, just DON’T go there)

We all know how much pre-schoolers love to practice writing their alphabets and drawing doodles on any and every surface they can get their hands on. To help them build confidence in their handiwork without getting your walls written and drawn over, comes the  Offi Woody Chalkboard Table which combines the twin comforts of a chalkboard and an art table to give your toddler plenty of space and freedom to draw and write. Includes a nifty centre metal bowl for storing chalk and dusters.

Find out more about the Offi Woody Chalkboard table and Look-Me Chairs here.

New to the bebe blog is a regular weekly posting which answers your FAQs via telephone, in-store and online. 

This week Jodie asked us:  I am considering purchasing either Mountain Buggy or Stokke Xplory.  Im confused about how they differ on a day to day basis and which is the better pram. What is your feedback on these?

With so many small moving parts, you get what you pay for with prams, and both strollers you’re considering are of very high quality and design. While we can’t post our own opinions on the limitations of these prams, we can provide you with a summary of the positive customer/first hand feedback on these. One pram is not necessarily better than the other - the most important factor is  choosing a stroller that is most appropriate to your lifestyle and needs.

The Mountain Buggy
This is a sturdy 3 wheeler pram, which we have found the best feedback on these to be from regular joggers, those needing to drive the pram over unsteady ground/gravel such as in country/coastal areas, and those with an immediate need to use a kiddie board for the second child. Many of our inner city customers also find the Mountain Buggy works well as a (second) beach house pram.

The Stokke Xplory
The Stokke Xplory appeals very much to our urban dwelling customers and those with an appreciation for design.  The most common comments we hear back on the xplory strollers is its great manoeuvrability and ease of handling/steer. We’ve noticed those on the taller side or with back problems particularly love the xplory, as there is no stooping at all when pushing the pram or placing the baby into it. 

Learn about the functions & benefits of these & other prams and strollers, including first hand reviews by you..