We have been waiting a long time for there to be a  double pram or stroller available to Australia that is reasonable in size, weight and stability. We even nagged Silver Cross to (pretty please) hurry up and release one of their nifty double strollers here. We waited patiently, and are rapt to introduce you to the Pop Duo! 

The new Silver Cross Pop Duo is  a zappy double stroller, perfect for two kids up to 15kgs each. The Pop Duo features a handy umbrella fold and independent seat back and hoods for the individual comfort of each child. Headrests, lockable swivel wheels, easy-access shopping baskets and that all-important cup holder are just a few of the other features of the Pop Duo.

Check out the Silver Cross Pop Duo stroller here…

It might look like a trumpet, but this intriguing object is actually a wooden stethoscope, traditionally used by midwives to listen to the fetal heartbeat during pregnancy.

It has its origins in France in the early 19th century and works by amplifying the heartbeat of an unborn foetus through its bell-shaped curves. Made of smooth beech wood, you can pass it around so everyone in the family can take a listen to the baby from 20 weeks or so. I can see this being a hit with grandparents and older siblings alike.

We are exclusively stocking this Danish-made item in store and  online . A wonderful heirloom gift for the expecting mother, home birther or midwifery student or apprentice, you can pick up the midwife’s stethiscope for $39.95.

The team here at bebe often  get asked  by Stokke Xplory owners  whether there will ever be a buggy board or toddler seat option released for the Xplory stroller.  With the impending arrival of a newborn, many parents really don’t  want to give up their pride and joy and go down the double pram route.  It’s also a well-known fact in Stokke circles that toddlers don’t like to give up their Xplory view of life. Seated high above the other strollers they love to experience life on the move whilst casually chatting away to Mum or Dad. But, sometimes a new brother or sister comes along and toddler has to give up the prized position atop their beloved Xplory.

Finally, whilst it’s not a double Stokke Xplory (I’m sure that would be a delight to behold), it’s the next best thing in the form of the The Stokke Xplory Rider.   The Rider board simply attaches to the Xplory chassis to allow both children to ride in style. When not in use, it’s quickly and easily folded away to await its next adventure.   

Available in the first quarter of 2010, this will no doubt be welcome news for those feeling pensive about selling up for a double as until now there’s been no approved options from other manufacturers.  Watch this space!

Arriving Thursday is the new BabyBjorn Travel Cot. Wish this one was around a few years ago when I had my first.  Travelling parent’s breathe a sigh of relief…

Purchase the new BabyBjorn Travel Cot Light here…

About three years or so ago I was visiting a baby store in New Zealand and noticed their counter featured large clear bowls full of Amber Teething necklaces. “Why they’re pretty necklaces” I commented to the sales rep. She politely responded “ They are sweet, but they’re actually for preventing teething pain”.  I got the feeling she said this at least twice a day. My son was well and truly past his teething phase, so it was not something I gave any further thought to. Shortly after this whilst on a buying trip in Europe,  I saw more of these necklaces – in fact every pharmacy I came across had Amber necklaces bulk stacked on counters… Perhaps there’s something in this, I thought…

It was when my second child started to show signs of teething a few months back (that;s her in the pic!) that I gave more thought to amber as I had read a lot about the potential negative affects of Panadol and other over the counter pain relievers. Despite being very open to Natural Therapies, I was a little sceptical at first – how can something that is not  ingested provide pain relief?  It was after speaking with mums who had more than one child and had tried everything else” (as had I with my eldest), and now swear by amber, that I thought it can’t hurt to try it, right?

Here I find myself typing away, with my seven month old teething baby peacefully sleeping on my lap, wearing her amber necklace. I can honestly say, in our case IT WORKS. If only I’d known about this with my eldest, many tears (both him and myself!)  and sleepless nights may well have been prevented.

So HOW does amber work?

Amber is a natural substance from trees. It is actually fossilised sap. Remember in the movie Jurassic park when excavators were looking for amber with ancient mosquitoes inside? Well, this is the same stuff…but sans the mosquitoes.  It has been used for a long time in European countries for its natural pain relief and natural anti-inflammatory properties due to the slow release of its natural oils upon the warming of the stone from the skin. The active constituent present in the resin is called succinic acid, this is what your body absorbs.

All over Europe, amber has been used to help with certain ailments such as the pain and inflammation caused by teething - hence the big counter displays at pharmacies. It has been such a prized possession that for some time, pieces of it were used as currency. It is not intended for chewing but to wear close to the skin during the day (ie under supervision).

Read more about the properties of Amber Teething Necklaces here…

We have been stocking Branberry’s blankets for over six years now and are still so impressed with their consistently high quality and soft feel. We also have regular “branberry” customers that visit us yearly in store to pick up a Branberry blanket for overseas baby gifts (Branberry blankets are still proudly made in Australia).

The new Art Deco cot blankets have caught my eye - I love the design as it is modern yet still has a classic element. They are made from 70% combed cotton and30% fine merino, making them a perfect choice for all year round. Im considering the pink one, but must get this one authorised by hubby as we do have a fare share of beautiful cot blankets (I apparently “collect cot blankets like handbags”).

Check out the full Branberry blanket range here…

Up until now it has been  hard to find the perfect kids plate. These new personalised plates are not only  modern and fun (no cartoon characters here!) , but it lets them know which is theirs and helps them with name recognition. These new plates are safe for the kiddies as they are made from melamine and are BPA free. They’re also a great size  (10”) which is much more generous than the standard kids plate. The only catch is that there’s a 4 week turnaround time, so one must be quick to make it in time for Santa’s sleigh.. Check out the full range here.

