What’s On At The Baby Show London ExCel 2024

If you’ve followed the blog for a while, you’ll know we’re massive fans of The Baby Show. This weekend (2nd/3rd March) sees the return of The Baby Show With Lidl GB London at the ExCel. We went down to the show to see what’s new and hunt out the top products and brands exhibiting at this weekend’s show. 

Steph, a white intersex woman with brown hair is wearing a black dress and black cardigan. She is sat in her silver and black wheelchair with Alice, a small white toddler with dark blonde hair wearing a white and black polkadot top and red trousers sat on her lap.

All-time favourites like the buggy test track, baby changing area and baby feeding cafe are back again at The Baby Show. This year, the products in the baby feeding cafe are from Lidl’s Lupilu range, which is excellent as it means you can try out more than just the nappies and wipes that Lidl sell. The pouches at the baby feeding cafe are dairy and soya-free too, which is great if your little one has allergies like Alice! As always, lots of talks are happening across the weekend, so be sure to check your show guide for ones that may be of interest! Toddler Town Company are also at The Baby Show this weekend with their soft play, so be sure to check it out! 

Access wise, The Baby Show London ExCel is, in my opinion, the more accessible of the two locations that The Baby Show London uses across the year (the other being Olympia). There are plenty of ways to get to The Baby Show at ExCel, including by car, where you’ll find plenty of parking! Note that parking is no longer free for blue badge holders at the ExCel!  

If you prefer to avoid driving in London. ExCel is easily reachable by public transport. Not only is The ExCel well served by the DLR and Elizabeth Line, with both Custom House and Prince Regent in easy reach. If you’re coming from central London, take the Jubilee line to North Greenwich and take the Emirates cable car across The Thames for a scenic view of London. If you prefer something else to the tube, take the Uber Boat from central London to North Greenwich for a different view of London. 

Once inside, the ExCel has plenty of accessible toilets and a changing places facility onsite, making it one of the more accessible and inclusive baby shows on the 2024 calendar! 

Brands to Visit: 

My 1st Years (L10)

My 1st Years offer a range of personalised products, including wooden toys, blankets, clothes and more! If you don’t yet know the baby’s name, My 1st Years can personalise the products with their surname instead, still making it a unique gift whilst giving the parents the potential to keep the product for future children. 

Seraphine (E62, F70)

Seraphine was my go-to brand during pregnancy and breast/chestfeeding with Alice and will always have a special place in my heart. When I interviewed for my current day job, it was one of their top and dress sets that I wore as I was still breast/chestfeeding. I also wore it to the in-touch day I had and several times at work when taking Alice in. I also still happen to have all of my Seraphine dresses! 

However, one of the biggest launches happening at the Seraphine stand is the launch of their game-changing Seraphine CARIPOD! As a wheelchair user, this is something I wish was on the market when Alice was first born, as the carrier we were using didn’t feel safe when she got bigger. We tried the Seraphine CARIPOD together on the stand, and I can confidently say I’ve never felt safer with Alice on me, even being able to push around and bring the front castors up whilst testing it out! We’re hoping to be able to do a full review on the Seraphine CARIPOD soon so keep an eye out! 

Steph, a white intersex woman with brown hair is wearing a black dress and black cardigan. She is sat in her silver and black wheelchair with Alice, a small white toddler with dark blonde hair wearing a white and black polkadot top and red trousers sat on her lap. Around Alice and Steph is an animal print themed carrier on with all the buckles at the front.

Ella Bella’s (D50)

Ella Bella’s are back at The Baby Show London with their range of baby clothes and accessories! They also have a store in Lakeside featuring more of their range and sizes for toddlers, and we’re looking forward to popping in there when we next go to Lakeside! 

Lidl GB (R31)

Lidl is the main sponsor for The Baby Show, and whilst you can try their products from the Lupilu range in the changing area and baby feeding cafe, they’ve also got bundle offers, money-off vouchers and more at their stand! 

Medela (L19)

With Alice being ex-NICU, Medela has been a brand we’ve used since day one, and it was lovely to catch up with some of the team! I got on so well with the Medela pump in hospital that I ended up buying a swing maxi for home in the days before wearable pumps became more mainstream. Medela now do their own wearing pump called Freestyle, so be sure to pop by! 

Start-Rite (E60)

The proper footwear at the right time is essential for growing feet, and Start-Rite are keen to spread that message with their range of shoes from pre-walkers to those starting school and beyond! They have some of the range on stand so make sure you pop by! 

Luxury Family Hotels (F31)

Luxury Family Hotels are running a giveaway at The Baby Show this year! If you haven’t heard of them, they have a range of family-friendly luxury hotels because who said travel stops when you have kids!? 

Fusion Allergy (G69) 

Hidden under their corporate name of Scope Eye Care in the show guide, which may confuse some, Fusion Allergy is back with their medication-free allergy range, including wipes, eye drops and other products! We’ve picked up a couple of products for both Alice and I to try, so keep an eye out for future reviews!

Lovevery (B50)

If you’re like us and a big fan of wooden toys that aid development and want something that will help you on your Montessori parenting journey, look no further than Lovevery’s subscription boxes! The boxes are appropriate, and Lovevery also offers a service specifically for disabled children or those who need age-adjusted boxes due to prematurity. Alice loved spending time on their stand, and we’ll be looking at the boxes for her! 

Alice, a small white toddler with dark blonde hair wearing a white and black polkadot top and red trousers stands at a wooden table with several colourful wooden toys on. She is playing with the wooden boats. The photo is taken from above.

Are you off to The Baby Show this weekend? Let us know your favourite moments and brands in the comments! 

This blog post is part of a paid partnership with The Baby Show and its organisers.

