babyreview.com.au

Choosing the right child restraint for your child can be a really difficult decision with lots of considerations. Safety is always the top priority and comfort is an important consideration too.

I was looking for an independent source of information on buying child restraints when I found CREP (Child Restraint Evaluation Program). This organisation rates child restraints on crash protection and ease of use. In fact, the car seats rated, are tested in a crash lab with crash test dummies.

I was curious to see the CREP ratings for forward-facing restraints which could convert to a booster seat. I found the InfaSecure Comfi-Cruiser achieved a top rating for protection and ease of use, making it one of the safest car seats for children aged between 6 months and 4 years old.

The safety features of the InfaSecure Comfi-Cruiser include deep, energy absorbing side wings which offer protection for side impact. The tall backrest helps to protect the head and neck. While the multi-height harness is fitted with shoulder and pelvic padding for increased comfort and safety.

The belt path design is low, so when correctly positioned the lap belt is tight over my child’s pelvis. After some research, I found it’s important to keep the belt path low over my child’s pelvis, so the belt doesn’t ride up into the soft abdomen area, where internal injuries are possible. It was clear this car seat has been designed with safety as the top priority.

It was easy to fit my child in the InfaSecure Comfi-Cruiser in forward facing mode. The shoulder heights are clearly marked on the side wings. The harness system was easy to adjust and I was reassured by the 1 CLICK, 2 CLICK independent latching buckle. It’s great to know my child will be able to use the InfaSecure Comfi-Cruiser as a booster seat in the future too.

The full specifications for the Comfi-Cruiser and the instruction manual is available for download from the InfaSecure website. The dimensions of the Comfi-Cruiser are 500mm (width), 780mm (height) and 430mm (depth). The Comfi-Cruiser is available in the following colours: Black, Slate and Black with Pink Piping.

Visit the InfaSecure website for more information on the Comfi-Cruiser and full range of InfaSecure products.

The moment a baby enters your world is one of the most special moments in your life. A newborn baby is so natural, innocent and pure. It is these attributes which I wanted to reflect in Baby’s surroundings in her first nursery space.

The Natures Purest Moses Basket, Moses Basket Stand and Bamboo Knitted Blanket, not only look incredibly natural – they are made from beautifully natural materials.

The Natures Purest Moses Basket is made from woven maize and lined with 100% natural cotton. Inside the basket is a mattress pad, with a natural cotton fitted sheet and carry handles. The neutral coloured cotton products in the Natures Purest range are described as ‘naturally coloured cotton’. Interestingly, this refers to the cotton pigmented fibre that grows in shades of green and brown. The neutral colour is from the cotton plants inherent genetic properties. It is 100% free from fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals.

To compliment the beautiful Moses Basket, Baby has a Natures Purest Bamboo Knitted Blanket which is wonderfully sized for the Moses Basket and her pram. The blanket is made from 100% reconstituted bamboo fibre. I’ve machined washed it and it washes like cotton. The bamboo is so silky soft against Baby’s precious skin. With a baby ‘expected’ to spend 16 hours per day sleeping in their first year, it’s important to surround them with healthy natural products in their sleep environment, such as the Moses Basket and Bamboo Blanket.

The Natures Purest Moses Basket can be used in ‘stand alone mode’. I’ve found the Moses Basket quite portable and at times have securely rested the Moses Basket on furniture in the lounge room. The best option is placing the Moses Basket in the Natures Purest Moses Basket Stand. The stand is fully compatible with the Moses Basket and is available in White or Walnut. I opted for White to match the neutral tones in Baby’s Nursery and around my home.

The Natures Purest Moses Basket and Stand is designed to hold babies up to 8.1kg. I must say my newborn baby looks so pure and innocent when sleeping in her Moses Basket. I love that is sturdy and strong giving me confidence that Baby is safe while she is resting.

The Moses Basket is easy to keep clean. The basket itself can be wiped down with a damp cloth and mild soap. While the removable liner, fitted sheet and carry handle covers are all machine washable.

To find out more on the Natures Purest Moses Basket, Stand, Bamboo Blankets and Nursery collection visit the www.naturespurest.com.au

I’m always looking out for unique clothing for Baby, pieces which are as individual as Baby herself. As serendipity would have it, I found Oishi-m a clothing line sized from newborn through to busy little people designed in Jan Juc and made in Melbourne.

