Happy Mum, Happy Baby

Today I had a lovely chat with a friend about the latest ingenious inventions in baby gear and, out of that, I want to pull together some gift ideas for new mummies as I seem to be beset by them at the moment. When you have a baby, you are spoiled rotten with presents. It's a lovely time and people are very generous. Ever since I became a mum, I have discovered that the best presents are often those that have some benefit the mum as well as the baby. This is because, as you soon discover, there are things that you NEED to make your life infinitely easier but you don't actually KNOW you need them until you have charge of your child. Likewise, during pregnancy, there are about a billion things you become convinced you do need and actually have little use for at all. Using those hoodie towels with my daughter, for example, was like trying to wrap a blancmange in an envelope - frustrating and chilly. So get a load of these amazing ideas now currently on the market. Some are practical, some are pretty, some are both. All are a flippin' Godsent! So next time you have to buy a new baby present, give something different and clever and leave the flowers and layette sets to the amateurs:

1. Totseat from £18.00

The brilliance of this lovely sling as a gift is that new parents very rarely think about where their baby will sit when out and about and they want to be out of the carseat. I gave one of these to a good friend last month and she was delighted with it. They roll down into a pouch you can keep in the baby bag and fit almost any chair. The comforting softness of a sling keeps the little ones happy and supported long before they can go into a highchair.

2. BuggyTug £3.99 & TugTrio £9.99

Here's something rather wonderful that wasn't around when I was looking for new baby gadgets for my daughter but I really could have done with. The Buggytug is a wrist strap that securely attaches your wrist to your pram. It brings fantastic peace of mind for you when you temporarily really do need that second hand. Similarly, the Tugtrio is an ingenious extension of the same idea. A lovely gift that comprises the Buggytug plus a Toddletug which is a strap for an older child to hold onto that is also attached to the pram and finally and (so crucially) the Teddytug designed to counter that sense of mild bereavement you get when a much loved toy gets jettisoned out and lost when out and about. I know it well. Sniff! 

3. Wondercubes by My Wondercube from £14.99 

Nobody tells you in NCT classes how much babies and toddlers like to empty things. It has to be something to do with the repetition or the urge to discover. Whatever it is, it is a real pain to discover tissue boxes and wipe packs have been decimated while you're back was turned for half a minute. Someone's been paying attention though because they went and invented Wondercubes. Lovely, colourful box-shaped toys containing a string of multi-coloured swatches for the little darlings to empty to their heart's content over and over again. Check out the website because there are different styles and extra accessories you can buy to mix things up a bit. Wonder-ful!

4. Crayon Rings by Timothy Liles from £3.50 for six

For those who like the added dimension of a bit of genuine art. These lovely diamond rings are made of child-safe wax crayon and come in six different colours and are derived from a concept by artist Timothy Liles. Little fingers can slide through them easily for hours and hours of rampant scribbling fun.  They only seem to be available from America at present but you can order them through Ebay. You may think they're gimmicky but talk to me again after an afternoon of picking crayons up every ten seconds! It's a great idea.

3. Car Tidy from The Mod Mobile on Etsy £12.34

Fact: Babies create crap. At the end of each day, your car will be strewn with a fresh layer of used wipes, tissues, snack packets and food remnants. And once you've got said child and all their paraphernalia out of the car and into the house, it's understandably tempting to avoid venturing out again with a plastic bag to clean up. I love these funky waste collectors from The Mod Mobile's Etsy shop. The strap fits around gear sticks, suit hooks and headrests. I reckon I need at least six for my car but one would be a great starter for ten and makes a very original and thoughtful pressie for the new parent who "has everything".

6. Ma Petite Princesse by Maileg at Sister's Guild £5.50

When I announced I was pregnant, a group of older ladies from work very thoughtfully gave me a set of pretty satin baby hangers which I still treasure. Then, when my daughter was born, another friend gave me a lovely set of Maileg wooden hangers very similar to this lovely one, above, from online boutique Sister's Guild. Now I finally realise their true value because baby girls only live in babygros, t-shirts and leggings for a very short time before you want to buy them about a million pretty dresses...dresses which need hanging up! Now, I have started a small collection for her to keep for her own children one day. I bought her this one last year. It's a near obsession.  

7. Think King Mighty Buggy Hooks (2 pack) from Huggle.co.uk £15.00

At first, I turned my nose up at these hooks because I thought they were too expensive. Two years later and thirty quid down on cheap plastic alternatives and I realise I was wrong. There has been a lot of criticism about buggy hooks because of the risk of the weight of the shopping tipping the pram but, what I say is, you've got to be a real idiot to let that happen and sadly stupidity is not a crime in this country. Honestly, there is only so much you can carry on your shoulder or in the under-basket of a buggy and it is a good place to keep your handbag accessible and in sight. We should give mother's the benefit of the doubt and assume that they won't attempt to hang a £90 Tesco shop from them. Actually, I often hang my keys on mine so I don't have to lose my mind searching for them in car parks. 