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Why The Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Plus Works For Disabled Parents

The pushchair is one of the most significant expenses you’ll incur when preparing for your new arrival. Many types of pushchairs are on the market, with varying features for different needs. Still, one area that I noticed very quickly, which has been neglected by brands, is the needs of disabled parents and, in particular, wheelchair users!

When I was preparing for Alice’s arrival, I knew that I needed a pushchair which would be long lasting, easy to push, allow for parent-facing in the toddler years and most importantly, be usable by me – a full-time wheelchair user! That latter point meant needing things like bigger wheels, functional brakes and, of course, requiring the pushchair to be as sturdy as possible on various terrains! Sounds impossible at first, doesn’t it?

Fear not! This is where Bugaboo stands out from the crowd with the Cameleon 3 Plus pushchair! Whether through accidental design or with accessibility in mind, the Cameleon 3 Plus is probably one of the most accessible pushchairs on the mainstream market if you can’t get a custom-made pushchair for whatever reason. The Cameleon 3 Plus has a handbrake instead of a footbrake, meaning that wheelchair users can still safely stop the pushchair, whilst the handlebar is adjustable so that everyone can have the height to their desired requirement.

Steph, a white woman with brown hair is outside in the sunshine wearing a green floral wrap top and blue jeans. Steph is sat in her grey and black wheelchair whilst holding onto the handlebar of a red, grey and black pushchair which is in carrycot mode.
Who knew a pushchair could give you so much independence as a parent?

Another big plus about the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Plus pushchair is that the handlebar is also reversible. Not only is this great for off-road walks, but for me personally, it’s been a godsend on the tube in London as I’ve been able to put the bigger wheels forward to prevent the pushchair from getting stuck in the gap between the train and the platform. You can also parent face the pushchair right up to whenever little one outgrows it, something which I love because not only can I keep an eye on what Alice is doing, but parent facing is also great for interacting with your little one and helping with their communication skills.

With all the features that the pushchair has, not forgetting that it also has a large under-seat basket, it’s not surprising that it is a little heavier than most pushchairs out there. Thankfully, the pushchair collapses into two parts to make it a bit easier to put into the car, and even when I had my Corsa, we were able to get it into the boot with my wheelchair after we took the parcel shelf out. The wheels are on quick-release pins to make it easy to get them off, too, if you need to make the main frame smaller to get it in.

Onto accessories, and there are plenty! Things we’ve brought for ours include car seat adapters, which were well used in the early days of going back and forth to the hospital with Alice, as well as a cup holder (we brought two!) and their Breezy range of hoods, which feature inbuilt mosquito nets – great for when travelling with your little one! If you don’t like the look of the Breezy hoods, Bugaboo do a separate mosquito net, which also fits on their other pushchairs.

A photo of a black Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Plus Pushchair with a multicoloured Breezy hood on. The hood has the blue built in mosquito net deployed.
The Breezy hood protecting Alice from mosquitos!

Overall, I will always rave about the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Plus pushchair. It’s the pushchair that allowed me to be more independent with Alice when out and about, and I’m so glad that Bugaboo designed it. There is a rumour that it’s being discontinued, though, something I’m really upset about. If true, Bugaboo will lose the ability to market to disabled parents, especially as none of their other pushchairs have the handbrake feature that has been so prominent on the Cameleon 3 Plus!

Do you have a Cameleon 3 Plus, or are you thinking about buying one? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products when you click on a link. This does not affect you as the consumer or the price of the product or service. It is also not a paid-for promotion or a collaboration/advert.

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Everything You Need To Know About The Baby Show 2023!

It seems like only yesterday that it was the end of The Baby Show at ExCel London 2022. Still, precisely a year later, it’s back and better than ever at ExCel! We’ve been lucky enough to be invited down for the weekend to share the lowdown on what’s what at The Baby Show 2023! 

Getting to the show!

There are plenty of ways to get to The Baby Show at ExCel! New for 2023 is that parking is now free for blue badge holders, so for us taking the car was a no-brainer, especially as the collect-by-car service is back, allowing you to shop until you drop! This is also great for disabled people, as it makes the show that bit more accessible!

If you prefer to avoid driving in London. ExCel is easily reachable by public transport. Not only is The ExCel well served by the DLR and Elizabeth Line, with both Custom House and Prince Regent in easy reach. If you’re coming from central London, take the Jubilee line to North Greenwich and take the Emirates cable car across The Thames for £3 each way (under 5’s free) on the production of tickets or the email to show that you’re going to ExCel London for the event. If you don’t fancy the tube, take the Uber Boat from central London to North Greenwich for a different view of London. 

At The Show!

Once you’re inside The Baby Show, there is much to discover! The Made For Mums testing track is back, so you can try out different pushchairs. In addition, there are various must-visit areas, including the baby changing area sponsored by Lidl, which features free wipes, nappies and other products from their Lupilu range. The baby feeding cafe is back with allergy-friendly baby food samples from For Aisha. I highly suggest trying this brand if your little one is allergic to dairy, soy or egg – Alice loves their meals when I need to throw on something quick! You can pick up a range of samples to take home with you too! The cafe also has a quiet breastfeeding area for more privacy, with rocking chairs and breast pads available! 

Must-Visit Brands!

Nearly all the brands at The Baby Show offer discounts and special show-only bundles, no matter their size. We have used some of the brands personally already, and some we’ve only just discovered at The Baby Show! 

MAM Baby: 

Although Alice is breast/chestfed, we use a range of MAM products, including the soothers (their night range glow in the dark, making finding soothers so much easier in the wee hours) and the bottles when Alice has expressed milk. There are offers and bundles on near enough their entire range! 

Munchkin & Bear: 

We’ve been using our Munchkin & Bear playmats for almost a year after discovering this brand at The Baby Show last year! With me being a wheelchair user, we needed a tough mat that could be easily stored or take a good bashing from the constant rolling over. It also has been a lifesaver when Alice has had seizures at home, as our mats have cushioned many a tumble! In addition, Munchkin & Bear have recently launched a toy range, so Alice has fun picking some toys to take home with her! 

