Skip Hop is Hip and Happening at Motherslove

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Scott
Ladybug kids backpack from Skip Hop

Skip Hop Backpack is fun at kinder or around the park on a sunny day.

Skip Hop has joined the Motherslove range, and we’re loving it! The combination of animal characters into backpacks, lunchboxes and bibs draws is fantastic for little ones who want to be just like their older siblings, only cuter :) Our son loves his doggy Skip Hop backpack, carrying it around the house just to be like his older sister, and always remembers to grab it on his way to daycare.

The Skip Hop backpacks are a great size for confident walkers from around 2-2.5 years, up to children around 4 years as a smaller size backpack. They have a main inner compartment and a front pocket, with a nametag on the inside. The Skip Hop backpacks can be matched up with animal character Skip Hop Lunchies school lunchboxes and tuck-away Skip Hop bibs.

The lunchboxes are insulated to keep food cool until lunchtime with a wipe clean interior, and mesh in the lid to keep utensils handy. The Skip Hop bib is water resistant and have a catch pocket at the front which the bib folds up into when it’s time to head off. Especially handy when you don’t have anything handy to clean the bib on the spot. So if you’re looking for animal backpacks, lunchboxes and bibs to keep your little having fun and looking cool at daycare, kinder and school, see the Skip Hop range at Motherslove today.

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First solids: my baby’s kitchen basics

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Severine

As a mum of 2 children, I think that only the very best will do when it comes to their health and happiness. All parents will certainly agree on that! When I started giving solid foods to my babies I was probably not aware enough of all the aspects this new step will be involving. I have gathered for you below the main aspects and some recommendations of the Health Department. Hope you find them useful!

First Baby's solid foods

Your little one may be ready to taste one or two solid foods, this exciting step is called “weaning”, which means you move your baby away from a milk only diet to a diet containing a variety of solid foods.

 

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months, unless otherwise advised by your health professional, solid foods in any form should not be started any earlier than 6 months. Many mums choose delaying weaning a bit longer and continuing to breastfeed, as we all know that breastmilk is such a perfect food for a baby.

Nevertheless, your baby does need to start eating some solids at about 6 months, as milk alone will not provide all the nutrients your little one needs for starting the second half of a busy first year!
You will have to find the perfect moments for introducing the very first food: not too early but not too late.

Is your baby ready?
You may want to consider introducing first foods when your baby:

  • does not seem satisfy with the usual amount of milk and starts to demand more feeds
  • appears to be more restless and starts to wake in the night, especially if he has learned to sleep through
  • shows an interest in your food

When and how to introduce foods?

  • choose a time of day when your baby is active, he will be more interested in new things.
  • choose a time when your baby is not starving, because he will want and expect milk. Half way through a milk feed may be a good time.
  • hold your baby upright on your lap so he can swallow easily.
  • offer the food on a small plastic spoon or on the end of your clean finger.

Are you fully equiped for weaning? You will probably find that you already have most of the equipment needed to make home-cooked meals for your child but certain items will facilitate food preparation.

Baby learning feeding himself

 

Equipment does not need to be expensive or complicated but you should look for items that will make preparing solid foods easy for you and that will later help your baby learn how to feed himself.

 

  • processors and blenders: electric food processors, liquidizers or hand blenders make it easy to puree large quantities of food quickly.

Boon Mush Hand Held BlendersBoon Food Container

 

Hand-held blenders are easy to clean and ideal for small quantities and to keep purees in the container provided with the blender.

Note: a metal-mesh sieve can be used to eliminate any fibrous material from purees for babies.

  • Baby chairs: A good bouncy chair that supports the back is ideal for babies who cannot yet sit unaided. Once he can sit upright, your little one can progress to a rigid highchair with safety harness.

Svan BouncerBouncy chairs are lightweight and may recline in different positions.

Boon Flair Highchair

 

Highchair should be wide based and sturdy with a wipe-clean tray.

 

 

  • Feeding kit: All you will need to start with is a small weaning bowl and a shallow plastic spoon, preferably made of soft, flexible plastic that will not hurt your baby’s tender gums.

Later on:
- suction-pads on bowls allow them to be secured to highchair trays
- feeding cups enable babies to learn to take fluids independently
- children’s cutlery should be made for little hands

Boon Sippy CupBoon Catch Bowl With SuctionBoon Children's Cutlery

Bibs: feeding can be messy! Protect your baby’s clothes with a bib.

- soft cotton bibs should have a plastic backing
- bibs with sleeves give the best all-over protection when your baby starts to feed himself
- soft plastic pelican bibs with a shallow through are suitable for older babies.

