We’re excited that our flag-ship store will be re-opening post  re-furbishment just in time for Christmas!

Stay tuned for updates on the following great in-store Christmas events, which will be held at our store at 36-38 Toorak Road South Yarra (Melbourne).

Santa Visits Bebe - Santa will be in-store on four occasions between 10th December - 22nd December. Bring in your little one/s to meet Santa and his helpers.

Christmas Storytime - Get the kids into the Christmas spirit with our twice weekly Christmas storytime sessions, followed by Christmas colour in acitivies.

Christmas Decoration Making - Bring the kids in for some fun Christmas acitivies, where they will take home their own special handmade Christmas decoration.

Exact times and details of these events will be posted right here in the coming weeks.

Congratulations to Sally of Middle Park in QLD who is the winner of our Green to Grow Prize pack competition.  Sally is one of our many valued bebe online newsletter subscribers, and won this prize by random prize draw (drawn 27/10/08).  We have some great new products and more fantasic competitions ahead. Make sure you sign up for bebe online’s fortnightly newsletter to be in the know about these and other bebe news.

Check out our most recent Newsletter here..

Not signed up? Sign up here..

We have some fantastic new Christmas pieces which we know are going to fly out the door. This year we are giving you the option to add the perfect finishing touch by personalising selected products with your child’s first name, which is professionaly embroidered. 

From Christmas stockings by Mamas & Papas and Eeni Meeni Miini Moh, to plush Toy Sacks and new baby comforters, personalising is a  great way to make a personal gift something that you/your child will cherish forever.  My favourite is the Supersize Toy Sack. Measuring at 72cm high x 62cm high, this plush velour sack is perfect for storing large gifts that don’t quite fit under the tree!

 Check out the our Children’s Christmas items here…

Spot colour urban spaces with Sweet 16 Wall Graphics by Blik, sixteen self-adhesive decals that put fun-n-funky wallscape design into the hands of those who want peel-n-place results.  These graphics can be affixed to any flat surface including walls, windows, tables and mirrors and are easily removed.  Think kids rooms, play rooms, hallways… where ever you need a splash of less is more contemporary colour without the fuss. Blik is a Californian company,  and are very highly regarded in the US for their design and manufacture of award winning, self-adhesive decals.

Check out the Blik Sweet 16 Wall Graphics here… 

I can’t say I have an official “preggy belly” as such.. just a slightly thicker waist and up-sized bust. I’m told Top Heavy is the politically correct term to describe my current visual stage of pregnancy. With just 90 minutes before the stores closed on Friday afternoon, I set myself the  target of buying a few pieces that could fill out my pregnancy wardrobe, and would see me through much of the remaining 5 months.

Luckily I didn’t have far to shuffle with Toorak Road being quite the pregnancy/baby hub. The first Maternity store presented me with an excessive range of knot tops - a common maternity staple top that twists below the bust, proving both busy and busty in application. Next on offer were the maternity  wrap tops and eerily similar tops that went by other names - crossover tops, kimonos etc. None of these appealed, but before I could slip out the door I was ever so gently eased into the change room by the friendly sales assistant insisting I try on the “best maternity jeans” on the market. I reluctantly obliged, and emerged from the change room breathing a sigh of relief in these comfortable, well fitting and flattering maternity jeans.

Despite the un-expected success with the jeans, I’d seen enough maternity wear for one day. It became evident that if I was to achieve my goal, some creative shopping was required. I raced down to Chapel Street optimistic that I’d discover a few “non maternity” pieces that could pass during pregnancy and beyond. Kookai and Sportsgirl served me exceptionally well with my last pregnancy when I was in my mid 20s. This time around scanning the Sportsgirl racks, I felt like more like someone’s Mum, or worse still, someone choosing an outfit for a Desperate Housewives casting.

Running out of time, I raced over the road and within 30 minutes hit the jackpot at both Country Road and French Connection, succesfuly nabbing a total of seven dresses/tops. The tops all looked great with my new jeans and both the dresses and the longer tops purchased will work well for now pinched in with a belt, and later (sans belt) to accomodate my growing belly.

Check out a sample of a few pieces that I picked up (above), which will hopefully encourage and inspire you to feel confident to think outside the square with your own maternity purchases. 

My personal preggy wardrobe tips are -

-      Smock tops and looser tops do work well in the earlier phases - just remember with longer tops to use a belt to bring in  below the bust, or you will look bigger than you are

-      Balance out looser tops with leggings or straight leg pants/jeans. Baggy top & Baggy bottoms will also result in a less flattering shape

-       Apply above rule to loose skirts. Peasant skirts and wider cut skirts can be comfortable and flattering in warmer months - just remember to balance out with something more fitting on the top.

-       Ensure you wear a well fitting bra both for good support and a flattering line. 

-        Jeans can be one of the most difficult maternity items to buy. Make sure you persist and try on as many pairs as you need until you find the right pair for your shape. Yim, Citizens of Humanity, Fragile Loom and Egg 9 Jeans are all favourites amongst bebe community.

Happy Shopping!

Congratulations to Lisa Chawner of NSW who is the winner of our Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Newborn prizepack. Bebe holds regular giveaways exclusive to bebe online newsletter subsribers - but you must be a subscriber to be in the know!

Sign up to bebe online’s newsletter right here..