Oishi-m (pronounced Oy-she-em) incorporates kimono, vintage and retro fabrics together with denim and cotton, to create everything from sensational skinny jeans to show-stopping limited edition garments.

The first piece Baby tries on are the Oishi-m Skinny Jeans. These statement skinny jeans are beautifully crafted from denim and kimono fabrics. The skinny jeans include a gorgeous ‘Tummy Toastie’ an elasticised waist to fit Baby’s tummy to keep it warm and covered. The tummy toastie means that not only will these jeans accommodate growth in leg length, they will accommodate growth around Baby’s waist too!

The cutest feature of the skinny jeans is the ample nappy bottom space. In fact, the typical Baby silhouette which usually includes a bulge around Baby’s bottom is accentuated in a very practical, yet humorous way by the Oishi-m skinny jeans – the nappy bulge becomes a focal point created through the use of eye-catching kimono fabric with the Oishi-m logo. It’s individual, it’s cute and it’s good fun all at once!

There is definitely a Japanese flavour in the Oishi-m garment range. “Oishi” in Japanese means “yummy” and “m” is for the “mini-one”. The skinny jeans Baby is wearing are called ‘A Tad Tasty Skinny Jean’ and include a little longer leg length which is perfect for Baby who has long legs and tall is for her age. The cute leg cuffs can be rolled down as her little legs grow even longer! The oishi-m skinny jeans are suitable for both little girls and little boys.

For a truly girly garment, I couldn’t resist the ‘Bountiful Skirt’. This skirt beautifully features fabric panels of vintage floral, precious paisley and broderie anglaise. The stripy in-built knickers are super cute and the piece is completed with a signature tummy-toastie. Baby looks just as comfy and yummy in her Oishi-m skirt as she did in her skinny jeans!

To see the full range of Oishi-m’s garments for babies and toddlers visit: www.oishi-m.com

I have just finished bathing Baby, she looks relaxed and smells scrumptious. I attribute her calm disposition to the Baby Organics products I have used in her bath. Baby knows it’s the start of her bath time ritual, when I put the plug in the bottom of the bath tub and start running the water. She excitedly tugs on her clothing to the sound of the gushing water and passes me her Organic Baby Bath Wash, indicating it’s time for me to undress her and add her favourite bath wash to her bath. I do both and place a rather excited Baby in her bath.

Baby Organics Baby Bath Wash is made from beautiful ingredients, including organic lavender essential oil, organic evening primrose oil and organic lemon myrtle oil. Organic lavender essential oil is an ingredient in many products in the Baby Organics range. Not only does organic lavender oil have a sweet floral fragrance, it can assist with a wide range of children’s complaints when in a bath wash, including nappy rash, teething pain and restlessness. It is a wonderful element and when combined with the organic evening primrose oil, creates a relaxing blissful bath for Baby.

So after sufficient soaking time, Baby gestures to the Baby Organics Baby Shampoo. This is my favourite product in the Baby Organics range. The Baby Organics Baby Shampoo is 81% certified organic and I’ve used this shampoo to clear up cradle cap in it’s early stages. This shampoo is simply magical! It’s soap and sulphate free, it is specifically designed to gently clean Baby’s hair and scalp without irritation. It leaves Baby’s hair hydrated and it smells devine. I’ve used this product since Baby was a newborn as my Baby has always had lots of hair and I know I will continue to use it into her toddler years.

When it’s time to leave the bath, I wrap Baby in her hooded towel and take her to her bedroom. I apply the Baby Organics Baby Moisturiser. It is mild enough to use everyday to moisturise and protect Baby’s skin. One of the ingredients in the moisturiser is a botanical blend of aloe vera. I can feel the subtle texture of the aloe vera as I gently moisturise Baby’s skin. She lies so still when I’m moisturising and really enjoys the pampering.

To complete her ‘Baby Day Spa’ experience, I give Baby a relaxing massage with Baby Organics Baby Massage Oil. The massage oil is mineral free and is non-greasy making it ideal for Baby Massage. It contains organic chamomile essential oil which is soothing and relaxing. I start with circular motions massaging her feet, her legs, her chest, her arms and her hands with small amounts of the Baby Massage Oil. She gives out little giggles when she is ticklish, then Baby appears rather drowsy and it is definitely bedtime.

