FIRST DREAMS NEXT2MOBILE
Chicco, leaders in children’s development for the past 62 years, have the perfect toy range for newborns, making your little ones introduction to the world as soft as a mothers cuddle.
December 2, 2019
THE LATEST NEWS TO HELP YOU with your journey
DISNEY BABY MINNIE & MICKEY FIRST ABILITIES PLUSH DOLL
Christmas is just around the corner and choosing a toy that will not only entertain, but also help develop young minds has become more important to parents than ever when deciding what to get the little ones.
November 26, 2019
Developmental Milestones…What’s the fuss?
If you are a parent or are around parents of young children, there is a high chance that you’ve heard about developmental milestones. You may have even read about it in a baby book or an article, heard from your paediatrician or from any other professional specialising in early childhood development. You may have heard parents proudly speak about the fact that their child has skipped certain milestones, such as crawling and has gone straight to walking, and so they’re now “ahead of the pack”. You may have seen the complete opposite, parents in a frenzy because their child is one month behind in some of their milestones. You may have heard others completely disregard milestones all together. So what is the fuss all about? How important are milestones really?
November 25, 2019
DISNEY BABY MINNIE & MICKEY 50CM PASTEL PLUSH
With Christmas being just a few weeks away, choosing a toy that will guarantee smiles could not be easier than with Disney Baby.
November 21, 2019
Enjoy the great outdoors with your kids – Thule style
If you love all things nature-inspired, summer is the best time to get your kids involved in your downtime activities – from hikes, to cycling trails and running trails. The most important thing is to be organised and prepared, plus have the right gear to make things efficient and easy on the day. Enter Swedish brand, Thule, which creates a range of premium products, so that you and your family can fully immerse yourself in your given outdoor activity… plus a roundup of some of the best hikes, cycling trails and running trails to do with young kids.
November 18, 2019
Baby Christmas Toy Guide
With Christmas only a month away, we asked Chicco South Africa to put together a Toy Guide for Christmas. CHICCO FIRST DREAMS LULLABY SHEEP The best cot companion your newborn can ask for. In either pink or blue pastel plush, this multi-tech toy provides soft light from its tummy whilst soothing your baby with 20 minutes of classical music. Also has a voice recording facility for parents to place a message of love inside. Retailers: Baby City, Babies R Us, Hamleys, Takealot, Lilliputs, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 2. CHICCO BABY SENSES VIBRATING MONKEY Suitable from 3 months, this awesome vibrating monkey provides a host of stimuli for your baby. Noises, textures and teething aspects make it the ideal motor skills tool and curiosity stimulator for your little one. Retailers: Selected Spar stores, Babies R Us, Hamleys, Takelot, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 3. CHICCO BABY SENSES STROLLER ROPE TOY Keep baby occupied whilst in their stroller with an engaging stroller rope toy fashioned in the shape of a giraffe. Includes fun activities to keep baby discovering new sensations whilst fitting onto all types of stroller bumper bars. Made from plush, the rope toy includes a mirror, soft ring, ball and butterfly that produces sounds. Retailers: Pick n Pay Hypers, selected Spar stores, Babies R Us, Hamleys, Takelot, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 4. CHICCO FIRST DREAMS BABY BEAR A gentle cuddly that will keep your child company at night whilst turning the nursery into a magical environment. Soft light projects stars from the belly of the teddy whilst 30 minutes of classical music will soothe the child to sleep. A soft plush toy available in pastel pink or blue, the outer of the bear is also machine washable. Retailers: Baby City, Babies R Us, Hamleys, Takealot, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 5. CHICCO BABY SENSES FINGER PUPPET One of the only finger puppets available on the market, the Baby Senses Finger Puppet allows parents to play alongside their child and interact and engage whilst watching their development. Each finger produces a different noise, squeak or rattle. And the small book attached to the palm teaches numbers and animals. A thoroughly fun way to engage with your child. Retailers: Babies R Us, Takelot, Lilliputs, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 6. CHICCO BABY SENSES RAINBOW SPINNER