At Motherslove we are stocking Boon products to assist you through your baby’s weaning step. As you may know a boon is something extremely useful and helpful and Boon Inc really honors its name as it offers the most innovative and practical products for your little one’s feeding. So if you do not know Boon Inc, be ready to be oohed and aahed over every products!

 

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Organic Cotton Makes Healthy Clothes

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Severine

It is true, people buy organic foods for the health benefits and even if it is usually significantly more expensive. But lately, the clothing market for organically grown cotton has been growing. Well, I actually found out that people buy clothing made from organic cotton for the same reason as organic foods: a healthier choice.

Organic Kids and Babies clothing

Certified organic cotton is cotton grown without the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers. Organic cotton is extremely breathable, very soft, friendly to the skin to the point that it can be worn by people with chemical sensitivities and relieve some of the symptoms of eczema.

It is always tempting to go for the bargain clothes and ignore pricier organic cotton clothing. But do remember, the other stuff is cheaper because many costs have been externalized. Organic cotton growers and clothing manufacturers take responsibility for all costs: financial, environmental and human…

All right, enough said, as parents, you obviously want to limit your baby’s exposure to residue from chemicals involved with the production of non organic cotton, making fabric very hazardous for a baby’s skin.

At Motherslove, we are fully aware that babies and kids’ skin are very sensitive and more susceptible to allergies. That is why we are stocking the New Winter Collection from Purebaby and Purekids for you.

Purebaby Organic CothingPurebaby Organic CothingPurekids Organic Clothing

They offer beautiful and simple products using only organically grown and harvested cotton for babies and kids from 3 months to 8 years of age.

Stay Safe,

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Welcome the Arrival of Sylvanian Families

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Jennifer

Welcome to the wonderland of Sylvanian Families. The Sylvanian families live in the idyllic world of Sylvania and love to encourage traditional family life play incorporating house, furniture, accessories and memorable characters all with incredible detail that you’ll adore. If you loved the Sylvanian cartoon, you do not want miss the chance to get to know the real  families and the interesting stories behind them.

Sylvanian Families

Sylvanian Families Kids Collectibles

The cute fluffy mice, bears, kangaroos and a lot more animal characters which form inevitable attractions in any kid’s life. Since launch back in the 90s, Sylvanian Families are always in great demand. Nowadays the market is inundated with tons of toys with all kinds of shapes and colors. However, this does not make choosing a safe piece of toy that motivates and guides children any easier. Toys play a pivotal role in fine honing kid’s logical thinking and aptitude. It is parent’s duty to buy your kids safe and useful children toys to make this world a better place for them.

Each character has a role of mother, father, sister, brother or baby. Children just love to mix and match their favorite figures and throw a big party for them.  It could be considered as a trial run for every child and see where their imagination lead them in these affable family settings. By familiarizing themselves with these figures, children can easily relate to these animals that can talk and move because they resemble their human counterparts on so many levels!  Aren’t these thoughtfully made lovely toys educational?

Family Setting

Family Setting

One obvious reason behind the popularity of the Sylvanian Family children toys is certainly their look. The chracters have been true to their name, and they show human qualities at the same time. Another reason is the extremely delicate detailing with which these toys are manufactured. If you look closely, you will be surprised at the number of accessories available to the Sylvanian Families. They cover everything you can imagine that the humans need for daily life. For example, each of the households has kitchens, toilets, beds, sofa sets, dining tables, tea tables and every other thing that they want. who can resist the chance to have a pretend play?
Family Animal Figures

Family Animal Figures

the Sylvania Families concept is unique and endearing to the kids, which kindles warmth and familiy ties in the young minds of children.

There are children toys for fun, education and entertainment and while choosing a toy for your little ones, make sure that it enhances their thinking abilities, coordination, expression as well as their imagination.
Tell us which Sylvanian Family appeals to you most down below and don’t forget to go explore their colorful and lively world on our website.
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Exciting Melissa and Doug Toys Released!

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Jennifer

The wait is over, we finally have the exciting and unique range of Melissa and Doug toys online for you to check out. We bet there is a perfect piece of toy for children of all ages!

Melissa and Doug Classic Wooden Toys

Melissa and Doug Classic Wooden Toy

When it comes to children toys, safety is our biggest concern, well thanks to Melissa & Doug, this reliable company has done all the audit, inspect and test for us, not only once but at various stages of production. So you can definitely trust the products you bring into your home and enjoy them with confidence.