The Baby Organics ‘Baby Travel Gift Pack’ contains 50ml travel sizes of the Baby Bath Wash, Baby Shampoo, Baby Moisturiser and Baby Nappy Lotion to try out the Baby Organics products with baby. With Christmas around the corner this gift pack would be a lovely gift for friends and family members with a baby.

Another product I would recommend is the Organic Top to Toe Baby Wash and I’ve found it wonderful for traveling with Baby. It’s an all in one convenient cleanser which can be used on baby’s skin, hair and scalp in one easy step. It is 98% certifies organic and contains organic lemon myrtle essential oil which gives it a refreshing citrus fragrance. It is available in a convenient 125ml size.

To find out more information on all the products in the Baby Organics range and the sizes available visit the Organic Formulations website.

Preparing the nursery for the upcoming birth of your precious newborn is so exciting but can also be an emotional and even arduous task. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of available products on the market, and being told we need it all. I certainly felt overwhelmed and it has taken me quite some time to work out what we really need and what will sit in the cupboard unused.

I have recently discovered the Nature’s Purest range of bedding products that I wish I had known about when we were preparing Baby’s nursery! Luckily for him I have discovered them now and as I sit here writing, he is enjoying his beautifully soft and pure bedding.

We have the Hug Me Bear 4 Piece Bedding Set, which includes a quilt, bumper, fitted sheet and flat sheet. We also have the adorable 20cm Hug Me Bear which is a beautiful and super cuddly teddy bear to match the bedding.

This Nature’s Purest baby bed linen is seriously soft, perfectly pure and beautifully designed and detailed. This scrumptious bedding is made from 100% pure and natural cotton and is of the highest quality. It is a pleasure to touch and snuggle into and is incredibly breathable for Baby’s skin.

The fabric is organically grown, naturally coloured cotton jersey and is produced without using any pollution-causing harmful chemicals, pesticides or dyes. Instead of using dyes, Nature’s Purest use naturally pigmented fibres that grow in shades of soft greens, browns and neutral tones.

The artistic design work is distinctive and delicate yet fun with different themes including Hug Me, Sleepy Safari, and Teddy and Ele. Because of the use of natural pigments, the colour schemes are soft and neutral, which is great for either gender child. The overall design and manufacturing of this product is thorough and detailed, with beautifully finished seams and edges. What’s more, Nature’s Purest are proud to use environmentally and socially conscious production, using the highest ethical labour standards.

Baby loves his bed linen and the quilt has been a perfect first quilt for him this last winter. The Cot bumper attaches easily and securely to the cot and protects against those bumps in the night. I have also found that as expected the fitted sheet fit perfectly and is well elasticized, the flat sheet has beautifully detailed decorative stitching and is large enough to tuck in properly. The fabric itself has some stretch, which is great because it allows Baby his natural movement, whilst keeping him secure and tucked in.

I have found that all the bedding launders really well and I think that with proper care, they will last for a long time and even be passed on to Baby’s future sibling/s (!). Do check for the individual care instructions and use a delicate washing detergent.

I recommend Nature’s Purest and think it is definitely worth investing in this luxury baby bed linen. It is ethically produced, top of the range, pure and natural which makes it perfect for your precious little baby and the environment.

For more information on these quality products, please visit CNP Brands.

Katrina was the winner of the Reader Review competition – here is Katrina’s review of the Crayola Grow N Up 3 In 1 Easel.

The easel is so easy to put together its only the four legs you need to click in place as well as  the tray that sits in between  and then its play time!

The easel came with magnetic letters and a white board duster which I think is fantastic! The easel has a white board side and that side is also magnetic for your magnetic letters and on the other side is the chalk board. Both sides have paper holders so the kids can put paper in to do paintings and drawings. Being plastic it’s really light making it easy to move around the house as well as outside, especially if the kids want to do some painting.

My kids really love this they have played with it constantly since it has arrived. They love attempting to make words with the letters and endless drawings on the chalk board. My son now thinks he is a school teacher!

When it comes to cleaning, it’s easy! A wet cloth is all you need and it’s clean in a minute!

Overall the Crayola Easel is fantastic, educational and fun and we are really happy with this product.

Visit the website to find out more about the Crayola Easel and other great products from Kidsproductsonline.

I must admit I love dressing Baby up in co-ordinated outfits. Whether it’s going to the playground or attending a friend’s birthday party, Baby always looks undisputedly hip. She has even started helping me dress her, pointing to the shoes and hats she’d like to wear with her outfit.