Ella Bella’s: This gorgeous brand came to the rescue when Alice had a sock emergency at The Baby Show last year! It was great to see them back for this year with their range of baby clothes! 

Hotmilk: At almost 19 months, Alice is still breastfeeding, so I still need nursing bras! Hotmilk offers lovely bras from various ranges they’ve created, including a range with magnetic clips. These are great for people like me whose joints mean gripping the classic style clips is almost impossible! I will be purchasing some of the range on the last day (tomorrow!) to review, so do look out for it! 

We’ll be exploring and discussing many more brands on the blog off the back of The Baby Show 2023. Still, if you’re going for the final day on Sunday (Tomorrow at the time of writing this post!), we’ll see you there! 

This blog post is part of a paid partnership with The Baby Show and its organisers. 

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What’s What At Baby & Toddler Show South East

Just a mere few weeks after The Baby Show came and went, Baby & Toddler Show South East has come around! This weekend, the show will be held at Sandown Park near Esher, and it is great to catch up on brands you may have missed and discover new brands that may not exhibit at other shows. Once again, Alex was flying, so my dad had another day out with Alice and me. My dad once worked at Sandown Park, so for him, it was a day of reminiscing and catching up with ex-colleagues whilst Alice and I went on the hunt to bring you up to speed on what’s what at Baby & Toddler Show South East this time around.

Getting To The Show:

With the show being held at Sandown Park, there is plenty of parking! However, if you prefer to travel by public transport like us, there are options! Buses from Kingston, Walton-On-Thames and other areas stop either outside Sandown park itself or a short walk away in Esher High Street. In addition, Esher train station is a 10-minute walk from the racecourse. 

At The Show:

Once you’re through the entrance and upstairs, pick up your goodie bag from Pura, one of the show sponsors. It contains a handy pack of biodegradable wipes and some hand sanitiser! There are plenty of eating options at the show, although we decided to bring our own food to keep Alice safe due to her allergies. The show also has a baby changing and breastfeeding area. But, a significant oversight on the show’s part is that there is no lift access and whilst the show has provided someone to help lift pushchairs up, it means disabled parents like myself weren’t able to use the baby-changing or breastfeeding area at all. Thankfully, I’m happy to breastfeed in public, but not all people who breast/chestfeed are! Unfortunately, it also means that disabled parents can’t take advantage of trying out Pura’s nappies for free. 

Photo of the contents of the Pura goodie bag. In the photo is a white plastic bag with light green leaf pattern on, with Pura written in dark blue. There is also some additional text in white on a dark blue background. On top of the bag is a bottle of hand sanitiser, a leaflet with discounts on and a pack of Pura baby wipes in light green and cream packaging with darker green leaves on.
Pura goodie bag

Must-visit Brands: 

Like other baby shows, nearly all of the brands at Baby & Toddler Show are offering discounts and doing special show only bundles no matter their size. We have used some of the brands personally already, and some we’ve only just discovered at Baby & Toddler Show, but we will be ordering if we haven’t already brought from those brands. 

MAM: 

Although Alice is breast/chestfed, we use a range of MAM products, including the soothers (their night range glow in the dark, making finding soothers so much easier in the wee hours) and the bottles when Alice has expressed milk. There are some fantastic show offers, including soothers from £4.50, Bottle accessories from £4.50 and huge savings on pumps. MAM also have their experts snd the MAM midwives at the show on hand to answer specific questions about their products. 

Munchkin & Bear:

We only discovered this brand a month ago at ExCel, so we were delighted to catch up with them! Alice has had the round mat in the emerald green botanical print at home for a couple of weeks now and adores it. When we first tried her on one of the playmats, she couldn’t sit by herself, so it was great to pop her down so that she could show off her new skill to everyone! The mats are reversible (Alice’s mat at home has a speckled grey pattern on the reverse), waterproof, wheelchair-user friendly, and can simply be wiped down with alcohol and bleach-free wipes (Clinell wipes are suitable for this!). They come in 3 sizes, and Munchkin & Bear offers a show discount on all of them. 

Alice, a white baby with brown hair is sat playing on a multicoloured striped patterned play mat with a pink, purple and green rattle which has a character on at the bottom. Alice is wearing a dark blue jacket, white tights with pink detailing on the heel and toes and a multicoloured dress. Alice also has a blue coloured soother in her mouth.
Modelling the Munchkin & Bear play mat!

Cybex:

Again, Cybex is a brand we’ve used from birth, as Alice happens to have two of their infant carriers. The Aton m I-Size and the Cloud Z I-Size infant carriers fit onto the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 pushchair for convenience via adapters. The L.S.P. side impact system on the car seats is also a big plus as it enhances little ones’ safety in the car. However, one of the Cloud z’s features over the Aton M is that it can lay flat in pram mode, something to consider if you’re likely to be doing many short trips using Uber or taxis. 

Snuz:

If you have followed us for a while, you’ll know Alice sleeps in a SnuzPod co-sleeper, and we use the Snuz Pouch and other products in the Snuz range. There are some fantastic offers over the show, including bundles with the SnuzPod.  

Dumforter: 

A brand extremely local to us, we found out about this beautiful creation through both our local NICU and a local craft collective that showcases local goods. The Dumforter is a soother and comforter in one product which also has a teething function to help little ones when their teeth come through! There are several designs, and whilst Alice loves the Zsa Zsa Zebra one, we picked up the Rosie Rabbit design at the show! 

