Things were kept suitably simple this week featuring three brands we admire for their minimalist and un-complicated designs - Bloom and Brio and Babu.

 Bloom Fresco High Chair - the only contemporary chair that stays with the child from birth to school age. Bebe also offers theFresco Loft version of this chair (also available in black) has an adjustable extra 15cm height and works well at the kitchen bench and higher than standard tables.  View the Bloom Baby range here..

The Brio Toddler Wobbler has a distinct advantage over the other walking carts on the market as it features an adjustable break and handle to build confidence and ease of use.  Plus we think its the coolest by a mile. If your eye sight is sharp enough you’ll notice another Brio piece - the Brio race car in black. View the Brio Toddler Wobbler and Brio Racing Car here..

These Babu bibs are made from natural fibres which are chosen for softness, comfort, absorbancy and breathability - all important criteria for bibs. Simple and minimal in design, they will both protect and compliment your baby/toddler’s outfit. View the babu bib set here. 

We all know how much babies love being held and carried, and for some babies this is the only thing that keeps them feeling secure and calm in those early months. The new Sleepy Wrap gets our vote as one of the most comfortable carriers that we have found on the market, both for the carrier (dads too!) and baby. Carrying your baby in a

Sleepy Wrap is also a great way for new dads to bond with baby, and a perfect way to give mum some much needed rest and “me time”.

The benefits of baby carrying are obvious to most (read: happy babies!). For those who havent witnessed this first hand, here are some known facts on the benefits of baby carrying. 

Carried babies -

1. Cry less (43% less overall)*

2. Are healthier (gain weight faster, have better motor skills, coordination, increased muscle tone & sense of balance)*

3. Sleep better (they fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer)*

4. Learn more (not over-stimulated, but calm and alert, observing the world around them)*

5. Are just plain happier!*

There are many different hands-free carriers to choose from. Find out more here as to why the Sleepy Wrap  ($59.95) gets our vote..

Order your Sleepy Wrap here at bebeonline for Fathers Day. Request our special “dads gift wrap” and we will have it gift wrapped and sent to your door within 24 hours of your order, well and truly in time for Fathers Day.

(*Stats taken from reseach featured in the Official Journal of American Pediatrics)

We’ve been waiting for Babybjorn to release a more modern take on their famous 123 Baby Sitter baby bouncer, and are happy to announce the new colour scheme is gingham-free!!  We always felt the gingham detail compromised an otherwise contemporary looking bouncer and are pleased to see this has been replaced with a modern blend of black and silver. The new Baby Sitter Balance bouncer is arriving in October, and a great fit for the modern home. The Baby Sitter Balance bouncer is priced at  $229.95 and available right here at bebeonline. 

We like recognition for a job well done, and so do children. It is perfectly natural to delight in every little thing that your toddler does. He is cute and funny and doing new tricks every single day, so how can you resist telling your child how clever he is?

We do need to be cautious when dishing out praise. While a spontaneous “Wow! What a clever kid!” won’t do any harm, if you heap on the praise for every breathe your child takes, you run the risk of setting up  a ‘great expectations’ trap. This can mean that as your child grows, he feels he has to keep performing to be accepted and loved. This can contribute to a feeling of failure, which may mean that your child is so dependant on the approval of others that he may be afraid to try new things.

A positive way to offer praise without overdoing it is a process called ‘mirroring’ which involves naming exactly what the child has done. By mirroring back to your child what he or she has done (”You have climbed five steps on the ladder, all by yourself!”) you are giving them tangible evidence of their efforts, not just empty words that may or may not be believable to them. You can extend mirroring to include a quality too. For example - “You are so patient for letting me talk without interrupting.” This helps nourish your childs identity  so that he will begin to think of himself as a genuinely competent person, seeing himself as kind, repsonsible, helpful and whatever other positive labels you choose to describe his efforts.

This positive praise is far more powerful than empty praise because your child will have tangible evidence that he really is competent, his self-esteem will not be dependant on constant recognition and he won’t crumple like a stack of blocks with the slightest hint of disapproval.

For more strategies to make magic out of mayhem during the toddler years, see Pinky McKay’s new book “Toddler Tactics” (Penguin 2008) which is available  here at bebeonline

Visit my website www.pinkymckay.com.au  for information about workshops (Melbourne) for parents of toddlers.

