A modern addition to any child’s room, these gorgeous new mobiles from Petit Collage are laser-cut  from sustainably harvested bamboo, an earth friendly resource.  The Petit Collage mobiles are not your typical baby mobile fare. You won’t have to pack it up as your baby grows, as it will look great in a kid’s room - especially by a bright window!

The bamboo Bird Mobile will look sweet in your child’s nursery, and has simple yet whimsical lines. The Jungle Friends mobile has a clean natural look that is most of all lots of fun! The sustainable bamboo craftmanship makes this a great choice for bab and beyond.

Check out the full Petit Collage range here…  

Every parent worries about what goes into their baby’s mouth, which is why we love Danish brand Natursutten, which translates in english to “Natural Soother”. With my first baby I would not even consider using a dummy or teether as I knew through my studies in nutrition that the mouth is the one place that the body absorbs the most toxins.  There have been the odd dummy manufacturer that has released their own “safer” versions of dummys, but  they all still contain nasties which are harmful to our babies and best avoided.

Natursutten pacifiers/dummys and teethers are made with absolutely no BPA, phthlates, silicone or chemical softeners. By making the Natursutten choice, both you and your baby are free from:

Allergy Causing Substances

Artificial Colour

Cancer Causing Substances

Chemical Softeners, Parabens, PVCs and Phthlates

The Natursutten pacifiers are made from pure rubber wood, making them the most natural choice available in Australia, and the best choice for piece of mind for your child. The natural teething rings contain no baddies and are filled with purified steralised water, so there is no danger of any type of oil or chemical leakage from the ring.  As I prepare for the impeding birth of my next child I’m relieved that these natural options are now available to my family, providing me with peace of mind and most of all ONE LESS THING to worry about!

Check out the Natursutten range here…

For the next week (ending 28 Feb 2009) we are giving a $20 bebe gift card to online orders over $200 as our way of saying thanks for being such great bebe online customers! Your $20 gift card will be sent with your order. Please see below for further conditions:

To qualify, $200 must  be spent in one transaction online on full priced items between 4pm Fri 20/02/09 and midnight Sat 28/02/09.  Not in conjunction with any other offer and only one voucher per customer. Voucher may be redeemed in-store or online, but must be redeemed before 31/03/09 to remain valid. This offer is valid to Australian orders only, and not to orders being sent overseas.

We’ve finally found ourselves a kid’s drink bottle that ticks all boxes! Over the years we have been through various chemical free “safe” drinking bottles. From the Sigg water bottles, which theoretically made sense, but don’t quite provide an adequate flow during thirsty times, to the BPA free Nalgene (mountaineer) drink bottles, which once again are super-safe but didnt quite pass the convenience test as the bottle nuzzles require regular replacement from half way across the world! Top that with the “Im too big to carry drink bottles with “little doggy pictures now, Mum!”, and it was back to the drawing board for a BPA free kid’s drink bottle that insulates..

Right in front of my eyes sits the Thermos Foogo Drink Bottle which is working just a treat as Liam’s new school drink bottle.  I see why its been voted the best insulated bottle on the market - using FDA approved, child friendly materials, it offers me peace of mind as a parent, and my proud litlte Preppie is loving the ease and speed in which he’s able to both open the bottle and also to drink from the flexible tip straw, providing a fast flow for these hot days. Great for toddlers and big boys alike, the Foogo Thermos drink bottle gets my vote as a highly functional back to school purchase.

Check out the Thermos Foogo range here…  

Just arrived in-store are these modern Petite Collage Animal Alphabet Screenprint posters, which provide eco-friendly decor for your child’s room whilst also serving as a stylish lesson in the ABCs and animals!

Available in orange, pink and blue, these animal alphabet posters are very modern, with the orange version (shown above) having quite a vintage feel. Posters are made from a 3 colour screenprint which is hand pulled and printed on un-coated, 100% post-consumer recycled paper.  Each Petite Collage Animal Alphabet poster includes a key printed across the bottom that lists the names of all of the animals being highlighted.  