Ubere Mama: 

If, like me, you’re breastfeeding, then you’ll know that trying to find breastfeeding friendly clothes is a mission! Ubere Mama is showing some of their designs at the Baby & Toddler Show, and some of them are beautiful indeed! All of their designs are breastfeeding friendly, with zips on the hoodies, tops and dresses, and clips on the vests. The vests can also be worn without a bra underneath, which is excellent as it means you don’t have to faff around with multiple clips when the baby is hungry! In addition, all of the clothes are designed and manufactured in the UK for the sustainable minded amongst us. I will be doing a blog post on this brand, looking at some of the designs in more detail, so please keep an eye out! 

Sadly, some brands aren’t at the Baby & Toddler Show. Bugaboo and Ergobaby are the two biggest ones that people will miss from the show. We use products from both of these brands, and they have features on some products which are extremely useful for disabled parents. It’s sad to not see them there, but hopefully, they’ll be back in the future! 

One other thing to add is if you’re bringing your little ones and want to get a photo of them at their first racecourse for their memory book, the doors going out to the parade ring are open. It makes for a great little photo spot!

Steph, a white woman with brown hair is wearing a burgundy coloured dress with light pink, red and black floral patterning on. She is sat in her grey and black wheelchair with purple accents holding Alice, a white baby with brown hair who is wearing a dark blue jacket, white tights with pink detailing on the heel and toes and a multicoloured dress. Behind them in Sandown Park's parade ring.
Steph And Alice with the parade ring behind them

Are you going to the Baby & Toddler Show this weekend? Share your favourite moments, brands and tips with others in the comments! 

This post contains affiliate links. This means that we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products when you click on a link. This does not affect you as the consumer or the price of the product or service. It is also not a paid–for promotion or a collaboration/advert.

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The Lowdown On Baby Show London 2022

I can’t believe we’re actually saying this, but The Baby Show is finally back as an actual event in London this weekend at ExCel! No longer are we tuning into virtual talks from the comfort of home, as we can now try out products once again for ourselves before committing to buy! With Alex flying today, my dad came with Alice and me for the trip to London so we could give you the lowdown on what to expect at The Baby Show this weekend. 

Getting to the show: 

The best way to The Baby Show is by public transport. Not only is The ExCel well served by the DLR, with both Custom House and Prince Regent in easy reach. If you’re coming from central London, take the Jubilee line to North Greenwich and take the Emirates cable car across The Thames for £3 each way (under 5’s free) on the production of tickets or the email to show that you’re going to ExCel London for the event. If you don’t fancy the tube, take the Uber Boat from central London to North Greenwich instead for a different view of London. It’s incredible to compare the sights from the river and then the cable car either before or after, and Alice loved her first boat ride! 

Steph, a white woman with her brown and blonde hair in a ponytail is sat down wearing a blue jumper whilst holding Alice, a white baby with brown hair who is wearing a cream pram suit who is fascinated by the view. They are on the cable car going across the Thames!
On the cable car!

If you do need to drive in, the ExCel has plenty of car parking, and you can even drop your bags and pick them up when ready to leave. However you decide to travel, don’t forget to download your COVID pass before you make your way to the show, as you’ll need this to gain entry. 

At The Show

Once you’re inside The Baby Show, there is a lot to discover! The Made For Mums testing track is back, so you can try out different pushchairs. In addition, there are various other must-visit areas, including the baby changing area sponsored by Lidl, which features free wipes, nappies and other products from their Lupilu range. There’s also the baby feeding cafe with baby food samples from For Aisha. If your little one is allergic to dairy, soy or egg, I highly suggest trying this brand. You can pick up a range of samples to take home with you too! We will be trying out this brand with Alice, so keep an eye out on our Instagram to see how we get on. For Aisha are also running a competition on their stand, which can be found at C50! The cafe also has a quiet breastfeeding area for more privacy. 

Steph, a white woman with her brown and blonde hair in a ponytail is sat in her wheelchair wearing a blue jumper, black trousers and hand splints whilst holding Alice, a white baby with brown hair who is wearing a dark blue floral top with light blue jeans. Behind them is a green tent with a large grey cuddly toy by it. Behind on the wall is a false window with pink curtains.
Inside the changing area
A photo of a baby foodprep area with microwave, prep machine, bottle warmer and cups with pink and purple spoons in. Above is a shelf with various coloured bowls and pouches containing meals for babies.
Baby feeding cafe featuring For Aisha meals and pouches!

Must-Visit Brands

Nearly all of the brands at The Baby Show are offering discounts and doing special show only bundles no matter their size. We have used some of the brands personally already, and some we’ve only just discovered at The Baby Show, but we will be ordering if we haven’t already brought from those brands. 

MAM Baby (B72): 

Although Alice is breast/chestfed, we use a range of MAM products, including the soothers (their night range glow in the dark, making finding soothers so much easier in the wee hours) and the bottles when Alice has expressed milk. There are some fantastic show offers, including soothers from £4.50, Bottle accessories from £4.50 and huge savings on pumps. MAM is also offering 1 to 1 appointments with their experts at the show. 

Photo of various MAM soothers and dummy clips on their stand.
Soothers on the MAM Baby stand

Muchkin & Bear (C44): 

We’ve been looking at playmats for a few weeks now as Alice is starting the outgrow the play gym. Being a wheelchair user, we need a tough mat that can be easily stored or take a good bashing from the constant rolling over and, of course, is suitable for Alice! We got to try the large mat at the show, and Alice absolutely adored it. We just need to decide which colour combination we want (the mats are doubled sided), and then we’ll be ordering over the weekend! 

Alice, a white baby with brown hair wearing a dark blue long sleeved top with floral patterning on is laying on her tummy whilst holing her head up on a grey and cream striped play mat. In front of Alice is a bright green toy with a blue tree on.
Play time!

Snuz (E20, E50, E60, E80): If you have followed us for a while, then you’ll know Alice sleeps in a SnuzPod co-sleeper, and we use the Snuz Pouch and other products in the Snuz range. There are some fantastic offers over the show, including bundles with the SnuzPod.  