Our Melissa and Doug range covers classic wooden toys which you grandpa used to play, games, pretend plays, puzzles and so much more.  Some toys have brought us so much fun for generations. Just like the wooden stacking train in the picture, it has always been the top seller and of incredible collectible value. Their durable material allow children to enjoy the

Melissa and Doug Nina Ballerina Dress-Up Doll

Melissa and Doug Nina Ballerina Dress-Up Doll

creative fun for years to come. Our dress-up figures offer you imaginative fun for the whole family to play at home or on the go. Also, you do not want to miss our puzzles as you are never too young or too old to play one of our puzzles.  Everybody is tempted to get  their hands on these educational yet interesting toys, the problem is , can you put them down?

Let us know what was your favorite toy when you were a kid and what would you like your kid to have down below in the comment.

 

Melissa and Doug Stacking Train

Melissa and Doug Stacking Train

There will be more toys coming up on our Motherslove website, so stay tuned. Don’t forget to sign up for our website newsletter for monthly updates, new releases as well as great sales!

 

Until next time, have fun and be good!

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Baby and Kids Rainwear Essentials

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Scott

In the second of our Winter Essentials series I’m looking at Rainwear essentials.  Key items of rainwear include raincoats, umbrellas and gumboots. Simple enough, but after using these items with our kids and reviewing new products for our website I’ve realised there are a few additional things to consider other than how colourful or pretty rainwear looks.

Penny Scallan Raincoat with Lining

Penny Scallan Raincoat with Lining

For raincoats there are quality features to consider, and the thickness. When I say ‘quality features’ I think a raincoat needs to be lined to stop sweat condensing on the inside, and it’s great if the lining continues a bit beyond the coat outer sleeve as it’s a bit yucky having that wet feeling on your wrist after running around a bit in the playground. It’s also preferable for the coat to have a hood for those times when you’re caught without an umbrella, a common occurance in Melbourne, and for the coat to have a flap that sits over the coat zip to stop chilling wind forcing its way in the front of the jacket.

When looking at thickness, or padding, I’ve become a fan of jackets that are lined but not padded, except perhaps for days bordering on snow. Padded jackets are so stiff that they really reduce mobility for toddlers and young children, especially since the padding is a lot thicker relative to their body proportions than for an adult. A lined raincoat without padding is ideally fitted with a bit of slack extra room inside, and that way you can use layering of clothes underneath to better suite the temperature. This gives you the most use out of your child’s jacket as they can be used with just a T-shirt on humid rainy days, and with a long sleeve top and jumper on cold days. Using multiple layers also gives more flexibility as each layer can slide past each other, reducing the overall stiffness compared to a padded jacket. We’ve found Penny Scallan jackets to be great for our kids, and they also meet the stylin’ requirements.

Penny Scallan Gumboot Chunky Grip

Penny Scallan Gumboot with Chunky Grip

Kids Gumboots are simpler but again it really is a necessity to have lining. For gumboots lining not only reduces sweet inside the boot, but it also provides a softer surface for feet to rub against. Gumboots don’t exactly flex like sneakers, so they tend to rub more on little feet. Lining is the best option to reduce the chance of blisters and general anguish for your child. The other key requirement is chunky grip since gumboots are more likely to be used on muddy surfaces and shallow grips will be filled up in no time. The final nice to have I can think of is just a cloth tab at the back of the gumboot which makes it easier to pull the gumboot on.

Penny Scallan Umbrella Push Open

Penny Scallan Umbrella with Push Open Toggle

Umbrellas are heaps of fun for kids, although never around when you need one. My memories of umbrellas are constantly hurting my finger trying to push the small, stiff metal tab in to open the umbrella. A really simple yet clever idea I noticed on the Penny Scallan umbrellas is the push up, pull down knob that doesn’t have a latch to hold it closed. The push, pull design simply relies on the spring in the umbrella rods to hold the umbrella in the open or closed position, there’s no latch, push button or other hard to use open mechanism. Kids love independence, so simple and easy is the way to go to keep them in control.

I hope these ideas help your family have a happy and healthy Winter, let us know of any other products or suggestions you might have in the comments.

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New Pediped Arrival!

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Severine

Pediped, you have to get this shoe brand for your baby and toddler’s feet!