These posters may be purchased un-framed for $79.95 or framed (in-store only) for $104.95. See the full Petite Collage Animal Alphabet poster collection here..

by Carey

As the due date of my second child slowly approaches, I’m taken back to the post natal period with my first child some five years ago.  One of the biggest “why didnt anyone tell me!??”’s during that period related to breastfeeding, and the shock that while yes, it is a very natural act, it does not necessarily come naturally the first time around. In fact, nobody I know has found this easy in the very beginning. I believe the key to breastfeeding success is to prepare for challenges and have a plan for sidestepping them.  Seeking help from a breastfeeding counsellor or the Australian Breastfeeding Association are also fantastic resources that can be tapped into both  before and after the birth.

Some common breastfeeding pitfalls are - 

GIVING IN TO BAD ADVICE

As well meaning as your relatives undoubtably are, they may have different ideas about how a baby - your baby - should be fed. Its a confusing dynamic when a new mum wants to nurse and her own mother fed her children formula. Often the message she receives is “bottle feeding was good enough for you” as if the choice to breastfeed is a personal insult.

 In the days and weeks after you’ve given birth your body aches, your hormones are going nutes, and you and your baby can be both sleepier and weepier than you ever thought. An anxious family member insisting that your baby is starving may be all that it takes to persuade you to stop breastfeeding.

Perhaps invite members of your post-natal posse to an ABA meeting/breastfeeding class or ask them to be present when you meet with your lactation consultant, whilst explaining how important nursing is to you. Once everyone understands what is “normal”, they can relax.

ASSUMING YOU CAN’T DO IT

In those first few days you may be convinced that you will never produce enough milk to feed. Fear not - this is most likely the same fear as every other first time mum on your ward as they experience those first few days. Remember that it is most likely to take a number of days for milk to come in (longer for a c-section).

My current midwife had a fantastic suggestion - and that is to express a small amount of colostrum (stored in syringes in the freezer) from around 37-38 weeks pregnancy. This can then be taken into the hospital and kept on reserve should there be a problem with feeding the baby or with the baby’s eight. Nb: It is very imporatant such a practice be discussed with your ob or midwife prior, as expressing milk whilst pregnant may induce labour.   Knowing there is a back up supply not only takes the pressure off you should there be some early supply difficulties or an emergency c-section, but also provides an alternative to the hospital feeding your newborn formula if there is in fact an issue.  

FORFEITING MIDNIGHT FEEDS

“Honey”, your husband says one morning, putting his hand on your exhausted shoulder, “why dont you express some milk today and I’ll get up with the baby tonight so that you can sleep?” Music to your ears, but possibly not a terrific plan ongoing. Some say that if a mother consistently sleeps when her baby needs to be fed, her milk supply may drop.

If your spouse extends this generous offer, thank him profusely and suggest a compromise. Perhaps he can retrieve the darling noisemaker, change her, bring her to you and then return her to bed once the feeding is over.

TRYING TO FORCE A SCHEDULE

As convenient as it would be to plan out a day’s worth of feedings, a newborn doesnt wear a watch. She doesnt care if its been 15mins or 4 hours since her last meal; when her tummy rumbles she wants to eat. And you need to let her - if you don’t, you may risk poor weight gain for her and decreased milk production for you. If this doesnt feel right, the ABA can be of great assistance in working together ensuring both yours and bubs needs are met.

For information on the Australian Breastfeeding Association visit http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/

When you’re strolling through the park you will soon find yourself taking a sideways glance at every other pram on the block. So how can you guarantee your pram won’t get lost amongst the ever-increasing range of trendy models you find yourself competing with?

Nab yourself one of these limited special edition Bugaboo & Paul Frank items for your Bugaboo stroller and you’ll be sure to stand out in the crowd.  Your Bugaboo can soon be dressed with fabric items featuring the signature Paul Frank characters Scurvy, Clancy and Julius. Not only are they super-cute, but this will win you points around the park for originality.

The Bugaboo and Paul Frank Collection marks the first time Bugaboo has released printed fabrics from another company on their product. The collection consists of  two tailored fabric sets, four footmuffs and two blankets. One of the tailored fabric sets features skull and cross bone character Scurvy in all his glory, and there is also a footmuff featuring a larger Scurvy. The other set has colourful blocks and features  Paul Frank’s signature characters. A blanket and footmuff are also available in the colourful blocks design.