Ella Bella’s C41: When Alice had a sock emergency, this gorgeous brand came to the rescue! Not only did we leave with a pair of adorable socks with pom-poms on (they also do bow styles), we also picked up some booties that can tighten, making it more difficult for little ones to kick them off! 

photo of Alice, a white baby with brown hair who is wearing a dark blue floral top with light blue jeans and white socks with pom poms on being held by a person wearing a black leather jacket. They are on the cable car.
Alice showing off the pom pom socks!

Mima Accessories (B11): While Alice doesn’t like to keep headbands on (hence why we don’t have an extensive collection), that hasn’t stopped us from starting a hair accessories collection! We picked up 3 bows from their 3 for £5 bowl, and there are also other various offers on accessories from the brand. Mima Accessories happens to be the newest range from Mima Interiors, and products from the interiors range can also be found on their stand at The Baby Show. 

Cybex (E20, E50, E60, E80): Cybex again is a brand we’ve used from birth as Alice happens to have two of their infant carriers. Both the Aton m I-Size and Cloud Z I-Size infant carriers fit onto the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 pushchair for convenience via adapters. The L.S.P. side impact system on the car seats is also a big plus as it enhances little ones’ safety in the car. However, one feature that the Cloud z has over the Aton M is that it can lay flat in pram mode, something to consider if you’re likely to be doing many short trips using Uber or taxis. 

The Positive Birth Company (C39): Whilst we didn’t find out these lovelies were at the show until after we left, we had to give them a shoutout once we knew that they are indeed at The Baby Show this weekend! We were honoured to be part of their #ProudParent campaign last year, and the courses that The Positive Birth company offer are second to none! The Positive Birth Company also have an Amazon Alexa skill which I loved using during my pregnancy to relax and keep the positive vibes going when the going got tough! 

Some brands sadly aren’t at The Baby Show this time around. Bugaboo and Ergobaby are the two biggest ones that people will miss from the show. We use products from both of these brands, and they have features on some products which are extremely useful for disabled parents. It’s sad to not see them there, but hopefully, they’ll be back in the future! 

Are you going to The Baby Show this weekend? Share your favourite moments, brands and tips with others in the comments! 

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Christmas Gifts: Last Minute Gift Ideas For Babies 6-12 Months

If you haven’t been following the blog the last few weeks, then you’ll be pleased to know that recently we’ve posted several Christmas gift guides for foodies, parents-to-be, new parents, those who are breast/chestfeeding and yesterday, we posted a last-minute gift guide for babies ages 0-6 months. So to finish off our 2021 Christmas gift guides, we’ll be sharing our last-minute gift ideas for babies aged 6-12 months in this post. All of the following ideas are gifts that Alice is getting for Christmas, except the booster seat, which we purchased before Alice’s arrival! So without further ado, let’s start the final guide for this year! 

That’s Not My Dinosaur Gift Set:

Fluffy toy? Check. Interactive book? Check. If you want to gift the gift of getting a little one to love books from a very early age, then Usbourne’s range of interactive books from its That’s Not My series are a great place to start! Each page of the That’s Not My Dinosaur book has textured areas for little ones to explore and develop sensory awareness, on top of the language awareness that reading from a young age brings. The That’s Not My Dinosaur gift set also comes with a cuddly purple dinosaur toy, perfect for little hands to snuggle up to! 

Vtech Sit To Stand Music Centre:

If you want a musical toy to last a good couple of years, then look no further than the Vtech Sit To Stand Music Centre! The centre comes with 15 melodies, 7 sing-along songs, various sounds and phrases, a microphone for the little one to sing into and 4 voice-changing effects. The panel containing the keyboard, drum, saxophone, guitar and microphone detaches from the stand to allow it to be used when sitting down. In addition, the centre teaches animals, colours, instruments and more and being suitable from 12 months to 3 years means that the centre is an excellent choice for a gift if you want something which will last. 

Carotina Blocks And Mat Set:

Previously reviewed on the blog (you can find the full review here), the Carotina Blocks And Mat Set is another excellent multifunctional, space-saving toy. Not only does the playmat come in a jigsaw style, but it also has pop-out animals and houses which can be slotted into some of the blocks for little ones to create their own themes and stories. In addition, the bright colours of the set catch little ones attention for more extended periods, allowing their creativity and imagination to truly flourish when playing with this set. There are 38 building blocks of varying sizes and colours in the set and 24 pieces that make up the playmat if you include the pop-out animals and houses. 

Benbat Portable Booster Seat:

We’ve posted about Benbat’s Portable Booster Seat before, but we’re posting about it again because we love just how useful this is! This portable booster seat has similar functions to a highchair but is lightweight, great for travel so you can feed little one anywhere, and can be placed wherever it is needed. Another thing I like about the Benbat is that not only is it portable, it also comes with storage compartments to pop some bits and bobs in for little ones. This is great, as you can forgo the changing bag and pop nappies, wipes etc., into the storage compartment of the booster seat when going out locally. As they get older, they can pack the storage compartment themselves, which further helps to aid their independence and development! 

That’s the Christmas gift guides for this year complete! If you’ve found any great gift ideas for the little ones in your life, add them to the comments to help others with their last-minute Christmas shopping! Although the gift guides may be done, we’ll also be sharing blog posts on how we’re prepping for Alice’s first Christmas, so do keep an eye out for those! 

This post contains affiliate links. This means that we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products when you click on a link. This does not affect you as the consumer or the price of the product or service. It is also not a paid for promotion or a collaboration/advert.

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Product Review: Multifunctional Toys For Babies And Toddlers

With Christmas not that far off, people are beginning to think about what gifts their loved ones might like and when it comes to babies and young children, what toys would be suitable for them. There are many different types of toys available, from games to cuddly bears and toys which aid learning and development, which can make buying gifts for babies and young children somewhat challenging.