I was excited when a friend told me about Hip Little Bubba – an online boutique with funky clothes for babies and toddlers. The first time I visited the site, I spent hours looking through the gorgeous range of clothes and shoes for Bubba and of course some exquisite products for the Yummy Mummy too! It’s not just clothes and shoes (as much as we love clothes and shoes) there is a wide range of sleeping bags (look at those Grobags), muslin wraps, nursing covers, nappy bags, nursery decorations, classic toys and more.

I make no secret that I love shopping for baby products online and I have encountered many websites in my pursuit to buy quality baby products. Hip Little Bubba makes the online shopping experience fun and really easy. The website is bright and colourful with well photographed products neatly categorised. On the left hand side of the site, there is a helpful preview pane where you can see all the products, your cart, brands stocked, specials and best of all – viewed products. In the flurry of looking at so many funky baby products on Hip Little Bubba, it was good to have a record of the viewed products as it gave me a good short list. You can create a wishlist of your favourite products too!

From my short list I decided on the fabulous Bali inspired Hip Little Bubba Ava Harem Pants. These pants are made from 100% balinese cotton with elasticised ankles and waist. The pants which are super comfy for Bubba are available in lilac and fuchsia. I decided on two cheeky tees made from organic cotton – the Hip Little Bubba Cheeky Monkey tee and the Classic Hip Little Bubba tee. The tees have envelope necks for easy dressing. I couldn’t resist the Cheeky Little Soles white with love heart shoes as well.

The Cheeky Little Soles shoes are made from super soft leather, with cotton lining and black padded soles for extra comfort and protection. Baby who is currently perfecting her walking technique, loves wearing her new shoes which feature non-slip soles making it very easy for her to walk. The shoes are constructed with no uncomfortable open seams and feature a pretty design of colourful love hearts. The generous sizing means Baby will be wearing her Cheeky Little Sole shoes throughout the Queensland winter and summer too!

Hip Little Bubba is based in Hong Kong and ships everywhere. In fact, Australia is one of their biggest markets. My parcel arrived in Australia within seven days wrapped in gorgeous fuchsia paper and protected by a padded bag. The products from Hip Little Bubba would make funky presents and Gift Vouchers are available too. Bring out the hip in you and check out Hip Little Bubba for yourself!

Baby is a winter baby, born at the beginning of winter last year. Like her mother, Baby simply adores shoes! This time last year, it was knitted booties in a broad spectrum of colours which adorned her tiny feet. This year given her increased mobility, need for warmth, comfort and of course style – she is wearing the SKEANIE UGG!

Made from soft leather, with a furry lining and dark suede sole, the SKEANIE UGG is perfect for indoors and outdoors. It is well stitched and assembled, with an elasticised collar which allows the boots to be gently stretched and put on Baby’s feet. It is reassuring to know SKEANIE is a preferred provider of the Australian Podiatry Association (NSW).

SKEANIE UGGs are not only warm and comfortable for this cool winter weather, they are super stylish. Given it is birthday party season for Baby and her friends, she has been sporting her SKEANIE UGGs to many of her friends parties and even wore them to her own birthday party. She’s had lots of compliments on her new boots.

Baby is the biggest fan of her new boots. When I am dressing her, Baby squirms and points to her UGGs. She picks them up and even trys to put them on her feet herself! Once the boots are on, she leaps up and walks around – it seems these SKEANIE boots were made for walking and that’s just what she’ll do!

SKEANIE UGGs are available in a wide range of fashion colours, I couldn’t resist choosing red for Baby. To complete her stylish look, Baby has a red skirtle with white stars and red socks with white stars – all from SKEANIE.

You may be asking yourself – What is a skirtle? It is defined on the SKEANIE website as a garment hanging from the waist with a snug stretchable garment covering the legs from the waist down. Simply put it is an all-in-one ruffled knit skirt and footless tight combo. As you can see from the picture, Baby looks gorgeous in her SKEANIE skirtle, matching socks and SKEANIE UGGs.

The SKEANIE UGG is available in sizes Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large. The SKEANIE website cleverly includes a chart with Baby Shoe Sizes which I printed out check the size of Baby’s feet. I put Baby’s foot against the piece of paper and determined she was a Medium. I found the SKEANIE website easy to navigate and Baby’s UGGs arrived a couple of days after I placed the order online. To see the full range of SKEANIE Shoes, Skirtles and Socks, visit the SKEANIE website.