All time Paul Frank favourite Julius the monkey makes an appearance in its own footmuff and blanket, and Clancy the giraffe also appears on his own footmuff. Too Cute!

Pre-orders for this Bugaboo & Paul Frank Collection are being accepted now, so dont miss out!

by Pinky,

Children absorb the world through all of their senses - hearing, sight, smell, touch and taste. Touch is the first sense to develop and your child’s body (just like your own) is covered with very sensitive touch receptors. Through this he will receive information about hot and cold, hard and soft, smooth and rough, what hurts and what feels good. When his sense of touch is working properly, messages to your child’s brain will sehim touching appropriately - he will quickly take his hand off a hot heater and he might (just maybe!) keep a jumper on if it is really cold.

You can encourage the development of your little one’s immature nervous system through tactile experiences as well as movement. Stimulation of your child’s senses enchances his development as more neural ‘connections’ are made in your toddlers rapdily developing brain and this will help with sensory perception which helps your child make sense of his world - literally!

If this all sounds quite overwhelming and you are wondering, ‘what do I need to do?’ Please relax. For the first couple of years, all you need to do is provide lots of cuddles and love and your child will soak up the natural sensory excperiences of his environment - skin to skin contact as you feed him, cuddle him and massage his little body and also the feeling of clothes and fabric against his skin or your own clothing as you hold him; movement as you carry and rock him, bounce him on your knee, dance with him and push him in a stroller or on the swings at the park; tastes as he tries different foods with different tastes and textures; his sense of smell will be stimulated by cooking smells (freshly brewed cofffee, warm bread) at home or out and about as ewll as smells in his environment such as freshly mown grass in spring, wet leaves in autumn, flowers or herbs in the garden, and there will be no shortage of interesting noises - from birds singing, wind chims, insects buzzing, cars tooting or people chattering and music playing.

You can also plan activities that provide lots of sensory play - from listening games (get him to close his eyes and guess the noise as you ring a bell, munch an apple, pour water or scrunch paper) to activities that involve smelling, feeling and tasting.

For some fun play that will stimulate your child’s senses, especially his sense of touch, try some of the fabulous ideas from Toddler Tactics by Pink McKay (available at bebe), such as this  ‘Pizza Massage’:

Pizza Massage

Massage is a lovely way to stay in touch with your child. It also helps develop your child’s nervous system. Here is a game that will encourage even the most active toddler to stay (fairly) still as you massage.

Offer to made a massage ‘pizza’ on your child’s back. Get your little one to help chooser ‘ingredients’ - as you decide each ingredient, alter your massage strokes to represent the ingredient. For instance:

‘Roll’ out the dough (long firm strokes with your palms across the child’s back from side to side - smaller circles to get the dough ‘into the corners’),

‘Spread’ tomato paste - (smooth strokes)

‘Chop’ vegetables (chopping with the sides of your hands).

‘Sprinkle’ (finger taps) cheese.

Let your imagination (and your child’s) run wild - happy ‘cooking’.

For more great tips to enhance your parenting life,  see Pinky McKay’s books available here at Bebe, or visit Pinky’s website for information about  Pinky and her workshops for parents.

Style and function have come together in this modern Aerial cot designed by Lawson-Fenning for Nurseryworks, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to Australia. Fitting perfectly into any modern space, this cot features a 2-point adjustable mattress height. When the ‘cot days’ have passed, purchase a conversion kit to convert the Aerial cot into a beautiful day bed or toddler bed. With two end panel designs to choose from, square or circle, the Aerial cot incorporates overtones of mid-century American and Scandinavian modern styles, specifically their durability and craft aesthetic which blend easily into the adult decor when the time comes. 

To match the Aerial cot, Nurseryworks have also released a Two-Wide Changing Table which features a cabinet with a shelf inside and three drawers. The modular design incorporates a removable changing tray and fits a standard changing mat, which can be purchased separately. This item is also available in a square or circle design and dark pine or light pine ends. Both of these items are made of MDF and wood. With their unusual design element the Aerial cot and changing table will complete the modern nursery.