Toys and Bears offer a range of toys and teddy bears, and their handy filters help you take the guesswork out of what to buy! You can filter by age, price, brand and more! In addition, they have a great range of educational toys if you wish to gift something that will aid development. Finally, if you’re interested in the Montessori way of learning and play, then Toys and Bears have a range of Montessori toys.

A multicoloured box containing a toy is laid flat on the floor. The box has a white baby on the front playing with building blocks and the animal cut outs which the toy contains.
The Carotina Baby Blocks Mat in its box.

In terms of toys that aid development, one that is definitely suitable for babies and toddlers is the Carotina Baby Blocks Mat. When in its box, the set doesn’t look that big; however, looks are deceiving, especially with this product. This multifunctional mat and blocks set can be used from around a year old up to four years of age and has many features making it an excellent choice if you want a toy that will last a couple of years rather than a few months.

The large building blocks are great for little ones to explore their creative side whilst developing their fine motor control through stacking and building. The blocks are the perfect size for small hands, and the vibrant colouring of the blocks make them attractive to babies as well as helping to stimulate their brain growth. The blocks also enable toddlers to learn how to count when they’re ready to, and with there being 38 blocks of varying sizes, there’s plenty of ways to get little ones learning off to a great start!

Bright yellow, green, red and purple building blocks are laid out on the floor. To the right is an open box containing several pieces of the playmat in with various colours.
The building blocks and some of the playmat pieces

Moving onto the playmat and the jigsaw style means that little ones potentially have their first 24 piece jigsaw within this toy! The playmat, when put together, measures 70x50cm and is double-sided, making for hours of learning and fun. Each piece has a different scene on the front; for example, an ocean scene for the shark and octopus jigsaw piece and a desert scene with pyramids in the background for the camel. The back of each piece has the backs of the animals and the back of the two houses on the most prominent jigsaw piece with a blue background with white polka dots.

Photo of playmat pieces with the backs various animals and 2 houses. The pieces have a blue background with white polka dots.
The back of the playmat pieces

However, the beauty of this entire set is that 11 of the animals and the houses pop out of the jigsaw piece, whilst a few of the building blocks contain slots on top. This is a fantastic feature as it allows little ones to create their own scenes and helps with many different areas of their development. In addition, the bright colours of both the jigsaw pieces and the blocks really stand out even when put together.

A small jigsaw style playmat is laid on light brown laminate flooring. Each piece of the play mat has a different scene with various animals in and each piece has various bright colours.
The front of the playmat

Right now, Alice is a little too small to use this toy as she’s only 2 months old. However, we can’t wait to see her using it in a few months when she sits up by herself, and we’re excited to see her start using it. The set is the perfect size for our house, especially as we’re pretty limited on space which is why I’m so happy about all of the functions that the Carotina Baby Blocks Mat contains.

This post is kindly sponsored, and we were gifted the Carotina Baby Blocks Mat for this review. However, the content is based on our honest opinions.

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Steiff Teddy Bear Review

When it comes to toys for little ones, there are many different types to choose from, but if there’s one essential toy that most people can agree on when it comes to what children should have, it’s teddy bears and plush toys! Whether it’s as a gift for that special occasion, a reward for good behaviour, or just one that parents get for their little one, teddy bears have been a staple in babies nurseries and toddler/children’s bedrooms across the world. Even now, both Alex and I have our favourite teddy bears from when we were children! 

Many brands create teddy bears, but one extremely well-known brand is Steiff. For generations, Steiff has been a go-to brand for families worldwide when giving a teddy bear to a little one and is easily recognisable with the iconic button in the ear trademark that Steiff has had since 1904. Steiff teddy bears are also known for being subjected to rigorous testing and for being of extremely high quality; after all, the Steiff company motto is “Only the best is good enough for children.” Both Alex and I had Steiff bears growing up, and with Alex’s mum’s side of the family being German, they know Steiff very well as a household name in Germany when it comes to teddy bears and plush toys! The high quality of the teddy bears and plush toys also means that they can be passed down for years to come. 

Teddy bears come in many shapes, sizes and colours. Whilst Steiff is renowned for its plush animals and their teddy bears, some of the Steiff range also double up as other types of toys. The Steiff Teddy Bears Stacking Lambaloo Lamb is one such teddy bear that can also be used as a toy. An excellent feature of this particular item from Steiff is that this lamb has 3 separate rings that are interactive and aid development making it truly versatile. The red one rustles, the light brown one in the middle is a cuddly ring, and the green ring at the bottom is a rattle. The lambs head is simply removed from the stack to enable the rings to come off. 

Photo of a cream coloured lamb shaped teddy bear with a smiley face on. The teddy bear has 3 rings making up its body; the top is red, middle light brown and bottom is green. The teddy bear is sitting on a grey box with red coloured drawings on.
Steiff Stacking Lambaloo Lamb

Right now, Alice loves her cuddly light brown ring and the red one which rustles. At 6 weeks old, she’s slowly becoming more aware of her surroundings, so it’s an excellent time to introduce the teddy bear to her in its separated form. The lamb’s stacking feature is also perfect because the teddy bear can be used for a stacking activity as the baby grows and moves through their developmental milestones. Talking of development, we love that one of the rings is red, as this is thought to be one of the first colours that newborns can see when their colour vision begins to develop. 

Alice, a small white baby with brown hair is laying on a multicoloured play mat wearing a green long sleeved top, dark blue leggings and white and light blue socks. Around her are a green ring, light brown ring and red ring.
Alice enjoying the rings as separate toys!

The interactive functions of the Stacking Lambaloo Lamb aren’t the only reason it’s an excellent choice as a cuddly toy; there are other reasons too. At just 18cm in length, Steiff’s Stacking Labaloo Lamb is the perfect size for tiny hands to grab hold of and play with but actually looks taller than its stated length when upright. Another most welcome feature is that the teddy bear is machine washable, even though you wouldn’t think it would be by looking at it due to the plushness of the materials used. This particular feature is excellent for ensuring that germs are kept at bay, especially as babies like to explore with their mouths, and this specific bear is great for babies from their very first days and weeks with all of its features! 