Its been a fun few weeks for our three bebe Handmade to Retail Trade winners as they finalise their creations in preparation for the retail market . The first of our winners are NSW company - i found love. Here at bebe we have fallen in love with their beautiful mobiles, so much so that our resident merchandiser featured them in the window the day they arrived. We can’t wait to see what else this creative pair has up their sleeves.

Meet the founders of i found love:

Sonya:

my personal style-

I try to surround myself with things that I love and have collected over the years.  Our house is full of music, art and books to hopefully inspire. I have tried to create a home that is beautiful yet comfortable ,one which is full of life and has the space for our children to  dream. I love Danish design at the moment with its philosophy of simple abundance and it’s link to nature. I love the consideration of the raw materials that go into a product. I find style inspiration from classic movies and magazines and love to have fun with both interiors and clothing. I like the idea of reinventing oneself with a new outfit and love how clothes can change the way you feel on any day.

things I can’t live without

Family, music, films, and books. Things that I like and that make me feel creative…the ocean, photographs, cookbooks-especially Nigella Lawson, my Skeppshult bicycle, markets, fireworks, colouring pencils, white winters, rainy days and fresh flowers.

in 10 years time I would love

to have a little more time to do the things that I enjoy like cooking, would love to be a much better photographer, be ploughing my way through our recently planted vege patch, and to have taken my children on a wonderful trip to some special locations around the world.

Rachel

My personal style-

I am inspired by the Swedish artist Carl Larsson’s depiction of a lively, creative family set against the exquisite lightness and lustre of his wife Karin’s decorating style. Our home is decorated with a mix of great practicality and great whimsy. The furniture, pictures and ornaments are an eclectic mix of glorious op shop treasures, family antiques and modern pieces. My wish for the children is an understanding and value of their ‘roots’. Living with pieces that were loved and treasured by previous generations of our family is a tangible way of achieving this.

I appreciate clothes that are made of pure materials, without synthetics. I adore my children in clothes that are full of innocence, celebrate childhood and that are label free…that is to say, my children are not providing free advertising on their shirt for a manufacturing company.

Since the age of 14 I have been addicted to the thrill of hunting at op shops and the quickening of the senses when a treasure is un-earthed. I am now sharing the fun with Rory and Araminta who have taken to it like ducks to water!

things I can’t live without

a sense of the eternal, my family, my library of read and re-read favourite books, my child-hood book collection of Milly Molly Mandy, Mumfie, The Bullerby Children, Lotta, The Moominpapas, Noel Streatfield, Little House on the Prairie and Drina series, natural, honest surfaces, my mulberry tree, old friends and the easy understanding of many adventures and heartaches shared with them.

in 10 years time I would love

to have finished renovating our 100 year old home, and to have returned to Nick’s birth place in the UK and mine in Papua New Guinea with our children.

Still intrigued? Read more about how i found love came to be….

We met when Rachel’s husband Nick began teaching Sonya’s son Rory and realised our boys shared a name. Friendships can be founded on such simple premises.

Between us we have eight children. Sonya and her husband Michael have Rory, Millicent, Adelaide, Ewen and Portia. And Rachel and Nick have Rory, Araminta and Calliope.

We both live in Dubbo in the central west of New South Wales and enjoy modern country living based around a fantastic seasonal lifestyle. We both feel incredibly lucky to have amazing regional produce at our fingertips and wide open spaces for the children to adventure in. When we feel in need of a touch of sophistication and a good coffee we move our work meetings to the long table at Pete’s ‘Newtown Providore’s’ deli.

We have only in the last few months set up our company i found love. This was inspired in part by winning the Alimrose design competition with our Eskimo/Mikki dolls. Prior to this we had simply enjoyed the pleasure of dreaming up creations and making them for friends and family.

Sonya has recently finished designing and overseeing the building of their new family home, and is enjoying putting in a series of vegetable plots and  an orchard.

After the birth Of Calliope, Rachel finished her work as CEO of Anglicare Western NSW and is now enjoying the privilege of mentoring a group of fantastic Christian girls with her friend Shobana.

We were drawn to Bebe’s Handmade Challenge by its appreciation of the personal investment in a hand-made Australian product with a modern edge. In addition, the value of winning business mentoring from such a reputable and wonderful company as Bebe was too enticing to ignore! We are most grateful for this opportunity entrusted to us and are enjoying the adventure.

I found love’s iconic newspaper print boats and silhouette mobiles have a nostalgic appeal and their simplicity is enhanced by the use of pure cottons and linens.

The Boats mobile depicts boats bobbing in a harbour and the newspaper print fabric draws on childhood memories of sailing paper boats. We thought it was charming to re-invent an old classic in a modern fresh way. We both feel a love for the magic of childhood and the value of the past. Orders are packaged in traditional brown boxes, with brown string, hand stamped and finished with a photograph.

We envision i found love’s range broadening over the next few years to include a range of cloth dolls and timber products finished in wax.

Check out i found love’s winning creations here online. Further pieces are also available in the Butterfly range in our Melboune store.

We’re pretty confident this new 3-in-1 bike from Wishbone is going to be one of our hot Christmas items this year. Unlike any other running bike, the Wishbone Bike evolves with a child’s different stages pf development, making it the ultimate pre-bike. Check out the Wishbone Bike here…  

I popped into the Pregnancy & Babies Expo here in Melbourne over the weekend and caught up with the lovely Robbie McGregor. We had a good chat about Bloom’s overwhelming success in the overseas market, including their latest release - the Bloom Luxo Cot.  Now I have to be honest, when I first saw the  Luxo at the Kind & Jugend trade fair in Germany I thought it was great, but the colour (a mix of walnut and white) wasn’t quite my cup of tea. Since then they have added full white to the colllection (shown above), and I must say - I like!

Keep an eye out here for the Bloom Luxo Cot - due to arrive in the next couple of weeks both online and in store.