I would not have imagined that we can put so much innovation into a so small shoe. However you may know that our little precious’ feet deserve to get the right shoe for their developing feet. And I am not talking about the style or the right fit but about what shoes your baby and toddler need in order to learn and develop walking. This is why Pediped offers 3 products lines to fit each walking stage:

  • First Steps – Pediped Originals: ideal shoe for babies learning to walk with a soft, flexible sole that mimics barefoot walking.
  • Next Steps, from 9 months to 3 years – Pediped Grip n Go: perfect shoe for an active toddler gaining a confident walk with heel stability and soft toe box that allows their toes to grip the floor. Perfect combination of flexibility and protection.
  • Big Steps, from age 1 to 7 – Pediped Flex: dedicated to confident walkers, theses shoes have an arch support and flexible rubber sole along with their Flex Fit System that allows you to adjust the fit and prolong the wear and use of the shoes.

And in each style the shoes may have various features from Machine Washable, waterproof fabric, leather lining or even a Memory foam insole.

My 4 years old daughter is currently wearing a new Pediped style – Pediped Flex Violet Bronze and she just loves them! Not only because they are comfy with a Memory foam insole or because they are just gorgeous but simply because she can actually put them on and off so easily… not to mention how proud she feels when she can actually do something by herself!

On the Mum plus side, I would say that I am really impressed by the quality of the shoe outer, how many previous pairs of shoes she wore, came back after a first day out with scratches on the shoes! Well after a month of use my daughter Pediped Shoes are still shiny as new…

So now, the information you are all dying for is what is the price for a so luxurious shoe? Well that is the other plus side of the shoe, it is affordable and so you do not have to limit your choice to the shoe that will go with everything.

STOP, you do not need to run to your nearest shop to get one pair of these! Just relax and browse our Pediped wide range at Motherslove to select the pair that will suit your little one step! And do keep in mind, if you shop by 2pm, your parcel is shipped out the same day.

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Snugtime Winter 2012 Sleeping Bags Released!

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Scott

The weather may be a bit confusing at the moment, but we’re definitely getting some hints of what is to come when Winter hits. Snugtime baby and kids sleeping bags are a popular choice around this time of year, especially for parents with toddlers who want the freedom to stand up, jump around and throw their pillow out of the cot, along with everything else they can lay their little hands on. The well-known Snugtime blanket sleepers are the ideal choice for toddlers as they offer a good level of warmth with a Tog 2.0 rating, allow little walkers to move around to their hearts content, and offer Winter comfort for children all the way up to Size 7.

Snugtime Blanket SleepersSnugtime Blanket Sleepers have an inner cotton lining so they are comfy to wear, and they have an outer polyester fleece in a selection of bright colours which is light but also traps in air making it a great insulator to hold warmth like a woollen blanket. Typically people equate padding with warmth, but a fleece fabric is just as effective and offers more flexibility, so it’s better to be guided by the Tog Rating rather than ‘it feels thicker’. A higher Tog Rating means the fabric of the sleeping bag holds in more heat, with Tog 2.0 to 2.5 being good for cold Winter nights (don’t forget to consider a lower Tog Rating if you use heating at home!). If the blanket sleepers used padding like that used in the Cosibag, they would be stiff and cumbersome to wear, turning toddlers into walking starfish :)

Snugtime Cosi BagSnugtime also offers the CosiBag as a baby sleeping bag in sizes from 000 up to 2 years. CosiBags are available in a range of Tog ratings depending on the season, with thermal ratings to suit Summer nights at Tog 0.2 up to a maximum Winter rating of Tog 2.5. Many designs also offer the ‘Gap Strap’ with an overlapped opening at the back and double zip at the front so you can feed a car or pram harness buckle and strap through. The Cosibag also comes in a range of bright colours and striped patterns plus has cute motifs for extra fun mirror gazing at toothy brush time.

Snugtime New Cosi Bag Design

New Cosibag Design with Zip Running Front to Back

A new Cosibag design Snugtime has introduced really caught my attention with some clever ideas. The Steel Blue, Red and Grey Hoodie Fleece Cosibags have a great nappy change concept with the zip running down the middle, going all the way around the bottom, and then up the back to babies waist. So you can get easy access for nappy changes as the Cosibag can be opened out sideways. This is potentially even better than the zip around the  side and fold open bags as there is less chance of making a mess on the inside of babies sleeping bag. The second clever innovation is the underarm elastic that runs from under each arm and all the way across the back for a snug fit that is more adjustable than just have an extra snap under each arm. All up a clever Cosibag with designer style fabrics and graphics.

You can see the range at our Snugtime section or view our whole baby sleeping bags range. If you want more information on what to wear with different Togs, have a look at our Grobag Winter 2012 New Release article. Visit www.motherslove.com.au for our whole range.