8. Unisex Baby Blankets by Lily+Sid £35.00

You can never have enough baby blankets. I knitted three small ones for my baby before she was born and received two further handmade ones as gifts after she was born. They are invaluable and it's good to have a few as they quickly get coated in all manner of crud and need endless washing. Advantages? They are comforting, they keep babies cosy warm, they can lie on them on grass and cover the pram on a sunny day at nap time and about a million other things. Never underestimate the usefulness of a beautiful knitted blanket. I love the range at Lily+Sid because they have that lovely vintage handmade look and are unisex so they make a great present for a girl or a boy. Prepare to be popular!

Two For Tea

My toddler has been invited to her first proper birthday party so this calls for a big post.  In honour of her mate Esme's 2nd birthday (and because HM's recent insatiable interest in the content of my jewellery box has indicated that she is a real girl now) I will break things down into two important shopping areas. Outfit and present. Let's start with the clothes!:

Outfit

1. Wild Things - Funky Little Dresses by Kirsty Hartley £32.00

The retro look: So funky and pretty without being too pink and girly. Gorgeous!

2. Sister's Guild Bobo Choses Dress £35.00

The casual chic look: I can just imagine how gorgeous this would look with some white pedal pushers and bare feet.

3. Bethany Dress by The Eggcup Clothing Company £100.00

The classic elegant look: A touch more formal but absolutely to die for and the vintage rose print makes it truly spectacular.

4. Tutu by Cotton Fairies £14.99

The junior fashionista look: I love the punky-ness of this pretty little skirt casually paired with a faux-fur jacket and bother boots. Adorable. 

5. Pink Loafers by Skeanie £34.99

I've just ordered a pair of these for her along with a couple of other styles from the Skeanie website which now ships to the UK. Paediatrically-approved and much more stylish than anything Clarks has to offer, I anticipate becoming a regular. 

6. Port Red Shoes by Livie & Luca £34.99

They look sort of edible don't they? Love them.

7. Flower Shoes by My Little Boots £16.75

Reassuringly sturdy while being irresistibly dainty.

Gift

1. Wooden Biscuit Game  by Ella James Living £12.00

Fun, educational and so pretty. I love the vintage box too.

2. Personalised Embroidered Nursery Cushion by Big Stitch £48.00

Slightly pricer but timeless, tasteful and classic. Something to keep forever. 

3. Rubber Stamp Set by Lollipop Designs £7.50

Most two-year old girls will be getting into art by now in a major way. These collections of stamps in sweet little bags will keep them well occupied while creating their daily masterpiece.

4. Allsorts Button Bracelet by The Blue Pebble £9.60

Edible. That is all.

5. Owl Handbag by Vicky Davison £12.00

Pretty to display in a bedroom and perfect for toting about all those little everyday essentials like toy cars, bangles and small toys.

Special Event. Special Baby

In two weeks we're off to the smoke again for the Christening of my oldest friend's daughter; the gorgeous Georgina.  Little G (as she is affectionately known) is almost two years old and I now find myself charged with the task of finding an original and meaningful gift for this very special little girl on this most special of events. Practical is (almost) totally out of the window on this one but I must confess that 'keepsakes' in the traditional sense of the word does leave me a little cold. Somewhere in between is the answer. Here are my findings...

1. Hunter First Wellies in Yellow £25.00

I recently bought a pair of these for my own daughter (now 16 months). They appeal to me not just because they are insanely cool but also because they have a timelessness about them that means that at some stage in the future they will no doubt end up in some keepsake frame of her early clothing that I will feel obliged to create for her bedroom. 

2. Cooking Play Set by Weaving Hope Fair Trade Gifts £39.50

It's not just because she's a girl! The fun kids get out of mimicry would make this lovely set of toys appeal to any child and I particularly love the fact that you can spread it out on a table top for extra authenticity.

3. Extending Ivory Pearl Bracelet by Highland Angel £22.00

I can't tell you how much I love this company's stuff. It's just out of this this world and what I particularly love about this bracelet is that it is suitable for a little girl but can become a piece of jewellery for a young lady too. Timeless genius! 

4. Dorcas The Duck Wooden Chair from The Little Ark £79.00

There are a number of different styles of this chair from The Little Ark but I've have a real obsession for egg yolk yellow at the moment. It maybe a bit of rebellion against girly pink. Choose from labradors, chickens, elephants and rabbits in a rainbow of colours and the parents will thank you because it will look classic and chic in the nursery amongst the forest of plastic. 