The perfect toy to teach your child cause and effect. Based on the classical mechanical spinner toy, the Rainbow Spinner has a mirror inside that reflects the coloured balls that circulate when the flower on top is pressed. A great engaging toy for young, enquiring minds. Retailers: Selected Spar stores, Babies R Us, Lilliputs, Takelot, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 7. CHICCO MOVE & GROW HAPPY HIPPIE WALKER Encourage your child to take their first steps in safety and fun with an engaging walker. With 4 solid wheels providing stability, baby can walk with the colourful, happy walker and enjoy the manual skills and entertainment on the activity bar. Retailers: Babies R Us, Lilliputs, Takealot, Thekidzone Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 8. CHICCO MOVE & GROW TUMMY TIME PILLOW The cushion for fun, safe tummy time play. Designed by Boppy, leaders in birthing pillows, the tummy-time pillow has memory foam and provides your child with a firm, yet soft support as they learn to play on their fronts. The cushion has manual activities to keep baby engaged such as a mirror, a fabric book, and rattle with small balls inside. Retailers: Takealot, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 9. CHICCO BABY SENSES FROG RATTLE The perfect first rattle to encourage your baby’s first discoveries of sound and colour. A bright green and pink frog that doubles as a handy teething ring, the Frog Rattle is perfect from 3 months upwards. Small balls inside the toy teach the child about sound and cause and effect. Retailers: Pick n Pay Hypers, selected Spar stores, Hamleys, Babies R Us, Takealot, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores. 10. CHICCO BABY SENSES CHRISTOPHER THE EXPLORER A cute character toy in the shape of animated binoculars, Christopher Explorer is battery driven and comes to life when the wheels are turned, shining bright lights and producing sounds. Great for motor skills and curiosity development. Retailers: Selected Spar stores, Babies R Us, Takealot, Thekidzone, Loot and selected Kids Emporium stores.
November 14, 2019
DISNEY BABY MICKEY & MINNIE SOFT MUSIC BOX
Disney Baby, one of the world’s most famous toy brands of all time, introduces a new line just in time for Christmas.
November 13, 2019
Discover the future of Safe Sleeping
Babies spend the greater part of their first 12 months sleeping up to 16 hours per day. It is therefore essential to protect your baby’s sleep space from unwanted bugs and insects.
November 7, 2019
DISNEY BABY MICKEY & MINNIE LEARN & CUDDLE PLUSH DOLL
Disney Baby introduces an electronic plush doll that brings the star characters Mickey and Minnie to life through words and song.
November 4, 2019
Top tips for travelling with a stroller
Make travel days easier and still have the holidays you want with Thule Travelling with a baby or toddler can be overwhelming. The sheer amount of stuff you need just to get your bundle of joy from A to B seems never ending. You need to pack for every eventuality… and then some. Cot, clothes, bottles, blankets, car seat, stroller… the list goes on. Luckily, the latter doesn’t need to cause you any more headaches, if you stick to these top travelling tips from premium Swedish product maker, Thule. With over 75 years of product engineering, the focus for every item they make is on durability, reliability and ease of use – the trifecta you are looking for on both travel days and holidays. Top things to consider when travelling with a stroller: 1. Your travel needs Think about the type of travelling that you and your family will do over the next few years, as this has an impact on what kind of stroller will work best for you. Do you often travel to Europe (and beyond), so need to think about cobblestones and uneven terrain? Will you ever need a double stroller, to hold a slightly older child and a newborn, while you are sightseeing? Is exercise a non-negotiable on your priority list? What kind of pram would make your holiday (and everyday life) easier? Thule Sleek is a smart and stylish pram, which is ideal for active parents. Lightweight and easy to handle, it allows you to bring everything you need for a big day out, plus adjust as you go, as there are various combinations and configurations to suit your needs. Add a bassinet or a sibling seat to make it a double stroller or car seat stroller. Thule Sleek is easy to manoeuvre anywhere you go, thanks to its compact size, front wheels and lightweight construction. 