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Baby and Children’s Winter Essentials

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Scott

Summer may only just be coming to a close, but Winter stock is already arriving! To avoid missing out on the styles and sizes you want for your child, now is the time to figure out what you need. We’ve put together a series of tips on what you should consider adding to the shopping list for this Winter. In this first Post we’re talking about bedding.

Grobag Flutterby Sleeping BagYou can’t go past bedding as a key Winter necessity for baby and children. We prefer sleeping bags, especially for newborns as they reduce the risk of baby getting caught up in sheets and blankets, which can restrict breathing. Also, as baby and toddler our children tend to move around a lot when sleeping and frequently kick off their blankets, so sleeping bags ensure a better night sleep, especially in Winter when little ones can’t pull their own sheets and blankets back up. Around the age of 3 to 4 years our daughter didn’t move around as much and could pull up her own blankets, but we found she still has a better sleep with blanket sleepers.

When you first get your sleeping bag, it’s important to check that baby’s head can’t slip through the neck opening. Other sleeping bag features that can be helpful are an opening at the back and double zip at the front so you can feed a pram or car harness through, and a cover at the top of the zip so it doesn’t scratch you child’s neck, plus the new ZipClick™ system from Grobag helps stop little fingers from opening the zip. Tog rating can also be a great guide for the thermal rating of the sleeping bag, you can refer to our article Grobag New 2012 Styles for their guide on what to wear with each tog rating.

Snugtime Blanket Sleeper

Blanket Sleepers are great for independent toddlers and children

When baby starts to transition to toddler and begins standing up, they can also develop a dislike for standard sleeping bags. Each child has their own preferences, but in our case once standing and jumping became a popular activity in the cot, standard sleeping bags were too restrictive and no longer welcomed by either of our children. Blanket kick offs were still a regular nightly activity, so we luckily found the third option of blanket sleepers. Blanket sleepers from Snugtime have been a great Winter sleeping bag alternative, as they are basically a full outfit with arms and legs so our children actually like to wear them, and they also have a tog rating of 2.0 which is good for cold nights, and can be mixed with light undergarments for different temperatures.

So from our experience, traditional sleeping bags are good for newborns up to around 18 months to 3 years in Summer and Winter depending on whether your child finds them restrictive, Blanket sleepers are good from 1 year up to 7 years during Winter, and sheets with blankets are good from around 3-4 years. Hope this helps with you bedtime accessories this Winter! Visit www.motherslove.com.au for our whole range.

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Grobag New 2012 Styles Now At Motherslove

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Scott

Grobag Baby Sleeping BagGrobag are likely the most well known baby sleep bag brand in Australia. They are produced by The Gro Company, which is based in the UK, and are a premium sleeping bag with a focus on quality, safety and comfort for your baby. The range just released meets the new British Standards, and in fact as the pioneer of sleeping bags in the UK, The Gro Company has been a big part of developing these standards.

A clever inclusion with the new range is the bonus room thermometer to help parents decide the best bag and clothing combination for different room temperatures. I’ve also included below the Grobag table which is a guide for what to wear depending on the temperature. Since cooler weather leading to Winter is only a couple of months away, we have mainly stocked the Tog 1.0 and Tog 2.5 range. Grobag also has a Tog 0.5 bag which we just stocked in one style, but can get in more if you let us know in the comments!

So have a look at the table below to decide what sleeping bag and clothing suites your baby best, and then have a look at our Grobag Baby Sleep Bag range. Just remember to also think about how much heating you use in Winter, not just the outside temperature. A hot baby is not a comfy or safe baby! Visit www.motherslove.com.au for our whole range.

Grobag ‘What to wear’ Guide:

What your baby wears will depend on the tog of Grobag baby sleep bag and the temperature of the baby’s bedroom. (In the same way as you would adjust nightclothes and number of blankets). As a guide, please refer to the table below. Please remember, though, that babies are all different and, just as with blankets and sheets, you will soon discover what your baby is most comfortable wearing – placing your fingers on your baby’s chest is the best indicator of whether they are too hot/too cold/just right as babies’ hands often feel cool.

Nursery temperature 2.5 tog 1.0 tog 0.5 tog
26°C (79°F) Short-sleeved bodysuit
24°C (75°F) Short-sleeved bodysuit
22°C (71°F) Long-sleeved bodysuit
20°C (69°F) Long-sleeved bodysuit Short-sleeved bodysuit and pyjama top
18°C (65°F) Long-sleeved bodysuit and pyjama top
16°C (61 °F) Long-sleeved bodysuit and sleepsuit/pyjama set
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