One of our most popular gift lines, the Flatout Bear is a firm favourite with our customers who appreciate basic design and quality fabrics. These cuddly little bears are made of 100% pure Australian sheepskin shaped like a teddy. A ‘please phone home’ stitch in label with room for your phone number is on the side of each bear, to ensure that your little friend has a higher chance of making it home if lost. Available in five colors, these bears are perfect as gifts for a newborn, or for friends and family overseas. One thing that you’ll be assured of is that a Flatout Bear will be a much appreciated present that will last the test of time.  Check out the Flatout bears here..

By Pinky

I had taken a family to an antenatal class to demonstate baby massage to the pregnant parents. As this gorgeous little three month old chuckled with glee, holding out her tiny leg for a massage, one of the expectant fathers asked, “does this meant that she will be ‘high maintenance’ later on?”

Although I jokingly deflected his question, I realised a few comments later that there was a fear among the group about creating bad habits and ’spoiling’ babies by giving them too much attention. Sadly I also meet many new parents who feel they need to justify their actions or seek approval because their babies need help to settle or love to be held lots. For many parents, it seems that this fear of ‘bad habits’ is clouding the joy of being with their families.

There is alot of pressure to have a ‘good baby’ - a baby who will self settle and sleep for hours or at least a baby who doesnt demand attention. The truth is, there is no such person as a ‘good’ baby. Babies are just like the rest of us with legitimate emotional needs as well as the more obvious physical needs to be clean and fed. Some little people are more sensitive and some are more social than others. Also, just like us, some days they need extra cuddles (as do their mothers on these high need days!)

The good news is that your loving attention can make your baby smarter: neuroscientists and clinicians have documented that loving interactions that are sensitive to a child’s needs influence the way the brain grows and can increase the number of connections between nerve cells. Other research shows that rather than becoming ‘high maintenance’, babies whose needs are responded to in the first six months of life are less demanding toddlers.

So, rather than letting guilt or concern that you may be creating ‘bad habits’ or extra work in the long run by giving your baby too much attention, why not relax and enjoy every sweet cuddle and coo. There will be plenty of time later on to change any habit ‘gradually with love’ and, whether you want to stop rocking your baby to sleep or encourage him to amuse himself on the floor, transitions will be easier when your child is developmentally ready. Meanwhile, ignore the critics who caution that you will spoil your little one as you consider the words of American paediatric nurse specialist Kittie Frantz who advises, “you are not managing an inconvenience, you’re raising a human being.”

For more great tips about parenting, see Sleeping like a Baby by Pinky McKay available here at Bebe, or visit Pinky’s website - www.pinkymckay.com.au for information about her private consulting work in Melbourne.

Since the discovery that BPA is a toxin, there’s been the introduction of new baby products that are BPA free and therefore  SO much better for our babies. We can’t rave enough about new Green to Grows baby bottles, who get our vote when it comes to baby safety.

In addition to being BPA free, these bottles are free from phthlates, lead and PVC, and their silcone nipples are nitrosamine free. On the eco-friendly front, the box they come in is made of 100% recycled paper and printed with soy ink.

When the very discerning bebe team received our sample bottle, we had a few important questions, and Green to Grow had the answers…

What exactly are the Green to Grow bottles made from?

These bottles are made from PES Plastic, which is what gives them a natural golden colour. They are free from the potentially harmful chemicals polycarbonate plastic (PC) from which most baby bottles are made. Recent studies indicate that PC bottles leach bisphenol A into liquids which may be harmful to babies and children. Green to Grow bottles do not contain bisphenol A or phthlates.

Do Green to Grow bottles contain lead-bases paints?

No. These bottles have  been independently tested and have been found free of lead-based paints.

What are Green to Grow nipples made from?

The nipples are made from a transparent, medical grade silicone that is heat-resistant, non toxic and odourless. They are free from nitrosamines, a potentially harmful contaminant found in many rubber nipples that have been found to migrate in liquids.

What kind of plastic are the connecting ring and bottle lid made from?

The ring that attaches the sillicone nipple to the bottle and the bottle lid are made from polypropylene P (PP) a BPA free plastic.

Do Green to Grow products contain PVC?

No, these bottles do not - and never will -contain any polvinyl chloride (PVC)

How do I prevent the teat from collapsing into the bottle?

Don’t over-tighten the ring that attaches the nipple to the bottle (this is the number one cause of the teat collapsing). The ring should be tight enough that it doesnt leak or fall off, but not so tight that it cuts off air ciculation.

Can Green to Grow bottles and nipples be boiled?

Yes all bottle and nipple parts are desgined to withstand sterilisation by placing them in boiling water for 2-5 minutes

Are Green to Grow baby bottles and nipples dishwasher safe?

Yes, all parts are dishwasher safe, and easily washed on normal cycle on top rack

 What stage teat is included with a new bottle?

Beginner stage (0-3month) which is slow flow. You may also purchase further stage teats from bebe online.

Green to Grow bottles get bebe’s vote when it comes to safety and functionality. Check out the range here..

Dwellstudio have just released these modern Toy Storage Cubes, ideal for your child’s bedroom to use in whatever way you choose! Fun and functional, kids storage has never looked so good. Whether it be for a pile of soft toys, a loved collection of timber blocks, the dirty laundry or for freshly folded towels in the children’s bathroom, these will be a valued edition to your decor. Consisting of heavy duty coated canvas, they’ll not only make your room look great, but also make tidying up much less of a chore. Available in five contemporary designs - Transport, Choc dots, Charlotte, Gio Aqua and Gio Lemon, there’s sure to be a look perfect combination to coordinate with your furnishings.