2. Size and weight When travelling with a baby, the idea is not to add awkward-to-carry, bulky luggage, but instead to keep all luggage stream-lined and space efficient. The best strollers for holidays (and everyday) are considerably lighter and a lot smaller than their heavier counterparts, so that your hands are kept free, plus small enough to store – whether it is in a car or in the plane. A great option with travelling is the Thule Sleek Travel Bag that protects your stroller Compatible with the Thule Sleek, much like a bike bag, the padded bag protects your stroller from scratches and dirt during transport. It is custom fitted for maximum protection and includes a separate wheel bag to keep the pram clean, plus there are wheels for easy transport. 3. Ease of folding and flexibility If you are flying or travelling solo, a stroller with an easy folding function is a must. Some of the best foldable strollers can quickly and easily be folded up using just one hand – incredibly convenient if you need to carry your baby with the other arm. An easy-to-fold stroller is particularly useful if you fly around the country often to visit family and friends, or if you are travelling overseas with lots of luggage – especially if you are the outdoor-adventure type who chooses their holiday destination based on trail runs and other sporting activities around a certain area. The Thule Chariot Sport 2 is small, slim, light and easy to fold – a lifesaver when travelling with other sporting gear. It transitions from jogger mode to biker mode with just two additional pieces, which means that a ‘biking’ holiday (with a pram) in France or the Netherlands can still be ticked off your bucket list… even with a pram in tow. The Thule Chariot Sport 2 is the ultimate all-in-one trailer, jogger and stroller, made with athletes and their kids in mind, as it offers all-round comfort and performance. The extra comfortable fully padded seats are removeable and easy to clean. There are even removable windows and clips to increase ventilation, a rain cover, and a mutli-position sun cover, to deal with all types of weather that you might encounter on your travels. For more information about Thule’s products and stockists, please visit: https://www.thule.com/en/za
November 1, 2019
V-Tech Baby Pull & Pop Aeroplane
Time flies when you’re having fun with V-Tech baby! A highly interactive toy, the Pull & Pop Aeroplane provides hours of fun for curious children from 6 months upwards. Cute songs all written for adventures in the sky create a sing-along environment ,while small challenges given by the toy will keep little minds working hard whilst having the most fun ever. With over 70 songs, melodies, sounds and phrases controlled by 3 large colourful buttons, the plane also has a bead popping function and a rotating propeller. An all-round excellent motor skill development toy. With an automatic shut off, baby won’t waste batteries if they fall asleep during play. All V-Tech Baby toys are available at Babies R Us, Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone and selected Kids Emporium stores.
October 31, 2019
Sensory Play and the importance in brain development
We may not realise but our little baby starts to use their sense of touch to explore their world around them even from inside the womb. They do this by touching Moms womb, sucking their fingers and playing with their toes. Don’t forget the sound your voices were their first introduction to the sense of hearing.
October 22, 2019
V-Tech Baby Snooze & Soothe Elephant
An adorable bedtime buddy, the hi-tech elephant plays calming music and sounds as well as nature sounds to send baby off to sleep easily. A glowing star-shaped tummy button provides a soft diffused night light. Tactile stimulation is also encouraged through expressions such as ‘Hug Me’. The elephant surface is even machine washable. With an automatic shut off, baby won’t waste batteries if they fall asleep during play.
October 16, 2019
KEEPING SLEEP SAFE
Safe sleep should be one of the first things parents are concerned about when creating their child’s sleep environment. It is vitally important and often neglected. Forget about décor and theme (for now!), here’s my top tips for safe sleep:
October 15, 2019
Sun cream for kids with sensitive skin! The lowdown on keeping your little ones safe in the sun
Covering a wriggling child in sun cream is tricky enough, but when your little one has sensitive skin it can be even trickier– you don’t want to use anything that’s going to irritate. That’s why Childs Farm sun protection products don’t containparabens, SLSs, mineral oils, artificial colours or anything that might make sensitive skin flare up. Plus if you have a super-wriggler on your hands, our spray and roll-on sun lotions make everything easier.