I simply adore Baby Showers – a gathering of girls celebrating the imminent arrival of a newborn baby, ensures these events are filled with love, laughter, excitement and lots of energy. It’s the perfect opportunity for the Mum-to-Be to gather her nearest and dearest, for a final hurrah before Baby arrives in her world and changes it for the better – forever.

Recently I was invited to a Baby Shower for a close relative. I wanted to find the perfect Baby Shower present that was beautiful, unique and practical – just like the Mum-to-Be. I discussed various possibilities with a good friend of mine and without hesitation she recommended Butterfly Baby Cakes. She told me the cakes are filled with newborn essentials, such as nappies, wraps, baby body suits, singlets, bibs, cotton socks, face washers and toys.

It sounded great, so I did my research and found that Butterfly Baby Cakes are handmade in Brisbane, use newborn essentials as ‘ingredients’ and are presented on a silver cake platter wrapped in cellophane and decorated with beautiful satin ribbon. Delightfully tasty for a Mum-to-Be I thought!

When selecting a Butterfly Baby Cake, there is just so much choice, from the magnificent mini, single-tiered cakes, double-tiered cakes and even triple-tiered cakes. The cake can have a Boy, Girl or Neutral theme. If that’s not enough, there are special themed nappy cakes, such as, ‘Bright Baby’ and ‘Bathtime Baby’. Well now – I was spoilt for choice. After much careful deliberation, I chose the Double-Tiered Girl Baby Cake.

The Baby Cake was delivered a week before the event to my house. Butterfly Baby Cakes can organise delivery to homes, hospital rooms and offices, in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. I thought they would make a great gift for an office morning tea for someone taking maternity leave. I wanted to give the present to the Mum-to-Be in person, at the Baby Shower, because I wanted to see her reaction.

I took the Butterfly Baby Cake with me to the Baby Shower. The event was lovely, after some delicious high tea, some fun Baby Shower Games (including a Baby Trivia Quiz which I surprisingly won) – it was time to open the presents. My present was the last one to be opened and when it was revealed, there was a collective gasp of delight, “It’s so original” exclaimed the Mum-to-Be. I was so pleased she liked it and the Baby Cake made it’s way around the circle and everyone peered through the cellophane to take a peek.

To find out more about the delightful range of Baby Cakes available from Butterfly Baby Cakes and to purchase online, visit their website.

Every Saturday morning, Dad carries Baby to her swimming lessons at the local pool. Last Saturday Dad decided to make the walk more comfortable by carrying Baby in the BabyBjorn Active.

Designed to carry a heavier baby for longer periods of time, the BabyBjorn Active has an innovative lumbar support and wide padded shoulder straps to better distribute Baby’s weight. That said, the BabyBjorn Active can be used for carrying a newborn with a minimum weight of 3.5kg/8lbs and can be used for carrying a larger baby up to a maximum weight of 12kg/26lbs. The carrier has been ergonomically designed to provide excellent support for Baby’s head and neck too.

Similar to the BabyBjorn Original Carrier, the BabyBjorn Active comes in two pieces, an outer shell and a harness. The main difference from the Original is a lumbar support on the Active harness, which both Dad and I found more comfortable for longer walks with Baby. (As an aside, it was easier to put on because the lumbar support made it immediately apparent which way up the harness should go).

To put on the BabyBjorn Active, slip your arms through the harness straps with the lumbar support against your back. Adjust the position of the sliding buckle at the bottom of the outer shell according to Baby’s height. Then fasten the outer shell onto the harness. There are cute cartoons on the inside lining of the shell – to guide you through all the steps for putting on the BabyBjorn Active.

While it is recommended for newborns to face inwards, when Baby is a little older the head support can be folded down allowing Baby to face forward and look around.

Baby thoroughly enjoyed herself facing forward and observing her surroundings while on her walk with Dad to the swimming pool. I’m sure Baby senses the feeling of closeness with Dad while in the BabyBjorn. Another advantage for Baby is the experience of motion and movement that she gets while in the carrier with Dad walking.

I think it is no coincidence that later the same day, when she woke from her afternoon nap, Baby took her first five consecutives steps on her own. After all, she was observing Dad’s walking technique and the benefits of movement earlier that day!

The BabyBjorn Active is available in Black/Silver, Black/Red or Black. To find out more about the BabyBjorn Active Carrier visit the BabyBjorn website.