With Christmas coming up, Steiff has plenty of options for gifts for little ones, whether it’s a teddy bear for a new baby, a teddy bear for a toddler or even a collectable for a slightly older child; Steiff really does have something for everyone. The different ranges mean that you can get the infant or child’s favourite animal and, in some cases, their favourite character too! Steiff also packages their products beautifully, adding that extra special touch and quality feel to the products.

Photo of a grey and white striped box with drawings of teddy bears in red on. In the middle of the box is a cream circle with black outline which has the word Steiff in block writing in. The words knopf
How the teddy bear came packaged.

This post is kindly sponsored, and we were gifted the teddy bear for this review. However, the content is based on our honest opinions.

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Photo of a brown box on a grey background with a multicoloured animal print sleeve wrapped around it. The sleeve also has a cream coloured square box with a drawing of a dears head with flowers one, and a fawn just in front of it. The words 'little fawn box' are in black underneath. There's also the words 'the subscription box for mum & baby' in cream on a black background underneath.

Parent And Baby Subscription Boxes – Are They Worth It?

Anyone who signs up to parent and baby sites like Bounty, Emma’s Diary or even just looks at Instagram or Facebook adverts will have probably seen that you can get subscription boxes for babies as well as parents. For those stuck on what to gift parents-to-be, they can seem like a great option, especially as you can find new products and they’ll usually have plenty of useful things inside.


One such box is Little Fawn Box which are boxes for parents-to-be and babies. I recently found a discount code for them which reduced the first box to £7.99, including postage. Usually, the boxes are £12.99 plus £2.99 postage, taking the total for each box to £15.98. You can also get 3-month and 6-month packages so that the boxes work out a bit cheaper. In addition, Little Fawn Box claims that all of the contents of each box are worth at least £30. So it works out at around a 50% discount by the time you’ve included postage.

Photo of a brown box on a grey background with a multicoloured animal print sleeve wrapped around it. The sleeve also has a cream coloured square box with a drawing of a dears head with flowers one, and a fawn just in front of it. The words 'little fawn box' are in black underneath. There's also the words 'the subscription box for mum & baby' in cream on a black background underneath.
How the Little Fawn Box arrives

The box itself is reasonably sized, and I really like the sleeve wrapped around the box as it makes the box itself less dull. In addition, I really like the design as it’s simple yet sleek, and the dear with the fawn is adorable!

What was in the box

Photo of various baby products including a cream and see-through baby bottle, multi-coloured baby rattle and cream and blue coloured bottle containing baby body wash. There is also a green box containing a cleansing bar, a rainbow coloured bath bomb, and a purple, cream and yellow box containing wardrobe dividers which also has an orange black and white tiger on. The products are arranged on and around a brown box which is on a grey background.
Our Little Fawn Box Contents
  1. MAM 130ml Ant-Colic Self Sterilising Bottle And Soother Set

I have so many of these sets from various freebies that I’ve managed to get hold of that I could probably start a small shop! However, I love the MAM bottles, and luckily, that’s what Alex and I have chosen to use with little one since they have a self-sterilising function which will be a godsend when we’re away travelling. The self-sterilising function also means we don’t need to worry about getting a bulky steriliser, which we have barely any room for in the kitchen! 

2. Lamaze Spin And Smile Rattle

I love that a sensory toy for our little one has been included in the box! This colourful rattle is a great size for little newborn hands and helps stimulate their vision, hearing, and touch senses. The smiley face ball moves independently of the rest of the toy to create sounds using the little balls inside, and the toy itself is excellent as a first teething toy for when little one reaches that stage of development!

3. Aveeno Baby Daily Care Baby Gentle Wash

I love travel-sized baby washes and was pleased to see this in the box as it gives us another baby wash option to try out with little one once they’re here. This 50ml gentle baby wash contains colloidal oatmeal for dry and sensitive skin and is specially formulated to reduce the risk of allergies – perfect for little one!

4. Belo And Me Safari Animals Wardrobe Dividers

If there’s one thing both Alex and I are guilty of, along with most other parents-to-be, it’s buying a large mixture of different sized clothes for little one before they’ve even arrived. We love a good clearance and will often pick bits up when shopping for other things, but organising little one’s clothes because of this has become rather challenging. Luckily, these wardrobe dividers will come in handy as they go from tiny baby all the way up to 18-24 months. Each coloured divider has a safari animal on it, giving little one something to look at and help them learn both colours and animals as they get older.

5. Oh K! S.O.S Foaming Cleansing Bar

This product highlights the slight dangers of getting a subscription box with allergies. My skin is very sensitive, and I happen to be allergic to tea-tree, amongst other ingredients found in many skin care products. Luckily though, this is a product Alex can use, so he’s delighted that he’s got something out of the box and hasn’t been left out! The cleansing bar includes a mesh bag for storage, and I’m told that the bar itself is great for treating breakouts!

6. Miss Patisserie Pride Bath Ball

It’s that time of year, and Pride month is just around the corner, so we were expecting that there would be a Pride-themed product in the box somewhere! I’m a big fan of bath bombs, and not only does this one from Miss Patisserie look lovely, but it also smells lush! I also really like that Miss Patisserie’s bath bombs are cruelty-free and suitable for vegans.

Thoughts

Overall, I really like most of the products in the Little Fawn Box subscription box. Not only are the products useful for both parents and baby, but you can see that thought has gone into the selection of the box contents. Of course, there is always a danger with subscription boxes that you run into the slight problem of receiving something you don’t like or can’t use; however, the Little Fawn box, in particular, is good value for money. We worked out that the box contents at the time of writing this post are worth over £45, which is much more than the £30 that Little Fawn Box claims the boxes to be worth.