October 11, 2019
Shouldn’t It Be “Fed Is Best”?
This post is a little different to my others because it is personal. I want to share more of my momlife journey with you so where better to start than at the beginning, with one of the first challenges I had to deal with when becoming a mom.
October 10, 2019
V-Tech Baby Sleepy Glow Bear
V-Tech Baby Sleepy Glow Bear is a 25cm plush bear with a soft glowing tummy that provides the ultimate comfort to your little one during nap time. With advanced tech features, Sleepy Glow Bear introduces loving phrases and plays melodies and sing-along songs. There is also a nature sounds button that helps children learn the sounds of the natural world they live in. Timer plays up to 30 minutes of music. Over 70 songs, melodies and phrases are available in this one-of-a-kind toy. With an automatic shut off, baby won’t waste batteries if they fall asleep during play. All V-Tech Baby toys are available at Babies R Us, Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone and selected Kids Emporium stores.
October 8, 2019
Meet the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double
Do you have a growing family and love an active lifestyle? Then the new Thule Urban Glide 2 Double needs to be the new member of your family. This all terrain stroller with a sleek, lightweight design is perfect for active familes who enjoy the great outdoors, as well as getting around town.
October 4, 2019
Why summer is a great season for potty training
Potty training does not have a season, but summer is a great time to give it a go. Warm weather encourages more fluid intake that in turn helps for extra potty practice.
October 4, 2019
V-Tech Baby Little Friendlies Magical Discovery Mirror
Learn and discover with the V-Tech Baby Little Friendlies Magical Discovery Mirror. Press the star button to magically see a lion and monkey appear on the mirror – almost like a TV. Enjoy music and nature sounds as well as expressions and songs while developing motor skills with the hanging star, butterfly and roller ball. An all-round engaging and fun experience from newborn upwards. Hangs on the side of cot or can be held by baby during playtime. With an automatic shut off, baby won’t waste batteries if they fall asleep during play. All V-Tech Baby toys are available at Babies R Us, Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone and selected Kids Emporium stores.
October 2, 2019
EARLY WAKE-UPS
You reluctantly open your eyes. It’s still dark outside, but something very familiar called you out of dreamland – it’s your little one’s voice calling for his Mommy. You glance over at the clock just to realize that, yet again, your child has woken up way too early for you to start your day.
October 1, 2019
TO CO-SLEEP OR NOT TO CO-SLEEP
It is common misconception that if you want your child to sleep, they need to sleep in their own room. I am here to tell you sleep can happen either way, BUT if you choose to co-sleep you need to do it safely. The reality is that new research shows that co-sleeping with younger babies is associated with higher risk of Sudden Infant Death.
September 30, 2019
Chicco anti-mosquito lotion and roll-on
100% natural protection for your little ones when they need it most. With Spring upon us, insects are back in full force – mosquitos in particular.