With all the (much needed) rain in Melbourne this week, we thought a burst of colour could be just what Toorak Road needed. All toys are housed by the Oeuf Mini Library in walnut (also available in birch)

Shelf One:

Plan Toys Pull apart Sheep -  little chubby Sheep with great educational benefits and made from recycled wood.

Play Spot floor Matt (bright) -  contemporary and neutral floor surface, lightly padded for endless playing

Shelf Two:

Nursery Puppet Lights - fun nursery light puppets will keep your little company in the wee hours, as well as bringing soft light to the room 

Bajo Hummer - great for imaginative play and a great size for little hands.

Shelf Three:

Bajo Toys - well designed, eco friendly toys made from superior craftmanship.  Not all toys feature online, so make sure you drop in or call us if you’re seeking a specific bajo toy

Playmobil Take-along Dollhouse  - furnished with every room a little girls imagination could ask for. Conveniently packs up into a portable dollhouse with handle.

Plan Toys pull-along snail - Watch his colourful body shimmy up & down like a real snail, as he’s taken on tour through the house by your toddler

Shelf Four:

Plan Toys Concertina - Stimulate music and listening skills with this classic instrument

Playmobil Playset with carry case - This handy little case contains a playmobil character and over 60 supermarket accessories for keeping little minds active

Have you aever gazed at your sleeping baby and sworn she’s smiling in her sleep? She actually may be. According to Daniel Messinger, MD & professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami, “babies smile during sleep and from birth”. But you won’t get a bona fide smile until several weeks later, when your infant’s vision has improved and she can recognise your face. Look for that first cheeky grin at 6-10 weeks, but don’t be alarmed if it isnt directed at you; these smiles of happiness are just as often bestowed upon a couch as a loving parent (or fellow 

Oeuf baby lounger as in the case in this picture!)

Also look for your child’s smile to evolve. At the 2-3month mark, your baby will look right at you and beam. But by 4 to 6 months, she may start to smile, then look away, which may leave you somewhat deflated (”is it something I said” !?) According to Messinger, such occurances may be a result of ”Babies learning to regulate their emotions and the joy may be too intense”.   We all know a baby’s smikle becomes more engaging with age, and its only a matter of time before they start “working it” like the rest of us. They’re only human of couse..

Your pre-schooler is ready to refine dexterity with an educational toy like this Sheep from Plan toys. If beads and such dont motivate your  youngster, this adorable pet will!

A chubby body and two soft cloth ears make for one adorable sheep. When taken apart, this sheep reveals a colour-coded strand and matching colours on the inner circle of each piece. Your child will learn to lace the sheep according to the colour sequence, thus forming a good fundamental basis for mathematics. This educational toy promotes hand-eye co-ordination and memory too!

Made from recycled rubber wood, and finished with non-toxic baby safe colours and finishes. Find out more and purchase Plan Toys Sheep here. 

With Fathers Day approaching, we’re getting in the mood for some Daddy Appreciation, and would love to reward the great dad in your child’s life.  We know there are many Superdads around and have already received some fantastic entries for our Fathers Day Competition from partners of stay-at-home dads, working dads and far-away dads! No loving Dad is exempt! 

We are giving away a Storksak Unisex Leather bag valued at $309.95 (Shown below) , which has proven very popular for many celebrity Superdads including Matt Damon & Brad Pitt  (Superdads purely for their parenting efforts, of course!).

Entering this competition is SO easy - and you may do so right here.  Good luck!

Nici toys are a bebe bestseller as they tend to become the favourite or “chosen” soft toy from very early on in a babies life. Its not un-common for us to receive phone calls from far away places pleading “my baby’s lost her Nici, please send us another ASAP!” 

Little ones love Nici Plush toys for their plush cuddliness, and big kids love them for their cheeky character. All Nici Wild friends feature big friendly faces, and quirky features such as human-esc “innie” belly buttons. The Nici Lion features instructions to give him a good shake and watch his hair stand up on end (Madagaskar - syle).  Available in three sizes, the Nici Soft toy range is available here at bebeonline as well as bebe’s Melbourne store.   

Last chance to win the Offi table & chairs set  valued at $699.95. Our newsletter sign-up competition closes at 6pm on Monday 18th August!

Sign up here for bebes fortnightly newsletter for news, reviews, competitions and great articles written by our blog team. Winner will be posted right here on our bebe blog. Good luck!

Post Script: Congratulations to Anthea Taylor of Geelong, Victoria who was our August winner!