Have you brought a Little Fawn Box? Let us know what you received and what your thoughts on the box are in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products when you click on a link. This does not affect you as the consumer or the price of the product or service. It is also not a paid for promotion or a collaboration/advert.

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Five Items We’ve Discovered That Will Be A Lifesaver When Little One Arrives

No matter what anyone says, planning for your baby’s arrival is a tough job! There are so many products out there, and everyone has their own opinion of what you do (and don’t) need. For me, there are more products on the market that are entirely unsuitable for our needs than those which are. However, there are 5 items we’ve found which, for us, will be a lifesaver when the little one arrives and may even be helpful for you!

  1. Snugglebundl blanket

If there’s one thing I’ve been worried about, it’s transferring our little one without disturbing them once they’re here. Anyone who’s ever tried to move a newborn will know they wake up the second you do it, which is precisely what the Snugglebundl aims to eliminate! This genius swaddle blanket comes with handles to make it easier to lift your little one without disturbing them. You can use this blanket to transfer them from car seat to carrycot or pushchair whilst out and about (the blanket is crash-tested), or as a hammock to rock them in and to keep them securely wrapped up and warm. It’s a great thing to have on hand if recovering from a c-section or other post-birth difficulties. However, as a disabled mum who has frequent joint dislocations, the Snugglebundl is something I’ve realised that I need regardless of what birth I end up having. The Snugglebundl will be getting used from day one to pick our little one up and move them about when needed, especially as it’s specifically designed to reduce the strain on the body from all the picking up!

2. Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier

Until we found out about this baby carrier during a virtual baby show, I was worried over whether or not we’d ever find a suitable baby carrier for both Alex and I to use with our little one. We already know that there will be days where I won’t have the energy or strength to push both myself and little one in their pushchair, and not all situations will be suitable for taking the pushchair with us. Alex also prefers the idea of carrying little one instead of using the pushchair. We’ll also be travelling a lot, which means a baby carrier has become a necessity. The problem with most baby carriers, though, is that they don’t provide enough support for my joints, or worse, not even being able to get it on myself!

The Ergobaby Omni 360 isn’t only great in that you can both forward and rear face in the carrier, making it suitable for toddlers and babies alike, but you can also back as well as side carry in it. The Omni 360 also has lumbar support for the person carrying little one and a lot of padding on the straps for even more comfort, something important to both Alex and I as we’ll be using it for prolonged periods when travelling with little one. The carrier is that good ergonomically that it has been classed as a hip-healthy product. The carrier also comes in a mesh material option, something we chose over the cotton option as we know it will be heavily used in warmer climates. Another plus is that if you’re one for going on days out, the carrier also has a detachable pouch for storing things like your keys, money, and phone. The carrier also has a privacy hood with UV protection, and you’re able to breast/chestfeed without needing to remove little one from the carrier too!

3. Changing backpack With built-in cot and phone charger

Continuing on with accessories for when out and about or travelling, changing bags are of course a must. However, most of them look too mumsy and obvious, whereas I wanted a changing bag which both Alex and I could use, and could also go on the back of my chair if I’m the one carrying little one. So a quick search for changing backpacks on Amazon led to me finding this absolute beauty. I’d seen one similar on Instagram in an advert but didn’t like the cost of it, so to see this one on Amazon made me very happy. Not only does it have a big main compartment for a change of clothes, snacks etc. It also has a bottle pocket that can store three bottles, a phone charging port (need your own battery pack) and a pocket for baby wipes! The most significant function for me, however, is the inbuilt cot and changing mat. Not only does it mean we can change little one with privacy if out and about somewhere without changing facilities, but they can also nap in it when travelling during the day, or have a safe play area when travelling as well. The cot also features a sun canopy for protection on sunnier days or as a barrier against the wind if using it when outside. It’s important to note that the inbuilt cot isn’t suitable for overnight sleeping, however, so you’d still need a travel cot if going away. However, I still think it’s a great bag, and the dimensions of it when the cot isn’t in use means that if you’re flying with little one, the bag will go under the seat in front of you.

4. Benbat Portable Booster Seat

For me, the highchair situation has been one of the most stressful things to tick off because they just feel impossible to use, especially as I’m a wheelchair user who is unable to weight bear. However, there is another option which if Alex didn’t know existed, I would’ve never have found out about it! A portable booster seat has similar functions to a highchair but is lightweight, great for travel so you can feed little one anywhere, and can be placed wherever it’s needed. The one we’ve found is from Benbat, and whilst it won’t be suitable until little one can sit unaided, it will be an absolute lifesaver once they can use it. Another thing I like about the Benbat is that not only is it portable, it also comes with storage compartments to pop some of little one’s bits and bobs in. This is great, as you can forgo the changing bag and pop a change into the storage compartment of the booster seat instead if going out locally.

5. Elvie Catch

If you are breast/chestfeeding or expressing milk, suffer from leakage, and don’t want to spend loads on disposable pads or lose milk that’s produced, then the Elvie Catch is an excellent investment. Not only are these collection cups good for catching let-down or leaks from the other side when pumping, but the Catch is also wearable and slip-proof, meaning that you can wear them for up to three hours at a time without worrying about any leaks. In addition, each cup can collect up to 30ml of milk and is easy to clean by hand or dishwasher. I’ve already started having minor leaks, so I have been using this as an excuse to get used to wearing the cups, and I can honestly say that I haven’t had any problems with them slipping when going about my day, even when I have been pushing myself around in my wheelchair!

Have you found any products that have been a lifesaver for you with your little one? Share them with us below!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products when you click on a link. This does not affect you as the consumer or the price of the product or service. It is also not a paid for promotion or a collaboration/advert.

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