By Pinky

Just as his fingerprints are his alone, you childs personality is unique. As parents we wonder, can we take all the credit (or blame) for our childs temperament? Could he be a ‘chip off the old block’ or is it the fantastic environment  we have provided that makes our child so easy-going? Or have we inadvertently caused our child to be ’supersensitive’ or too ‘dependant’?

Your childs temperament may be a neat fit with your own, or not. You may be a ‘bookish’ person who imagined reading endlessly to your little one but instead you are the parent of a jumping bean who never sits still. Or you may be an athlete who hoped to teach your tot the finer points of football as soon as he could stand but have a sensitive, cautious child who flinches whenever you throw a ball at him. You may wonder, “Where does this child come from?” but it would be more enlightening to ask yourself what this little being has to teach you.

Whether you can mould your childs temperament or whether he is born with a particular tendancy to be easygoing or calm or serious and sensitive, a thoughtful leader or a daredevil, his personality will bloom with your acceptance of the unique individual that he is, and the loving encouragement that you give to his positive traits. It is up to you to channel and develop your child’s special qualities. It isn’t a good idea to label your child, because whether it is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ your child’s self-image will be affected by his label, and he will probably live up to it. Try rethinking descriptions of your child right now. To appreciate the positives, see your little daydreamer as ‘imaginative’ ; your noisy child as enthusiastic; your argumentative tot as independant; and your inattentive little soul as a global thinker with a wide focus! If you are at a loss for positive labels some days, ‘unique’ or ‘motivated’ are perfectly as long as they are meant with appreciation and love.

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.

Why count only round colored balls when you can also count gorgeous bright sparrows? This beautiful Bajo abacus would make a perfect gift, or makes a wonderful toy to stash under the pram for pulling out onto the cafe table when a latte has been well earned by mum or dad!  Made in Poland from locally timbers and finished with child safe non toxic lacquers, this clever take on combining mathematics and bird-watching will bring a smile to your wee ones face. This Bajo abacus has a long shelf life too, because as your child progresses from spinning and playing, to learning colors and then counting and addings and subtracting, it will keep being used over and over, and can then eventually find a home on a shelf where it will sit happily for visitors children to use over and over again.

I love this toy! it makes me smile everytime I look at it, and because it’s made from natural materials, you can rest assured that your purchase is helping protect the environment and your childs health at the same time. Go on - just try and resist it! Check out  the Bajo Sparrow Abacus

We love the Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Pure range for its timelessness, soft fibres and practicality of design. We’re giving you the opportunity to win an Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Newborn Prize pack valued at $450 just by signing up three friends to our fortnightly newsletter. Or if you’re not yet a subscriber yourself- just sign yourself up plus two friends! Bebe online’s fortnightly newsletter is a great way to stay on top of bebe news, special offers, sales and store events.  

Prize includes the winners choice of pink or blue Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Newborn prize pack including items shown above and listed below:

Bib & Burp Cloth, Beanie Booties & Mitten Set, Hooded Wrap/Throw, T-Shirt & Shorts Set, Monogram Wrap, 2 x Singlets, Playsuit, Long Sleeve T-Shirt & Pants Set, Jumpsuit, Sleeping Sack.  

To enter, please email us three genuine, valid email addresses to info@bebeonline.com.au. Winner will be drawn on 14th October, 2008  and announced here on the bebe blog.

In the meantime, check out the Eeni Meeni Miini Moh range here..

Bebeonline is offering 35% Off the super-comfy and ever popular Robeez Booties . These booties make great ”inside” pre-walkers for your little one at any time of the year.  Now could be good also be a great time to stock up on a bargain for next winter!

Check out the Robeez Booties here..

Still undecided? Read some reviews from fellow bebeonline customers on Robeez Booties -

This offer is only available in the colours and sizes shown as available online and while stocks last. See more bebe specials  here..

Nature Baby is a NZ family business specialising in products which nurture both you, your baby and nature, and we’ve thrilled to have just received another shipment of beautiful products to share with you. Established in 1998 and begun as a quest for innovative products for their own family, Nature Baby found that many other parents wanted their children to grow up in a beautiful non-toxic world.  We love their use of neutral and classic tones in their bodysuits, as well as the practical drawstring shorts and pants, making them our pick for comfy baby and toddler wear.

Parenthood is a constant learning curve and the vast array of choices we are offered today is overwhelming. However concerns about toxicity has sparked many parents to consider what their alternatives are. All Nature Baby products are selected for quality, purity, design and are produced in such a way that cares for the earth and its workers.  Whether as a gift or for your own precious bundle, you’ll find that the Nature Baby range has something perfect for your needs. Stylish and practical, you cant go past these classic essentials.

See the full range of Nature Baby products 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.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with the lovely folk at Merino Kids’ HQ in New Zealand this week.  Their passion for natural, innovative and functional products was very apparent & inspiring.  During my visit I got answers to some of your more in-depth questions on their award winning Merino Kids Go Go Bags -

 1. Why aren’t  Merino Sleeping Bags Tog rated? A Tog rating is a European warmth rating that is generally required for products made from synthetic fibres. Merino is a natural fibre and therefore does not have a tog rating.

 2. Can I swaddle and use a Merino Bag at the same time? Yes. There is no need to wait until you have finished swaddling (wrapping) your baby  -  you may  swaddle your baby over the Merino Kids Go Go Bag.   I was given a first hand demo of this by Merino Kids and this baby looked ever so cosy.

 3. Can’t newborn babies regulate their own temperature (just as adults do)?  No. Newborn Babies take 1 year to fully develop ability to regulate body temperature.  Go Go Bag’s merino fibre helps your baby to regulate his temperature by acting almost as a thermos -  keeps him warm when its cold and cool when its hot.

4. Do Merino Go Go Bags REALLY help babies sleep? Medical Studies have shown Merino improves sleep patterns in babies.  In one such study at Cambridge Maternity Hospital, Scott & Richards revealed that babies sleeping in Merino settled more quickly, cried less,  fed better and gained weight faster.

Learn more or purchase Merino Kids Go Go Bags here.

As modern parents we’re drawn to the values of timelessness, simplicity and an overall less is more approach to design. Traditional events such as weddings and christenings often prove tricky to style our little ones for as most items available on the market assume frills, puffs and an abundance of taffeta are expected in order to maintain a “sense of tradition”.

Eeni Meeni Miini Moh clearly recognised a gap in the market when they designed their contemporary Christening gown/Kimono. Suiting either gender the gown is available in sizes 0-6mths and 6-18mths, made from 100% woven linen, is minimal, clean lined and timeless. My favourite part of all – its frill- free. Check out the Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Christening Gown here.

I’m the first to admit to Ugg-Boot Snobbery – you’re either an Ugg Boot Girl, or you’re not, right? (no, you wouldn’t have seen me in moccasins in the ‘80’s either). When it comes to around-the-house footwear, comfort should be king, and there’s no doubt that Ugg ticked this box with their ingenious invention.  The stiff boot factor of the Ugg make them a little too masculine for my liking, and I only wish Robeez would give in and respond to my relentless pleads to produce me a pair of soft soled Robeez Booties.

I long for the day I may experience that elusive “cushion in every step” that little ones experience in these booties - with their teddy bear plush lining and soft flexible soles. My colour of choice? Classic Cream.