September 26, 2019
The Best Gear for Family Picnics
The weather is getting warmer and it’s time to get outdoors. One of the most exciting outings is to gather the family for a picnic. You can picnic in your own garden or venture to some of the great picnic spots around South Africa. Here are some tips to have a fuss free picnic: 1. Pack light Make sure you pack smart and light. You never know how far you are going to need to walk to find the perfect spot. Picnic Baskets are great but can be clumsy if you are balancing a toddler on your hip as well. Backpacks make the best picnic bags. Don’t forget a good lightweight foldable picnic blanket try not weigh yourself down with heavy blankets that get damp and dirty. 2. Stay Hydrated Keep a bottle of frozen water in your bag in summer, this will slowly melt and keep the water cold. For something sweeter for the kids the new Miracle 360° Fruit infuser cup from Munchkin makes for a healthy choice. Add your child’s favourite fruit like strawberries, oranges, or blueberries into the fruit basket, twist it into the bottom, then fill the cup with water. The twist-on fruit extractor breaks up the fruit allowing it to infuse into the water and make a fun flavourful drink! Bye, bye juice and unhealthy cooldrinks! Hello, healthy flavoured water! Plus, your kids stay hydrated and clean (or at least cleaner!) while playing at parks and scenic areas. 3. Keep the hunger at bay When packing for a picnic, it seems like there are never enough bowls to accommodate all the different snacks everyone wants. Once again Munchkin have an answer Munchkin Love-a-Bowl comes in a set of four bowls with interchangeable lids, these come in handy when your little ones have not finished all the snacks and want to eat later. With all the tossing around in your picnic bag the lids need to be leak proof. Munchkin Love-a-Bowl are 100% guaranteed to be spill proof, leak proof and break- proof. Now that’s the kind of bowl I need on a picnic. 4. Keep the Insects away Flies and bees can be a pest on a picnic! Our top tip for this is take along your Camp Cot Mozzi net. It can come in handy if baby falls asleep in a pram or for just keeping those bugs off the food. 5. Snacks on the go If your kids enjoy food on the run, consider the Munchkin Deluxe Snack Catcher. It is designed to keep up with your toddler’s active lifestyle. This cleaver little bowl teaches self-feeding with a bit more dexterity and a lot less mess. It’s a multitasking bowl with soft flaps that are gentle enough for fingers to get through but sturdy enough to keep messes at bay (and insects out.) 6. No Stress Picnics with kids need not be a challenge so stick to what you know your kids like to eat and drink and don’t forget something special for Mom and Dad Picnics can be a cost-effective outing, so go out and enjoy a bonding time with your family. Don’t forget to enter the picnic hamper competition on the competition page. Thank you to Munchkin for generously donating our favourite products for the prize.
September 19, 2019
Chicco anti-mosquito wet wipes
Keep your baby bite and sting free in the gentlest, yet most effective way possible, as well as the most convenient – the Chicco Anti-mosquito wet wipes.
September 18, 2019
ADJUSTING TO LIFE WITH TWO CHILDREN
The moment I found out I was pregnant with my second child I was in tears. These were tears of a combination of emotions: joy, happiness, fulfilment and panic. My husband and I always wanted two children, but we didn’t expect them to be 18 months apart. I knew it was going to be tough and that nothing can fully prepare you for a new human in your life, but being thrown into the deep end, for me, was the best preparation.
September 11, 2019
Chicco anti-mosquito spray
100% natural protection for your little ones when they need it most. With Spring upon us, insects are back in full force – mosquitos in particular.
September 10, 2019
A light, breathable pacifier for sensitive skin
Extra-large air holes let your baby’s skin breathe Let your little one’s skin breathe with the Philips Avent ultra air pacifier. Featuring 4 extra-large air holes, the lightweight shield is designed for maximum air flow so your baby’s sensitive skin stays drier while soothing. A light, breathable pacifier for sensitive skin 4 extra large air holes Skin stays drier while soothing Rounded edges for comfortable soothing Comfortable soft & silky nipple 98% of babies accept our ultra air pacifier* Textured, silky nipple for soothing comfort Designed for natural oral development Sterilisation & carrying case Sterilizing in the microwave is safe and easy Simple steps for reliable sterilization in 3 minutes Quality assured Made at our award-winning site in the UK Specifications What is included ultra air pacifier: 2 pcs Accessories included Sterilizer/carrying case Safety Safety ring handle BPA-free Hygiene Easy to clean Can be sterilized Dishwasher safe
September 9, 2019
HAPPY FAMILY ORGANICS – CHANGING LIVES AND THE WORLD, ONE MEAL AT A TIME
Happy Family Organics, makers of ready-to-eat, nutritious and delicious organic meals, is not only changing the way babies and children are nourished in South Africa and around the world, but they are also changing the lives of young orphans in Tanzania through their Happy Family Children’s Village (HFCV).
September 9, 2019
Are probiotics & vitamin D beneficial for babies?
How do you know what health products and supplements are necessary or not when it comes to your little one? How do you choose and what do you look for?
September 6, 2019