5. Personalised Framed Papercut by Kayleigh's Papercuts at FromTheWilde.com £45.00  

Girls names are so pretty. What better way to celebrate a new life than something that simply records the important facts. Intricate and elegant. Say no more! 

Hello Baby!

Congratulations to two sets of our good friends who welcomed new little people into the world this month - a boy AND a girl! Phew! It's been quite a while since I bought anything for a newborn. I never realised until I had my own baby quite how much stuff you don't realise you need and, more pertinently, how much stuff you don't realise you don't need. Baby towels are a good example? Pourquoi? It's a small towel. Most people have an airing cupboard full of them already. And frequently, they are too small. Cuddling her up in one of these was like trying to wrap a jelly with a postage stamp. After a couple of weeks I was reaching for a big fluffy bath sheet and I have done ever since. The most practical present for a new baby, in my view, is clothing...preferably clothing that is a size 6 to 12 months beyond the size that fits them at the time. But SIDN isn't about being practical. Not exclusively anyway. It's about thrilling, stunning, "I never knew I needed that"-style gifts that really have the wow factor. Here are some firm favourites that are guaranteed to delight.

1. Odd Socks £15.00 from Sprogbox

I was given these by my mum and they are just wonderful. As well as being the most delicious combination of vibrant sherbet colours, you don't need to worry about pairing them up. You just grab a couple and go. Gorgeous!

2. Cupcake Baby Leggings £10.00 from Blade & Rose at NotOnTheHighStreet.com

My sister-in-law found these (and the red and white strawberry pair) for my daughter this past Christmas and they are every bit as gorgeous and good quality as they look. They look great alone or under dresses. I love the fact that the more she needs changing the bigger the cupcake gets! 

3. Jellykitten Busy Bug Squeaker from Baby-e £5.99

A brilliant handbag toy. These colourful bugs are the approximate length of a mobile and a baby will be  transfixed by the squeaky noise before having a really good chew on the antenna. I was given the black and white one in the centre by a friend whose son is four months older than my daughter with instructions to keep it handy and she was absolutely right. A compact hit!. 

4. Baby Blooms Baby Clothes Bouquet from £26.50

Such a beautiful and inspired gift and a great opportunity to add some colour to the wardrobe of a new baby who was an 'it' until the birth announcement was sent out. I received a massive pink version of this bouquet (and I've sent a few too). Her first pinks! The thing is, at first glance, you really do believe that it's a big posh bunch of flowers but closer inspection reveals scratch mits, babygros, vests, hats and socks all rolled up ready to be discovered. I think it took about an hour to unwrap them all and I then re-arranged the remaining foliage into a small bundle that now sits on the windowsill of my daughter's bedroom. Expect a phone call! 

5. Silhouette Print Romper from Organics For Kids £18.20

There's nothing quite as luxurious as a really posh romper suit. New babies live in cheap, white babygros for the first few months of their lives so every now and then it's nice to show them off in something a bit fancy and achingly cute. I was given a version similar to this with pink butterflies on it by a family friend and she looked absolutely adorable in it. There's a range to choose from for both boys and girls in lovely, bold colours. They make wonderful, luxury gifts. 

6. Letter Curtain Tiebacks £31.50 by Jonny's Sister

I love these. So simple and pretty and a good way to personalise a room if you are unwilling (or aren't allowed) to defile the walls. Do note that the cost is per tieback not for a set of two so you have the freedom to have more than one initial if you want or even an "&". And for those who like to go waaaaay above and beyond, matching fabric is also available if you're feeling crafty and want to run up a cushion or bolster pillow to match. 

Stocking Fillers 19

Practise makes perfect! It's perfect for whiling away the hours on a rainy Boxing Day and comes beautifully packaged. Ridley's Magic Rope Cutter £3.99 available at Ripe along with a number of other Instant Illusion toys. Magic!

Stocking Fillers 15

Completely scrumptious. This Breakfast Menu Tray £12.00 from Jelly & Blancmange is a lovely toy for a small child. I'm a big fan of traditional wooden toys and there's something about the smoothness and roundness of these pieces that is particularly eye-catching - I love the cheese! The Jelly & Blancmange site is choc-full of good quality festive accessories, tradional toys and magic party bag fillers so go and have a wander around. I know twelve quid might be a bit steep for the stocking but I reckon individually wrapped they'd take up quite a bit of room and it'll kickstart the training for when the little darlings are old enough to start serving you breakfast in bed (which is when...roughly...by the way?)